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Cleansing is hardly the most glamorous step in a skin prep, but it's among the most critical. That's why we reach for only the best face washes to get the job done. Whether your skin-care routine is a barebones, wash-and-moisturize duo or you indulge in a 10-step ritual that would shock your younger self, starting with a fresh, healthy canvas is non-negotiable. After all, you don’t want to hit the pillow with a face full of sebum and pore-clogging makeup, or kick off your morning with sleep-sweat residue. You do want a bright, clear complexion that allows the rest of your routine to absorb deeply and reach peak efficacy. We asked Allure editors to share their fave cleansers and chatted with dermatologists about the ins and outs of washing our faces. Read on for the eight best face washes to kick off your skin-care routine the right way.
Our Top Face Washes
- Best Overall for Oily Skin: SkinCeuticals Simply Clean, $39
- Best Overall for Acne-Prone Skin: SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser, $48
- Best Overall for Dry Skin: Drunk Elephant Mello Marula Cream Cleanser, $36
- Best Cleansing Balm: Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm, $23
- Best Cleansing Oil: Man:yo Pure Cleansing Oil, $23
- Best Cleansing Powder: Personal Day Full Clarity Cleansing Powder, $24
- Best Drugstore: Cetaphil Nourishing Oil to Foam Cleanser, $10
- Best for Sensitive Skin: Tata Harper Superkind Softening Cleanser, $78
Frequently Asked QuestionsLargeChevron
- Why is it important to cleanse your face?
- How should I choose a facial cleanser?
- What should I know about double cleansing?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall for Oily Skin: SkinCeuticals Simply Clean
SkinCeuticals
Simply Clean
SkinCeuticals
Dermstore
Bluemercury
Allure commerce writer Lily Wohlner using SkinCeuticals Simply Clean
Why it's worth it: For the 60 seconds it actually spends on your face, SkinCeuticals Simply Clean works harder than most cleansers ever will—earning its permanent spot in your routine. The amino acid surfactant system is what makes it feel so silky yet effective: It lifts away dirt, oil, and makeup without stripping skin. Then there’s the six percent blend of sulfonic acid, glycerin, chamomile, aloe, orange oil, and citric acid, which team up to gently exfoliate and smooth out rough or uneven texture. While it’s especially great for oily skin, thanks to its pore-refining properties, it also feels surprisingly soothing on dry skin and is perfectly balancing for combination types.
Tester feedback from commerce writer Lily Wohlner
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"This is my all-time favorite cleanser because it gives me the kind of deep clean I usually only get after a facial. My acne-prone skin loves it—it clears away buildup and bacteria without leaving my face feeling tight or dry. Once I wipe it off with a washcloth, my skin looks and feels so fresh and smooth it practically reflects light." —Lily Wohlner, commerce writer
More to know
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- Key ingredients: sulfonic acid, glycerin, chamomile, aloe, orange oil, citric acid
- Who it’s for: all skin types, particularly oily skin
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Overall for Acne-Prone Skin: SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser
SkinMedica
AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser
Dermstore
Allure contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai applying the SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser
Deanna Pai
Why it's worth it: Dermatologists love the Skinmedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser, and Morgan Rabach, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, previously told Allure exactly why that’s the case. "If my skin is greasy and clogged, I start with SkinMedica's AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser," she attests. "It has gentle beads that help exfoliate in addition to the acids." Conversely, NYC-based board-certified dermatologist Michelle Henry, MD, likes to end her day with the cleanser. "It removes the dirt, oil, environmental pollutants, and debris that accumulate over the course of the day," Dr. Henry said. Keep in mind, however, that this resurfacing formula contains AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid), which increases your skin's sensitivity to UV rays and sunburning. So, be vigilant about applying and refreshing your sunscreen when using this cleanser (and in the week following discontinuation).
Tester feedback from contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai
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“This exfoliating cleanser does the impossible: It leaves my skin super-soft and smooth, even when I'm dealing with hormonal breakouts, but never feeling squeaky-clean or overly tight. That's a big deal, considering the potent ingredients in its lineup. Plus, the combo of AHAs and BHA targets my two primary concerns, hyperpigmentation and acne, respectively.” —Deanna Pai, contributing commerce editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: salicylic acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid, citric acid, jojoba oil
- Who it’s for: all skin types, especially oily and combination
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Overall for Dry Skin: Drunk Elephant Mello Marula Cream Cleanser
Drunk Elephant
Mello Marula Cream Cleanser
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Allure commerce editor Sarah Han applying the Drunk Elephant Mello Marula Cream Cleanser
Sarah Han
Why it’s worth it: “Calming” might as well be Drunk Elephant’s Mello Marula Cream Cleanser’s middle name. This gentle, brightening formula delivers a barely-there lather—no scrubbing required—as it melts away water-resistant makeup and leaves skin soft, moisturized, and glowing. With 1% colloidal oatmeal, marula seed oil, and shorea seed butter, it soothes as it cleanses. Bonus tip from the brand: if you washed your face the night before, you can skip the morning cleanse altogether.
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
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"I love a cream cleanser—there’s something extra soothing and luxe about the texture, especially at nighttime. I rely on a cleansing oil to do most of the heavy lifting in terms of removing sunscreen and makeup, but Mello Marula finishes the job with flying colors, while reducing redness (which sometimes happens when I’m rubbing up and down my oily T-zone during the first step) and adding some moisture back into my skin. I swear my skin just slurps up whatever hydrating toner or essence I slap on afterwards." —Sarah Han, commerce editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: 1% colloidal oatmeal, marula seed oil, and shorea stenoptera seed butter
- Who it’s for: people who need balancing and calming
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Cleansing Balm: Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm
Dr. Althea
Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Allure commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann applying the Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm
Sarah Hoffman
Why it’s worth it: Beyond its excellent formula—complete with soothing, redness-reducing madecassoside and Centella asiatica extract—Dr. Althea’s Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm stands out for its innovative dispenser. With a few twists, the product is cleanly shaved off the top, dispensing just the right amount without the need to dig your fingers into a jar. Tougher makeup may call for an extra twist. Expect it to swiftly remove sunscreen residue, waterproof mascara, and whatever else you need to sweep away before hitting the hay (or to create a clean canvas before starting your day).
Tester feedback from commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann
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“My main metric for cleansing balms is how easily they remove makeup (specifically eye makeup) and how soft my skin feels afterwards. Dr. Althea's Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm checks both of those boxes. The formula emulsifies so well and melts mascara, eyeliner, and the rest off like a total dream. My skin feels baby-soft and perfectly smooth every time I use it. Plus, the grinder dispensing method means no searching for an applicator spoon and no dipping my hands into a pot of product (something I've always found semi-gross). Genius.” —Sarah Hoffmann, commerce producer
More to know
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- Key ingredients: madecassoside, Centella asiatica (cica) extract
- Who it’s for: people with redness, people who want a makeup-removing formula.
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Cleansing Oil: Man:yo Pure Cleansing Oil
Manyo Factory
Pure Cleansing Oil
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Allure senior news editor Nicola Dall’Asen applying the Man:yo Pure Cleansing Oil
Nicola Dall'Asen
Why it’s worth it: A bona fide Allure K-beauty favorite, Man:yo’s Cleansing Oil is a lightweight yet deep-cleaning face wash that dissolves blackheads, whiteheads, makeup, and grime—without clogging pores. The formula features 14 non-comedogenic, plant-derived ingredients, including sebum-balancing argan kernel oil, moisturizing jojoba seed oil, and antioxidant-rich olive oil. Just add warm water to emulsify the cleansing oil into a soothing, milky cleanser.
Tester feedback from senior news editor Nicola Dall’Asen
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"Oil cleansing for a few minutes every single night has taken my skin from good to great, and Man:yo's Pure Cleansing Oil has been my go-to. When my pores are particularly clogged, I can physically feel the sebum and dirt coming out after rubbing a couple of pumps of this gentle formula into my skin. It's the only reason my facialists are always telling me there's no need for extractions." —Nicola Dall'Asen, senior news editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: argan kernel oil, jojoba seed oil, olive oil
- Who it’s for: people with blackheads
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Cleansing Powder: Personal Day Full Clarity Cleansing Powder
Personal Day
Full Clarity Cleansing Powder
Ulta Beauty
Revolve
Allure senior editor Jesa Marie Calaor using Personal Day’s Full Clarity Cleansing Powder
Why it’s worth it: Actress Lili Reinhart created Personal Day Full Clarity Cleansing Powder after years of navigating her own acne journey, so if you’ve also got blemish-prone or oily skin, consider this your new staple. A 2025 Best of Beauty Award winner, this water-activated powder turns into a creamy lather that exfoliates and soothes without stripping. Rice powder provides gentle exfoliation, papaya fruit extract smooths and calms, azelaic acid boosts cell renewal to keep pores clear, and zinc hyaluronate delivers hydration while supporting repair. Since it’s a powder, you don’t have to worry about potentially acne-triggering preservatives you usually find in liquid cleansers—and bonus, it’s the easiest thing ever to throw in your bag for travel.
Tester feedback from senior editor Jesa Marie Calaor
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“I go through bottles of this stuff. This bouncy jelly sweeps away dirt, sunscreen, and makeup to leave skin extra-soft and not-at-all stripped.” —Jesa Marie Calaor, senior editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: zinc, azelaic acid, zinc hyaluronate, rice powder, papaya fruit extract
- Who it’s for: people with blemish-prone skin
- Fragrance-free:
Best Drugstore: Cetaphil Nourishing Oil to Foam Cleanser
Cetaphil
Nourishing Oil to Foam Cleanser
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Associate manager of audience development Melanie Curry washing with the Cetaphil Nourishing Oil to Foam Cleanser
Why it’s worth it: For many of us, the drugstore aisle is where our skin-care journeys begin, and with Cetaphil’s Nourishing Oil to Foam Cleanser, it’s one you’ll happily stick with. This gentle face cleanser features a transforming formula that starts as a silky oil to melt away makeup, SPF, and impurities, then foams into a gentle wash that rinses clean without stripping your skin. One of the star ingredients is pentavitin, which delivers deep hydration and locks in moisture for up to 24 hours, helping skin stay resilient against dryness. Meanwhile, flaxseed oil nourishes and soothes for a soft, calm finish. Skin feels refreshed, comforted, and balanced every time you cleanse—all under $10.
Tester feedback from associate manager of audience development Melanie Curry
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“I'm a huge fan of drugstore cleansers, especially Cetaphil products. This cleanser easily removes my makeup (when I'm wearing it) and the gunk and grime of the day without leaving my skin super dry and stripped. It has a lathering formula that gets into the crevices of my skin, like the edge of my nostrils and underneath the lips, where dirt is stubborn to remove.” —Melanie Curry, associate manager of audience development
More to know
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- Key ingredients: flaxseed oil, pentavitin
- Who it’s for: people with normal or dry skin
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Sensitive Skin: Tata Harper Superkind Softening Cleanser
Tata Harper
Superkind Softening Cleanser
Amazon
Sephora
Why it’s worth it: Superkind really lives up to its name: Tata Harper’s Superkind Softening Cleanser is a gentle, soothing wash made for sensitive, stressed-out skin. The jojoba-based, gel-like formula transforms into a rich, bubbly foam that sweeps away impurities without ever leaving skin tight or dry. Calendula and chamomile step in to calm redness and irritation, providing instant relief, while maracuja seed oil and the brand’s tetra lipid complex replenish your skin's barrier to keep it soft, supple, and resilient. It’s cleansing that feels more like care.
Tester feedback from contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee
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“The rice powder gives this gentle gel cleanser just the tiniest bit of grit—enough to make me feel like I'm really getting all my makeup off without upsetting my skin. This face wash never fails to leave my skin feeling soft and hydrated." —Christa Lee, contributing commerce writer
More to know
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- Key ingredients: jojoba esters, castor seed oil, calendula, chamomile, maracuja seed oil
- Who it’s for: people with sensitive, irritation-prone skin
- Fragrance-free: yes
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it important to cleanse your face?
Washing one's face is the basic foundation of an effective skin-care regimen. Only after you sweep away all of the breakout-causing dirt, makeup, and excess oil on your face can your skin properly absorb and reap the benefits of other nourishing products. "Cleansing your face removes makeup, oil, dirt, and other debris," Sejal Shah, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, previously told Allure. “Even if you don't wear makeup, the skin on your face comes into contact with residue from other skin-care products as well as pollutants, microbes, dirt, and other debris, not to mention oils, sweat, and dead skin cells.”
How should I choose a facial cleanser?
Different face washes address different skin concerns, so keep your skin type in mind when picking out a new cleanser. If you have sensitive skin, reach for a moisturizing cleanser that will go easy on your skin barrier. "You want to use gentle, hydrating cleansers that remove impurities without stripping the skin barrier of all its natural moisturizing factors," explains Washington, D.C.-based dermatologist Adam Friedman, MD. He also suggests looking for humectants like hyaluronic acid and ceramides on the back of the bottle, as they "help keep water in the skin," which is essential, especially for people with sensitive skin.
According to NYC-based board-certified dermatologist Brandith Irwin, MD, people with sensitive skin should seek products with short and sweet ingredient lists. "For sensitive skin, specifically, you want products free of artificial fragrances, parabens, and phthalates," Dr. Irwin says.
If you experience acne, choose a facial cleanser with active ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid to tackle blemishes (whiteheads/blackheads). Claire Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, has some handy guidelines she abides by. She always recommends gentle cleansers over harsh soaps—especially ones with physical exfoliants—to clear the skin of dirt and excess oil. She also backs the inclusion of soothing tea tree oil and green tea.
Oily skin needs—you guessed it—oil-fighting ingredients. According to cosmetic chemist Ginger King, oil-absorbing cellulose and niacinamide (a form of vitamin B3) can benefit oily skin, adding niacinamide also helps reduce the look of pores.
What should I know about double cleansing?
There's more to double cleansing than just washing your face twice. "I define double-cleansing as using two separate types of cleansers to wash your face," board-certified dermatologist Rita V. Linkner, MD, previously told Allure.
We have an entire dermatologist-approved guide to double-cleansing if you want to perfect the art, but here's the gist: You start your cleansing routine with an oil-based cleanser or micellar water to break down and remove makeup and sunscreen. The type of your second cleanser is up to you as long as it's gentle and washes away pollutants, acne-causing bacteria, and debris.
Meet the experts
- Claire Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City
- Adam Friedman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Washington, D.C.
- Michelle Henry, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Brandith Irwin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Rita V. Linkner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Ginger King, a cosmetic chemist
- Morgan Rabach, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Sejal Shah, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
How we test and review products
We always enlist a range of testers for any review, but skin-care products are another story. While some can be used across different skin types, tones, textures, and concerns, many are created with specific consumers and their needs in mind. We guarantee that these factors are considered when determining whether a skin-care product is worthy of a recommendation.
For our review of the best face washes, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and experts we've interviewed for the piece—who all have different complexion concerns and types, desired outcomes (e.g. diminished appearance of blackheads), and whether one product was tested across multiple skin types. Testers considered performance across the following primary categories: efficacy, texture, ingredients, and value. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
