Our Favorite Face Washes Do More Than Just Cleanse

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: Dr. Loretta Gentle Hydrating Cleanser

Why it’s worth it: Dr. Loretta’s Gentle Hydrating Cleanser is an easygoing but hardworking formula that lives up to its name. This Best of Beauty winner washes away everything from dead skin buildup to excess oil to little icky bits of pollution and grime that snowball throughout the day, while being mild enough to use as an eye makeup remover. The formula’s detoxifying hydrolyzed algin—marine peptides—is also especially helpful for skin living in a dry climate. Apply it in the morning and evening, and let it sit for a few ​​minutes before rinsing off.

Best Exfoliating: SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser

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).

Best Cream: Drunk Elephant Mello Marula Cream Cleanser

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.

Best Lather: Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Mousse

Why it’s worth it: Clinique’s Take the Day Off Cleansing Mousse is one of the more motivational products in the cleansing department—making us actually excited to take off our makeup before bed. It’s silky, hydrating, and removes even the longest-wearing beauty products and sunscreens. Once the grime is gone, glycerin and hyaluronic acid step in to condition and moisturize, while coconut helps to break down impurities. With the help of warm water, this formula lathers like a dream and leaves skin feeling smooth and fresh.

Best Cleansing Balm: Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm

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).

Best Cleansing Oil: Man:yo Pure Cleansing Oil

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.

Best Gel: Rose Ingleton MD SuperFruit Brightening Cleanser

Why it’s worth it: Rose Ingleton MD’s SuperFruit Brightening Cleanser—a 2022 Best of Beauty winner—is your go-to for a daily glow-up. The gel-to-foam formula gently removes dirt and buildup without the dreaded tight, stripped feeling. With consistent use, you might notice a brighter, more even-toned complexion. Sugarcane extract, provitamin B5, hyaluronic acid, and aloe sync up to soften, hydrate, and leave your skin looking a little happier every time you wash.

Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Kate Somerville EradiKate 3% Sulfur Daily Foaming Cleanser

Kate Somerville

EradiKate 3% Sulfur Daily Foaming Cleanser

Why it’s worth it: We came for the TikTok virality of Kate Somerville’s EradiKate 3% Sulfur Daily Foaming Cleanser and stayed for the clinical-level results—think fewer breakouts, cleared-out blackheads, and soothed redness (thanks, natural oat extract). The whipped texture keeps skin moisturized while reining in oil and warding off flakiness. Bonus: It moonlights as a T-zone mask. Just leave it on for two to three minutes, then rinse thoroughly.

More face washes we love:

• For people prone to eczema, Mamina Turegano, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New Orleans, Louisiana, says Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser “has been a go-to cleanser recommendation by dermatologists for years for those with sensitive skin.” The ingredient list is short and sweet, with purified water and glycerin at the top, and doesn’t include common irritants like dyes, fragrances, lanolin, parabens, soap, and more.
• Bid adieu to your double-cleansing routine with EltaMD’s Oil-in-Gel Cleanser. This formula begins as a gel that breaks down stubborn waterproof makeup and SPF, and as you lather, you’ll feel it transform into a conditioning cream cleanser. It finishes its transformation as a cushiony emulsion that breaks down lingering excess oil, sweat, and dead skin.

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.