The 18 Best Face Washes of 2024, Tested by Real People

Best Overall

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser

$18 $16 at Amazon $16 $6 at Target $13 at Walmart

Make sure to pick up this winner the next time you’re at the drugstore. While extremely affordable, it still delivered, outperforming much of its pricier competition and scoring a perfect five out of five in every category we tested.

It removes dirt and makeup with ease, not to mention leaves skin feeling plenty soft and hydrated. Credit the addition of ceramides which bolster the skin barrier and hyaluronic acid which attracts and traps water in the skin.

On top of that, it’s a super mild and gentle pick, a dermatologist-developed formula — which touts the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Approval — that’s safe for all skin types, even extremely sensitive ones.

Size: 12 ounces, 16 ounces, 19 ounces | Skin Type: Normal to dry | Star Ingredients: Ceramides, hyaluronic acid | Fragrance: No

Best Budget

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

$16 $14 at Amazon $9 at Walmart View on Vitacost

This is one of the best drugstore cleansers out there, fully checking all of the face wash boxes without breaking the bank. For starters, the formula is super gentle: hypoallergenic, soap-free, and fragrance-free. It has the texture of an expensive moisturizing cream, though it still suds up a bit, offering the best of both worlds. This face wash left our faces feeling so moisturized that we could even skip moisturizer without getting a dry, tight feeling on our skin over time.

And, per the point of moisture, this is so creamy that we felt like we didn’t even need to use a moisturizer after. That’s largely due in part to the ceramides, vitamin B5, and niacinamide in the mix, which help to hydrate and bolster the skin barrier, keeping natural moisture locked in. While it's not as great as a makeup remover as other face washes we tested, you really can't beat the quality for the price.

Size: 20 ounces |  Skin Type: All | Star Ingredients: Glycerin, vitamin B5, niacinamide, ceramides | Fragrance: No

Best for Sensitive Skin

Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser

$10 $9 at Amazon $9 at Walmart $10 at Ulta

There’s a good reason why dermatologists often recommend this cleanser for those with sensitive skin. It’s free of a litany of common irritants: fragrance, parabens, dyes, soap, and more. It’s so gentle that it even has the National Eczema Association’s seal of approval.

To that point, it won’t leave skin feeling stripped or dried, and we confirmed that it didn’t cause any type of irritation or reaction when tested on sensitive skin. Just keep in mind that the lotion-like texture doesn’t really suds up or lather, and, since it is so gentle, you likely will need to use a dedicated makeup remover beforehand if you’re wearing a full face of makeup.

Size: 8 ounces | Skin Type: Sensitive | Star ingredients: Glycerin | Fragrance: No

Best for Removing Makeup

First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser

View on Amazon $12 at Sephora $29 $23 at Walmart

Even the most parched of skin doesn’t stand a chance against this cleanser, a crazy creamy pick with a frosting-like texture. Credit moisturizing aloe and glycerin in the mix, alongside soothing allantoin, which makes this a good choice for those with easily irritated and/or sensitive skin, too.

While it doesn’t lather super well (standard operating procedure for most formulas that are this thick), it cleansed and took off a full face of makeup — we’re talking primer, color corrector, concealer, foundation, and more — with ease. If you’re looking for the moisturizing power of our Cetaphil pick, with the makeup-removing abilities of CeraVe’s cleanser, then this face wash it for you.

Size: 5 ounces | Skin Type: Dry, sensitive | Star Ingredients: Aloe, allantoin, glycerin | Fragrance: No

Best Refillable

Blueland Facial Cleanser Starter Set

View on Blueland.com

Looking to reduce the carbon footprint of your beauty routine? Using refillable products, like this one, is an easy way to do so. Here, you get a reusable bottle and packet of the powder face cleanser. Pour the contents of the sachet into the bottle, add some water, shake, let it settle for an hour, and ta-da, you just mixed up your own cleanser.

Even those who love our foaming formulas will be won over by the cream-gel hybrid — we even got compliments on how our skin looked after using it. Thanks to the use of a variety of different ingredients, including moisturizing vitamin E, soothing oat, and oil-absorbing kaolin clay, the formula is a top pick for all skin types.

Size: .6 ounce of powder cleanser, 8-ounce bottle | Skin Type: All | Star Ingredients: Oat, kaolin clay, vitamin E | Fragrance: No

Best for Acne

PanOxyl Acne Foaming Wash

$10 at Amazon $10 at Target $10 at Walmart

Benzoyl peroxide (a.k.a. BP, as dermatologists call it) is one of the most often recommended acne-fighting ingredients out there. Why? It’s both anti-bacterial, targeting the bacteria that cause acne, and anti-inflammatory. Here, you get it in a potent 10 percent concentration, the most you can get in over-the-counter acne products.

On top of combatting existing blemishes and keeping future breakouts at bay, it earned a five out of five when it came to effectively cleansing the skin and even taking off makeup. And while it’s affordable in and of itself, it can be used on the face or body, meaning you’re getting even more bang for your buck.

Size: 5.5 ounces |  Skin Type: Oily, acne-prone | Star Ingredients: Benzoyl peroxide | Fragrance: No

Best for Rosacea

Sephora Collection Clean Skin Gel Cleanser

$14 $11 at Amazon $14 at Sephora $14 at Kohls.com

As a general rule of thumb, gel cleansers tend to be refreshing and soothing, and that was certainly the case here. This effectively cleansed skin, leaving our faces feeling cool, soothed, hydrated, and soft — even on skin that experiences sensitivity and rosacea. It also lathers and foams up beautifully, a win for anyone who appreciates that part of the sensorial aspect of face washing. 

If you’re looking for the makeup-removing power of the PanOxyl Acne Foaming Wash but have sensitive skin, this is the pick for you. This product will leave you feeling just as fresh-faced without any irritants.

Size: 4.22 ounces | Skin Type: All | Star Ingredients: Aloe, prebiotics | Fragrance: No

Best Anti-Aging Face Wash

Kopari Lychee Clean Vitamin C Face Cleanser

$21 at Amazon $24 at Nordstrom $24 at Ulta

Foaming cleansers are a great choice for those with oily skin, as they tend to be slightly more intense than creamy or milky formulas. This formula also contains anti-aging vitamin C, as well as vitamin B5 and allantoin to add back moisture, making this more hydrating than many other foaming cleansers. It works extremely well, too, removing makeup and mascara with just one use, and rinsing cleanly without leaving behind any unwanted residue.

It is one of the few winners on our list that contains fragrance; still, we loved the scent which we describe as a tropical paradise and only enhanced the spa-like experience of using this face wash.

Size: 2.1 ounces | Skin Type: Normal, oily | Star Ingredients: Lychee, allantoin, vitamin C | Fragrance: Yes

Best Gel

iS Clinical Cleansing Complex

$48 $45 at Amazon $48 at Dermstore $48 at Bluemercury.com

As mentioned, gels are a great choice for oily skin, and this cleanser takes it up a notch with exfoliating ingredients. It contains protective antioxidants, as well as white willow bark extract (the natural precursor to salicylic acid) that helps to gently exfoliate and break down pore-clogging oil. (The versatility doesn’t end there — this cleanser can also double as a shaving cream!)

While we found it to be slightly sticky initially, that feeling dissipated once it was mixed with water and massaged onto the face. It also rinsed beautifully, leaving skin brighter, refreshed, and feeling more moisturized. Plus, it's one of Chrissy Teigen's go-to cleansers, and we'll try anything to achieve her fresh-faced glow.

Size: 2 ounces, 6 ounces | Skin Type: Normal, oily, acne-prone | Star Ingredients: White willow bark extract | Fragrance: No

Best for Combination Skin

KraveBeauty Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser

$16 at Amazon $16 at Kravebeauty.com View on Cultbeauty.com

Combination skin can pose somewhat of a conundrum when it comes to choosing a cleanser. After all, you want something something strong enough to remove the excess oil in slick spots, but not so strong that it’s going to dry out the drier areas of your face.

Enter this winner, which hits the perfect balance, leaving skin cleansed, refreshed, and moisturized. That’s thanks to plenty of hydrating ingredients in the gel-based formula, alongside coconut-derived surfactants that do the heavy-lifting cleansing work. Speaking of, while it comes out a bit on the liquidy side, the gel quickly becomes more creamy when emulsified with water, enough that it won’t drip down your face as you lather up.

Size: 4.05 ounces | Skin Type: Normal, combination | Star Ingredients: Green tea, vitamin B5, hemp seed oil | Fragrance: No

Best for Oily Skin

Hyper Skin Hyper Even Cleansing Gel

$28 at Sephora $28 at Hyperskin.com $28 at Revolve

Say sayonara to slick spots. This face wash will break down unwanted oil, combat redness, and brighten skin. The texture reminded us of slime at first, but once emulsified with water, transformed into more of a milky formula — one that’s amazing at removing eye makeup without any stinging or burning.

This product offers the exfoliating properties of our iS pick at a lower price, as the products share a key ingredient — willow bark extract. This exfoliating ingredient will rid your skin of excess oils, while mandelic acid and licorice root work to brighten your complexion.

Size: 5 ounces | Skin Type: All | Star Ingredients: Mandelic acid, willow bark, licorice root | Fragrance: No, but natural ingredients create a slight floral scent

Best Hydrating

Dr. Loretta Gentle Hydrating Cleanser

$40 $28 at Amazon $40 at Nordstrom View on Drloretta.com

This hydrating cleanser excelled in all of our testing categories, leaving skin noticeably more hydrated and refreshed, taking off all traces of makeup, and lathering beautifully, even though it is sulfate-free. And while it’s a great pick for those seeking a hydrating option, it’s a good choice for the sensitive set, as well, thanks to the fact that it’s soap- and fragrance-free, and boasts a very minimal ingredient list.

If we're being picky, we did have some small complaints, although nothing to do with its effectiveness. The pump dispenser on the bottle is screwed very tightly, making it hard to dispense product once you get to the end of the bottle. And we did find it takes a few passes to completely rinse off the face. Overall, though, this cleanser is a hydrating option perfect for any skin type, especially those with dry, sensitive skin.

Size: 6.76 ounces | Skin Type: All, dry, sensitive | Star Ingredients: Marine peptides, chamomile, hydrolyzed algae | Fragrance: No, but natural ingredients create a slight pleasant scent

Best for Redness

EltaMD Foaming Facial Cleanser

$20 at Amazon $32 at Target $35 at Dermstore

With the help of bromelain, a pineapple-derived enzyme, this face wash quells inflammation and gently exfoliates for a smoother, more even skin tone. It’s also oil-free and pH-balanced, and while it does contain fragrance, we noted that it didn’t trigger any kind of irritation when used on sensitive skin.

The texture of the cleanser was another standout point in our testing, delivering an extra luxurious, super thick lather — though this lather can easily be thinned out or amped up based on exactly how much water you use, and it rinses well regardless.

Size: 2.7 ounces, 3.4 ounces, 7 ounces |  Skin Type: Normal | Star Ingredients: Bromelain | Fragrance: Yes

Best for Blackheads

Skinfix Acne+ 2% BHA Cleanser

$35 at Amazon $10 at Sephora $35 at Skinfix.com

For those battling breakouts, blackheads, or oily skin, salicylic acid is a must. The ingredient is a beta-hydroxy acid, and one that’s lipophilic. (Translation: It’s able to penetrate deep into pores, where it can dissolve excess oil to help keep them clear.)

This face wash contains it at a 2 percent concentration, along with anti-inflammatory niacinamide and bacteria-fighting azelaic acid. There’s also exfoliating glycolic acid in the mix, making this a good pick for anyone who wants an easy way to exfoliate on the regular, no additional products needed.

Still, this face wash doesn’t feel drying or stripping. Where it did get dinged a bit in our testing was for ease of use, given that the consistency is fairly watery and a lot of product can come out of the tube too fast.

Size: 5 ounces |  Skin Type: Normal, combination, oily, acne-prone | Star Ingredients: Azelaic acid, salicylic acid, niacinamide | Fragrance: No

Best Investment

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare AHA/BHA Daily Cleansing Gel

$39 at Nordstrom $15 at Sephora $39 at Dermstore

Going above and beyond the basic cleansing call of duty, this splurge-worthy winner contains alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids that gently exfoliate. Translation: On top of thoroughly cleansing the skin, it also helps to smooth skin texture, even out tone, minimize the appearance of prominent pores, and brighten your overall complexion.

All of the above panned out in our testing, leaving pores less noticeable and skin generally brighter and more even. It scored a little lower in the feel category, however, as the gel texture can be a bit sticky initially, and requires a good amount of water to easily spread across your face.

Size: 2 ounces, 7.5 ounces, 16 ounces |  Skin Type: Normal, combination, oily, acne-prone | Star Ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, willowbark extract | Fragrance: No

Best for Dry Skin

Paula’s Choice Resist Optimal Results Cleanser

$26 at Amazon $26 at Paulaschoice.com View on Cloud10beauty.com

We were so smitten with this hydrating pick that we were ready to take it home with us. That’s not surprising, given its lotion-like texture and the glycerin in the sulfate-free formula that makes it extra hydrating (so much so that it pulled in a perfect hydration rating).

The cleanser also excels at taking off makeup without any scrubbing and comes in an easy-to-use pump-top bottle. As if that weren’t enough, it also touts good-for-your-skin, antioxidant-rich green tea and chamomile extracts, always a win in our book.

Size: 6.4 ounces |  Skin Type: Normal, dry | Star Ingredients: Glycerin, green tea, chamomile | Fragrance: Marked as fragrance-free, though it still has a noticeable scent

Best Exfoliating

SkinCeuticals Purifying Cleanser

$39 at Dermstore $39 at Skinceuticals.com $39 at Skinstore.com

Glycolic acid is a choice chemical exfoliating ingredient: Not only does it check the usual boxes of helping to brighten skin, fade discoloration, and smooth out bumpy texture, it also has some long-term collagen-boosting benefits that can help combat fine lines and wrinkles.

It’s the star of the show in this cleanser, which was lauded for striking the perfect balance between cleansing the skin while still leaving it nice and hydrated. (That’s likely because the formula is pH-balanced and contains glycerin, too.) It also earned a call-out for how nicely it lathers, transforming from a gel to a full-on foam almost instantly.

Size: 6.8 ounces | Skin Type: All | Star Ingredients: Glycolic acid, glycerin | Fragrance: No

Best for Textured Skin

Tula The Cult Classic Purifying Face Cleanser

$34 at Amazon $34 $14 at Target $24 at Nordstrom

Try this if you’re dealing with a rough or uneven skin tone. It relies on lactic acid, a gently exfoliating alpha-hydroxy acid that also attracts water to and traps it in the skin. That’s part of the reason why this doesn’t leave skin overly dry or with that ‘squeaky’ clean feeling; this was another winner that earned top marks for hydration.

It does contain fragrance, and the intense scent wasn’t well-received in our experience. While it removes dirt well, it’s less effective when it comes to taking off makeup.

Size: 1.69 ounces, 4 ounces, 6.7 ounces | Skin Type: Normal, dry, combination | Star Ingredients: Turmeric, white tea, lactic acid | Fragrance: Yes