Soak Your Dry Skin in These Hydrating Facial Cleansers

The clean beauty experts over at ILIA created this pH-balanced cleanser to remove makeup, dirt, and mineral SPF without drying out your face or weakening your skin barrier, which can lead to more irritation and dryness. Instead, The Cleanse leaves skin hydrated, smooth, protected, and, of course, clean. It doesn’t have any fragrance added either, which makes it a great option for those with sensitive skin and around the eye area.*

Who hasn’t heard of Cetaphil? The derm-approved skincare products are so ubiquitous that they’re used by celebrities like Sofia Vergara, but you’ll also find them by your teenage niece’s sink. I personally stock up on this cleanser because it’s a non-irritating face wash that’s unbelievably gentle, but also so easy to find at your local drugstore.

This fragrance-free face wash is formulated to clean your mug without harsh irritants or allergens. This product also uses antioxidant-rich langsat leaf extract, which can reduce hyperpigmentation and bolster luminous, even skin. It’s on the pricier side, but buyers say a little goes a long way so it’s built to last. 

It may seem counter-intuitive to use an oil cleanser, but many are known to actually work against your dryness. This balm includes niacin-rich rice bran oil and Baobab Sariché oil, which purify and soften skin. It might feel weird to apply cleanser without a lather, but you’ll get used to it after feeling the results. As one buyer says, “It doesn’t dry out my skin which every other cleanser I’ve tried seems to do. Makeup melts right off.”

There’s a reason this cleanser has a 4.7 star rating from over 20,000 buyers — Vanicream is the holy grail for when we don’t want to compromise our skin routines while saving up for vacation (myself included). For less than $10, you get what one reviewer calls “a really simple, straightforward cleanser. It isn’t drying, doesn’t make my skin feel super tight or ‘too clean,’ and never irritates my skin.” This pick is scent-free, too.

For a deep cleaning option, consider a gel formula. It starts off a little heavier, but it eventually lathers up into a spa-like experience. If you like that substantial feel, this Oak Essentials option is very much for you. And if you prefer scents, this cleanser has a woody, herby fragrance that’s more on the stoic, elegant side. One reviewer is obsessed with the post-wash feeling: “My skin feels beautifully clean and fresh, without leaving that dryness that some cleansers do.” 

Dubbed a daily green juice for your face, this award-winning cleanser is made of ingredients like kale, spinach, and green tea. Sure, those sound like the ingredients to a $30 smoothie, but this product will give you so many more benefits than a health drink. According to one review, “This is the best for dry skin! It doesn’t strip off the natural oils and I can use it as a daily cleanser.”

Here’s how I think of it: If Cetaphil is Britney Spears, CeraVe is Christina Aguilera. And by that, I mean that they’re both household name superstars that run in the same circles and are vying for your attention. I’m personally drawn to CeraVe because I think it has a slightly creamier texture that’s perfect when I’m not in the mood to deal with voluminous foam. It glides on easily, doesn’t strip my skin, and is fragrance-free. Plus, this formula is approved by the National Eczema Association.

You’ve probably seen Versed at the forefront of the emerging clean beauty wave, and for good reason. Formulated with antioxidant-rich marula oil, probiotics, and blackberry vinegar, this gentle wash is designed to soothe your face from dry-related irritation. Plus, Versed pays careful attention to the pH balance of their products so they don’t mess with your skin’s chemistry.

This oil-to-milk cleanser is somehow tame on your skin but tough on makeup. Seriously — after a night out, I learned that this face wash will obliterate a full face of glam with little to no effort. This was welcome news since I’m not usually too detail-oriented and patient when removing waterproof eyeliner after a rowdy karaoke night. Pick up a bottle and you’ll finally accomplish the goal of never going to bed with foundation on again.

I picked this cleanser up recently and have been delighted by the creamy, almost mousse-like texture. The addition of green tea water ensures I get a decent dose of antioxidants, which prevent cell damage. I agree with one reviewer who says, “Every time I wash my face with it, it feels like my skin is balanced, hydrated, and not stripped.” 

One of the best things about emerging skincare technology is that we’re constantly discovering new methods of getting soap onto your face. Enter the vacation-friendly cleansing stick, friend to all who hate sticking to TSA’s liquid rule. We love that this solid stick is full of sunflower oil — which is rich in vitamins and fatty acids, so you don’t have to sacrifice your skincare routine while you travel.

Ever heard of Illawarra and Burdekin plums? Well, you have now. They’re not household names in the skincare ingredient game (yet) but they’re great sources of antioxidants and they happen to be key ingredients in this softening, smoothing, and conditioning formula. As one dry-skinned user professes, “This balm is the silkiest cleanser I’ve had the privilege of trying. I use it morning and night. It’s so hydrating.”

With ingredients like vitamin E, jojoba milk, and meadowfoam seed oil, it’s no wonder this cleanser is a popular moisturizing option for dehydrated skin. A particularly passionate reviewer might convince you better than we can: “This makes me want to wash my face six and a half times a day.”

This cleanser is unique in that it shape shifts: It goes on as a balm, transforms into oil as you lather, and rinses off as a silky milk. Plus, it’s full of wholesome ingredients like evening primrose oil, which promotes elasticity, and jojoba seed oil, which softens your skin by trapping moisture. According to one buyer, “This is the best cleanser I have used hands down.”