The Very Best Face Washes

Texture: Cream | Ingredients: Glycerin, vitamin B5, niacinamide | Size: 20 ounces (Approx. $0.67/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.

Texture: Gel | Ingredients: Kale, spinach, green tea | Size: 8 ounces (Approx. $4.88/ounce)

Gel-based cleansers are 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 associate editor 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.

Texture: Foam | Ingredients: Ceramides, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid | Size: 16 ounces (Approx. $0.89/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: Cream to foam | Ingredients: Salicylic acid, glycerin, coco-glucoside | Size: 4.22 ounces (Approx. $5.95/ounce)

Because this cleanser transforms from a cream to foam texture when applied, it allows for greater surfactant effect, meaning it more effectively “absorbs and emulsifies the oil, dirt, and residue sitting atop the skin,” according to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Divya Shokeen. The result does leave your skin a little tighter and drier, making it perfect “for someone who naturally has really oily skin,” she says. It also contains active ingredients such as salicylic and alpha hydroxy acid, which can help heal cystic or severe acne as well as “work to rid skin of common concerns such as oiliness, pimples, and blackheads,” says dermatologist and co-host of The Doctors Dr. Sonia Batra.

Texture: Gel | Ingredients: Glycerin, arginine, aloe vera | Size: 13.5 ounces (Approx. $1.33/ounce)

Prequel’s Gleanser has achieved holy-grail status for Strategist writer Tembe Denton-Hurst, who says its half-glycerin formula saw her through “hormonal-acne flareups, dermaplaning accidents, and trying out a series of actives that probably did more harm than good. ” It also contains soothing ingredients like oat extract, aloe, and arginine, an amino acid that helps to hydrate skin. After a few months of use, she’s noticed that her dry, acne-prone skin feels nourished but not greasy, and there haven’t been new breakouts as a result. “The little bumps underneath my skin were smoothed out, and I didn’t have that tight, dry feeling anymore,” she reports.

Texture: Cream | Ingredients: Ceramides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide | Size: 16 ounces (Approx. $0.89/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: Oil | Ingredients: Camellia oil, rice, green tea, algae | Size: 5 ounces (Approx. $10/ounce)

Dermatologist Dr. Sejal Shah says dry-skin types will especially benefit from cleansing oils, which tend to have a richer, more hydrating texture, and specifically calls out Tatcha’s Camellia cleansing oil. “Camellia oil is rich in omega fatty acids, in particular oleic acids, and antioxidants, so it hydrates, nourishes, and protects while cleansing,” Shah says. Celebrity facialist Joanna Czech likes how the oil-to-milk formulation adds suppleness to the skin: “It’s very light, and when you mix it with water it becomes slightly milky and leaves the skin feeling soft and nicely conditioned,” she says.

Texture: Gel | Ingredients: Coco betaine, salicylic acid, aloe leaf juice | Size: 6 ounces (Approx. $5.33/ounce)

Strategist editor Crystal Martin says no matter what her skin is feeling like — “dehydrated in the winter, oily and sticky in the summer, breaking out (unfortunately year-round)” — this Jordan Samuel gel cleanser gets the job done. (She’s been using it for six years and counting.) The formula is a non-foaming gel that utilizes gentle surfactants and a touch of salicylic acid, so it lightly exfoliates oily areas without aggravating dry or irritated areas. Plus using it is just “a really delightful experience,” Martin says. “There’s no added fragrance, so the scent comes from ingredients like aloe-leaf juice and chamomile and cucumber extracts. If you’re a fragrance lover, you’ll notice subtle, lovely differences in the scent from bottle to bottle.”

Texture: Cream-to-foam | Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides | Size: 8 ounces (Approx. $2.13/ounce)

According to Mitchell, this CeraVe cleanser 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: Spiraea ulmaria extract, onion bulb extract, myrtle leaf extract, myrrh resin extract | Size: 1.7 ounces (Approx. $17.65/ounce)

Biologique Recherche’s Lait S.R. is specifically designed to address oily or combination skin that’s prone to enlarged or clogged pores, blemishes, and breakouts. It contains ingredients like spiraea-ulmaria extract, which has anti-inflammatory properties, and onion-bulb extract, which helps regulate sebum. When I tested it on my own acne-prone combination skin, I found that it has a lightweight, silky-gel texture that’s fragrance-free and non-foaming. I used it during a period when my skin was feeling red and reactive, and after several weeks of use, my skin felt much calmer.

Texture: Gel | Ingredients: Glycolic acid, willow bark extract, chamomile flower extract | Size: 6 ounces (Approx. $8.16/ounce)

Though it’s admittedly pricey, Denton-Hurst recently crowned iS Clinical’s Cleansing Complex as her top pick for an acne-fighting face wash. In the past year, Denton-Hurst has been dealing with hormonal acne and hyperpigmentation and likes that this cleanser “contains glycolic acid, a gentler acid that works well for lightening dark marks and improves overall texture.” It’s also vouched for by esthetician Carrie Lindsey who calls out the addition of willow-bark extract and chamomile-flower extract to the formula. “The acids gently exfoliate the skin to help keep pores from becoming blocked, while the chamomile is calming and soothing to the most sensitive skin,” says Lindsey. Oculofacial plastic surgeon and founder of Epi.logic Skincare Dr. Chaneve Jeanniton is also a fan, noting that the willow bark (a form of salicylic acid) is good for breaking up pore-clogging oil and keeping it under control.

Texture: Gel | Ingredients: Salicylic acid | Size: 9.1 ounces (Approx. $1.21/ounce)

Salicylic acid is a well-known acne-fighting ingredient that reduces swelling and unclogs pores to clear congestion.This Neutrogena cleanser with salicylic acid is a highly affordable and accessible option that’s beloved by Dr. Alicia Zalka, a dermatologist at Dermatology Associates of Western Connecticut. She’s 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.

Texture: Cream | Ingredients: Benzoyl peroxide | Size: 5.5 ounces ($2/ounce)

Salicylic acid works best for fighting whiteheads and blackheads, but if your acne is red, inflamed, or pustular, you may want to opt for a cleanser with benzoyl peroxide. The ingredient kills acne-causing bacteria by introducing oxygen into the pores and also reduces redness and inflammation. Panoxyl’s foaming face wash that uses a high concentration of benzoyl peroxide (10 percent), which means it can be a tad drying, but is also very effective. Strategist beauty columnist Rio Viera-Newton reports that after a few nights of using this product, “all the textural issues, blackheads, and congestion along my chin and jaw started to fade away. And as I continued using the product regularly for about three weeks I noticed that they stayed away.” (Keep in mind, however, that you’ll want to apply it carefully since the ingredient can bleach or discolor towels and other fabrics.)

Texture: Gel | Ingredients: Allantoin, panthenol, glycerin | Size: 3.8 ounces (Approx. $8.94/ounce)

If you’re already using other products that contain acne-fighting ingredients and just want a simple face wash without any actives, this cleanser is a gentle option that doesn’t strip the skin and provides a nice clean slate for applying other skincare. Esthetician Sofie Pavitt is known as the “acne whisperer,” so it’s no surprise that her skin-care line is especially suited for those dealing with breakouts. It’s a favorite of Strategist writer Dominique Pariso, who says it gives her skin “a very deep, hydrating clean thanks to the inclusion of glycerin and calming panthenol,” which leave the skin feeling nourished even after washing it off. Pariso adds, “If you’re acne-prone, buy this.”

Texture: Foam | Ingredients: Glycerin | Size: 16 ounces (Approx. $1/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. $1.13/ounce)

The Neutrogena option above does have a foaming texture, which may be too drying for skin that’s extremely sensitive or dehydrated. Vanicream’s gentle cleanser has a creamier, melting texture and 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 was name-checked by multiple dermatologists I talked to:“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.

Texture: Soap bar | Ingredients: Glycerin | Size: 30 ounces (Approx. $2.50/ounce)

Bar soaps are typically too harsh to use as face washes, but Dr. Garshick and Dr. Rachel Nazarian, board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group, both agree that Dove’s sensitive skin beauty bar is gentle enough to use on the face. “This hypoallergenic cleanser has been a cult favorite for many, many years and for a good reason,” says Dr. Nazarian. “It manages to cleanse effectively but without stripping natural oils. It’s also unscented and fragrance free.” Dr. Garshick adds that Dove’s soap is “formulated with moisturizing cream, which leaves skin feeling soft and nourished.” It’s even gentle enough for Accutane users and eczema sufferers.

Texture: Milk | Ingredients: Thermal spring water, glycerin | Size: 6.7 ounces (Approx. $4.18/ounce)

Specially formulated for dry to very dry skin, Avene’s milk cleanser doesn’t suds up as much as other face washes “because it contains less harsh surfactants, which tend to remove more oils from the skin,” says Dr. Castilla. The creamy, melting texture leaves skin feeling supple but not greasy, while thermal spring water in the formula works to soothe irritation. You don’t even have to wash it off — after cleansing, the brand advises removing gently with a cotton pad.

Texture: Cream | Ingredients: Sulfur, oat extract, honey and rice bran extract | Size: 4 ounces (Approx. $11.5/ounce)

Sulfur has oil-regulating, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial properties, making it a great option for reducing redness and irritation. I’ve been using this Kate Somerville cleanser as a mask due to its pleasantly thick, grainy texture: I smear a dollop all over my face and let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing it off and following the rest of my skin-care routine. After a month or so of using it every morning and night, I’d noticed that my skin gets less rosy, and my esthetician noticed too; he said that during extractions, my face seemed less inflamed than before. The cleanser is a favorite of Khruangbin’s Laura Lee as well, who also suffers from rosacea. “I just love the way it feels. It’s almost like putting on lotion. That texture is really addictive,” Lee says.