To cleanse, apply water (about a 1:1 ratio to the powder) until the product begins to lather. Then massage into the skin and rinse with warm water. Rule #2: Choose mess-free packaging.

After rinsing off the baking soda, my face felt smoother and less dry —the powder was like a gentle exfoliator. Plus, the evil zit breakout I had the week before seemed to be majorly chilling ...

This top-rated face wash has a 4.7-star rating on Amazon and we can see why. Its oil-free, pH-balanced formula works to gently cleanse without irritating or drying out the skin.

And when it comes to your daily face wash, be sure to stick to the real soap-and-lather routine. MORE: The 10 Biggest Face-Washing Mistakes ...