The Very Best Face Washes

Texture: Cream | Ingredients: Glycerin, vitamin B5, niacinamide | Size: 20 ounces (Approx. $0.70/ounce)

Touted by seven different experts I talked to, Cetaphil’s gentle skin cleanser “effectively removes impurities without stripping the skin’s natural oils,” says Dr. Hope Mitchell, founder of Mitchell Dermatology. It contains powerful ingredients like glycerin to hydrate, vitamin B5 to protect the skin barrier, and niacinamide to smooth and retain moisture. It also uses micellar technology — which involves tiny cleansing molecules called micelles that attract and dissolve oils — to gently but effectively remove dirt and makeup. Dr. Sheel Desai Solomon, a dermatologist at ​Preston Dermatology + Skin Surgery, says the noncomedogenic formula works on every skin type, even sensitive skin, and he recommends it to patients with acne, eczema, and rosacea. It’s nothing fancy, and honestly, it won’t be life-changing, but it’s a simple, soap-free, hypoallergenic, and fragrance-free cleanser that efficiently and effectively does the job it’s meant to do, which is why I’ve made it my top pick.

Texture: Foam | Ingredients: Ceramides, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid | Size: 16 ounces (Approx. $1/ounce)

According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Wallace Nozile, foaming formulas tend to dry skin out and decrease oil production — a good thing for those with skin on the greasier side. CeraVe’s foaming cleanser comes recommended by several of the skin-care experts I spoke to. Certified dermatopathologist Dr. Gretchen Frieling says she loves it for oily types because the formula is noncomedogenic and its three essential ceramides cleanse the skin without stripping it in the process. Ceramides, she adds, help skin rebuild and repair the protective barrier to make it more resilient against future damage and signs of aging.

Texture: Gel | Ingredients: Kale, spinach, green tea | Size: 8 ounces (Approx. $5/ounce)

Gel cleansers are also very adept at cutting through excess oil on the skin’s surface (and inside pores). But the downside of gel face washes is that many can be too drying, causing more harm than good. Dr. Corey L. Hartman, founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology, and Dr. Mitchell both say this face wash is an exception. It’s formulated with organic antioxidants like kale, spinach, and green tea, which Mitchell says boost moisture in the skin, provide anti-inflammatory protection, and won’t leave the skin dry or tight. It’s also a favorite of Strategist writer Jeremy Rellosa, who’s been using it for two years and likens the experience to “a skin-care treatment at a spa.” An added bonus is that a little goes a long way: Just a half-pump “foams up a good amount, and I don’t have to restock for a few months, even with twice-daily use,” he says.

Texture: Cream | Ingredients: Glycerin, niacinamide, ceramides, prebiotic thermal water | Size: 13.5 ounces (Approx. $1.30/ounce)

Eight experts recommended this cleanser from La Roche-Posay’s silky Toleriane line. It contains hydrating ceramides as well as niacinamide, an anti–inflammatory ingredient that, according to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Carmen Castilla, helps to balance oil production. It also features the brand’s famed thermal spring water, which hydrates and soothes irritated, dry skin thanks to its antioxidant properties.

Texture: Cream-to-foam | Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides | Size: 12 ounces (Approx. $1/ounce)

Cleansing combination skin can be tricky, because you have to take into account having both dry and oily skin. But according to Mitchell, this CeraVe cleanser provides a best-of-both-worlds scenario because it transforms from a cream to a foam, giving dry areas the creamy, hydrating nourishment they need, while the foam removes excess oil without leaving the skin feeling tight or dry. The cleanser also contains essential ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and amino acids that help maintain the skin’s natural barrier and lock in moisture.

Texture: Gel | Ingredients: Polyhydroxy acid, glycerin, aloe | Size: 6.3 ounces (Approx. $1.50/ounce)

And if you’re dealing with extremely oily and dry spots, this gel-based Neutrogena cleanser with polyhydroxy acid (PHA) is specifically formulated for combination skin. Combination skin responds exceptionally well to PHA because it’s a “gentle exfoliant that helps to unclog pores while evening the skin’s texture and tone,” explains Dr. Caroline Robinson, the founder of Tone Dermatology. As both an exfoliant and a humectant, PHA helps balance skin without overly stripping it — plus, the molecules are larger and don’t penetrate as deeply, so it’s a much gentler exfoliant than AHAs and BHAs.

Texture: Gel | Ingredients: Salicylic acid | Size: 9.1 ounces (Approx. $1/ounce)

If you’re prone to breaking out, you should strongly consider using a cleanser with an acne-fighting ingredient like salicylic acid, which reduces swelling and inflammation as it unclogs pores. This Neutrogena cleanser with salicylic acid might just be your best bet, according to the dermatologists I consulted. Dr. Alicia Zalka, a dermatologist at Dermatology Associates of Western Connecticut, has recommended it to patients for 20-plus years, saying the salicylic acid helps break up the matrix of oil and dead skin cells that plugs pores. But because the concentration of salicylic acid is only 2 percent, the wash is gentle enough for sensitive skin while still helping to tame serious breakouts. The gel texture also makes it particularly good for treating oily skin without drying it out.

Texture: Foam | Ingredients: Glycerin | Size: 16 ounces (Approx. $0.60/ounce)

This Neutrogena cleanser is oil- and soap-free, which means it’s easy on sensitive skin. The formula contains something called “hydrophobically modified polymers,” which effectively cleanse and remove dirt and oil without disrupting the outer skin layer, explains Dr. Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital. It also comes recommended by Dr. Oma Agbai, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at UC Davis, who says the lightweight cleanser’s foaming action can remove oil and residue without overdrying. Because the non-stripping formula is dye-free, hypoallergenic, and noncomedogenic, it’ll work for most skin types, including sensitive ones.

Texture: Gel | Ingredients: Glycerin | Size: 5 ounces (Approx. $1/ounce)

Hyperpigmentation is a skin reaction that can be triggered by inflammation and results in dark marks that are challenging to get rid of. While serums and retinols can be effective, a good cleanser is just as important. This one in particular, Hartman says, will complement any skin-care regimen aimed at treating hyperpigmentation and, in conjunction with a spot treatment, can also help even skin tone in the process. Hartman says it cleanses thoroughly enough to remove any impurities but has a gentle formula that won’t irritate skin. That’s because the main ingredient is glycerin, which improves overall skin health by increasing hydration and minimizing water loss.

Texture: Gel | Ingredients: Glycerin, glycolic acid, benzoic acid | Size: 6.8 ounces (Approx. $6/ounce)

The main ingredient in SkinCeuticals’ Purifying Cleanser is glycolic acid, which provides gentle exfoliation to encourage cell turnover and lessens scarring and hyperpigmentation. Like the Melē cleanser above, this SkinCeuticals formula also contains moisturizing glycerin, which Viera-Newton calls an “unsung skin-care hero.” The face wash is fragrance-, paraben-, and sulfate-free, so it will be gentle on sensitive skin and suitable for dry, normal, oily, or combination types.