As a pivotal first step in your skincare routine, cleansing helps purify your skin and give it a much-needed douse of hydration. That, we love.
What we don’t particularly love (actually, we don’t love at all) is cleansing with ingredients and formulations that don’t serve sensitive skin well — that is, includes some ingredient no-no’s dermatologists would abhor.
“All skin types (oily, normal, combination, dry) can also be simultaneously sensitive,” Tiffany Libby, MD, board-certified dermatologist, Mohs surgeon and assistant professor of dermatology at Brown University’s Warren Alpert School of Medicine, told the New York Post. “Sensitive skin is skin that has a weakened or disrupted skin barrier and results in various skin signs of sensitivity like redness, flaking, itching and overall irritation.”
More, we have sensitive skin ourselves and, after using certain ones for years and consulting our team of board-certified dermatologists, rounded up the 11 best face washes you can add to your cart and feel good about. We also recommend shuffling along to our in-depth FAQ section for more intel on what to look for in a face wash for sensitive skin.
If you’re a skincare junkie, too, we recommend also reading our expert-backed guides to the best hyaluronic acid products and niacinamide serums to help build your regimen.
1. Cetaphil Hydrating Foaming Cream Cleanser, $10
According to Adarsh VIjay Mudgil, MD, dual board-certified dermatologist, owner of Mudgil Dermatology, PC and assistant clinical professor at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, “this is the ‘OG’ on the market.”
Why? It’s inexpensive, readily available and a great overall cleanser for those with sensitive skin. “This is a great option for those with sensitive skin who still desire a foaming cleanse, as it is a unique cream-to-foam formulation that is pH-balanced and nourishes skin while providing that effective clean it to remove dirt, oil and makeup,” Dr. Libby adds. “It also has hydrating glycerin and to support the skin barrier.”
2. CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser, $12 to $15
“This foaming facial cleanser is designed for sensitive skin and features ceramides, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to calm the skin’s moisture barrier.” Libby highlights. Not to mention, we’ve been using it for years on our sensitive skin and it’s backed by more than 72,000 rave reviews on Amazon — and counting.
Plus, it’s Dr. Mudgil’s personal favorite. “There’s something about foam!” he praises. “This formulation also contains hyaluronic acid and ceramides which are very moisturizing. The niacinamide is also a great ingredient for those with a flushing tendency.”
3. Aveeno Calm + Restore Nourishing Oat Cleanser, $11 to $13
“This is another terrific, inexpensive formulation,” Mudgil says. “Some patients with sensitive skin find oats very soothing. This also gets points for being hydrating as well!”
Libby echoes this notion. “I’m a big fan of oat as a nourishing, calming and skin-barrier supporting ingredient,” she adds. “This is a gentle milky cleanser that is well-suited for those with sensitive skin.”
4. Perricone MD Vitamin C Ester Citrus Brightening Cleanser, $35
“This gel-cleanser is best suited for normal to oily skin types and uses vitamin C to smooth and brighten skin.” That said, if you have sensitive skin but feel your skin isn’t too dry (or, per Libby, leans toward the oily side), you’ll want to consider Perricone MD’s Vitamin C Ester Citrus Brightening Cleanser.
5. Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser, $9 to $11
According to Mudgil, “this is as pared-down a cleanser as they come [and] a great starting point for anyone with sensitive skin.”
More, Vanicream is a well-known premier sensitive skincare brand and beloved by nearly 23,000 sensitive skin users. “Its mild facial cleanser provides a gentle yet effective clean without disrupting the skin barrier,” Libby adds.
6. Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cleanser, $9 to $11
“This is a high-quality Neutrogena product,” Mudgil says, approving the product. “It’s a good pick for anyone with dry skin who is also acne-prone.”
Additionally, Libby recommends the brand’s Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cleanser as well. “This hydrating cleanser draws in moisture to the skin barrier with glycerin, a powerful humectant,” she notes.
7. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser, $17 to $19
Mudgil summed up La Roche-Posay’s Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser in just a few words: “I love this product.” Not only is it “very elegant,” he says, but its ceramides are hydrating and the niacinamide is anti-inflammatory.
It’s also acclaimed by Libby. “This cleanser is one of my favorites as it combines the hydrating ingredients like glycerin with barrier repair ingredients ceramides and niacinamide,” she echoes.
8. OSEA Ocean Cleansing Milk, $54
“This cleanser gives a spa-like experience and is vegan and cruelty-free, and works wonderfully on sensitive skin,” Libby highlights. “It has safflower seed oil and sunflower seed oil which are anti-inflammatory and moisturizing, and glycerin to boost hydration.”
Plus, we’ve been using this ultra-nourishing cleanser for more than a year and can’t speak more highly of it. It’s a luxe product without costing upwards of $100, too.
9. Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Enzyme Foam Cleanser, $26
“Niacinamide is an excellent moisture barrier supporting ingredient, and glycerin helps find water contacts to the skin surface delivering hydration,” Libby says, approving of the Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Enzyme Foam Cleanser.
What’s more, Dr. Jart+ recently launched a Pore Remedy Renewing Foam Cleanser ($28) that’s especially perfect if you are trying to minimize the look of unwanted pores.
10. Indie Lee Purifying Face Wash, $38
“The Indie Lee Purifying Face Wash uses cocoglucoside, a cleansing ingredient derived from coconuts to gently lift dirt and oils from the skin, allowing the to be washed away,” Libby says, impressed by the product.
Additionally, this formulation also contains subtle notes of orange and lavender to extract and nourish the skin while dissolving excess sebum.
11. fresh Soy Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser, $39
“This cleanser delicately removes impurities and makeup and soothes skin with aloe and cucumber extracts,” Libby highlights. Even better, it maintains the skin’s natural pH — while increasing hydration — to serve as your next go-to face wash that’s effective to use on sensitive skin.
An FAQ on Face Washes for Sensitive Skin
Ahead, our team of board-certified dermatologists gave us the 411 on what to look for in a face wash for sensitive skin — outlining ingredients, formulations and more.
What are the benefits of using a face wash?
“Face washes essentially serve two purposes: (1) remove build up of dead skin cells, dirt, and oil, and (2) stimulate hydration, when chosen wisely and coupled with a moisturizer,” Mudgil told The Post.
Face washes also help cleanse the skin of bacteria, makeup and pollutants that build up on the skin throughout the day and to prepare skin for the next skincare steps, per Libby.
How often should a face wash be used?
According to Libby, a face wash should be used one to two times daily, in the morning and evening.
“If exercising and sweating, it is important to use a face wash afterwards as well,” she adds. “You’ll want to avoid over-washing skin, in which case skin may feel overly dry and tight aka ‘squeaky clean’, which is a tell-tale sign you may have over washed skin and potentially stripped necessary oils and fats from skin and irritated the skin moisture barrier.”
How to *actually* tell if you have sensitive skin, according to experts
“Sensitive skin tends to be dry and ‘rashy,’ meaning it gets red and inflamed appearing,” Mudgil says. “This can happen either without exposure to something sensitizing or in response to an allergen (like fragrance).”
Not to mention, all skin types (oily, normal, combination, dry) can also be simultaneously sensitive. “Sensitive skin is skin that has a weakened or disrupted skin barrier and results in various skin signs of sensitivity like redness, flaking, itching and overall irritation,” Libby adds.
What type of face wash formulation is best for sensitive skin?
“An individual with sensitive skin should look for a non-foaming hydrating, creamy or oil-based cleanser,” according to Libby. Although formulations have improved significantly to where there are foaming cleansers that can be used on sensitive skin, a gentler option is still a cream- or oil-based cleanser, she advises.
Another note: less is more. “Folks with sensitive skin tend to be sensitive to harsh cleansers which over exfoliate the skin or to cleansers that are very fragrant,” Mudgil adds. “A mild, hydrating cleanser is one’s best bet.”
What ingredients to look for in a face wash for sensitive skin, according to experts
According to Libby, look for hydrating and barrier repair ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, ceramides and allantoin. Specifically, hyaluronic acid and ceramides are two key ingredients Mudgil recommends as well.
What ingredients to avoid in a face wash for sensitive skin, according to experts
Of course, fragrance is at the top of the list. “Preservatives, parabens and formaldehyde are other ingredients to avoid,” Mudgil lists.
What’s more, Libby advises against a higher percentage of exfoliating agents like 10% glycolic acid, strong fragrances and absolutely any physical exfoliants like washes with beads.
A dermatologist-approved skincare routine for sensitive skin
Face washing not only rids the skin of debris, oil, makeup and the day’s pollution, but it also sets the stage for the next skincare steps.
“Ideally, apply from thinnest to thickest when it comes to product application, like serums and then moisturizers,” Libby adds. Oh, and you’ll want to follow Mudgil’s golden rule: “moisturizer at night, sunscreen in the morning!”
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