Testers with sensitive skin were genuinely impressed with the mildness of Aveeno Calm + Restore Nourishing Oat Cleanser and loved how it plumped up and soothed their skin (as with so many Aveeno products, this liquid formula contains oatmeal flour). It was just edged out by Vanicream and EltaMD because it didn’t rinse off as effortlessly (one panelist had to deploy a cleansing cloth to fully remove the slickness).
Bubble Skincare is a favorite among the teen and tween set, and we admit to being charmed by the colorway and graphic design of its Soft Launch Hydrating Cream Cleanser, though the little cap and pump were tricky to use with wet hands. The nice pearly liquid is fine but not fantastic, and it required some effort to rinse from the hollows of our eyes.
We appreciated how Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Mousse transformed from cream into a lusty lather, but all those bubbles did a number on one tester’s eyes (which aren’t even that sensitive).
CeraVe offers a broad choice of excellent cleansers for a range of skin types beyond the Foaming Facial Cleanser, our pick for oily and acne-prone skin. When we tried Hydrating Facial Cleanser or the Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser, we were invariably impressed with how the formulas always managed to effectively clean away schmutz and schvitz while still leaving skin feeling fresh and smooth, and not at all tight or filmy. In their respective categories, though, we preferred our picks.
For decades, dermatologists have recommended Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, especially for those with sensitive skin or acne. And while this subtle, sudless formula has a legion of long-time and loyal fans (including many Wirecutter staffers), it tended to trigger sensitivity and breakouts for our panel testers with sensitive skin.
CosRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser is a pick in our roundup of Korean skin-care favorites, and testers loved the feel of its gently frothing gel formula. They were split, however, on the tea-tree-forward fragrance: One panelist copped to liking it despite her general aversion to scented skin care; another found it too medicinal.
Our panelists were polarized by Fresh Soy Face Cleanser: One tester hated the fragrance, another loved it. One tester thought it left her skin too dry, another loved how moisturized her skin felt. There was consensus, however, about the formulation: It’s rather runny and dribbles out of the tube.
We appreciated that Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser comes in a carry-on friendly 2.5-ounce tube and loved the way the pearlescent formula created a robust foam. But even after thorough rinsing, our skin felt a little taut.
Between the brown tinge and slimy texture, KraveBeauty Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser unfortunately reminded us of pond scum, which overshadowed the gel’s ability to cleanse and smooth.
Nothing looked nicer on our bathroom vanity than Laneige Water Bank Gentle Gel Cleanser, with its baby blue bottle and modern-looking pump. The gentle formula creates a wisp of foam that has unexpected oomph when removing heavy eye makeup. The performance was on par with Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, but ounce for ounce, Laneige’s cleanser is nearly four times as expensive.
Like CeraVe, La Roche-Posay has a solid lineup of impressive cleansers (including its Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser). Both Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Cleanser and Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser were great for oil control, but they left our skin a little dry after several days (so we ended up using them only on extra-oily days).
For something with oil-fighting salicylic acid, Murad Acne Control Clarifying strikes the perfect balance between leaving skin smooth and pliant, while also feeling like it’s really getting into pores and doing its thing. “It left my face feeling clean, not tight and stingy,” one panelist said.
A fragrance-free update on a classic, Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash with Salicylic Acid goes full-bubble foamy when wet, and it ably attacks oiliness, but — like many other options for the acne-prone — it left skin feeling a bit taut.
Whereas so many gentle cleansers tend to be milky cream formulas, Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser distinguished itself with a clear liquid that becomes an airy lather. For sensitive skin, though, it wasn’t quite as mild and soothing as our pick from Vanicream.
Olay Smoothing Daily Facial Cleanser is utterly inoffensive — a sudsless basic that was fine at refreshing skin, but only when we weren’t wearing a lot of makeup.
PanOxyl and pore-cleaning go hand-in-hand (in fact, the brand’s Clarifying Exfoliant 2% Salicylic Acid is a top pick in our guide to chemical exfoliants). And testers did indeed like how PanOxyl Acne Foaming Wash frothed up just enough, but they found it generally too harsh and irritating (especially around the eyes). As with lots of acne treatments powered by benzoyl peroxide, it tended to bleach one tester’s towels no matter how well she had rinsed.
Phyla pH Balancing Gel Cleanser was a strong contender for testers with normal/combination skin, who appreciated how the light gel lathered right up and felt luxurious on the skin. The subtle fragrance earned high marks, too. Overall, though, it was just edged out by the cleansers from Neutrogena and Ouai.
For dry skin, we still love Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Cleanser, which was a pick in our roundup of great Korean skin-care products. Enriched with moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and birch sap, this gel leaves skin fresh and bouncy. The only strike against it is that it’s hard to find in stores.
Smooth, mellow Thayer’s Hydrating Milky Face Cleanser held its own against other mild cream cleansers, but was edged out due to its slightly swampy smell (perhaps due to the mushroom extract).
We loved everything about Vintner’s Daughter Active Renewal Cleanser — except for the $125-plus price. The mixture inside the minimalist-chic glass bottle contains aloe, apples, and a form of vinegar, and it feels lusciously lively on skin. We’d be tempted to buy it as an occasional splurge, but we prefer to invest this much money in skin-care products that stay on the skin — rather than rinse down the drain.
Many Wirecutter staffers are fans of Youth To The People Superfood Cleanser. Our panel testers liked how it sudsed up, removed grime and makeup, and smelled divine (fresh and green). As much as they admire the look of the glass bottle, they were less keen on using it in all-hard-surfaces bathrooms.
This article was edited by Hannah Morrill and Jennifer Hunter.
