The Best Editor-Tested Face Washes for Every Skin Type

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After testing over 30 face washes, we found that the best options effectively cleanse without stripping away natural moisture.

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Health

Cleansing your face is one of the most important steps in any skincare routine. While all cleansers are designed to remove dirt, oil, and impurities, different skin types have varying needs—like oil control, hydration, or soothing sensitive skin. Finding the best face wash for your skin type can make a significant difference by balancing your skin without stripping it of natural oils.

Dermatologist Melanie Palm, MD, MBA, recommends choosing mild, non-irritating cleansers that contain hydrating ingredients like humectants and ceramides, avoiding irritating sulfates and dyes, and using a formula (cream or gel, foaming or bar) compatible with your skin's needs.

To find the best face washes for every skin type and concern, we tested over three dozen facial cleansers with a range of formulas and functions. We evaluated each product based on ease of use, effectiveness, hydration, and overall feel. Additionally, our Medical Expert Board dermatologist reviewed this article for medical accuracy.

As an Editor at Health focused on skin and body care, I've tested various face washes and found that the right choice depends on skin type and lifestyle. The best cleansers balance effective cleaning with gentle formulas to maintain natural moisture. I also adjust my cleanser seasonally, as my skin needs differ between the humid summer and dry winter months.

I stick to CeraVe's Hydrating Cream Cleanser year-round as my go-to base, but when the weather turns cold, I also reach for Skinfix Barrier+ Ceramide + Ectoin Cleanser for extra moisture. And for makeup removal, Eadem’s Dew Dream Cleansing Balm is my favorite—it gets the job done gently without irritation.

—Lauren Paige Richeson, Commerce Editor

The Outset's Gentle Micellar Antioxidant Cleanser is a lightweight, clear gel-like face wash that did an impressive job removing all our makeup without causing any irritation. The hydrating, nourishing formula made it ideal for cleansing our faces at the end of the day. This gentle pick is a great option for anyone with sensitive skin, especially those who wear makeup regularly.

After using this face wash, our skin felt clean, soft, and moisturized. During testing this never caused breakouts, and our sensitive skin never felt any sort of discomfort. It really exceeded our expectations, hydrating our skin while noticeably reducing blackheads and improving skin texture in just four weeks.

The pump bottle allows you to easily control the amount of product you dispense, and the gel formula was easy to massage into our skin. It also came off easily with just a few swipes of a washcloth, along with all of our makeup. It left our skin soft, never making our faces dry or tight.

The Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser is the top drugstore choice for effective yet affordable skincare. Infused with glycerin, it provides a spa-like experience without stickiness. This gentle cleanser effectively refreshes and clears the skin while imparting a subtle bronze glow when hit by sunlight. Its reasonable price and compact bottle make it convenient for travel, solidifying its recommendation as a go-to drugstore option.

This cleanser was user-friendly, and pump allowed us to get just the right amount out of the bottle. Lathering the product unveils a satisfyingly sudsy texture. Despite a faint scent, its non-irritating formula effectively matches up to pricier alternatives like La Roche Posay, leaving the skin refreshed and awake. Fans of gel cleansers will appreciate its hydrating effect, which eliminated the need for extra moisturizer. It left our skin looking slightly brighter and gave us a clear and refreshed appearance.

If you have oily or acne-prone skin, this La Roche-Posay Effaclar Facial Wash can help control oil and prevent breakouts without drying out your skin too much. It's formulated with zinc pidolate to remove excess oil without messing with your skin's pH balance. In testing, this cleanser lathered up nicely and provided a pleasant cooling sensation every time we washed our face. We loved that we only needed one pump to cover our entire faces, and it felt velvety and smooth.

Those with sensitive oily skin know the challenges of finding a product that minimizes oil production without causing irritation. You'll be happy to know this non-comedogenic pick is gentle enough for sensitive skin, and it never made our skin feel tight or irritated. Plus, it didn't cause eczema on our hands to flare up either. We highly recommend this for anyone looking for a refreshing, energizing face wash to control oil and breakouts.

The creamy, gentle Skinfix barrier+ Ceramide + Ectoin Cleanser is a great choice for anyone looking for a face wash that removes makeup and sunscreen without stripping their skin. It's also a good pick for colder months when skin tends to be drier and needs a bit of extra nourishment from your skin care routine. The combination of ingredients like ectoin and chamomile always left our face feeling soft, clean, and soothed.

This gel cleanser foams up nicely when it comes in contact with water, and it spreads and cleans well, no harsh scrubbing required. This pH-balanced formula performed well removing all our makeup and sunscreen from the day while also hydrating our dry skin. While many face washes strip our skin barrier and leave our skin feeling dry and tough after washing, this one made it feel clean and soft. While it has moisturizing properties, this wash can help control excess oils and unclog pores as well.

We loved that La Roche-Posay's Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser cleaned our skin well without stripping it, didn't irritate dry patches, and was very hydrating without making us feel oily. This creamy lightweight formula is a good choice for those with combination skin looking for a gentle cleanser that removes makeup and nourishes skin at the same time. The product is formulated to remove impurities while respecting your skin's moisture barrier and natural pH levels, keeping it from irritating sensitive skin.

During the testing period we appreciated skipping a makeup remover in our nightly routine, since this got rid of every trace of our makeup without any scrubbing or harsh ingredients. The bottle was easy to use, and the cleanser provided a satisfying lather that was easy to rinse off. It always left our face feeling clean, refreshed, and hydrated.

The Dr. Idriss Soft Wash Jelly Cleanser is an ideal daily cleanser that removed makeup and sunscreen without irritating our sensitive skin. It has a lightweight jelly-like texture, as the name suggests, that was soothing for our dry, redness-prone skin. We appreciated that this face wash didn't strip our skin of its natural oils but still left us feeling clean.

This pH-balanced face wash comes in a tube that never leaked or made a mess when we squeezed it into our hands. It didn't take much of the non-foaming cleanser to wash our face, and it never left behind any residue after rinsing. Plus, it's non-irritating so it won't hurt your eyes if you use it to remove eye makeup.

This cleanser is suitable for all skin types, and most people will find they only need to use it at night. However, for those with oilier or acne-prone skin or who workout in the morning the brand recommends twice-a-day use.

If you have whiteheads, pustular acne, or even mild cystic acne, salicylic acid may not work as well for you as a product with benzoyl peroxide, like PanOxyl's Acne Foaming Wash. Benzoyl peroxide is best known as an antiseptic acne-fighting ingredient, getting rid of the bacteria on your skin that causes pimples and breakouts.

This cleanser is a thick gel with a creamy texture. It felt slightly sticky on our skin but wasn't harsh. The cleanser was easy to spread, but it didn't lather. There was no scent or fragrance in the product, which was great as it didn't cause any irritation to our skin. We were pleasantly surprised by how effectively it removed a full face of foundation with just one use. While the thick gel formula worked wonders in removing makeup, using it daily might strip your skin of moisture due to the presence of Benzoyl peroxide, which is better suited for younger skin with acne and breakouts.

After using the product, our skin felt clean, makeup-free, and surprisingly hydrated. We would recommend this product to anyone needing a medicinal face wash to treat acne and breakouts.

Health / Jessica Juliao

The Youth To The People Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser offers a calming and gentle cleansing experience for those with easily inflamed or irritated skin. This face wash prevents pore buildup, effectively removes makeup, and balances pH without causing dryness or stripping. It's enriched with skin-loving phytonutrients and vitamins C, E, and K, promoting skin health and a radiant glow while soothing and conditioning with essential fatty acids to combat visible signs of aging.

The consistency of this cleanser was thick and a bit heavy, with a clear gel-like texture that felt slightly sticky on our fingers. However, once applied to our face it felt cool and gentle. This cleanser has a fresh scent that was noticeable when it came out of the bottle but not overpowering, and it didn't irritate our skin even in sensitive areas. We loved that this face wash didn't overstrip our skin and adequately cleansed and hydrated. Surprisingly, it even calmed our rosacea.

Glow Recipe's Avocado Ceramide Moisture Barrier Cleanser is a thick and creamy cleanser that removes makeup while soothing skin with ingredients like colloidal oatmeal and avocado oil, making especially great for those with eczema. These nourishing ingredients help soften and soothe while still leaving skin feeling clean and residue-free after rinsing, and ceremides and pre- and postbiotics help to strengthen the skin barrier.

We loved how hydrated and refreshed our face felt after cleansing with this. The gel-to-foam face wash comes out of the bottle feeling thick and a bit heavy, but spreads easily and lathers into a light foam. It allowed us to skip using our usual makeup remover, making our bedtime routine a little easier. Plus, its luxurious consistency made us feel like we were having a refreshing spa experience each time we used this.

Beauty Pie's AcidEnzyme Exfoliating Cleanser is a chemical exfoliant packed with powerhouse ingredients like salicylic acid, making it a great pick for brightening and smoothing skin. Because this face wash uses AHAs and BHAs to exfoliate instead of using physical exfoliants, it's highly effective without being irritating or abrasive. We loved that it improved our skin's appearance without irritating our eczema prone, sensitive face.

The thick, gel-like consistency of this cleanser felt luxurious to use and was very easy to massage into our skin. It comes out of the pump bottle smoothly and lathers nicely, and always delivered exactly the amount we needed with each pump. We did find that we needed to scrub with our hands a bit to fully remove all the product from our skin, but it didn't require so much scrubbing that it ever caused irritation. This left us feeling clean without any dry, tight feeling common to exfoliating washes.

If you're on the drier side, CeraVe's Hydrating Facial Cleanser will ensure your face wash helps rehydrate your skin. This creamy, lotion-like cleanser is a gentle and effective face wash enriched with ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and essential lipids to thoroughly clean and nourish the skin's natural barrier and maintain optimal hydration levels.

This cleanser was a breeze to use, as one pump dispensed just the right amount for a full cleanse. We found the creamy and jelly-like consistency gentle and easy to spread on our skin, providing a smooth and even lather without feeling heavy. The best part was that there was no noticeable fragrance, and it did not irritate at all. We loved how the formula helped makeup slide right off without harsh rubbing, leaving our skin feeling soft, hydrated, and not at all tight.

After using the product our skin looked clear, with smaller pores and a more even tone, and it felt refreshed and revitalized. This National Eczema Association-accepted cleanser was gentle yet effective, maintaining our skin's natural moisture without stripping it of hydration.

Health / Jessica Juliao

The EltaMD Skin Recovery Foaming Cleanser is a gentle foaming cleanser that's great for sensitive skin. In fact, it's so gentle and nourishing that it can even be used on post-procedure skin. During testing it removed our light makeup and sunscreen with ease while keeping our skin hydrated. EltaMD's patented amino acid complex helps to cleanse and soothe while strengthening your skin barrier and helping skin retain water. By the end of four weeks our skin was less red and felt soft and moisturized.

This foaming face wash lathers excellently, and it spread easily across our skin. The formula comes out as a dense, somewhat heavy foam, giving it a creamier texture than other foaming washes we've used in the past. We were happy to see we only needed one pump for our entire face, so this product can likely last a while. The easy-to-use wash kept our skin feeling clean and fresh without any tightness or irritation.

The iS Clinical Cleansing Complex stood out in testing because it contains acne-controlling properties but did not causing excessive dryness. Infused with white willow bark extract, it exfoliates to dissolve pore-clogging oil while promoting cell turnover and a refined pore appearance. Additionally, antioxidants sourced from chamomile and centella asiatica aid in healing skin damage, ultimately leaving your skin's surface impeccably clean and balanced.

The face wash was gentle during application, though while initially rubbing between our hands the product exhibited a slight stickiness; however, it transformed into a smooth and soft texture when applied to our face. The scent wasn't strong, but it smelled clean and light, making the experience pleasant. The cleanser effectively broke down and removed dirt and impurities, leaving our faces feeling clean and refreshed.

Washing off the cleanser was pretty easy and didn't leave any film behind. The cleanser didn't make our skin feel tight or dry; on the contrary, it left our faces feeling more moisturized, resulting in a smoother complexion. Our skin appeared brighter and less clogged after using this. We would recommend this product to anyone looking for a light gel cleanser, especially if they have dry skin.

Health / Jessica Juliao

Exfoliating face washes are great for sloughing away dead skin to reveal a brighter, smoother appearance, but they can also be too harsh—which is why we the SkinCeuticals Purifying Cleanser, a gentler alternative. Its combination of alpha hydroxy acids (AHA), such as glycolic and lactic acids, offers a potent exfoliation that helps remove dead skin cells, unclog pores, and improve overall skin texture, making it an excellent choice for those seeking a rejuvenating exfoliator in their skincare routine.

The cleanser is thin and gel-like, and it foamed easily when we applied water to our skin. We found it very gentle and pleasant to use. The product lathered well, but we noticed that it required a good amount of water to keep the foam going. The scent was clean and not overly fragranced, almost like the smell of water.

The water-based formula worked exceptionally well for us, providing both hydration and cleansing without feeling heavy on our skin. While it didn't significantly reduce blackheads or brighten our skin, it drew out excess oiliness and left our skin feeling soft and refreshed.

Health / Jessica Juliao

The Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Exfoliating Treatment is an exceptional facial scrub reminiscent of a high-quality mud mask with its vibrant green hue and gentle exfoliating beads. Its creamy texture and soothing scent enhance the overall skincare experience. As an added bonus, you can get the full benefits of this scrub by using it for just two minutes twice a week.

The creamy consistency and light, pleasant scent provide a relaxing experience while using this. It has a slightly intense tingling sensation when left on the skin, and, unlike other washes on this list, can't be used daily. This product impressively leaves the skin feeling noticeably smoother, softer, and more moisturized, making it a standout option for those seeking an invigorating facial scrub to rejuvenate and brighten their complexion.

Health / Madelaine Jerousek-Smith

Elemis Pro-Collagen Green Fig Cleansing Balm is a luxurious, limited edition version of the brand's iconic Cleansing Balm. We really loved the spa-like experience that came with massaging this creamy balm into our skin each day. It hydrates while it removes makeup and impurities, and it left our skin clean, soft, and radiant.

This balm melted into our skin like butter, and we had no issues spreading it around our face to thoroughly cleanse away makeup. It comes with a small cloth to help wipe away the product, leaving skin smooth and residue free. We felt like our skin had a post-facial glow after just one use!

This is an excellent choice for drier winter months because it provides so much moisture. For extra hydration, you can even use it as a face mask.

If you prefer a bar soap over a liquid cleanser, STĀS The Repair Face Bar is a great option for anyone, even those with sensitive skin. The long-lasting face bar is infused with anti-aging and skin-soothing ingredients like green tea extract, collagen, and ceramides that can be beneficial for stressed or mature skin. And despite the moisturizing ingredients, this didn't cause any clogged pores or breakouts for our oily skin. This also exfoliates with salt flakes that are so small we couldn't see them at all, making it a great extra-gentle physical exfoliant option.

After using this for four weeks of testing, our skin was smoother and felt fresh and moisturized. The small ball of soap didn't lather much, instead creating a thick and creamy consistency on our face. It washed away sunscreen and makeup without issue, leaving our skin feeling clean but never stripped. We needed very minimal product for each wash, proving that this bar will last a relatively long time compared to our usual gel cleanser.

The Eadem Dew Dream Cleansing Balm pulls double duty as both a cleansing balm and face wash, removing dirt and makeup while cleansing and hydrating. Plus, by the end of the four week testing period, our skin looked brighter and smoother. We found this cleanser gentle enough for daily use, and it always left our skin feeling clean and clear of makeup, grease, and sunscreen. It also never caused breakouts to our acne-prone skin.

We love that this face wash simplified our skin care routine. We didn't need to use a makeup remover or double cleanse at all during testing. We appreciated how easy it was to squeeze just the right amount into our palm for each use, too. The formula starts out as a gel but lathers into a light, foamy soap as it mixes with water on your face. This balm is very easy to rinse off, and it doesn't leave an oily residue behind like many cleansing balms do.

Eadem makes their skin care products specifically for people of color, so while anyone can use this balm, it's important to call out that this is made with the brand's Smart Melanin Technology. This means that each ingredient in this cleansing balm is delivered in a dosage that works well and is safe for darker skin.

To find the best face washes for every skin type, we tested over 30 face wash products in the Health lab and at home over four weeks. We carefully selected a variety to cater to different skin types, whether fighting acne, moisturizing, hydrating, or treating common skin conditions like rosacea and ingredient preferences. These face washes were thoroughly evaluated with the following factors in mind:

We spoke with the following dermatologists about ingredients, textures, and formulas to look for and avoid when choosing a product that will work for you.

Selecting a face wash is based on personal preference and its effectiveness for specific skin concerns. Here are common types of cleansers and their ideal skin types:

The best time to wash your face is at night, just before you go to bed. Throughout the day, your skin is exposed to various elements, including dirt, air pollutants, makeup, and sunscreen. Cleansing your face in the evening helps remove these impurities, promoting a refreshed and healthy complexion while you sleep.

If you feel the need to wash your face in the morning, especially if you have oily skin, Dr. Fishman advises using only water instead of a cleanser. She explains that the oils and sebum on your skin contain antimicrobial peptides that help prevent infections and serve as natural moisturizers, which help maintain the skin barrier.

Cara Milhaven is a writer passionate about testing health and beauty products to determine which work up to their claims and can benefit Health readers the most. She has interviewed numerous experts in the health, wellness, and beauty industries to research products and health trends thoroughly.

Sarah Bradley has been a freelance writer since 2017, tackling health commerce articles, product reviews, and shopping guides on everything from dry skin moisturizers and wart removers to menstrual cups and toothbrushes for braces. She has personally tested electric toothbrushes and water flossers, so knows what makes a good product stand out from a great one (and really, really wants to tell you about it).

What is comedogenicity, and what ingredients are comedogenic? Acne.org.

Benzoyl peroxide: medicine used to treat acne. nhs.uk.