These cleansers remove makeup without leaving your skin stripped of moisture.
You know if you have dry skin. It can be rough, flaky, and prone to redness or irritation—when your skin needs moisture, its not exactly subtle. Whats less obvious is how to go about washing and cleansing already dehydrated skin. “When you have dry skin, it is screaming for hydration,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Flora Kim. “It is super important to think about ingredients that can best help support the precious compromised skin barrier and help not only repair and nourish it, but also optimize its function.”
Kim recommends ceramides, lipids, and fatty acids, as well as ingredients that prevent transepidermal water loss. Additionally, she warns against faces washes blended with skin-scratching or irritating textures—think harsh scrubs and beads—as well as deep-cleansing face brushes. “Your skin is delicate!” Kim adds. “I recommend creamy or oil-based cleansers that are generously used (quantity is important too) and gently massaged onto your skin with your fingertips.”
And we have you covered for that part. Below, some of our go-to face washes for dry skin that calm down irritation and plump up moisture levels. Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Easy does it. Drunk Elephants creamy E-Rase micellar water is made with three types of ceramides and hydrating melon seed oil, making it an ideal quick morning rinse for those with dry and irritated skin.
The famous Augustinus Bader blend TFC8 is made from amino acids, vitamins, and a special mix of synthesized molecules inspired by skin. Pick up this luxe balm to see if its what your skin is craving.
Avènes ultra-gentle cleanser is formulated with eczema in mind, though its great for regularly dry or itchy skin, too.
Three cheers for CeraVe. The drugstore staple uses ceramides and hyaluronic acid in its hydrating cleanser—a moisture-attracting ingredient that complements the whole face wash process.
A Japanese cult fave thats gone global, the DHC Deep Cleansing Oil is known for melting away SPF, makeup, and pollution. Use it on days where youve gone full glam or if you feel like you need to double cleanse.
Clean ingredients dont need to be expensive, as this Mad Hippie cream cleanser proves. Its made with sesame, macadamia, and jojoba oils to leave your skin happier than it found it.
You might think glycolic acid is out of the question if you have dry, reactive skin—but this SkinCeuticals pick proves that isnt always the case. The formula balances the exfoliator with calming orange peel oil and allantoin.
Theres so much buzz around Cliniques cleansing balm, you might wonder if its worth it. Take it from us—the answer is yes. It removes makeup in seconds and leaves your skin feeling supple.
Repeat after us: You can take off your makeup without stripping your skin. Leave it to Paulas Choice to make a cream cleanser that does just that, softening finicky skin while its at it.
Consider Cetaphils Gentle Skin Cleanser if you need to press reset on your skin care routine, or youre trying to sniff out irritants. Its made without added fragrances and dyes, and is entirely non-comedogenic.
Sweet almond oil is the hero ingredient in Diors oil-to-milk cleanser. Its highly effective, and feels like a treat on your skin.
This La Roche-Posay cleanser has won over plenty of fans, thanks to its impressive blend of thermal water, ceramide, niacinamide, and glycerin.
Dry, unhappy skin doesnt stand a chance against this Tatcha formula, which expertly mixes up vitamins A, B, D, and E with omega-3, -6, -9 fatty acids.
Squalane can be a game-changer for dry skin. It can also quickly make products way more expensive than $7.90. Luckily, The Ordinary swooped in with a cleanser well within everyones budget. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
The Best Face Washes for Dry Skin, According to the Experts
- Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cleanser. Neutrogena. …
- Gentle Facial Cleanser. Vanicream. …
- Gentle Skin Cleanser. Cetaphil. …
- Hydrating Facial Cleanser. …
- Resist Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser. …
- Lipikar Wash AP+ Moisturizing Body & Face Wash. …
- Foaming Facial Cleanser. …
- Gentle Cleanser.
The Best Face Washes for Dry Skin, According to the Experts
It is also important to consider the type of formula you plan to use. “Foaming cleansers, in general, tend to be better for oily skin, but there are exceptions,” says Dr. Muneeb Shah, dermatology resident at Campbell University in North Carolina. Dr. Joel Lamm, a board-certified dermatologist and Ever/Body’s supervising physician, also recommends creams, because they help “avoid drying out skin.”
According to Dr. Wang, “this cleanser is soap-free, gentle on the skin, and does not contain fragrances or oils.”
This foaming formula, recommended by Dr. Shah, sreduces drying effects of water, leaving your skin smooth and soft.
So, if you are plagued by dry skin and need a facial wash that is up to snuff, we asked all three of these dermatologists to give their recommendations on the products you need to give your face the smooth, dewy finish that it deserves. Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
According to Dr. Wang, “this cleanser is soap-free, gentle on the skin, and does not contain fragrances or oils.”
Best vegan face wash for dry skin
This face wash has a creamy, moisturizing consistency when it mixes with lukewarm water. The whipped texture locks in moisture while it cleanses.
The product is free from alcohol, as the American Academy of Dermatologists (AAD) suggests cleansers should be. It’s also vegan, cruelty-free, and free from phthalates, parabens, and oxybenzone.
Some reviewers report breakouts and red bumps on their face after using this product.
Best foaming face wash for dry skin
This face wash is fragrance-free, and it foams up when you use it. It’s also loaded with emollient ingredients, including apricot kernel oil, glycerin, and squalane. Glycerin acts as a humectant and helps bind water to the skin, which increases hydration and helps the skin retain that moisture.
This cleanser contains vitamin E, which has a number of benefits for healthy skin.
Keep in mind that Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser is advertised as being “for all skin types,” so it’s not specially made for dry skin. It also contains alcohol, which may strip or irritate skin.
12 Best Face Washes for Dry, Sensitive Skin 2021
That’s where a gentle, hydrating face wash can work in your favor. “Cleansers are an incredibly powerful tool when dealing with dry skin,” adds Deirdre Hooper, M.D., board-certified dermatologist at Audubon Dermatology in New Orleans. But how do you choose when there are dozens of options on the market? Here, dermatologists explain what to look for in an effective face wash for sensitive skin.
Avoid fragrances: It’s especially important to choose unscented products, as fragrances can spur irritation, says Dr. Hooper. Look for unscented or fragrance-free on the label. Sensitive skin products are another good go-to.
Look for moisturizing ingredients: Hyaluronic acid is a top-notch moisturizer because it attracts water to skin, says Dr. Alster. Glycerin and ceramides also deliver an extra boost of moisture, while aloe vera and soy can feel soothing.
This face wash wins for how gentle it is while still being effective, according to Dr. Rao. The low suds formula washes away impurities without stripping moisture. It’s also unscented and noncomedogenic (so it won’t clog your pores)—making this an especially great face wash for acne-prone skin, too.
People rave about the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream—but the cleansing gel in this line should get just as much love. Packed with hydrating hyaluronic acid, just a little bit of this lightweight, soap-free face wash goes a long way. The gel turns into a smooth, creamy lather, easily washes off, and doesn’t leave the skin feeling tight.
The 14 Best Face Washes for Dry Skin
These cleansers remove makeup without leaving your skin stripped of moisture.
These cleansers remove makeup without leaving your skin stripped of moisture.
Kim recommends ceramides, lipids, and fatty acids, as well as ingredients that prevent transepidermal water loss. Additionally, she warns against faces washes blended with skin-scratching or irritating textures—think harsh scrubs and beads—as well as deep-cleansing face brushes. “Your skin is delicate!” Kim adds. “I recommend creamy or oil-based cleansers that are generously used (quantity is important too) and gently massaged onto your skin with your fingertips.”
Squalane can be a game-changer for dry skin. It can also quickly make products way more expensive than $7.90. Luckily, The Ordinary swooped in with a cleanser well within everyones budget. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Consider Cetaphils Gentle Skin Cleanser if you need to press reset on your skin care routine, or youre trying to sniff out irritants. Its made without added fragrances and dyes, and is entirely non-comedogenic.