Best for Skin Barrier
IT Cosmetics Confidence in a Cleanser
Pros
- Included firming ingredients
- Ceramides and hyaluronic acid for hydration
- Good for someone with dry skin
Cons
- Takes some effort to rinse off
- Fruity scent may not be for everyone
Key Specs
- Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides
- Skin type: Dry
- Size: 5 oz
“This is a foam cleanser with the hydration of a serum,” says the Everyday Health writer Mary Sauer, who tested this product, and describes the texture as a “creamy gel with a subtle lather.” She does note that it takes a little effort to rinse off, but her skin felt very clean afterward.
According to Sauer, her skin felt moisturized and very clean, and she loved how the thickness made her skin feel soft after use. She also mentions that, although it isn’t advertised as scented, it has a slight fruit-like smell that may not appeal to everyone. She says she’s still “a big fan of this one,” though.
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Best Brightening
Rhode Pineapple Refresh PGA Daily Cleanser
Pros
- Pineapple enzymes for exfoliation and brightening
- Fragrance-free
- Suitable for all skin types
Cons
- Not suitable for those with pineapple allergies
- Doesn’t foam up much
Key Specs
- Key ingredients: Polyglutamic acid, pineapple extract, hyaluronic acid, glycerin
- Skin type: Normal to dry, acne-prone
- Size: 5 oz
The creamy balm has an opaque, glittery yellow color and a mild, soapy scent. It completely scrubbed away Dennis’s makeup, sunscreen, and the grime of the day without stripping her skin; in fact, she says it left her face “deliciously moisturized and supple.”
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Best for Oily Skin
Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser Fragrance Free
Pros
- Removes oil well
- Noncomedogenic formula
- Hypoallergenic, fragrance-free
Cons
- Less moisturizing than other cleansers
- Doesn’t foam
Key Specs
- Key ingredients: Glycerin
- Skin type: Normal to oily
- Size: 16 oz
“My skin feels clean but not overly dry and tight, and [this product] doesn’t strip the skin like a lot of cleansers designed for oily skin tend to do,” says the fitness writer Brittany Vargas. She says that compared with other cleansers, it’s less moisturizing, but that she expected that, since it's meant for those with oily skin. “It was gentle and removed oil well, but I wish it were a bit more moisturizing,” Vargas says.
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Best for Dry Skin
Laneige Perfect Renew Oil-to-Foam Cleanser
Pros
- Oil formula helps restore moisture
- Removes makeup and dirt well
- Clinical results shared on website
Cons
- Light essential oil scent
- Be cautious of using too much
Key Specs
- Key ingredients: Vitamin C derivative, RE.D Flavonoid, essential oils
- Skin type: Combination, oily, dry, normal
- Size: 8.45 oz
If you have dry skin like me, it’s best to choose an oil-based face wash to replenish your skin’s natural oils. While it’s advertised for all skin types, Laneige Perfect Renew Nourishing Oil-to-Foam Cleanser is ideal for aging dry skin. Its amino acid–based cleansing agents and nourishing oils clean without stripping moisture.
“I really like that this is an oil and it turns to a lather once water is added,” says the writer Lindsay Modglin. “This is important because this is where the moisture is, where it’s actually absorbed into my skin, rather than just a cleanser that cleans and doesn’t add anything to my skin.” Modglin says she’d recommend it to any woman “looking for a face wash that removes makeup but also moisturizes your skin.” She notes a slight scent to this product, but it is not strong, and it does not linger, describing it as a “light mix of green tea and argan oil.”
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Best for Uneven Skin Tone
Alpyn Hydrating Cold Cream Cleanser
Pros
- Reduces redness and promotes hydration
- Leaves skin feeling fresh and healthy
- Can also be used as a mask
- Clinically tested
Cons
- Menthol tingle may be too much for sensitive skin
- Screw-top jar packaging may be inconvenient
Key Specs
- Key ingredients: Vitamin C, juneberry, jojoba oil
- Skin type: Dry
- Size: 3.9 oz
After using the product for two weeks, Dennis, who normally has redness around her nose, says, “My skin tone is more even, the dry patches on my cheeks are gone, and my pores are not clogged at all — that’s saying a lot for the amount of heavy sunscreen I use.” She adds, “It is super duper hydrating and uses wild juneberries to soften and smooth.” Dennis says her skin felt incredible after she washed this off, describing it as “bursting with moisture.” She especially appreciated that it reduced the redness around her nose and chin, leaving her entire face feeling luxuriously hydrated.
One caveat: It has a mild camphor-like smell, accompanied by a very gentle menthol tingle on the skin that does not linger. Dennis cautions against using this product in the shower, since its screw-top jar lets water in easily.
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Best Gel
Hydrinity PRELUDE Facial Treatment Cleanser
Pros
- Brightens skin
- Great for oily skin
- Removes makeup well
Cons
- Doesn’t foam up
- Strong witch hazel scent
- Priciest on our list
Key Specs
- Key ingredients: Jojoba seed oil, chia seed oil, aloe
- Skin type: Oily, acne-prone, uneven
- Size: 6 oz
“I loved it — it smells so clean and light,” says the writer Amy Fischer, RD, who tried out this cleanser. She says she’s tried many other face washes that have irritated her skin, but she tolerated this one very well. “My skin felt moisturized, not tight or dry at all,” she notes.
“It did not activate my rosacea or make me break out like so many others do,” says the editor Olivia Campbell, adding, “My skin looked clearer and smoother, and my pores definitely looked smaller.”
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Best Cream
Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cleansing Foam
Pros
- Thick, hydrating consistency
- Great for all skin types
- Foams up well
- Adds hydration and moisture with micro-size hyaluronic acid
Cons
- May leave sticky residue if not fully washed
- Be careful not to use too much
Key Specs
- Key ingredients: Blue hyaluronic acid
- Skin type: Combination, oily, dry, normal
- Size: 5.29 oz
If you have dry skin or love the feeling of a creamy cleanser, this one by Laneige starts as a moisturizing cream and foams up instantly upon mixing with water. Writer Raki Swanson, who has sensitive skin, describes this cleanser as “very creamy and silky” and almost “mousse-ish” in texture, and says her face felt clean but not dried out. She also says it is very easy to wash off.
The cream cleanser was so moisturizing that Swanson did not feel the need to apply moisturizer right after cleansing as she normally would. She says a little goes a long way, and suggests using no more than a dime-size amount per wash. The cream has a pleasant, clean smell, similar to baby powder, and the baby blue packaging is also super cute.
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Best Budget
Neutrogena Fragrance Free Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser
Pros
- Most affordable on our list
- Available at most drugstores
- Nice foamy, frothy consistency
- Truly fragrance-free
Cons
- Foam can be drying for those with dry skin
Key Specs
- Key ingredients: Glycerin, CICA BarrierCare Technology
- Skin type: Normal to sensitive
- Size: 5.8 oz
“After use, my skin felt clean, without being overly stripped,” says the wellness writer Kimberly Dawn Neumann. “It also removed my waterproof mascara without the need for another product.” Neumann admits to being particularly sensitive to smells because of her migraines, and she confirms there is absolutely no scent in this product. While some people may enjoy a fragrance, those who are more sensitive to scents like Neumann may prefer a completely fragrance-free option like this one. It is also free of soaps, parabens, sulfates, alcohols, and dyes; it was developed with dermatologists and designed for sensitive skin.
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Best for Acne-Prone Skin
Arbonne Clear Future Deep Pore Acne Cleanser
Pros
- Salicylic acid to clear acne
- Noncomedogenic
- Allergy-tested
Cons
- Active ingredients may be harsh for sensitive skin
- Not widely available
Key Specs
- Key ingredients: Salicylic acid
- Skin type: Oily, acne-prone
- Size: 4 oz
“I have continued to use it and haven’t had any issues with a breakout, which is rare,” says the writer Jen Sinclair, who tested this cleanser. She adds, “I love how it goes on and comes off without my skin feeling too lotiony.” She describes her skin feeling “clean and tight,” and she would recommend it to a friend.
Of note, witch hazel may have a strong smell and a “tingly” feeling for those with sensitive skin.
Why Trust Everyday Health
Melissa Mitri, MS, RD
Author
Melissa Mitri is a registered dietitian-nutritionist, weight loss specialist, and expert health writer with over 18 years of experience in the health and wellness industry. She owns Melissa Mitri Nutrition, a virtual private practice helping women achieve sustainable weight loss.
Melissa is a freelance writer and editor for dietitians and wellness brands. She helps translate complicated scientific research into easy-to-understand terms for the public. Melissa has written for various publications and websites, such as HealthCanal, WellnessVerge, Nature Made, Garden of Life, the Avocado Board, and more.
Melissa believes everyone has the power to improve their health, one small habit at a time. Her approach to healthy eating focuses on what to eat more of for better health versus what to restrict or eliminate in the diet.
Melissa lives in Connecticut with her husband and two boys, where she enjoys training for half-marathons, reading, and traveling with her family.
Jacquelyn Dosal, MD
Medical Reviewer
Jacquelyn Dosal, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist practicing at The Dermatology House in Park City, Utah. Her areas of expertise include acne, rosacea, integrative treatments of inflammatory skin diseases, as well as laser treatment of the skin and injectables.
Dr. Dosal writes cosmetic questions for the certifying exams for the American Board of Dermatology. She is also the deputy editor for the American Academy of Dermatology's podcast, Dialogues in Dermatology.
Daniel Oakley
Fact-Checker
Daniel Oakley is a journalist, editor, and fact-checker. He has written, edited, taught, and produced media for Dow Jones, S&P Global, IHS Markit, Third Coast Studios Magazine, and 826 National.
Oakley's path has always been a health-and-wellness-focused one. A competitive triathlete and racing fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, he also spends summer weekends as an ISA-certified surf instructor and Red Cross professional water rescuer with Laru Beya Collective in Rockaway Beach, which helps kids master and delight in their own backyard — the ocean. It has taught Oakley that “optimizing body and mind” flourishes precisely at the wellspring of community.
Ally Hirschlag
Editor
Ally Hirschlag is an award-winning journalist with over 10 years of experience editing and writing health, fitness, beauty, lifestyle, and science content. Her work has appeared in National Geographic, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Weather.com, People, BBC Future, Audubon, Scientific American, and Smithsonian Magazine, among other publications. Hirschlag was most recently an associate editorial director for Byrdie.
She's an avid product tester with considerable experience testing skin care, hair care, fitness, fashion, and health-related products. She's also the daughter of an oral surgeon and can tell you about a long list of dental and gum-cleaning products you should be using.
Mary Sauer
Tester
Mary Sauer is a freelance health and parenting writer whose work often covers mental health (especially maternal mental health), grief, and caregiving. Her work has been published by the Washington Post, Verywell Mind, Parents, Vice's Tonic, and ARC Poetry Magazine. She's also the managing editor of the upcoming Salt Tooth Press and an MFA student at University of Missouri, Kansas City.
Sauer is a mom of four and lives in Kansas City, Missouri. She enjoys hiking, trying new coffee shops, and shopping at used bookstores. At home, she spends her precious free time reading, rewatching Fleabag, and gardening.
Mary Dennis
Tester
Mary Dennis is a Singaporean American health and science writer based in New York. Her work has been published in the Beijinger, Nautilus, South China Morning Post, Motherly, and Verywell Mind.
Her interest in covering mental health increased after the pandemic revealed our society's increasing need for care and information about how to manage our emotional health. She is passionate about maternal mental health issues in particular, and is the founder of Postpartum Brain, a website designed to educate and encourage people to learn more about perinatal mental health issues.
Mary has a masters degree in science journalism from Columbia University.
Brittany Vargas
Tester
Brittany Elyse Vargas has been a professional writer and journalist for over a decade and has been exploring topics around mental health, mind-body medicine, health, wellness, and psycho-spiritual development for the past 20 years.
As a trauma-informed health journalist, she is a regular contributor to Everyday Health, Medscape and Verywell Mind. Her byline has also appeared in Yahoo Life, Shape, Integrative Practitioner, Business Insider, and BBC Travel, among others.
Brittany is also a certified Reiki Master who has been practicing since 2010.
She received her bachelor's degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara and is a proud Californian. In her spare time, she loves practicing yoga, dancing, hiking, and traveling.
Lindsay Modglin
Tester
Lindsay Modglin is a former nurse and health writer who specializes in covering chronic illness, women's health, oncology, and wellness products that help empower readers to take control of their health and well-being. Her byline has been featured in many digital publications, including Healthline, Verywell Health, Parents, Forbes, Yahoo, AOL, Insider, and more. Her print work has been published in oncology magazines like Cancer Today and Cure.
Prior to becoming a writer, Lindsay started working in healthcare in 2012 as an optician while she was pursuing her nursing license before working as a registered nurse in a clinical healthcare setting. This experience gave her firsthand knowledge of the challenges and complexities that patients face when managing chronic illnesses and navigating the healthcare system.
Today, when Lindsay is not writing, she enjoys camping and traveling across the United States with her husband and three children. She also volunteers as a creative writer for a non-profit organization that supports children with life-threatening illnesses and as a soccer coach for her children's teams.
Jen Sinclair
Tester
Jen Sinclair Is a freelance health and wellness writer who has spent the last two years writing feature articles and reviews of mental health and medical services and products. Her work has been published by Verywell Mind, Verywell Health, Health, and Parents. Prior to this, she worked for six years as a copywriter and blog writer for several legal and healthcare businesses, and as a paralegal for 15 years.
Jen currently lives with her husband and children in St. Augustine, Florida, where she enjoys spending time outdoors paddling waterways, driving around with the top off her Jeep, or trekking around with her writer hiker pals.
Amy Fischer, MS, RD, CDN
Tester
Amy Fischer, MS, RD, CDN, is the former senior nutrition editor at Health. She is a dietitian with over 13 years of experience covering nutrition and health, specializing in product recommendations. Before Health, she covered nutrition, food, and supplements at Good Housekeeping.
She currently works at one of the largest teaching hospitals in New York City as a dietitian. She has authored numerous chapters in clinical nutrition textbooks and has also worked in PR and marketing for food company startups.
She received a bachelor's degree in journalism from Miami University of Ohio and a master's degree in clinical nutrition from New York University. She completed her dietetic training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Olivia Campbell
Tester
Olivia Campbell is the New York Times bestselling author of Women in White Coats: How the First Women Doctors Changed the World of Medicine and Sisters in Science: How Four Women Physicists Escaped Nazi Germany and Made Scientific History. She is a freelance editor at Dotdash Meredith and a freelance journalist. Her work has appeared in The Atlantic, National Geographic, New York Magazine, Health, Parents, History, and The Guardian, among other outlets.
Campbell received a journalism degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and a master's in science writing from Johns Hopkins University, where she now acts as a thesis advisor. She is a member of the National Association of Science Writers.
Campbell lives outside Philadelphia with her husband, three children, and two cats.
Raki Swanson
Tester
Raki Swanson is a Minnesota-based freelance health writer and married mother to two adult children. She has experience covering mental health, fitness, food, and lifestyle topics, as well as significant experience reviewing and testing products for the Marketplace team, including online therapy, fitness gear, and food.
She received a bachelor's degree in applied psychology from St. Cloud University in Minnesota. She has also worked as a business development manager at a Fortune 500 company in Minnesota, and spent several years living in the south of France while growing up, which inspired her love of travel and food.
When she's not writing, you can find her reading, blogging, and enjoying being an empty nester with her husband, two dogs, and tabby cat named Kevin.
Kimberly Dawn Neumann
Tester
Kimberly Dawn Neumann is a NYC-based magazine and book writer whose work has appeared in a wide variety of publications including Forbes Health, Forbes Home, Women’s Health, Health, Cosmopolitan, Fitness, Prevention, Redbook, Realtor.com, Maxim, Allure, and more.
After graduating first in her class, summa cum laude, with a degree in journalism, she earned a Life Coach certification through the Coach Training Alliance, an American Council on Exercise fitness professional certificate, a 200-hour RYT yoga instructor certification, and an Active Isolated Flexibility Technician certification.
She’s had two books published, The Real Reasons Men Commit and Sex Comes First. A top fitness and dance instructor as well as a former National Competitive Aerobics Champion bronze medalist, she has starred in 10 exercise videos. She has also performed in several Broadway shows and made many film, TV, and radio appearances.
Lili Ladaga
Tester
Nicole Bonaccorso
Tester
Nicole Bonaccorso is a writer and editor with more than 12 years of journalism experience. She has been writing for Everyday Health since 2025, and has also been published on NBCNews.com, Treehugger, Verywell, Mashable, and Upworthy, among other publications.
Nicole was also a senior editor at Weather.com for more than 11 years, covering everything from weather and climate change to health, science, and travel.
In addition to writing, Nicole has also found a passion in helping new parents reach their breastfeeding goals and is working towards becoming a certified breastfeeding specialist.
In her free time, Nicole enjoys hiking, camping, cooking, reading, and spending time outdoors with her two young sons, husband, and dog.