We Tested Over 95 Face Washes — Here Are the Ones That Cleanse Well Without Irritating Sensitive Skin

I tried this cleanser, and I love it. I have dry skin that gets flaky easily, and most face washes cause some degree of tightness or stinging for me. This one is an exception. It makes me feel totally clean with no tightness, stinging, or redness. It feels really great for my skin, and I'm still using it daily.

However, it’s more expensive than many other face washes, and it’s easy to dispense too much product from the tube if you're not careful.

Writer Amy Marschall, PsyD, tested this face wash. “It seemed to reduce redness from my rosacea right away,” she says. This foaming cleanser also removes daily dirt, debris, and makeup well. You can use it twice a day.

Just be aware that it contains ingredients that some people may react poorly to, including alcohol and artificial fragrance. While our tester didn't have any issues with the fragrance, others found it too strong.

The cleanser has a creamy texture but foams into a light lather when applied to a wet face. According to Drunk Elephant, you can use it once daily in the evening. It contains no essential oils or potentially irritating artificial fragrances.

Editor Nicole Bonaccorso says it has two minor drawbacks: The smell is a bit unpleasant, and the small opening in the cap made it difficult to get enough product out without squeezing the bottle very hard.

Still, she liked the cleanser overall. “Though light, this lather could remove makeup, sunscreen, dirt, and grime. It cleans very well,” she says. “My skin felt squeaky clean, but not stripped. It was hydrated and smooth.”

Each package contains 30 soft cleansing cloths. We like how they didn’t make our faces feel stripped or overly tight — a common problem with other makeup remover wipes. Our faces felt fairly cleansed; not exactly hydrated, but also not too dry. To sum it up: normal.

There are some drawbacks to be aware of, though. These wipes contain alcohol and fragrance, ingredients that may irritate sensitive skin, says Dr. Viola. They're also significantly more expensive than other makeup wipes. 

Looking for a cleanser that's gentle enough to use twice daily? Consider this one from First Aid Beauty. “This is a good daily cleanser that will clean your face, remove make-up, and not dry your face out,” says writer Raki Swanson. She adds that it leaves her face feeling clean and moisturized, and not tight or dry.

This cream cleanser is fragrance-free and includes soothing aloe and moisturizing glycerin. It's also free of alcohol, artificial colors, and other irritating ingredients.

Still, our research found that this formula can be drying for some, and it can cause irritation when removing eye makeup.

“I really like that this is an oil and it turns to a lather once water is added,” says writer Lindsay Modglin. “This is important because this is where the moisture is, where it’s actually absorbed into my skin, rather than just a cleanser that cleans and doesn’t add anything to my skin.” Modglin says she’d recommend it to any woman “looking for a face wash that removes makeup but also moisturizes your skin.”

The gel lathers very lightly on your face and can be part of a morning and evening skin care routine. “This was a super-refreshing cleanser," says writer Kara Wahlgren. “My skin felt soft, hydrated, and clean after washing. Within a few days, I noticed my pores were clearer — especially in my normal trouble spots around the T-zone. It also noticeably evened out my skin, which normally has some redness in the heat.”

We think it’s an all-around great cleanser. However, our research found that the cleanser isn’t strong enough for some skin types, and it may not be the best option for those with acne-prone skin. 

Writer Brittany Scanniello, RD, says her face felt clean, but not overly tight, after she used this cleanser. “Post-wash, I still had moisture,” she says. “I don't have overly sensitive skin, but I felt this was a gentle formula, and this product cleaned my skin well.”

Still, it took some time and care to fully cleanse the wash off of her face — more so than with other cleansers she's used. During our research, we also found that this cleanser can cause excessive dryness for some.

If you have severely dry skin, a thick cream cleanser can help lock in moisture. Alpyn’s Hydrating Cream Cleanser is “very thick and feels more like a hand lotion than a face cleanser,” says writer Mary Dennis. But it's “absolutely bursting with moisture,” and she loved the way it felt.

This cleanser also includes some ingredients, like alcohol, that may irritate sensitive skin. Physical exfoliants like jojoba beads may not be a good choice for all people with sensitive skin, either, says Viola.

Looking for a convenient, sensitive skin–friendly cleanser to travel with? Olay Cleansing Melts with vitamin C are dry sheets of face cleanser that work with water, making them ideal for tossing into a carry-on or suitcase.

“The small square is a cloth-like texture before adding water,” says writer Nicole M. LaMarco. “After adding water, it becomes like a gel liquid. When you rub it in your hands, it lathers up nicely into a soapy foam.”

Still, LaMarco says that using it helped her skin feel “the cleanest it's felt in a long time. It's so refreshing.” A downside is that the cardboard packaging isn't her favorite. “It can easily be dented or get wet,” she says. “It's a new, fun packaging for face wash, but [it] may need an upgrade.”

Foaming cleansers typically contain soap, which can strip the skin excessively, but the SkinCeuticals Soothing Cleanser foams without it, so it’s ideal for people with sensitive skin. It’s also free of synthetic fragrances, dyes, and alcohol. In addition, one of its key ingredients is glycerin, which Tanya Kormeili, MD, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist at Derm & Rejuvenation Institute in Santa Monica, California, says can help with hydration and skin barrier protection.

The cleanser is appropriate for all skin types and can be used after procedures such as chemical peels, microneedling, or non-ablative laser treatments. It’s also gentle enough for morning and evening use, and you don’t need much (just a single pump to get it super foamy). Although we’re not a fan of the slightly medicinal smell of the face wash, our skin looked and felt cleaner after using it regularly.

“A little goes a long way with this cleanser. When you use a little, it lathers nicely,” says LaMarco. “My eczema-prone skin felt calmer, less itchy, and more hydrated than with regular soap.”

Still, the flip-top lid isn't the best for use in the shower, she says. And be aware that you’ll likely need to rebuy this product more often if you use it for both your face and your body. Just keep that in mind as you consider the price.

Artificial fragrance, listed as “fragrance” or “parfum” on skin care products, can be very irritating to sensitive skin, according to both Kormeili and Viola. Choosing a fragrance-free cleanser, like this one from Neutrogena, can go a long way toward reducing skin irritation.

In addition to being fragrance-free, it’s also free of other irritating ingredients, including alcohol, soaps, and dyes. Plus, it contains glycerin, a moisturizing ingredient that Kormeili and Viola both recommend for sensitive skin.

That said, our research found that many customers have issues with the pump dispensing product adequately. Others say it's not the best for removing eye makeup.

Still, “I've tried a lot of cleansers, and this one was honestly one of the best I've tried,” says writer Kimberly Dawn Neumann. “I'm a big fan of simple products that are ‘clean’ and also don't break the bank.” She says the cleanser rinses off easily and leaves your skin feeling clean but not overly stripped.