Testers with sensitive skin were genuinely impressed with the mildness of Aveeno Calm + Restore Nourishing Oat Cleanser. And they loved how it plumped up and soothed their skin. (Like many Aveeno products, this cleanser contains oatmeal flour.) It was edged out slightly by Vanicream and EltaMD because it didn’t rinse off as effortlessly.
Bubble Skincare is a favorite among the tween and teen set, and we were charmed by the Soft Launch Hydrating Cream Cleanser’s packaging (though the little cap and pump were tricky to maneuver with wet hands). The pearly liquid is fine but not fantastic, and it took some effort to rinse the product from the hollows of our eyes.
We appreciated how Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Mousse transformed from a cream into a lusty lather, but all of those bubbles did a number on one tester’s eyes (which aren’t even that sensitive).
Beyond its Foaming Facial Cleanser, our pick for oily and acne-prone skin, CeraVe offers a broad choice of excellent cleansers for a range of skin types. When we tried the Hydrating Facial Cleanser or the Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser, we were invariably impressed with how they managed to effectively clean away schmutz and schvitz while still leaving skin feeling fresh and smooth, but we preferred our picks.
For decades, dermatologists have recommended Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, especially for those with sensitive skin or acne. And even though this subtle, suds-less option has many long-time and loyal fans (including many Wirecutter staffers), it tended to trigger sensitivity and breakouts for our testers with sensitive skin.
CosRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser is a pick in our roundup of Korean skin-care favorites, and testers loved the feel of its gently frothing gel formula. They were split, however, on the tea-tree–forward fragrance: One panelist liked it, despite her general aversion to scented skin care; another found it too medicinal.
Testers were split over the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser: One tester hated the fragrance, but another loved it. One tester said it left her skin too dry, while another loved how moisturized her skin felt. There was consensus, however, about its formulation: It’s rather runny and dribbles out of the tube.
We appreciated that Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser comes in a carry-on-friendly, 2.5-ounce tube, and we loved how the pearlescent formula created a robust foam. But even after thorough rinsing, our skin felt too taut.
Between its brown tinge and slimy texture, the KraveBeauty Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser unfortunately reminded us of pond scum, and that overshadowed the gel’s ability to cleanse and smooth.
Laneige Water Bank Gentle Gel Cleanser’s gentle formula creates a wisp of foam with unexpected oomph when you’re removing heavy eye makeup. The performance was on a par with that of the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. But ounce for ounce, Laneige’s cleanser is nearly four times more expensive.
Like CeraVe, La Roche-Posay has a solid lineup of impressive cleansers (including its Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser). The Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Cleanser and the Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser were both great for oil control, but they left our skin a little dry after we used them for several days.
For something with oil-fighting salicylic acid, Murad Acne Control Clarifying strikes the perfect balance between leaving skin smooth and pliant, while also feeling like it’s really getting into pores and doing its thing. “It left my face feeling clean, not tight and stingy,” one panelist said. It was just edged out by our CeraVe pick.
With a feel and formula very similar to that of our Neutrogena pick, the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Gel Cleanser has plenty to recommend it. Our testers just slightly preferred the experience of the fragrance-free pick.
A fragrance-free update on a classic, the foamy Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash with Salicylic Acid ably cuts through oiliness. But, like many other options for the acne-prone, it can leave skin feeling a bit taut.
Whereas so many gentle cleansers tend to be milky creams, Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser distinguished itself as a clear liquid that becomes an airy lather. For sensitive skin, though, it wasn’t quite as soothing as our pick from Vanicream.
Olay Smoothing Daily Facial Cleanser is utterly inoffensive. This suds-less basic was fine at refreshing skin, but only when we weren’t wearing a lot of makeup.
PanOxyl and pore-cleaning go hand-in-hand (in fact, the brand’s Clarifying Exfoliant 2% Salicylic Acid is a top pick in our guide to chemical exfoliants). Testers liked how PanOxyl Acne Foaming Wash frothed up just enough, but they found it too harsh and irritating (especially around the eyes). Like many acne washes powered by benzoyl peroxide, this one tended to bleach a tester’s towels no matter how well she’d rinsed.
Phyla pH Balancing Gel Cleanser was a strong contender for testers with normal/combination skin, who appreciated how the light gel lathered and felt on their skin. Overall, however, it was edged out slightly by the cleansers from Neutrogena and Ouai.
Several staffers swear by Prequel Gleanser Non-Drying Glycerin Cleanser and its smooth, sheer, glycerin-rich formula. But testers found that it didn’t lather well or rinse off easily.
For dry skin, we still love Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Cleanser, a pick in our roundup of great Korean skin-care products. Enriched with moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and birch sap, this gel leaves skin fresh and bouncy. The only strike against it is that it’s hard to find in stores.
Smooth, mellow Thayer’s Hydrating Milky Face Cleanser held its own against other mild cream cleansers, but it was edged out due to its slightly swampy smell.
We loved everything about the Vintner’s Daughter Active Renewal Cleanser — except for the $100-plus price tag. The cleanser, which comes in a minimalist-chic glass bottle, contains aloe, apples, and a form of vinegar, and it feels lusciously lively on skin. We’d be tempted to buy it as an occasional splurge. But we prefer to spend this much on skin-care products that stay on the skin — rather than rinse down the drain.
Many staffers are fans of Youth To The People Superfood Cleanser. Our panelists liked how it sudsed up, removed grime and makeup, and smelled fresh and green. But as much as they admired the look of the glass bottle, they were less keen on using it in bathrooms, which tend to have mostly hard surfaces.
We also ruled out a number of additional cleansers from Amazon Basics, Anua, Augustinus Bader, Avene, Beauty of Joseon, BeautyStat, Belif, Bioderma, Byoma, Caudalie, CeraVe, Cetaphil, Charlotte Tilbury, Clean & Clear, Clinique, Colorescience, Dermalogica, Dior, Dr. Loretta, Drunk Elephant, Elemis, E.L.F. Skin, Farmacy, First Aid Beauty, Future Wise, Garnier, Glow Recipe, Hanyul, Hyper Skin, Ilia, Indie Lee, iS Clinical, Jan Marini, Kate Somerville, La Prairie, L’Oréal Paris, Mary Kay, Naturium, Olay, Paula’s Choice, RoC, Shiseido, SkinCeuticals, SkinFix, Sofie Pavitt, Sulwhasoo, The Face Shop, The Inkey List, The Ordinary, True Botanicals, Tower 28, and Venn. We chose not to send them to panel testing for a variety of reasons, including insufficient or unfavorable reviews and concerns related to availability and value.
This article was edited by Jennifer G. Sullivan and Hannah Morrill.
