Don’t: Automatically Reach For Something That’s Labeled Organic Or All
Aguilar says that automatically buying “all-natural” or “unscented” cleansers is a mistake. You don’t want to assume that since a cleanser is unscented it’s gentle. “Some skincare products, referred to as unscented have been formulated to remove any smell, but they do this by adding masking chemicals, such as phthalates,” says Aguilar. “Phthalates have been linked to endocrine disruption, developmental and reproductive toxicity, cancer, and have been banned from cosmetics in the European Union but still remain prevalent in U.S. products.”
Best Korean Beauty: Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser
Key Ingredients
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring polysaccharide found in the human body. It acts as a cushioning and lubrication agent for our joints, nerves, hair, skin, and eyes. When used in skincare, it acts as a moisture binder, which means that it will attach itself to the water in the cells making them plump.
Packed with antioxidant-rich blueberry extract, hyaluronic acid, and a blend of lactic and glycolic acids, this lightweight gel wash is the key to gently yet effectively removing surface dirt and makeup. The result is skin that looks clear and radiant and pores that are visibly minimized, thanks to a mild exfoliating action.
How To Wash Your Face
If you have dry skin, washing your face involves treating your skin very gently. Dr. Engelman explains that youll want to still wash your face every night to remove dirt, makeup, oil and other buildup. She also says to use warm or cool water when rinsing, as too hot or too cold water can dry out skin even further. Additionally, you may want to use face wash with one of the best facial cleansing brushes to get an extra deep clean.
In your daily routine, its also a good idea to follow up with hydrating skin-care and beauty products, particularly moisturizers, foundations and concealers specifically formulated for dry skin. And when you want to treat yourself to a mini spa experience, try one of the best face masks for dry skin, which are packed with nourishing ingredients that saturate the complexion to leave it looking super supple and fresh.
To get you to your perfect match, we rounded up the 15 best face washes for dry skin, according to our experts and our own personal testing. Keep scrolling to see them.
You May Like: Alcohol Free Cleanser For Acne Prone Skin
Tatcha The Rice Wash Skin
Dr. Garshick says this Tatcha cleanser helps wash away daily buildup, dirt and residue without stripping the skin of its natural oils, making it a great option for those with dry skin in general. But what makes it especially great for more mature skin is its many anti-aging ingredients, including Japanese rice powder, which Dr. Garshick explains has been known to improve skins overall tone and texture. It also contains an Okinawa algae blend and hyaluronic acid to help lock in moisture and plump the skin.
If You’re Hoping For A Product To Finally Remedy Your Dry Skin Naturium’s Niacinamide Cleansing Gel 3% Is An Affordable And Effective Option

Key ingredients: Glycerin, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid
Sensitive skin is one thing, but sensitive and dry skin is another. Not only are most products off-limits, ingredient-wise, but it can be difficult to find a product that will specifically work well for your target areas. Enter the Naturium Niacinamide Cleansing Gel 3% â a vegan pore-minimizer that contains both glycerin and niacinamide to effectively replenish your skin’s surface.
“For dry skin, a face wash with glycerin, ceramides, or niacinamide can help to repair or protect the skin against environmental stressors,” Dr. Peredo said. “Niacinamide helps to restore your skin’s barrier, while glycerin is rich in nutrients and a humectant that draws water back into the skin for ultimate hydration.”
Wonderfully enough, this cleanser isn’t foaming, which can be more dryer on your skin, according to Dr. Zeichner. Natrium is cruelty-, gluten-, and paraben-free â and dermatologist-tested â to ensure you have clean, nourished relief.
You May Like: What Is The Best Facial Cleanser For Eczema
Lancer Skincare The Method: Cleanser Blemish Control
If youre the type who want to see instant results, say no more with this product. Its got instant effects and lasting results! If you havent come across Lancer Skincare before, I cant recommend it enough. They are pros when it comes to acne and blemish-prone skin and they use the loveliest-non irritating ingredients.
Lancer Skincare Cleanser Blemish Control is amazing at cleaning and gently stripping away your skin impurities that many people mistake for an exfoliator or even a scrub! But I kid you not, it is a powerful cleanser, yet at the same time is delicate too, oh and while it cleanses it exfoliates too! All this is done without any burning sensations to your skin.
The key ingredients for the cleanser are Salicylic acid and Tea tree oil. Both of these ingredients help to keep your skin blemish-free and they help to reduce irritations. Bottom line is that if you want a cleanser that will be gentle and clean your skin at the same time, this cleanser is a must!
Pros
Avene Tolerance Extreme Cleansing Lotion 15
Though an irritatingly small tube, this cleanser from one of my favourite brands doesn’t irritate at all thanks to its calming formula that includes their signature soothing thermal spring water. Fragrance-free, preservative-free, colourant-free, surfactant-free, alcohol-free, and emulsifier-free, it’s stripped back and perfectly safe for reactive skins one I always return to if my skin’s acting up. My only peeve is that you’re not supposed to rinse – I still do, but you might prefer the way it leaves your skin feeling when it’s on.
Don’t Miss: Olay Total Effects Refreshing Citrus Scrub Face Cleanser
Pai Camellia And Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser 30
Everyone knows Im a bit of a Pai fan, but my favourite product from the range regularly changes as frankly they all deserve a spot in a sensitive persons beauty routine. This cleanser is a permanent fixture in mine its one of the few cleansers Ive tried that really seems to have an effect afterwards – no mean feat given youre essentially washing it away but it somehow imparts an incredible softness that even my moisturiser cannot match. Its free from alcohol and detergents as well as common triggers such as peppermint and menthol, making it suitable for even the rosacea-prone. Simply apply to dry skin, massage in and wash away with a cloth for a notably brighter, healthier complexion.
Versed Keep The Peace Acne
- Description:Versed Keep the Peace Acne-Calming Cream Cleanser is a non-drying, foaming cream cleanser that helps to combat breakouts with salicylic acid.
- Best for: Acne-prone skin.
- Key ingredients: 1.5% salicylic acid, stearic acid, rosewater, glycerin, blue tansy oil.
- Editors notes: This cleanser takes a gentle approach to breakouts. Unlike most acne cleansers, which strip away natural oils, it calms and moisturizes with blue tansy and fatty acids. Its meant to be massaged into the skin for 60 seconds, which will give the salicylic acid a chance to target blocked pores.
You May Like: Juice Cleanse Next Day Delivery
What Is The Best Face Mask For Sensitive Skin
In reality, one of the best homemade masks for sensitive skin is the avocado cream face mask. The beautiful avocado is an amazing fruit. It is hypoallergenic and rich in natural vegetable fats. It is very beneficial to include avocados in your daily diet.
Best face scrubWhich is the best exfoliating sponge for face? Finding the Right 100% Pure White Cognac Sponge: This Original Sponge is a great natural cleaner. Bamboo Charcoal: This sponge is enriched with activated bamboo charcoal powder, which absorbs excess oil, grime and grime from the skin. Turmeric: Sponges with turmeric and konjac have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties.
Best Moisturizers For Sensitive Skin
We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Heres our process.
- Best oil moisturizer: Viva Naturals Organic Jojoba Oil
All skin needs moisture to look and feel its best. But those with sensitive skin may have a harder time finding the right products when it seems like almost every formulation causes issues with your already fragile face.
Sensitive skin is not a medical term, but generally we refer to individuals who have skin that is irritated by many environmental triggers as sensitive, explains board certified dermatologist Anar Mikailov, MD, founder of KP Away skin care line.
He says that environmental triggers like humidity, temperature, wind, and sun exposure can cause sensitive skin. However, lifestyle triggers such as using too many products with irritating ingredients or even spending time in chlorinated pools can also make skin more sensitive. When so-called normal skin is overexposed to these triggers over time, it can become sensitized.
The main rule to follow for sensitive skin? Less is more. Since moisture is crucial for healthy skin, choosing the right moisturizer is even more important because it may be one of the only products your skin can tolerate.
Read Also: What Is The Best Cleanser For Cystic Acne
Best Organic: Kora Organics Foaming Cleanser
Key Ingredients
Green tea is a botanical derived from the leaves and buds of the tea plant Camellia sinensis. The active components of green tea are polyphenols that are believed to benefit the skin due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Supermodel Miranda Kerr started her beauty line Kora Organics to give people luxe organic beauty products that are effective and clean. Her foaming cleanser was designed specifically with combination skin in mind. It treats oiliness, enlarged pores, and an uneven skin tone without leaving the skin feeling stripped. Its formulated with nourishing, all-natural ingredients, like noni fruit, green tea extract, sandalwood oil, and aloe vera.
It Cosmetics created this makeup-removing balm to put all others to shame. Most makeup removers can dry or irritate the skin, especially skin thats more sensitive, but this formula tackles stubborn makeup without any unwanted side effects.
This balm is infused with an anti-aging serum, so it can reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles while it cleanses the skin. To top it all off: Its cruelty-free and made without parabens, sulfates, and phthalates.
What Is Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin is defined as the occurrence of unpleasant sensations when the skin is exposed to something that generally should not cause such sensations, says Dr. Viseslav Tonkovic-Capin, a dermatologist in Kansas City.
While sensitive skin can often react to certain ingredients in beauty products, environmental factors, stress levels, lifestyle habits and dietary changes are also known to trigger irritation. The reaction is genetically programmed. The biggest concerns for this skin type always affect the skin from head to toenot just the face. The skin is either too dry, too oily, heavy in pores or has a variation in color and tone that is not uniform, explains Dr. Harold Lancer, founder of Lancer Skincare.
Recommended Reading: Himalaya Herbals Deep Cleansing Apricot Face Wash
Best Face Wash For Oily Skin
Foaming facial cleansers are recommended for oily skin by dermatologists. This one from CeraVe is affordable and helps cut through oil but also provide hydration thanks to nourishing ingredients ceramides, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide.
Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating CleanserThis ultra gentle formula from Neutrogena can even be used on those with sensitive skin or who are dealing with eczema and psoriasis. It only has a few ingredients, with glycerin near the top to provide hydration after oil is cleansed away.
Renée Rouleau AHA/BHA Blemish Control CleanserAHAs and BHAs are acids that help combat acne and oiliness. If your oily skin is acne-prone this is a great choice because it will reduce pimples and blackheads by helping to unclog blocked pores. It features salicylic, lactic and glycolic acids to effectively cut through excess oil without leaving skin feeling too dry or tight.
Avene Cleansing FoamA lightweight, gentle foaming cleanser for oily skin, this offering from Avene has been clinically shown to reduce oiliness by 54% after only one use. It is soap-free, oil-free and non-comedogenic.
NeoCutis Exfoliating Skin CleanserGlycolic acid and glycerin team up to provide exfoliation and hydration in this cleanser from NeoCutis. It is formulated without harsh sulfates, dyes and fragrances.
Formulyst Clarifying AHA CleanserFormulated with AHA , this cleanser both cleanses and exfoliates while thoroughly removing dirt, grime and makeup.
Naturally Serious Major Moisture Gentle Cream Cleanser
- Description:Naturally Serious Major Moisture Gentle Cream Cleanser is a hydrating cleanser and makeup remover with a thick and creamy texture.
- Best for: All skin.
- Key ingredients: Stearic acid, glycerin, coconut oil, squalane.
- Editors notes: This cleanser is formulated with no B.A.D. ingredientsmeaning the brand doesnt use anything banned, ambiguous or debatable. So youll find a coconut-based surfactant in here, along with fatty acids, plant extracts and probiotics. Impressively, it removes even waterproof makeup without drying or irritating your skin.
Recommended Reading: What Does Cetaphil Cleanser Do
First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser
Best for Dry and Sensitive Skin
This dermatologist-tested creamy cleanser is free from rough elements like cruelty, gluten, nut, mineral oil, soy, sulfate, fragrance, or nano. It contains all vegan, safe, and allergy-tested ingredients, so safe for sensitive skin.
It wont dry or tight your skin though it completely flushes out all impurities, dirt, oils, and makeup buildups. Premium botanical antioxidants protect flare-ups, balance skin acidity, reduce inflammation, and protect your skin from dryness and wrinkles.
The brand also says this cleanser is ideal for normal to dry and combination skin, helps keep your skin hydrated and moisturized while also defend the formation of breakouts.
What Kind Of Facial Sunscreen Should I Use With Rosacea
Best Sunscreen For Rosacea Daylong Extreme SPF 50+ Lotion Thinkbaby Sunscreen Stick Murad City Skin BroadSpectrum Blue Lizard Mineral Sunscreen Raw Elements Face Stick Sunscreen Certified Natural Sunscreen Vanicream Lip Protectant/Sunscreen SPF 30 Neutrogena Sheer Zinc DryTouch Face Sunscreen EltaMD UV Clear BroadSpectrum SPF 46.
Don’t Miss: Is Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser Antibacterial
If You Want To Save Money And Time When Soothing Your Skin At Night Tula’s Replenishing Cleansing Oil Will Remove All Traces Of Makeup And Cleanse For A Fresh Face
Key ingredients: Ceramides, probiotic extracts, rice bran oil, arctic winged kelp
If I had to pick a least favorite skincare product, it would undoubtedly be makeup remover. From wipes that dry out to formulas that strip the skin or cost more than face makeup itself, neglecting to remove makeup the proper way can clog pores and cause acne. Thanks to the Tula Replenishing Cleansing Oil, you can finally add a product to your routine that removes makeup and cleanses.
Infused with probiotic extracts and natural oils, the product will effectively dissolve makeup and built-on debris from the day. The mixture of ceramides and arctic winged kelp aids in moisture retention and skin-soothing, too.
What’s more, the Replenishing Cleansing Oil was clinically tested, with 94% of participants noticing it left their skin feeling nourished. As a cleanser that’s suitable for all skin types, non-comedogenic, and is formulated without parabens or fragrance, it’s a product boasting a hassle-free makeup removal â whether you’re about to apply a face mask or hit the hay for the next day.
Glo Skin Beautys Gentle Cream Cleanser
Best Facial Cleanser for Dry, Sensitive Skin
If your skin is dry and prone to sensitivity, then its important to find a cleanser thats extra gentle and wont compromise the skin barrier in any way. Thats where Glo Skin Beautys gentle cream cleanser comes in. a great choice for those with sensitive skin because it has a creamy consistency that conditions and revives skin while cleansing, Dr. Engelman says. Free of fragrance and dyes, its specially formulated to respect the skins natural moisture balance and provide a refreshed face without any irritation.
Also Check: Best Salicylic Acid Cleanser For Blackheads
Best Face Washes For Sensitive Skin
Anyone with sensitive skin knows that finding the right face wash can be a challenge. Cleansing skin means stripping it of dirt and debris but can often cause redness, itchiness, or discomfort for those with sensitive skin.
The solution? Use a gentle face wash without harsh chemicals, extra additives, or strong fragrances. This is often easier said than done, especially for anyone facing additional skin issues such as dryness, acne, hyperpigmentation, or wrinkles. But generally speaking, its best to look for hydrating face washes made specifically for sensitive skin that can gently remove oil and impurities from skin without stripping away natural moisture.
When it comes to sensitive skin face wash, whats not in the product is almost more important than what is. Wondering what to steer clear of? It can be best to avoid strong scents and strong chemicals such as parabens or sulfates. Soap-free cleansers are always a good idea, and skip harsh exfoliating products unless you have acne-prone skin.
Sometimes, trial and error is the best way to find the best face wash for sensitive skin. Luckily, many skincare brands are making options for sensitive skin for all skin types and budgets. Here are some of the best face washes for sensitive skin you can find for a healthy complexion free of irritation and redness.
Cerave Hydrating Cleanser 9

I am a recent convert to CeraVe after it was suggested as a superior alternative to Cetaphil – a cleanser that’s regularly recommended by dermatologists as a good basic formula, yet causes controversy because despite its gentle nature it still contains SLS which most experts would tell us to avoid. Though I’ve used Cetaphil many times , I do find CeraVe’s Hydrating Cleanser more soothing it has a fragrance-free, soap-free, SLS-free formula yet also contains three ceramides and hyaluronic acid. It’s certainly less drying and is surprisingly effective at removing a full face of makeup too, all at a very fair price point.
You May Like: Specific Beauty Daily Gentle Cleanser