The Best All-Purpose Facial Cleansers, According To Experts

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Your definitive guide to the best face washes for acne-prone, dry, and every skin type in between.

Most of us can agree that washing your face is a vital step in a daily skincare routine. This instinct is supported by dermatologists and other skin experts who claim that cleansing is necessary for not just removing dirt and grime from the surface of the face but also toxins and dead skin cells. These all act as impurities and potential barriers that can make it more difficult for your skincare products to penetrate if not cleared.

Ulta, Sephora

“When it comes to facial cleansers, it is important to note that different cleansers may be better suited for different skin types,” said Dr. Marisa Garshick, a board-certified dermatologist with MDCS Dermatology in New York City

Therefore, we felt it important to track down the very best facial cleansers for all skin types, budgets, and areas of concern using past and present guidance from trusted authorities in skin like Garshick and others.

Use our extensive research down below to help you find the face wash of your beauty-filled dreams, whether your skin is acne-prone or as dry as the Sahara Desert.

Dry and sensitive skin

A famed hydrating cream cleanser

Amazon

The CeraVe hydrating cream cleanser may be one of the most recommended cleansers here and, as someone with extremely dry who can’t handle the oil-stripping effects of most foaming washes, it’s my cleanser of choice.

Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick claimed that this non-foaming, fragrance-free, and milky cleanser effectively gets rid of dirt and buildup without leaving the skin feeling dry and without the use of any harsh surfactants.

“It contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin as well as ceramides [to] support and strengthen the skin barrier,” Garshick said.

Get it from Amazon for $12.37+ (available in three sizes).

An ultra-gentle soap-free cleanser

Amazon

Garshick said that this ultra-mild and soap-free cleanser is specifically formulated for sensitive skin types and is free of common irritants found in other cleansers such as fragrance, dyes, parabens, formaldehyde, and other preservatives.

“It’s gentle enough to be used every day and can remove makeup and excess oil without drying the skin out,” she said.

Get it from Amazon for $8.42.

A skin barrier-supporting oil cleanser

Sephora

Board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner previously explained that “the goal of cleansing is to remove soil from the outer skin layer without disrupting your skin barrier.” Using a hydrating lipid complex, this milky and fragrance-free cleanser by Skinfix — a cleanser we formerly chose based on his guidance — works up a rich lather and helps restore ceramides and fatty acids within the skin.

Get it from Sephora for $30.

A foaming cleansing oil

Amazon

Another foaming cleanser on our list comes at the suggestion of board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Azadeh Shirazi who said that this fragrance-free oil cleanser by French pharmacy staple brand, LaRoche-Posay, is an excellent choice as part one of a double cleanse to remove makeup, sunscreen, debris, and particularly useful for those with dry or sensitive skin.

Shirazi noted the gentle and hydrating ingredients like shea butter, redness-reducing niacinamide and glycerin, a dermatologist-trusted humectant that draws moisture into the skin.

Get it from Amazon for $16.99.

Normal and combination skin

A non-drying antioxidant cleanser

Sephora

Makeup artist Kierra Lanice recommends this cult-favorite gel cleanser by Youth to the People, which is rich in phytonutrients, antioxidants, and superfood extracts that help support the skin’s pH balance and address visible signs of premature aging caused by environmental stressors. Additionally, the inclusion of ingredients like spinach can soothe stressed out skin and impart essential fatty acids to the skin.

Get it from Sephora for $16+ (available in three sizes).

A gentle lathering jelly with cantaloupe extract

Sephora

“Formulated with nourishing ingredients like cantaloupe extract, a gentle surfactant blend, glycerin, and virgin marula oils, [this] helps break up makeup and impurities while simultaneously hydrating and soothing the skin,” Shirazi said of this lightweight jelly cleanser by Drunk Elephant that can address skin concerns like redness and irregular skin texture. It’s also rich in fatty acids and antioxidants to help address signs of premature skin aging.

Get it from Sephora for $16+ (available in two sizes).

A gentle jelly cleanser with ceramides

Amazon

According to Garshick, Skincare Junkie’s delightful jelly cleanser contains a blend of ceramides to support a healthy skin barrier, soothing cucumber and niacinamide to help tackle everything from redness to skin dullness. She added that the fragrance-free, skin-softening, and pH-balancing formula is good for all skin types.

Get it from Amazon for $34.

A purifying foam cleanser

Amazon

“This [fragrance-free] foaming cleanser works to effectively reduce oil and washes away dirt, makeup, and debris,” Garshick said. “I love that it contains the La Roche Posay prebiotic thermal spring water, ceramides as well as niacinamide to support the skin barrier, minimizing the potential for dryness or irritation. It can be used once or twice daily.”

Unlike the other LaRoche-Posay cleanser on this list, this one works into a rich lathering foam while promising not to strip the skin of all its natural and essential oils.

Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in two sizes).

A foaming version of the classic hydrating cleanser

Walmart

If you love the gentle-cleansing and hydrating promise of CeraVe’s original cream cleanser from above, but prefer the feel of a lather, then this new take on the classic might be worth a try. Recommended by Shirazi, this cream-to-foam formula is gentle and doesn’t strip skin of its natural moisture, according to the dermatologist.

“Formulated with three essential ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and amino acids, it works synergistically to cleanse and hydrate the skin effectively. Additionally, it is very cost-effective, making it an excellent choice for maintaining healthy skin without breaking the bank,” she said.

Get it from Walmart for $13.66.

Oily and acne-prone skin

10.

A clarifying acne cream cleanser

Amazon

According to Garshick, this Cetaphil clarifying and fragrance-free cleanser can be a good option for someone who is oily and acne-prone, but also has sensitive skin.

“The gentle cream-to-lather [formula] uses salicylic acid to help clean out pores and reduce breakouts and oil without drying out the skin,” she said.

Get it from Amazon for $9.61.

11.

A maximum-strength benzoyl peroxide wash

Amazon

New York City-based and board-certified dermatologist Dr. Y. Claire Chang recommended this foaming acne wash that features a concentration of 10% benzoyl peroxide, the highest amount of benzoyl peroxide you can get over the counter. Chang loves it for its maximum strength antimicrobial properties that kill acne-causing bacteria and lift dirt from pores.

Get it from Walmart for $8.99 (originally $17.18).

12.

A glutamic acid cleansing foam

Amazon

Celebrity aesthetician and dermatological nurse Natalie Aguilar recommended this mousse-like cleansing foam by French favorite skincare brand Avène. She likes it for the inclusion of zinc, which is soothing and calming, glutamic acid that is toning and mattifying, and thermal spring water that soothes and hydrates the skin (because oily skin still needs water). It’s formulated to minimize the risk of allergic reactions, won’t clog pores, is soap-free, paraben-free, alcohol-free, mineral oil-free, and vegan. It’s a lightweight cleansing foam that gently removes makeup, dirt, excess oil, and other impurities while soothing skin for a clean and calm complexion.

Get it from Amazon for $19.80.

13.

A breakout-fighting cleanser that’s sensitive skin-safe

Amazon

Chang recommended this dermatologist-developed benzoyl peroxide-infused cleanser by Differin. It’s specially made to gently cleanse acne-prone and sensitive skin without irritating or drying it out. It absorbs excess oil and moisturizes without clogging pores, delivering a deep clean that won’t strip the skin.

Get it from Amazon for $9.47.

Cleansing balms

14.

A pro-collagen cleansing balm

Amazon

This luxurious cleansing treatment was suggested by Garshick, who said the unctuous formula leaves skin feeling moisturized and soft. Packed with a blend of oils and waxes, this cleanser nourishes like a balm, removes impurities like an oil and hydrates like a cleansing milk. It also happens to be a favorite that remains at the top of our list for effective cleansing balms.

Get it from Amazon for $18+ (available in two sizes).

15.

A melt-away cleansing balm

Sephora

Shirazi suggested the Farmacy Clearly Clean solid-to-liquid cleansing balm for its nourishing properties, natural source of enzymes and its ability to be used safely around the eyes. “The new formulation is fragrance-free and doesn’t contain any sensitizing essential oils or polyethylene glycols, so it’s a great option for all skin types,” Shirazi said. This is another cleansing balm that’s a mainstay in my own personal cleansing collection.

Get it from Sephora for $24+ (available in two sizes).

16.

A nourishing balm-to-milk cleanser

Amazon

“This transformative cleansing option goes from a balm to an oil and rinses off as a milk, helping to eliminate makeup, dirt, and sunscreen without leaving the skin feeling dry or irritated. It also contains evening primrose oil, jojoba seed oil, and pear fruit, which together help to balance and nourish the skin,” Garshick said of this paraben-free cleansing balm meant to be suitable for all skin types. A blend of antioxidants inside this formula helps aid in protecting skin from damaging free radicals and provides skin-conditioning properties.

Get it from Amazon for $34.

17.

An omega-rich cleansing balm

Amazon

Zeichner recommended incorporating into your routine a milk cleansing balm, which can do a much better job of breaking down grime than face wash alone. Based on this guidance, we found this skin-softening balm by Paula’s Choice, which contains both jojoba and meadowfoam seed oils — omega-rich ingredients that can regulate the skin’s oil production and address rough texture. Just massage it into the skin to melt away makeup and debris, then follow with a face wash.

Get it from Paula’s Choice for $29.

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