The 12 Best Face Washes We Tested for Women

Cleansers set the stage for the rest of a skin care routine, so it’s important to find one that works for your skin type. And because this is a safe space, it’s okay to admit if you’ve ever been overwhelmed by the sheer amount of face washes for women on the market. You’re in the right place, though, if you want to learn about the cleansers that will suit your skin.

“The best cleanser is one you’ll actually use consistently,” says Sarah Allen, MD, a board-certified physician in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, and founder and chief medical officer of Skin Clique. “Skin health is health; it’s about maintaining the integrity of your barrier every day, not chasing trends. A simple, science-backed routine is always more effective than an overly complicated one.”

To bring you the best face washes for women, we tested more than 100 across every price point and texture — gels, balms, powders, oils, and more — and spoke to four experts to find out what works. Keep reading to learn more about our favorite picks.

• Best gentle: SEEN Face Wash
• Best for all skin types: Tatcha The Rice Wash
• Best vitamin C: TruSkin Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser
• Best hydrating: Rhode Pineapple Refresh PGA Daily Cleanser
• Best brightening: Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser
• Best for acne: La Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser
• Best for rosacea: CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser
• Best for removing makeup: Fresh Soy Face Cleanser
• Best oil-to-foam: Laneige Perfect Renew Oil-to-Foam Cleanser
• Best powder: Jaxon Lane Shake And Wake Enzyme Powder Face Wash
• Best cleansing balm: Wylys Phyto Green Cleansing Balm
• Best oil cleanser: One Love Botanical B Enzyme Cleansing Oil

We tested more than 100 cleansers and asked for personal favorites from our writers, editors, and other staff. There were some excellent cleansers that ultimately didn’t make the final cut. Still, we wanted to call out some other notable products:

• Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser This gentle cleanser helps nurture dry, rough skin. It’s a creamy gel texture that does not foam. It’s made with glycerin and niacinamide (vitamin B3) and is noncomedogenic, meaning it won’t clog pores. This one ultimately didn’t make our list because our tester mentioned her skin felt dry a few hours after using it, though that may not be the case for everyone.
• Youth to the People Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser This is a truly thick, rich gel cleanser that feels luxurious to use and, like a smoothie for your face, it contains spinach, kale, and green tea. It becomes milky when mixed with water and effectively removes makeup while being easy to rinse. However, this did not make our list because while our tester liked the product, she noted that her acne did not improve while using it.
• Neutrogena Fragrance Free Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser Foaming Formula Neutrogena is a classic, affordable option, and this no-frills cleanser gets the job done for under $10. This hypoallergenic cleanser is free of fragrance, soaps, parabens, sulfates, alcohols, and dyes. Our tester said her skin felt very clean but not stripped when using it. That said, this product was too similar to others on the list (namely CeraVe), but it’s a great, affordable cleanser for women.

To select the best face washes for women, our writers and editors tested more than 100 face washes (sometimes recruiting our partners) for weeks. We tested different types of cleansers, including gels, creamers, exfoliants, powders, balms, cleansing cloths, and more to bring you the best of the best. We also considered various skin concerns and found testers with sensitive skin conditions, such as rosacea, eczema, acne, and dry skin, to find out what works (and what doesn’t).

To round out our testing and research, we spoke with experts about what to look for in face washes for women and how often to wash your face. The experts we spoke with are:

• Sarah Allen, MD, a board-certified physician in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, and the founder and chief medical officer of Skin Clique
• Kathleen Hamilton, a certified esthetician and education director at Woodhouse Spa in Cincinnati
• William Kwan, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Golden State Dermatology in Beverly Hills, California
• James Y. Wang, MD, founder of Metropolis Dermatology in Southern California

Our experts weighed in with valuable insights on what to look for in face washes for women. Also, with so many cleansers on the market, we know it can be difficult to find one right for you. Here are some factors to consider when choosing a cleanser.

• Ingredients Look for ingredients that address your skin concerns. For example, if you’re acne-prone, formulas with low salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide concentrations are a good fit, Allen recommends. If your skin is dry, look for hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, or opt for an oil-based cleanser. “I recommend looking for gentle surfactants and skin-repairing ingredients. Ingredients such as glycerin, fatty acids, and lipids help maintain hydration, while antioxidants like vitamin E and soothing plant extracts reduce inflammation,” Wang says.
• Skin Type Compatibility Make sure the formula suits your skin type to avoid irritation or breakouts. If you have dry or sensitive skin, you’ll likely want a cream-based or oil cleanser. More oily skin types can benefit from a gel face wash. People with uneven skin tones may prefer a powder or a manual exfoliating wash that contains AHAs (things like glycolic and lactic acids) and BHAs.

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• Price The cleansers on this list range from just over $10 to almost $90. Consider factors like cost per ounce and what you’re personally comfortable spending more than once.
• Ingredient Overlap When choosing a cleanser, consider your full skin care routine. If your serum contains vitamin C, for example, you’d probably want to skip it in your cleanser to avoid overdoing it.

“If you have sensitive skin, your cleanser should work with your skin — not against it. Look for formulas that are fragrance-free, sulfate-free, and pH-balanced, and that contain soothing, barrier-supportive ingredients like lipids, ceramides, and antioxidants,” Wang says.

How Often Should I Use an Exfoliating Cleanser?

Exfoliating has a place in any skin care routine, but you don’t want to overdo it.

“Using an exfoliating cleanser once or twice a week is usually plenty! Doing it too often can dry out or irritate your skin, especially if you’re on the sensitive side. If you use a scrub, make sure the beads are small and smooth, and go easy on the pressure,” says Dr. Hamilton.

Wang agrees, saying that for most people, one to three times per week is plenty. “Overexfoliating can lead to barrier damage, redness, and breakouts,” he explains.

When in doubt, try exfoliating once a week, and then increase to twice a week as your skin gets used to it.

How Should I Wash My Face?

It may seem simple, but properly washing your face is actually a bit of an art. Typically, you simply start by wetting your skin with warm or lukewarm water. Then, dispense about a dime-sized amount of cleanser into your hands and rub it on your face. You can allow the cleanser to sit for a few seconds, then gently rub it off, being careful not to scrub. Pat your face dry with a soft towel.

To ensure you’re washing your face properly with a cleanser, read the instructions on the product’s bottle, as instructions vary by formula. For example, some cleansers may be more potent and only require a pea-sized amount; others may suggest a double rinse to remove all the residue.