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Does your cleanser leave your skin tight and red?

One of my skincare pet peeves is using a cleanser that makes my skin feel stripped of moisture. If you find you experience this often with cleansers, then chances are you have dry skin. Don’t worry though, I’ve spent a good few hours checking out the best facial cleansers for dry skin according to dermatologists, comparing product reviews so you know you’re getting something worth it. Aside from cleansers, it’s important you know how to care for dry skin.

Even though it’s a skincare product that we only leave on our skin for a couple of seconds and then wash off, it’s still important to be using the right one. If you’re starting off in the skincare world, I’d recommend reading “what is a facial cleanser” first so you know what I’m talking about.

Here’s where I help you out.

To all my dry skin girls out there, you’re going to want a cleanser that is gentle and hydrating on your skin, removing dirt not moisture. Some people experience very dry skin from using unsuitable cleansers, including clogged pores and breakouts from irritating their skin barrier. Having the right face wash is key if youre going to make the best skincare routine for dry skin

I have discovered the cleansers that are worth it for you to find the best cleanser for dry skin that you can use every day. There’s no excuse to not own a good quality cleanser, no matter your budget. That’s why I have included drugstore options as well as the high-end favorites for dry skin types. If you want, you can even learn how to make a diy facial cleanser. Check out number 4 for my favorite drugstore cleanser.

Cleansing has never been more fun.

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A review of the best facial cleanser for dry sensitive skin

1.

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser

best facial cleanser for dry acne prone skin

This is my all-time favorite facial cleanser for dry skin.

The Cerave Hydrating Facial Wash is a gentle way of cleansing the oil and bacteria from your skin. If you have dry skin that gets itchy and sore from using stripping cleansers, then this one is worth having a look at.

This cleanser comes with hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and glycerin to help hydrate skin without stripping moisture. It provides intense hydration and maintains the skin’s moisture levels for 24 hours. This in turn contributes to the barrier function of the skin, so you get a healthy glow and reduced fine lines.

Wait, listen to this.

The best part about Cerave is that it has essential ceramides that are found in the skin and in the lipid barrier. That means you know you can trust what’s in the product, knowing it has exactly what your skin needs to maintain and restore the barrier. This is particularly useful since most dry skin is caused by a lack of ceramides in the skin.

Whether you have sensitive, or acne-prone dry skin, the Cerave cleanser has a lotion like consistency to hydrate and cleanse. It contains everything your skin needs to be healthy and is fragrance-free and paraben-free. It also has the National Eczema Association (NEA) seal of approval making it safe to use for those with extremely dry or sensitive skin.

Check out the 5-star reviews!

Pros
  • Contains Hyaluronic acid
  • Lotion like consistency
  • 24hrs moisture
  • Fragrance free
Cons
  • Some people don’t like milky consistency

Latest deal: CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser

2.

Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cleanser

best facial cleanser for dry sensitive skin

This is a drugstore must-have.

The Neutrogena hydrating cleanser provides an easily absorbed hydration whilst cleansing your skin from dirt picked up during the day. I love that this cleanser has been dermatologically tested, and together with the ultra gentle moisturizer you can get a power couple for sensitive dry skin. You could say it’s the best facial cleanser and moisturizer for dry skin.

This facial cleanser is ideal for keeping your face super hydrated whilst gently cleansing, making it good for sensitive or dry skin equally. This cleanser is effective for getting rid of dirt and bacteria, as well as oil and makeup to leave your skin feeling soft and clean. These days, it’s so easy to get bacteria onto your face from wearing your face mask, but with this gentle cleanser you can care for your skin and prevent maskne. This is a gentle foaming facial cleanser designed to keep your skin clean, without irritating sensitive or dry skin.

Check this out.

The Neutrogena facial cleanser is very good for people with sensitive skin, as it has a clean formula. This one is oil free, soap free and hypoallergenic and non comedogenic so your skin will love it. That means no breakouts or clogged pores, just healthy cleansing.

Whether you’re looking for the best face cleanser dry skin or your next favorite day cream to wear under makeup, the Neutrogena ultra facial gentle cleanser. Easy to slip on with all-day lock-in hydration and essential hyaluronic acid we’ll be taking this everywhere.

Have you added this one to your basket yet?

Pros
  • Soap free
  • Non comedogenic
  • Dermatologist tested
  • Leaves no residue
Cons
  • No lather

 

 

Latest deal: Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cleanser

3.

CETAPHIL Gentle Skin Cleanser

best drugstore facial cleanser for dry skin

If you have dry skin, try a dermatologically tested cleanser.

The Cetaphil Daily Cleansing Wash is ideal if you want to maintain the moisture whilst getting rid of bacteria from the day. It’s perfect for those who have damaged their skin’s natural barrier, for example in sunburn, or who have very dry, sensitive skin.

I love that the Cetaphil lotion has an all-in-one approach, meaning you can use this for your body and your face. You can use it for your body too, it gentle washes away dirt without overly stripping those dry parts such as elbows and knees that can sometimes become cracked and painful.

But wait.

An extremely important feature of the Cetaphil is that it is fragrance-free and paraben-free, so your skin will love it. No wonder it is recommended by dermatologists!

What more can I say? Cetaphil is a strong hydrating gentle cleanser that promises to deliver 24-hour moisture from dry, sensitive skin and clean the skin gently. From the over 29,000 five-star reviews, I’d say it does the job pretty well. Enriched with sweet almond oil and vitamin E, and value for money, it’s a winner!

Click on the blue button below to take a look for yourself!

Pros
  • 24 hour moisture
  • Fragrance free and paraben free
  • Dermatologically tested
  • Hypoallergenic and soap free
Cons
  • Not cruelty free

 

Latest deal: CETAPHIL Gentle Skin Cleanser

4.

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Facial Cleanser

best daily facial cleanser

Looking for quality drugstore cleanser?

La Roche Posay is ideal if you want calm, oil-free, everyday hydration. I’m talking about moisture with a light, non-greasy feel that won’t strip your skin of hydration. This cleanser has a hydrating milky formula that your skin will love and gently cleans out dirt for plump, glowing skin.

I love that this cleanser has been formulated with prebiotic thermal water which has shown to have many skin health benefits. It also contains ceramides and niacinamide to help repair the skin barrier and heal it. That means you can cleanse your face from the day’s dirt, bacteria and oil without drying out your skin.

But wait let me tell you about this.

A great feature of this is that it has a hydrating cream texture to moisturize your skin while cleansing. It will plump your skin and give you a smooth skin feeling providing lightweight moisture that leaves your skin nourished. It’s perfect if you have dry or sensitive skin and clogged pores. This cleanser will help to tighten your pores after cleansing, to prevent breakouts.

What more can I say? La Roche Posay brand is known to be a leading skincare brand that provides all the right ingredients in their products so you can keep your skin hydrated. It is a calm hydrating cream cleanser that promises to reduce texture to deliver a good even base for makeup and hydrated skin. It’s a winner!

Click on the blue button below to take a look for yourself!

Pros
  • Hydrating Cream Formula
  • Niacinamide and Ceramides
  • Prebiotic Thermal Water
  • Oil free and Fragrance free
Cons
  • Not cruelty free

 

 

Latest deal: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Facial Cleanser

5.

Drunk Elephant E-Rase Milki Micellar Water

best micellar water face wash for dry skin

If you want to know what is the most gentle makeup remover, this is it.

The Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum is designed for all skin types, but it’s especially useful if you have dry skin. Best used in the morning and evening, this ultra gentle micellar cleansing milk will help break down impurities and makeup to give you fresh glowing skin. It helps to protect the skin from the environment and improve the overall complexion.

Drunk Elephant is great for sensitive skin too. It contains no parabens or fragrance, and no harsh sulfate either. There are no harmful chemicals such as petrolatum or formaldehyde. This micellar water works just like a magnet to pull both water and oil soluble substances all the while without stripping the skin of moisture. It helps remove dirt and pollution from the day without sensitizing the skin or causing irritation.

But that’s not all.

Drunk Elephant cleansing mikl is best used before a water based cleanser, using a cotton pad to wipe the product across your face. It is antioxidant rich in plant oils to nourish your skin as it works to dissolve impurities. Drunk elephant is formulated with ingredients that help the skin absorb and benefit from the product. If you have dry skin, this one is a winner.

Drunk Elephant is the ideal option if you want a product without nasty ingredients such as essential oils, drying alcohols, silicones and fragrance or sulfates. This will benefit your skin immensely and is not easily found in other products. Plus here’s my favorite don’t bit, although Drunk Elephant don’t add fragrance, this cleansing milk smells just like melon and passion fruit!

Trust me, you’ll love this.

Pros
  • Free from harmful ingredients
  • Milky texture
  • Vitamin E and antioxidants
  • Gently removes dirt and makeup
Cons
  • A bit pricey

 

 

Latest deal: Drunk Elephant E-Rase Milki Micellar Water

Best facial cleanser for dry skin – A Buyers Guide

If there’s one thing you have got to include in a skin care routine it’s a face wash for dry skin. Face washes are essential for all skin types to ensure you get a clean, fresh face whether youre getting ready in the morning or preparing for a good nights sleep. A gentle skin cleanser is best if you have dry skin, as some cleansers can be very harsh or strip the skins moisture and cause irritated skin.

Have you ever trued oil based cleansers? These can contain grapeseed oil, chamomile oil, olive oil or other hydrating ingredients that are also super gentle on the skin and won’t dry you out. If you have oily skin or you break out easily, then don’t skip out on cleansing as this can actually trigger excess oil and produce acne causing bacteria as well as clog pores.

Try a creamy formula or a foaming formula with natural ingredients such as shea butter or aloe vera to soothe the skin, such as dove beauty bar. A cleansing balm or a hydrating face wash needs to have a soap free formula or this can be stripping skin of moisutere. If you have combination skin but still need a cleanser that moisturizes skin, try hydrating hyaluronic acid cleansing gel, as a gel cleanser is oil free but contains hydrating ingredients like hyaluronicmoisture acid to restore moisture.

Check out my tips below for using facial washes for dry skin.

Benefits of using Facial Cleansers

If you’re not using a facial cleanser in your skin care routine, then you’re seriously missing out. What is a facial cleanser used for?

Here are a few benefits to convince you to invest in a good facial cleanser:

Keep your skin hydrated and soft– cream cleansers can help restore moisture to your skin

Get rid of dead skin cells– reveal a fresh layer for a natural glow and brighter skin

Clear up buildup- get rid of dirt and grim from the day, as well as helping to unclog pores

Boost blood circulaiton- stimulate blood circulation around your face

Fight signs of aging- make your skin look fresher and younger

prepping your skin– get the most from your skincare products by prepping your face and leaving it clean and ready to soak up all the skincare benefits.

As you can see, even for dry skin, theres no excuse for not using a facial cleanser in your routine!

What to look for in a facial cleanser for dry skin

When it comes to choosing the right facial cleanser for your skin type, there are a couple of things you want to look out for. If you have dry skin, here are some tips for picking out a cleanser:

Oil based- For very dry skin types, a cleanser that is oil based rather than waterbased can help retain moisture better than other cleansers.

Gentle formulas- Sometimes dry skin is caused by skin sensitivity, so always make sure to check the ingredients and avoid harsh or aggressive cleansers containing sulfate or drying alcohols and fragrance.

Go for hydrating ingredients- this is super important for dry skin, look out for ingredients such as ceramides, peptides and hyaluronic acid to hydrate and fortify the skin barrier.

How to use facial cleanser in skincare routine

Here are some tips for using a facial cleanser in your routine:

Wash your face twice a day- even for dry skin types, you need to be careful not to overwash your face, but not to skip washing it either.With the right cleanser, it wont dry out your skin, and you need to remove dirt and makeup daily.

Use lukewarm water- avoid using hot water or very cold water on your face as this can dry out your skin even more.

Use a cleansing brush- if you want a deeper clean, avoid harsh cleansers or scrubs. I would recommend investing in a cleansing brush to gently clean deeper.

Follow up with hydrating skincare- After cleansing, it’s very important to apply a hydrating serum such as hyaluronic acid, or facial oil, and then continue with a moisturizer and spf designed for dry skin.

Final Thoughts

Extremely dry skin needs nourishing ingredients to maintain a healthy skin tone, face washes for dry skin are abundant and can even contain additional ingredients such as salicylic acid to treat acne or benzoyl peroxide. If you have dry and sensitive skin, a foaming face wash or a hydrating cleansing gel is ideal for washing your face two times a day without irritating your skin.

What is your favorite cleanser?

jess rowley

Jess Rowley

Cheif Editor & Nail Technician Expert

ABOUT

Jess Rowley, a veteran nail tech, has been studying beauty over the last 11 years and has completed the nail technology program in California. Watching the latest trends in beauty, Jess searches for the highest quality products that make your nails feel loved.

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