From affordable Cetaphil to luxurious Le Mer, shop the most effective face cleansers for every skin type and concern.
Keeping your skin hydrated and healthy starts with finding and using the perfect cleanser. A great face wash is the foundation of an ideal skin care routine for most, whether you prefer plenty of foam, sudsy cream washes, or oil for a double cleanse. A thorough face wash each day will keep you feeling clean and refreshed in general, but it will also add a much-needed dose of hydration for those with dry or flaky skin. In the long run, you'll find that many skin conditions like acne, dryness, and even redness can be lessened when you use the right face wash.
So you know you should find the perfect cleanser for you. But with so many different options on the market, with and without celebrity endorsements and TikTok "must-have" recommendations, it can be difficult to determine which products are right for you. Whether your skin is dry or oily, acne-prone or sensitive, we've curated a list of just some of the best face washes that you'll want to add to your regular skincare routine.
From affordable CeraVe to luxe La Mer and celeb favorites like Sunday Riley and Kate Somerville, the cleansing options below range from budget to luxury skincare, addressing a wide range of needs and concerns. You'll find a face wash that vibes with your skin to help give you your best complexion yet, and a few other goodies to try should your first pick not work out. But be sure to consult a dermatologist or skincare expert before adding a new product to your routine, as it's not always immediately evident how your new products can affect your unique skin type.
Below, shop our picks for some of the best face washes available to stay clean, comfortable and fresh-faced every day.
EltaMD Foaming Skin Cleanser
This calming cleanser is the perfect remedy for uncomfortable, red, and itchy skin. It's a balancing face wash that can help to reduce swelling and inflammatory responses, such as what occurs in those with rosacea. It also feels soft, fluffy, and comforting when applied to skin.
Paula's Choice Resist Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser
When it comes to dry skin, this cleanser means business. It's formulated specifically to deliver additional hydration while breaking down makeup and removing dirt with chamomile extract and glycerin. It's gentle, non-irritating, and leaves your face feeling smooth and moisturized.
KraveBeauty Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser
This jelly-like cleanser leaves skin feeling silky smooth thanks to matcha and hemp seed oil, which offer antioxidants and additional hydration. It cleans without stripping your face of moisture, making it a luxe experience that feels like you just applied a soothing moisturizer right after you rinse.
Hanacure Microphol Neutralizing Cleanser
Hanacure's remarkably moisturizing balm-to-foam cleanser easily lifts dirt and debris while keeping skin supple and hydrated. This gentle cleanser is enriched with pholiota, a special plant mucin that allows your skin to retain moisture while impurities are dissolved.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser
Barrier-fortifying ceramides and soothing niacinamide help keep your skin soft and hydrated while gently cleansing.
Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser
A healthy dose of rice oil keeps your skin from drying out while removing impurities with French green clay.
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser with Ceramides and Hyaluronic Acid
The CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser is a top-rated cleanser with over 80,000 five-star reviews. "I've used this for years now, it works great on aging skin (in my late 40's now)," raved one reviewer. "Most cleansers I've used either strip your skin dry or don't clean well. This one cleans thoroughly, even make up and actually ADDS moisture to your skin. I don't know how, but my skin is grateful. If you haven't tried this yet, it's worth trying."
Tatcha The Camellia Cleansing Oil
When it comes to high-quality and nourishing cleansers that are worth the investment, this Camellia Cleansing Oil from Tatcha might be one of the best.
Kate Somerville DeliKate Soothing Cleanser
Irritated, angry skin from the harsh, cold winter? You'll want this soothing cleanser that can help save stressed skin.
Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser
Cetaphil's cleanser is clinically proven to deep clean while effectively removing dirt, excess oils and makeup without leaving skin dry or tight.
La Mer The Cleansing Foam
The Cleansing Foam by the iconic skincare brand La Mer has been used by A-list celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce, Blake Lively, Kim Kardashian and Chrissy Teigen. While this cleanser gently lifts out dirt and oil, it also has hydrating ingredients for oily, dry or combination skin to leave your skin feeling soft and healthy-looking.
Clinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam Face Wash
This Clinique mild mousse uses salicylic acid to help get rid of pore-clogging dirt and oil and helps tamp down acne-causing bacteria, redness, irritation and inflammation with caffeine, sea whip and kola nut extracts.
Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser
This cooling jelly cleanser from the cult-favorite beauty brand Drunk Elephant works to remove makeup and other remnants of excess oil on the face.
Dermalogica Ultracalming Cleanser
Perfect for skin that's easily inflamed, this soothing gel works to reduce redness and swelling with a mix of lavender and cucumber. If you have another skin concern, it's also free of potential irritants, such as sulfates, parabens and phthalates.
Perricone MD High Potency Classics Nutritive Cleanser
Perricone MD's High Potency Classics Nutritive Cleanser is a deep-cleaning facial wash formulated with skin-friendly AHAs and ALAs.
Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser
Vanicream's Gentle Facial Cleanser is great for those with sensitive skin or allergies because it is free of dyes, added fragrances, parabens, formaldehyde and other preservatives.
Honest Beauty Calm On Foaming Cream Cleanser
The Honest Beauty's Calm On Foaming Cream Cleanser soothes and calms sensitive skin. This foam cleanser is vegan, hypoallergenic, dermatologist-approved and cruelty-free.
First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser
First Aid Beauty's Pure Skin Face Cleanser is fragrance-free and sulfate-free yet powerful enough to remove the makeup, dirt, oil and grime from everyday life.
Ole Henriksen Find Your Balance Oil Control Cleanser
The Ole Henriksen Find Your Balance Oil Control Cleanser is made specifically for oily and combination skin. This cleanser helps purify pores and helps fight oiliness, acne and blemishes.
Fenty Skin Total Cleans'r Makeup-Removing Cleanser
This two-in-one cleanser from Fenty Skin lathers up to remove dirt, oil and makeup.
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