Cream, gel, foam or oil? With so many cleansers to choose from, finding the right formula can feel complicated. The easiest place to start is with your skin type.
Whether your skin is dry, oily, combination, sensitive, mature or prone to breakouts, the right cleanser should remove impurities while leaving skin feeling fresh and comfortable.
We're breaking down the best cleansers for every skin type, including some of our bestselling formulas.
How Do I Know What My Skin Type Is?
Knowing your skin type can make choosing a cleanser much easier.
Dry Skin can feel tight, rough or lacking in moisture, particularly after cleansing. It may also be prone to flakiness.
Oily Skin produces more sebum and can look shiny throughout the day, particularly across the T-zone.
Combination Skin has a mix of oily and drier areas, often with an oilier T-zone and drier cheeks.
Sensitive Skin may be more prone to redness, stinging or discomfort, particularly after using stronger skincare formulas.
Acne-Prone Skin is more susceptible to clogged pores, spots and breakouts. While technically a skin tendency rather than a skin type, it is still an important factor when choosing a cleanser.
What Is the Best Cleanser for Dry Skin?
Dry skin benefits from gentle, hydrating cleansers that remove impurities without leaving the complexion feeling tight or stripped.
Best Gentle Cleanser for Dry Skin
Aveeno Face Calm+ Restore Nourishing Oat Cleanser
This creamy cleanser gently lifts away impurities while helping skin feel soft, soothed and moisturised.
Best for: Dry skin looking for a gentle everyday cleanser.
Key ingredient: Prebiotic Oat.
Best Foaming Cleanser for Dry Skin
Prefer the fresh feel of a foam cleanser? This gentle formula cleanses while helping maintain hydration and support the skin barrier.
Best for: Dry skin that prefers a lightweight foaming cleanse.
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol and Ceramide NP.
What Is the Best Cleanser for Oily Skin?
The best cleanser for oily skin should remove excess sebum and impurities without leaving the complexion overly stripped.
Best Foaming Cleanser for Oily Skin
Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Poremizing Deep Cleansing Foam
This refreshing foam helps remove excess sebum, sunscreen residue and impurities while helping purify pores.
Best for: Oily skin looking for a thorough second cleanse.
Key ingredients: Himalayan Pink Salt, Kaolin and Centella Asiatica.
Best Cleansing Oil for Oily Skin
Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil
This lightweight oil helps dissolve makeup, SPF, excess sebum and oil-based residue without leaving skin feeling heavy or greasy.
Best for: Oily skin looking for a lightweight first cleanse.
Key ingredients: Centella Asiatica Extract and six plant-based oils.
What Is the Best Cleanser for Combination Skin?
Combination skin needs balance. Look for a cleanser that refreshes oilier areas without leaving drier parts of the face feeling tight.
Best Everyday Cleanser for Combination Skin
Beauty Of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser
This low-pH gel cleanser removes everyday impurities while helping skin feel fresh, comfortable and hydrated.
Best for: Combination skin looking for a simple everyday gel cleanser.
Key ingredients: Plum Water and Mung Bean Seed Extract.
Best Hydrating Cleanser for Combination Skin
Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture 5.5 Soft Cleansing Gel
A good middle ground if your T-zone becomes shiny while your cheeks lean dry, this lightweight gel cleanses while helping maintain moisture.
Best for: Combination skin with oilier and drier areas.
Key ingredients: Fermented Black Rice Extract, Fermented Bamboo Shoots and Trehalose.
What Is the Best Cleanser for Sensitive Skin?
Sensitive skin usually benefits from gentle formulas that cleanse without excessive friction or strong exfoliation.
Best Cream Cleanser for Sensitive Skin
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser
This gentle cleansing milk removes makeup and impurities while helping sensitive skin feel soft and comfortable.
Best for: Sensitive skin that prefers a creamy, minimal cleanse.
Key ingredients: Glycerin and La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water.
Best Korean Cleanser for Sensitive Skin
Dr. Althea Amino Acid Bubble Cleanser
This mild foaming cleanser removes impurities and excess sebum without stripping moisture, making it suitable for sensitive and acne-prone skin.
Best for: Sensitive skin that still prefers a foaming texture.
Key ingredients: 17 Amino Acids, Coconut Oil-derived surfactants and Apple Extract.
What Is the Best Cleanser for Acne-Prone Skin?
Acne-prone skin benefits from cleansers that remove excess oil and impurities while helping keep pores clear.
Best Pore-Clearing Cleanser for Acne-Prone Skin
This face wash helps remove dead skin cells, excess sebum and pore build-up while gently refining skin texture.
Best for: Acne-prone skin that is oily or susceptible to clogged pores.
Key ingredients: Salicylic Acid, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract and Melissa Officinalis Extract.
Best Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser for Acne-Prone Skin
Purito Oat In Gentle Exfoliating Face Cleanser
Fine oat particles gently exfoliate as you cleanse, helping remove dead skin cells and impurities while supporting hydration.
Best for: Acne-prone skin looking for a gentler exfoliating cleanse.
Key ingredients: Oat Seed Water, Korean Oat Particles and Panthenol.
What Is the Best Cleanser for Mature Skin?
Mature skin may benefit from cleansers focused on hydration and comfort, or formulas that help address concerns such as dullness and uneven-looking tone.
Best Hydrating Cleanser for Mature Skin
This gentle, non-foaming cleanser removes dirt, oil and makeup while helping maintain the skin's natural moisture balance.
Best for: Mature skin that feels dry or dehydrated.
Key ingredients: Three Essential Ceramides and Hyaluronic Acid.
Best Cleanser for Mature, Dull-Looking Skin
La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Clarifying Unifying Micro-Peeling Gel Cleanser
This refining cleanser provides gentle exfoliation while targeting dullness, dark spots and uneven-looking skin tone.
Best for: Mature skin where dullness or uneven tone is a concern.
Key ingredients: Melasyl, Niacinamide and Gluconolactone.
What Is the Best Korean Cleanser?
Korean cleansers are popular for combining effective cleansing with skincare-focused formulas and textures.
For combination skin, try Beauty Of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser. Dry skin may prefer Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Cleanser, while Dr. Althea Amino Acid Bubble Cleanser is an option for sensitive skin.
Explore more Korean cleansers at Justmylook.
Which Type of Face Cleanser Should I Use?
The overall formula matters more than texture alone, but each cleanser type has its advantages.
Cleansing Oils
Designed to dissolve makeup, SPF, excess sebum and oil-based residue. Try Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil as a first cleanse.
Gel Cleansers
Lightweight and refreshing, gel cleansers often suit oily and combination skin. Try Beauty Of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser.
Foam Cleansers
Foam cleansers create a lather for a fresh cleanse, but the right formula can suit several skin types. Try Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Cleanser for a gentler foaming option.
Cream Cleansers
Cream cleansers have a richer, more comforting texture and are popular with dry and sensitive skin. Try Aveeno Face Calm+ Restore Nourishing Oat Cleanser.
How to Cleanse Your Face Properly
A simple cleansing technique is usually all you need:
-
Wet your face with lukewarm water if your cleanser requires it.
-
Apply the cleanser using clean fingertips.
-
Massage gently across the face without scrubbing.
-
Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
-
Pat skin dry with a clean towel.
For cleansing oils, apply to dry skin first, emulsify with water and rinse before following with a water-based cleanser if double cleansing.
Do You Need to Double Cleanse?
Not everyone needs to double cleanse, but it can be useful in the evening if you regularly wear makeup or SPF.
Start with an oil-based cleanser, followed by a water-based cleanser suited to your skin type.
Want to know more? Read Is Double Cleansing Worth It? How To Double Cleanse Properly for a full guide.
How Often Should You Cleanse Your Face?
Cleansing in the evening helps remove makeup, SPF, excess oil and impurities from the day. Whether you also cleanse in the morning depends on your skin and routine.
Avoid repeatedly washing your face for a squeaky-clean feeling. Your skin should feel fresh and comfortable after cleansing.
Can the Wrong Cleanser Affect Your Skin?
Yes. A cleanser that is too harsh can leave skin feeling tight, dry or stripped, while one that is not effective enough may struggle to remove makeup, SPF and excess oil.
The right cleanser should leave skin feeling clean but comfortable.
FAQs About Face Cleansers
What Cleanser Should I Use for My Skin Type?
Dry skin suits gentle, hydrating formulas. Oily skin may prefer effective but non-stripping cleansers, while combination skin often suits balanced gel formulas. Sensitive skin generally benefits from gentle cleansers, while acne-prone skin may benefit from formulas targeting excess oil and pore build-up.
What Is the Difference Between a Cleanser and a Face Wash?
The terms often overlap. Face wash usually describes a rinse-off gel or foaming formula, while cleanser is a broader category that also includes creams, oils, balms and micellar waters.
Is a Gel or Foam Cleanser Better?
Neither is automatically better. Choose based on your skin type, ingredients and how your skin feels after cleansing rather than texture alone.
Can Oily Skin Use an Oil Cleanser?
Yes. Cleansing oils can help dissolve makeup, SPF and excess sebum, particularly as the first step of a double cleanse.
Should I Double Cleanse Every Day?
Not necessarily. Double cleansing can be useful in the evening when wearing makeup, water-resistant SPF or when one cleanser does not remove everything comfortably.
Can I Use the Same Cleanser Morning and Night?
Yes, as long as it suits your skin and leaves it feeling comfortable.
Should You Use Warm or Cold Water to Cleanse Your Face?
Lukewarm water is usually the most comfortable choice. Very hot water may leave skin feeling dry or irritated, while cold water is not necessary for an effective cleanse.
Why Does My Skin Feel Tight After Cleansing?
Your cleanser may be too stripping for your skin. Try switching to a gentler or more hydrating formula and avoid excessively hot water or repeated cleansing.
Find the Best Cleanser for Your Skin at Justmylook
The best cleanser is one that works with your skin. From nourishing formulas for dry and sensitive skin to lightweight cleansers for oily, combination and acne-prone complexions, choosing the right formula can make your routine much simpler.
Ready to find your match? Shop all Cleansers at Justmylook.
