Naomi Jamieson
While not the most glamorous or exciting, a cleanser is one of the cornerstones of an effective skincare routine. Thus, finding one that aligns with your skin type and concerns - be it congested pores or dryness - is essential.
A cleanser, like your best face moisturisers, begins and ends your day. They scrub away impurities, dissolve lingering makeup and provide you with a fresh, squeaky-clean canvas to apply your morning or nighttime creams and serums. As with most beauty staples though, there's no shortage of formulas to choose from. There are blemish-banishing gels, milky creams and even foams that span every budget, as well as French pharmacy finds and designer names.
The sheer amount of options is dizzying. So, to help you pinpoint the best facial cleanser for your skin type, our team have tested and rounded up the 12 best buys.
Best cleanser deals
The 12 best cleansers for every budget, tried and loved by our team
Whether you've got dry or combination skin, a cleanser is key for building the best skincare routine and our team has vetted offerings from the likes of Fresh, Elemis and French skincare favourite, La Roche-Posay.
RRP: £15 for 50ml | Type: gel/foaming | Standout ingredients: soy proteins, rosewater and cucumber extract | Fragranced: yes | Targets: dull skin, uneven texture
Reviewed by: Sennen Prickett and Eunice Lucero-Lee
Eunice: I found that Fresh's Soy Face Cleanser deftly straddles that line between "thoroughly clarifying" and "perfectly soothing," which is actually a pretty difficult sweet spot to come by. It’s formulated with a pH that’s close to the skin’s natural levels, which means it’s as gentle as you can get without being specifically formulated for sensitive skin. Ingredient-wise, it's packed with soy proteins that help with hydration and balance, plus rosewater - calms and tones skin.
Reasons to buy: Gentle formula that is close to skin's natural pH, vegan and paraben, gluten and cruelty-free
Reasons to avoid: Not formulated for very sensitive skin and scented
RRP: £8.30 for 50ml | Type: Balm to oil | Standout ingredients: Squalane and lipophilic esters | Fragranced: No | Targets: enlarged pores
Reviewed by: Eunice Lucero-Lee
If you’re still not on #TeamSqualane, I beg you to reconsider. This efficiently formulated cleanser has hardworking anti-ager squalane from plant-derived sources (versus shark liver) as its star ingredient, which, in and of itself, does its part to moisturise, soften, and smoothen skin, while helping control excess oil. I found that the rinse is silky and satisfying and leaves no stripped feeling despite being designed to clarify pores of impurities.
Reasons to buy: features ethically derived squalane, vegan and cruelty-free and unscented
Reasons to avoid: does not foam, so if that is your preferred cleanser type you may not like this
RRP: £30 for 30ml | Type: Foaming cream | Standout ingredients: Trademarked Miracle Broth and tourmaline | Fragranced: Yes |Targets: fine lines, wrinkles and enlarged pores
Reviewed by: Eunice Lucero-Lee
Let’s start with the obvious: This is a splurge… a big one, but there are pros to investing. La Mer’s Miracle Broth - a proprietary blend of sea algae (kelp, to be exact), vitamins, wheat germ, alfalfa, citrus oil, eucalyptus, and other vitamins and minerals - is the fermented, anti-inflammatory, anti-ageing blend in all La Mer skincare, and this cleanser is no exception. I found it left my skin looking brighter, and the formula really felt as though it was deep-cleaning my pores.
Reasons to buy: Fermented ingredients, paraben, sulfate, formaldehyde, phthalate and gluten-free
Reasons to avoid: Scented and very pricey
RRP: £16 for 200ml | Type: Creamy | Standout ingredients: Glycerin, niacinamide and zinc | Fragranced: Yes | Targets: flare-ups and damaged skin barrier
Reviewed by: Naomi Jamieson
Touted as one of the best La Roche-Posay products, this creamy cleanser feels so luxurious on the skin thanks to its creamy texture. Its hydrating and anti-friction formula offers a gentle cleanse to sensitive and damaged skin to leave it rebalanced, purified and silky smooth. After using it, I found that it left my skin looking radiant, soothed and noticeably clearer, whilst also being super soft to the touch. It has swiftly become one of my go-to everyday cleansers thanks to its gentle and effective cleaning, which never feels stripping or too intensive.
Reasons to buy: Value for money, enriched with skin-loving ingredients and offers a premium cleansing experience
Reasons to avoid: Should not be used on or around the eyes
RRP: £11 for 263ml | Type: Foaming cream | Standout ingredients: Hyaluronic acid and ceramides | Fragranced: No | Targets: The skin barrier
Reviewed by: Eunice Lucero-Lee
I found that this ceramide-infused formula really does its due diligence in making sure dry skin is properly clarified of impurities yet hydrated at the same time, while also ensuring that delicate facial skin barrier is preserved and even strengthened. The non-comedogenic formula means it’s also ideal for those worried about flare-ups. That said, I wouldn’t place it first in terms of makeup removal, but it’s certainly a no-brainer when it comes to this dry skin category. Plus, it's very reasonably priced.
Reasons to buy: Features hyaluronic acid and is formulated for both dry and sensitive skin types
Reasons to avoid: Not the best at removing makeup
RRP: £14 for 236ml | Type: gel | Standout ingredients: Papaya extract and grapefruit extract | Fragranced: Yes | Targets: excess oil and texture
Reviewed by: Eunice Lucero-Lee
Mario Badescu’s best-selling Enzyme Cleansing Gel consists of fruit extracts to brighten and lightly exfoliate. This lightweight cleanser surprises with its integrity: the refreshing gel formula doesn’t compromise when it comes to results or effectiveness. I found my skin was left feeling so clean, toned and balanced. That said, it is non-lathering, and while it's formulated for all skin types, I'd tread a bit carefully if your skin is more on the sensitive side, as it is a cleanser with mild AHAs.
Reasons to buy: Refreshing on the skin, is reasonably priced and vegan
Reasons to avoid: Not formulated for very sensitive skin and contains milk AHAs
RRP: £22 for 150ml | Type: Gel-to-milk | Standout ingredients: Squalane, elderberry extract and prebiotic complex | Fragranced: No | Targets: dullness, dryness, rough texture and clogged pores
Reviewed by: Eunice Lucero-Lee
This unique jelly-to-oil-to-milk formula is such an efficient multitasker, as it not only cleanses the skin but effectively removes makeup. Water contact lends it a milky consistency, which means it does not foam, yet magically leaves the face feeling thoroughly cleansed. After rinsing, I found my skin seemed more radiant and balanced, without any tight areas or greasy spots you’d expect from an oil.
Who should use it: Those looking to combat dryness and clogged pores
Reasons to buy: Great at removing makeup, satisfying texture and uses ethical, plant-derived squalane.
Reasons to avoid: We found the formula spilt into the tube cap
RRP: £15 for 56ml | Type: Foaming gel | Standout ingredients: Kale, spinach and green tea | Fragranced: Yes | Targets: Oiliness, blemishes and dullness
Reviewed by: Eunice Lucero-Lee
Marketing itself as a "green juice for your face," I'm hard-pressed to find anything I don’t like about it, as from initial application to final rinse, it does as promised: remove impurities in a thorough yet gentle way via its cold-pressed "superfood" antioxidants, while also deep-cleaning pores, removing makeup, and keeping your natural pH levels balanced. One drawback I found, though, was that my combination skin did feel a tad tight after the rinse; on other oilier occasions, it worked perfectly.
Reasons to buy: Features straightforward, green ingredients
Reasons to avoid: Not the best pick for dry skin
RRP: £28 for 50g | Type: balm| Standout ingredients: Elderberry oil, starflower, lavender, chamomile and eucalyptus oil | Fragranced: Yes | Targets: Dryness, dullness and signs of ageing
Reviewed by: Fiona McKim and Eunice Lucero-Lee
Eunice: Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm is the luxury balm I cheat on but come sheepishly crawling back to every time. Initially, it takes a cleansing oil approach to remove makeup, and you’ll surely see all traces of mascara and eyeshadow, even the best foundation, melt away with each rub. Emulsified with water, it becomes completely lightweight and liquid, to the point that a direct rinsing with water isn’t even its recommended removal method. The best way, they say, is to use a warm washcloth.
Reasons to buy: Excellent at removing makeup, collagen-supporting formula and spa-like experience
Reasons to avoid: Scented, oily and very pricey
RRP: £21 for 100ml | Type: Foaming gel | Standout ingredients: Grape ferment, lactic acid, niacinamide and calendula extract| Fragranced: No | Targets: Dullness, rough texture and enlarged pores
Reviewed by: Eunice Lucero-Lee
I would be remiss to not tout the luxe-looking yet accessible Glossier Cleanser Concentrate as pretty revolutionary. Admittedly, it borrows tech from established great skincare tenets (ferments, calming plant extracts, sulfate substitutes), but the genius lies in its curation. The innovative gel applies very unassumingly onto the skin—it transforms into a relatively low-key, "latte-like" froth once water hits, and rinses off so neatly. The lightbulb moment comes when you realise, post-cleanse, that where uneven texture, enlarged pores, and dullness used to be, now softness and radiance have taken over, without any telltale tightness expected of an acid-forward face wash.
Reasons to buy: Brimming with antioxidants, gentle yet acid-forward; no sting and dermatologist-tested
Reasons to avoid: May not suit sensitive skin types
RRP: £18 for 150ml | Types: Foam | Standout ingredients: Grape water, chamomile and sage extract| Fragranced: No | Targets: Dryness and redness
Reviewed by: Eunice Lucero-Lee
Caudalie Vinoclean Instant Foaming Cleanser is a purely vegan formula that now boasts 97% natural origin ingredients. Sulfate and soap-free, it's a gentle, natural, and eco-conscious product that doesn’t compromise efficacy. I found that its blend of sage extract cleansed and clarified my skin of excess oil, while chamomile soothed and paved the way for the green grape’s radiance-boosting properties. Despite the reputation of foaming cleansers as a more drying formulation, that isn’t the case with this fan favourite, which gives a satisfyingly thorough yet respectful cleanse.
Reasons to buy: Vegan, Dermatologist and ophthalmologist-tested with a luxe, whipped-like foam texture
Reasons to avoid: Features astringent properties, so might not be best for very sensitive skin
RRP: £7.99 for 400ml | Type: Micellar water | Standout ingredients: Glycerin | Fragrance: No | Targets: makeup residue and impurities
Reviewed by: Eunice Lucero-Lee and Naomi Jamieson
Naomi: This low-maintenance and gentle cleanser is a true staple in my routine. As someone with sensitive skin, some makeup removers can be too stripping and harsh on my skin, but this one makes easy work of melting away makeup, dirt and dead skin cells, whilst leaving my skin feeling hydrated and ultra soft. It's my go-to at the end of a long day, when I can't face scrubbing and dousing my face in water but still want to get into bed with fresh, cleansed skin.
Reason to buy: Fragrance-free and dermatologically tested, ideal for a daily skincare step, as the Micellar water cleanses away everything from dirt to makeup
Reasons to avoid: May be unnecessary if you already have a go-to cleanser.
How we tested the best cleansers
Like with the best face masks and best retinol creams and serums, our team of beauty experts - all with an array of different skin types - cleansed their faces with these formulas over several days, to report on their immediate and lasting effects and benefits. A few of these best cleansers are also products our team has used for years and even feature as part of their daily skincare routines.
We also took note of the standout ingredients, formula consistency and efficacy of each cleanser, as well as talking with skincare experts on how to choose the correct formula for one's skin type.
How to choose the best cleansers for your skin type
We’ve all been cautioned against going to bed with makeup. How important is a fresh canvas before bed, exactly? Board-certified dermatologists and KitavaMD creators Dr. Paru Chaudhari and Dr. Justin Gordon offer a few tips on shopping for the best cleansers for your skin, plus giving some insight into how to wash your face for your skin type:
How to choose a cleanser for normal/balanced skin
As a general standard, balanced skin types can enjoy using a formula of their choosing, provided they adhere to the dermatologist-recommended twice-daily cleansing regimen: once in the morning and once in the evening, before bedtime. The gentler the better, and leave more robust face exfoliants or scrubs to once a week, at most.
How to choose a cleanser for dry skin
"Cleansing dry skin types requires patience and moderation," cautions Dr. Chaudhari. "As tempting as it is to scrub away dry, flaky skin, most of the time, over-cleansing and exfoliating will simply make skin worse.
"For those with dry skin, use a small, pea-sized amount of one of the best cleansing balms or creamy hydrating cleansers. It's best to dispense in your hand and lather prior to using on your face and try to limit the duration of contact time on the face to less than one minute. Additionally, make sure to use lukewarm water to rinse, as hot water can strip away natural oils and worsen dryness. Applying a facial moisturizer after gently patting your face dry can also be helpful."
How to choose a cleanser for oily skin
"If your skin runs oily, look for a cleanser that helps remove oil, but doesn't completely dry out your face," Dr. Chauhari advises, adding: "Gel cleansers and foaming cleansers tend to be best cleansers for acne. Not all people with oily skin struggle with acne; however many products that are designed for acne-prone skin are also appropriate for oily skin types."
Dr. Chauhari says to look, "for oil-absorbing ingredients such as fuller's earth, mild exfoliating acids such as the beta-hydroxy acid (BHA), salicylic acid, or alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) such as lactic acid or glycolic acid. Regardless of oil production, it is still best to avoid hot water as this can be irritating and drying.
"For those with oily skin, use approximately a dime or nickel-sized amount of gel cleanser or 1-2 pumps of foam cleanser. In either case, it's best to dispense to your hand and lather prior to using on the face. Lastly, if your skin runs very oily, consider adding in a gentle exfoliating product a few times a week. One example is an AHA/BHA exfoliating wipe. Keeping some around to use on-the-go, such as after a hard workout at the gym, can be beneficial."
How to choose a cleanser for combination skin
"Combination skin can lead to a lot of frustration," Dr. Gordon says, but reassures that the quest for balance is within reach.
"It is challenging to find the perfect cleanser that manages both dry and oily skin at the same time. It is best to use a mild gel or foam cleanser and vary the amount of time the cleanser remains on your face. Leave the cleanser on the oily parts of the face, such as the T-zone, a.k.a. the forehead, nose, and chin areas, for a longer duration of time compared to the dryer areas."
Dr. Gordon also adds that those struggling with excess oil in their T-zone should, " consider the additional use of an AHA or BHA cleanser directly to these areas, or alternatively, the targeted use of a gentle exfoliating wipe or scrub a few times a week."
How to choose a cleanser for sensitive skin
"Dry skin and sensitive skin share similarities," says Dr. Chaudhari, adding: "Over-cleansing and exfoliating can cause irritation and worsen redness in both sensitive and dry skin types. Look for a gentle cleanser that is free of harsh chemicals and irritants. It is best to avoid products with a million ingredients, including those with synthetic fragrances or those that can contain parabens, propylene glycol, or sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), to name a few.
"For those that run sensitive, consider cleansing a small test area first with a tiny amount for a few days in a row, prior to jumping in full-steam ahead. One approach is to apply 2-3 times a week for a few weeks, and then increase to daily or twice daily as your skin allows."
woman&home thanks Dr. Paru Chaudhari and Dr. Justin Gordon, both of KitavaMD, for their time and expertise.
