Soap/Cleanser Question

[RGup]

So while I was browsing the net, I have come across quite a few people who say soaps (not soap operas, that is a different topic altogether =P) are bad for the skin. Yet, when I try to google it, most just say the same thing...that soaps vary depending on how they are made, like triple milled makes soaps less alkali, which is beneficial because the skin is mildly acidic in the first place. I guess what I am trying to ask is it better to stay with my current Desert Essence Face Wash (Tea Tree and Apahuwi) that contains Castile Soap (A soap supposedly made of olive oil instead of animal fat), or should I switch to SN's Kiss Cleanser, or variants of such?

For Reference, my skin used to be ridiculously oily, but at some point, a dermatologist suggested it might be because I was drying my face out too much since she noticed as a trend that Indians tend to have drier skin, so I started using less drying agents (severely reduced both Salicylic and BP usage). I notice now that my skin isn't as oily as it used to be. It is still oily enough, such that if I do not do anything to it, by the end of the night it has a very light sheen (what I consider healthy looking, almost looks freshly moisturized), whereas before I had to blot my face at least twice to prevent my face from looking like an oil slick. All this rambling just to say that I guess I have normal skin...but it is quite sensitive.

Most sunscreens break me out, so I had to completely eliminate almost all ingredients in them and found one that works...Graham's Natural Alternatives SunClear, in case your interested. Since this Sunscreen is so oily, I need a cleanser that can take this off, and so far the Desert Essence seems to do that. But if it is bad for my skin, I am willing to look at alternatives. Thanks for reading!

[Rhys]

If it's working for you and not causing you any problems, I'd say stick with it. The Kiss Cleanser is great, too, if you're dry, the Apricot Oil might be a better choice - if you're looking to switch. if you're not, it sounds like you're doing fine as you are.

[JenW]

I agree that if you have something that works...stick with it. Castille is good, gentle soap. I would say that the cleanser you are using is probably not all that bad as far as ingredients.