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As a foundational step in your skin-care routine, face wash plays an important role in keeping your skin clear and balanced. Most dermatologists recommend cleansing twice a day: once in the morning to prep your skin for moisturizer, sunscreen, and makeup, and once at night to remove makeup, excess oil, sweat, and the general grime of the day. But a cleanser that’s too harsh can strip your skin of precious natural oils, while one that’s too light won’t effectively wash away excess oil and product residue, especially if your complexion leans oily. A good cleanser should do no harm: After washing your face, your skin should feel refreshed, not tight or parched. Because it can be tricky to find the perfect one for you, I spoke to over 15 dermatologists about what to look for, plus which cleansers they recommend for all different skin type, whether you’re dry, oily, acne-prone, sensitive, or combination. And if you want to level up your face-washing routine even more, check out our guides to the best makeup removers and face exfoliators.
What we’re looking for
Texture
People with dry or sensitive skin should opt for creamy, almost moisturizerlike face washes or hydrating oil cleansers, which will be less harsh and irritating on already fragile skin. Oily and acne-prone types should opt for foaming or gels cleansers to sop up any excess oil. Oily skin can sometimes get away with cleansing oils, too, because believe it or not, oil attracts oil, which leaves your skin balanced.
Ingredients
For most people, a good rule of thumb is to pick something that is oil free or noncomedogenic, which means it won’t clog your pores, says certified physician assistant Alexandra Gold of SmarterSkin Dermatology in New York City. If your skin tends to be dry, you should also look for emollients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid to lock in as much moisture as possible. They can also be helpful for anyone using drying ingredients to treat acne. But acne-prone and oily skin benefits most from exfoliating ingredients like salicylic acid, glycolic acid, or alpha hydroxy acids, Gold says. Those will remove extra oil, debris, and dirt buildup, which can cause acne. Sensitive skin types should typically avoid exfoliants altogether and look for formulas that don’t contain common irritants such as dyes and fragrances.
Price
Because face washes remain in contact with your skin only for a minute or two at most, they usually won’t be as pricey as some of the other skin-care products in your arsenal. You can certainly splurge on a higher-end cleanser, which may be formulated with buzzier or higher-quality ingredients that have additional soothing, hydrating, and brightening benefits. But most affordable cleansers are perfectly serviceable, allowing you to focus your dollar on other products like moisturizers and serums that have a longer-lasting impact on your skin. To help you choose a face wash that fits your budget, I’ve noted approximately how much you’re paying per ounce for each product below.
Best face wash overall
Texture: Cream | Ingredients: Glycerin, vitamin B5, niacinamide | Size: 20 ounces (Approx. $0.70/ounce)
Touted by seven different experts I talked to, Cetaphil’s gentle skin cleanser “effectively removes impurities without stripping the skin’s natural oils,” says Dr. Hope Mitchell, founder of Mitchell Dermatology. It contains powerful ingredients like glycerin to hydrate, vitamin B5 to protect the skin barrier, and niacinamide to smooth and retain moisture. It also uses micellar technology — which involves tiny cleansing molecules called micelles that attract and dissolve oils — to gently but effectively remove dirt and makeup. Dr. Sheel Desai Solomon, a dermatologist at Preston Dermatology + Skin Surgery, says the noncomedogenic formula works on every skin type, even sensitive skin, and he recommends it to patients with acne, eczema, and rosacea. It’s nothing fancy, and honestly, it won’t be life-changing, but it’s a simple, soap-free, hypoallergenic, and fragrance-free cleanser that efficiently and effectively does the job it’s meant to do, which is why I’ve made it my top pick.
Best face washes for oily skin
Texture: Foam | Ingredients: Ceramides, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid | Size: 16 ounces (Approx. $1/ounce)
According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Wallace Nozile, foaming formulas tend to dry skin out and decrease oil production — a good thing for those with skin on the greasier side. CeraVe’s foaming cleanser comes recommended by several of the skin-care experts I spoke to. Certified dermatopathologist Dr. Gretchen Frieling says she loves it for oily types because the formula is noncomedogenic and its three essential ceramides cleanse the skin without stripping it in the process. Ceramides, she adds, help skin rebuild and repair the protective barrier to make it more resilient against future damage and signs of aging.
Texture: Gel | Ingredients: Kale, spinach, green tea | Size: 8 ounces (Approx. $5/ounce)
Gel cleansers are also very adept at cutting through excess oil on the skin’s surface (and inside pores). But the downside of gel face washes is that many can be too drying, causing more harm than good. Dr. Corey L. Hartman, founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology, and Dr. Mitchell both say this face wash is an exception. It’s formulated with organic antioxidants like kale, spinach, and green tea, which Mitchell says boost moisture in the skin, provide anti-inflammatory protection, and won’t leave the skin dry or tight. It’s also a favorite of Strategist writer Jeremy Rellosa, who’s been using it for two years and likens the experience to “a skin-care treatment at a spa.” An added bonus is that a little goes a long way: Just a half-pump “foams up a good amount, and I don’t have to restock for a few months, even with twice-daily use,” he says.
Best face washes for dry skin
Texture: Cream | Ingredients: Ceramides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide | Size: 16 ounces (Approx. $0.85/ounce)
CeraVe’s dermatologist-beloved hydrating cleanser is our pick for the best face wash for dry skin due to its “creamy consistency, which will leave dry skin feeling nourished and hydrated,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick. The formula contains hyaluronic acid to boost moisture, ceramides to help maintain the skin barrier, and glycerin, which board-certified dermatologist and Prequel Skin founder Dr. Sam Ellis notes “is able to draw water to the skin surface, so you’re able to get the skin feeling clean but also supported.”
Texture: Cream | Ingredients: Glycerin, niacinamide, ceramides, prebiotic thermal water | Size: 13.5 ounces (Approx. $1.30/ounce)
Eight experts recommended this cleanser from La Roche-Posay’s silky Toleriane line. It contains hydrating ceramides as well as niacinamide, an anti–inflammatory ingredient that, according to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Carmen Castilla, helps to balance oil production. It also features the brand’s famed thermal spring water, which hydrates and soothes irritated, dry skin thanks to its antioxidant properties.
Best face washes for combination skin
Texture: Cream-to-foam | Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides | Size: 12 ounces (Approx. $1/ounce)
Cleansing combination skin can be tricky, because you have to take into account having both dry and oily skin. But according to Mitchell, this CeraVe cleanser provides a best-of-both-worlds scenario because it transforms from a cream to a foam, giving dry areas the creamy, hydrating nourishment they need, while the foam removes excess oil without leaving the skin feeling tight or dry. The cleanser also contains essential ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and amino acids that help maintain the skin’s natural barrier and lock in moisture.
Texture: Gel | Ingredients: Polyhydroxy acid, glycerin, aloe | Size: 6.3 ounces (Approx. $1.50/ounce)
And if you’re dealing with extremely oily and dry spots, this gel-based Neutrogena cleanser with polyhydroxy acid (PHA) is specifically formulated for combination skin. Combination skin responds exceptionally well to PHA because it’s a “gentle exfoliant that helps to unclog pores while evening the skin’s texture and tone,” explains Dr. Caroline Robinson, the founder of Tone Dermatology. As both an exfoliant and a humectant, PHA helps balance skin without overly stripping it — plus, the molecules are larger and don’t penetrate as deeply, so it’s a much gentler exfoliant than AHAs and BHAs.
Best face wash for acne-prone skin
Texture: Gel | Ingredients: Salicylic acid | Size: 9.1 ounces (Approx. $1/ounce)
If you’re prone to breaking out, you should strongly consider using a cleanser with an acne-fighting ingredient like salicylic acid, which reduces swelling and inflammation as it unclogs pores. This Neutrogena cleanser with salicylic acid might just be your best bet, according to the dermatologists I consulted. Dr. Alicia Zalka, a dermatologist at Dermatology Associates of Western Connecticut, has recommended it to patients for 20-plus years, saying the salicylic acid helps break up the matrix of oil and dead skin cells that plugs pores. But because the concentration of salicylic acid is only 2 percent, the wash is gentle enough for sensitive skin while still helping to tame serious breakouts. The gel texture also makes it particularly good for treating oily skin without drying it out.
Best face washes for sensitive skin
Texture: Foam | Ingredients: Glycerin | Size: 16 ounces (Approx. $0.60/ounce)
This Neutrogena cleanser is oil- and soap-free, which means it’s easy on sensitive skin. The formula contains something called “hydrophobically modified polymers,” which effectively cleanse and remove dirt and oil without disrupting the outer skin layer, explains Dr. Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital. It also comes recommended by Dr. Oma Agbai, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at UC Davis, who says the lightweight cleanser’s foaming action can remove oil and residue without overdrying. Because the non-stripping formula is dye-free, hypoallergenic, and noncomedogenic, it’ll work for most skin types, including sensitive ones.
Texture: Cream | Ingredients: Glycerin | Size: 8 ounces (Approx. $1/ounce)
Several dermatologists I talked to suggested Vanicream’s gentle cleanser as well. The brand is a particularly popular pick for those with allergies and other sensitivities because its products are free of sulfates, dyes, fragrance, masking fragrance, lanolin, parabens, and formaldehyde releasers. “It’s super-gentle, but it still does a really good job of cleansing,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. David Kim, who recommends it for patients of all skin types. He does advise using it in tandem with another face wash if you’re wearing heavy makeup, but for a regular end-of-the-day cleanse, it will get everything off your skin without stripping it, he says.
Best face washes for hyperpigmentation
Texture: Gel | Ingredients: Glycerin | Size: 5 ounces (Approx. $1/ounce)
Hyperpigmentation is a skin reaction that can be triggered by inflammation and results in dark marks that are challenging to get rid of. While serums and retinols can be effective, a good cleanser is just as important. This one in particular, Hartman says, will complement any skin-care regimen aimed at treating hyperpigmentation and, in conjunction with a spot treatment, can also help even skin tone in the process. Hartman says it cleanses thoroughly enough to remove any impurities but has a gentle formula that won’t irritate skin. That’s because the main ingredient is glycerin, which improves overall skin health by increasing hydration and minimizing water loss.
Texture: Gel | Ingredients: Glycerin, glycolic acid, benzoic acid | Size: 6.8 ounces (Approx. $6/ounce)
The main ingredient in SkinCeuticals’ Purifying Cleanser is glycolic acid, which provides gentle exfoliation to encourage cell turnover and lessens scarring and hyperpigmentation. Like the Melē cleanser above, this SkinCeuticals formula also contains moisturizing glycerin, which Viera-Newton calls an “unsung skin-care hero.” The face wash is fragrance-, paraben-, and sulfate-free, so it will be gentle on sensitive skin and suitable for dry, normal, oily, or combination types.
Additional reporting by Chloe Anello, Anna Yeo, and Tembe Denton-Hurst
Our experts
• Dr. Oma Agbai, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at UC Davis
• Dr. Carmen Castilla, dermatologist at New York Dermatology Group
• Dr. Sam Ellis, dermatologist and founder of Prequel Skin
• Dr. Marisa Garshick, dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology
• Alexandra Gold, physician assistant at SmarterSkin Dermatology
• Dr. Corey L. Hartman, dermatologist and founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology
•Dr. David Kim, dermatologist and founder of Lightsaver Skin
• Dr. Hope Mitchell, dermatologist and founder of Mitchell Dermatology
• Dr. Wallace Nozile, dermatologist at Epiphany Dermatology
• Jeremy Rellosa, Strategist writer
• Dr. Caroline Robinson, dermatologist and founder of Tone Dermatology
• Dr. Sheel Desai Solomon, dermatologist at Preston Dermatology + Skin Surgery
• Rio Viera-Newton, Strategist beauty columnist and esthetician
• Dr. Alicia Zalka, dermatologist at Dermatology Associates of Western Connecticut
• Dr. Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital
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