Are you wondering about which cleanser is best for your dry skin, is it a balm or an oil cleanser, or is it a gel or foaming or a cream cleanser? I am going to make it easy for you and present you with the 12 best cleansers for dry skin that I have found out to work amazing.
In this post, I am going to discuss the best facial cleansers for dry skin that I have discovered so far. These include oil and balm cleansers as well as micellar water wash as a first cleansing step and then, in the second part of the post I am going to talk about the water-based cleansers like gel and cream cleansers that are both cleansing your face as well as hydrating it.
Disclaimer: Please take this as entertainment, educational and informational content and not as medical information and advice. This post contains affiliate links. For full disclosure please check here.
One of the most important steps in your skincare routine should be to make sure that you are properly cleansing your skin each night. At night, your skin is doing its best to repair itself and for that, it needs to be clean and hydrated.
If you are a dry skin person most probably your skin is dull-looking, you developed a few fine wrinkles more quickly than other people (unless you are very young in which case, lucky you) and it’s not moisturized enough. One way to ensure you don’t strip your skin too much making it even drier is to use appropriate cleansers for your skin type.
That means you should use cleansing oils and balms rich in oils that hydrate the skin as well as using gel and cream cleansers as your second step cleanse. You should AVOID using foaming cleansers, they usually contain a lot of sulfates which are drying your skin even more than it already is.
Please keep in mind to not only wash your face but also your neck as you should put sunscreen on your neck and chest area too. Actually, all your products (except maybe exfoliants) should go all the way down to the chest area.
Oil/Balm cleansers and micellar water wash for dry skin(first step cleansers)
If you are using make-up and sunscreen make sure to cleanse your skin in a 2-step cleanse: the first being an oil/balm or micellar water cleanse and the second being a water-based cleanse. If you are new to the whole oil/balm cleanse make sure to check how to cleanse your skin with oil cleansers.
1. Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm review
This balm is my favorite cleansing balm for people with dry skin. It gives you the ultimate cleansing experience.
It removes make-up, sunscreen, and impurities very easily while also hydrating and nourishing the skin because of the unique blend of oils that it contains.
The balm emulsifies completely, meaning it turns into a milky texture when you add water to it and then you can easily rinse it off completely leaving nourished skin. It doesn’t leave a film on the skin as other cleansing balms do.
It is a mineral-oil-free formula, but it does contain a blend of essential oils like Chamomile, Lavender, and Eucalyptus which may cause allergic reactions to people who are allergic to essential oils.
The cleansing balm contains a lot of hydrating oils good for oily skin like Sweet Almond Oil, Oat Kernel, and Starflower Seed Oil, as well as oils high in Fatty Acids like Elderberry Seed Oil.
If you know yourself to be allergic to essential oils, you’d better keep away from this cleansing balm even if the smell is purely divine and the overall cleansing experience is a ten.
2. The Inkey List – Oat Cleansing Balm review
This cleansing balm is a very affordable one and if you are new to cleansing balms you can start up with it as it won’t cost much.
It has sunflower seed oil which is good for sensitive skin, as well as colloidal oatmeal, which helps hydrate the skin and helps boost the skin barrier. So, I would also recommend this balm if your skin barrier is compromised and you want a soothing cleansing balm.
Oat Cleansing Balm emulsifies completely so it will be easily rinsed off from the skin. It does leave a small hydrating film if you are not emulsifying it as you should, but this should not be a problem as you will come out with a water-based cleanse afterward which should clean everything left on your face.
I also like the packaging that it’s in a tube, instead of a jar, not needing to scoop your finger in there to get some product. That being said, it can get messy if you keep it somewhere really warm (like in the shower) as it will become more of an oil and you have to be careful when you are squeezing it from the tube.
3. BANILA CO Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm review
Clean it Zero Cleansing Balm contains a beautiful sherbet of oils that melt right away on the skin, removing all the make-up, sunscreen, and pollutants very easily.
It can be used by all skin types, it is mineral oil-free as well as alcohol-free and it contains Vitamin C. One of the Vitamin C benefits to the skin is that it helps brighten the skin, it is an antioxidant and it helps to protect your skin cells from free radicals caused by UV damage.
I consider this to be one of the best cleansing balms that I have found out so far. It has a divine scent, emulsifies completely (turns into that milky white texture if you add water to it), and lets your skin perfectly clean but moisturized after use.
It can also remove waterproof mascara very good so you won’t need an eye make-up remover in addition to this.
4. Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm review
If you haven’t figured it out yet, I love balm cleansers and I try them out all the time. I just like the texture of them more than the one of oil. That being said, another very good balm cleanser loved by a lot of people is Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm by Clinique.
This one is an amazing make-up remover, that just transforms from a solid balm into a silky oil. It gently removes any sunscreen and make-up that you have, and it also emulsifies leaving your face clean.
It contains Safflower Seed Oil making it also hydrating for your skin.
If you are just removing the cleanser with warm water it might leave a slight film on your skin if you are not massaging it enough and emulsifying it completely. To prevent that, you can use a warm, wet washcloth to remove the emulsified balm from your face. Make sure the washcloth is wet enough as you should NOT rub your skin when cleansing it.
Another way to get rid of that film is to use a second cleanse, a water-based cleanser, and you can find some good recommendations for gel and cream cleansers for dry skin in the second part of this post.
5. Nivea – Soothing Cleansing Oil Face&Eyes review
If you want to try an inexpensive drugstore cleansing oil for your face then you should check out Nivea’s Soothing Cleansing Oil Face&Eyes for sensitive skin.
It contains Grape Seed Oil, which is an oil with a high concentration of linoleic acid, thus making it great for helping with sebum production regulation. I think this oil can easily be used by people with combination skin as well as oily skin types can use this oil cleanser. It is perfume-free, good for sensitive skin, and emulsifies completely, not leaving any film on the skin (a big, big plus, especially for combination or oily skin types).
If you don’t like or want a balm, you can try this cleansing oil out as it is more liquid and the consistency of it is very nice, removing your make-up, sunscreen, and all the debris accumulated throughout the day.
P.S. For Waterproof mascara try adding some oil on your hands and gently keeping your hands on your closed eyes for a few seconds to warm the oil and start melting the make-up. Only afterward gently massage the oil onto your skin. This way, it will remove it better, without rubbing your eyes too much. You can also use a special waterproof eye cleanser if you want.
6. DHC Deep Cleansing Oil review
A fan favorite cleansing oil, DHC’s Deep Cleansing Oil has a water-soluble formula that rinses thoroughly while also nourishing and hydrating your skin.
It is rich in antioxidants and vitamins and is marketed towards all skin types, but I personally think it is better suited for dry skin types as people with oily skin might find its texture to be too rich.
The oil contains Olive Fruit Oil, rich in oleic acid, an omega-9 fatty acid beneficial for people with dry skin, as their skin is usually lacking its natural oils. It also contains Rosemary Leaf Oil, an antioxidant, and Vitamin E (Tocopherol), which helps protect the skin against free radicals.
Oils with higher concentrations of Oleic Acid are better suited for people with dry skin, as oils with higher concentrations of Linoleic Acid are better for people with Oily Skin.
If you are not sure about an oil’s oleic or linoleic concentration just give a short google search and you’ll find a table explaining it.
7. Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water review
This micellar wash is by far my favorite Micellar Cleansing Water. It is a great make-up remover and a great sunscreen and dirt remover, very powerful while also being very gentle on the skin.
It contains Glycerin, an ingredient that keeps the skin lipids between our skin cells in a healthy state, while also protecting our skin against irritation and helping restore the skin barrier.
Very important to mention about this micellar water is that it has no oil, no fragrance, no parabens, and no alcohol, making it amazing for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
All in all, if you want to go with micellar water as a first step, I would say you should definitely try out Garnier’s Micellar Cleansing Water.
8. Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water review
Sensibio H2O – Micellar Water gently cleanses your skin, removing make-up, sunscreen, and debris accumulated on your skin throughout the day. It does a very good job at being a first cleanse eliminating all the impurities and make-up.
It is Paraben-free, Hypoallergenic, and very soothing to the skin, good also for people with sensitive skin.
An important thing to keep in mind when you cleanse your skin with micellar water is to always make sure you soak well your cotton pad and to NOT rub your face hard. For the eye area gently press your soaked cotton pad on your closed eyes to melt your make-up away easily and then you can just proceed with removing the impurities.
Another important thing is to make sure you ALWAYS wash off your face after cleansing it with micellar water, even if it says there is no need to wash off. You don’t want all those SLS’s that are in it to remain on your skin as it will dry it out.
Gel/cream cleansers (water-based cleansers or second step cleansers)
After you went in first with an oil cleanser or balm or micellar water that melted and removed make-up, sunscreen, and impurities accumulated on your face throughout the day, you need to come in with a second cleanser.
I would suggest you come with a water-based cleanser, which means a cleanser that it’s not oil-based, it is more liquid and contains water as the first ingredient as well as other humectants.
This second cleanse is to remove all the make-up or the pollutants that were not removed in the first cleanse, making sure your face and neck are clean are prepared for the next products. You can check out this PM skincare routine for dry skin to make sure that you are having good products in your routine, products that actually help your skin type.
9. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser review
Probably the BEST cleanser for dry skin and not only, but this is also a cleanser that is good for any skin type. It is one of the most recommended by dermatologists’ cleansers that is on the market and that is because it’s amazing.
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser is a cream-like cleanser. It not only gently cleanses your skin but also hydrates it while cleansing it. This hydrating cleanser has very few ingredients, which is always a plus, is non-comedogenic and fragrance-free. It can also be used for sensitive skin and doesn’t let your skin feel tight afterward.
You can use it both in the morning and in the night as a second cleanse and it won’t strip your skin.
10. Cerave Hydrating Cleanser review
Another cream cleanser that I consider to be one of the best facial cleansers for dry skin types, is Cerave Hydrating Cleanser. It has a non-foaming, creamy texture that gently hydrates your skin while also cleansing it effectively.
It contains three essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid so it is not only not disrupting the skin barrier, it actually helps you restore it, helping the skin lock in moisture. In addition to ceramides and HA (Hyaluronic Acid), it also contains Glycerin, a humectant, which means it helps our skin cling into the water, helping with hydration of the skin.
Cerave Hydrating Cleanser is also fragrance-free, non-irritating, and non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog your pores. It is a simple cleanser that is very good for people with dry skin as well as people with sensitive or combination skin.
You can use this gentle cleanser both in the evening as a second step, helping you remove any make-up left and debris or you can also use it in the morning because it is also hydrating and cleans your face effectively.
11. Purito Defence Barrier pH Cleanser review
For Purito I will start out with the bad thing first, all the other being only good things: the smell. The smell is bad, I absolutely hate it, which is because it has no added fragrance, but the cleanser, it’s oh, so good. Amazing actually.
Defence Barrier pH Cleanser is a daily facial gentle cleanser with a balanced pH of 5.5, which doesn’t disrupt the skin’s acid mantle. It helps to cleanse the impurities and pollutants without leaving dry and tight skin afterward.
It is a gel-like cleanser, which contains Centella Asiatica Extract, an antioxidant, and an anti-inflammatory agent. On the ingredient list, you can also find Tee Tree Leaf Oil which helps regulate sebum production while also soothing your skin and having antioxidant properties.
In case you were looking for a vegan and cruelty-free facial cleanser this is the one that you should try. That’s if you can get over the smell, of course. Because of all the soothing extracts, it is also good for people with sensitive skin.
12. La Roche Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser review
This is another cream cleanser that gently cleanses without over-drying your skin. It does leave a moisturizing firm after you wash it off (unless you wash it off with a wet cloth) but it does a good job at removing impurities and make-up.
It contains Glycerin, a very good, hydrating ingredient which is great to have in any of your skin products. The cleanser also contains the famous La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water. This spring water is naturally rich in minerals, with soothing and antioxidant properties.
It is great for dry skin as well as for people with sensitive skin as it’s fragrance-free.
Please make sure you are reading and get yourself informed before making a purchase, and always, ALWAYS look at the ingredient list for ingredients that might cause you an allergic reaction.
If you don’t know what the ingredients mean, there is no problem, you can educate yourself. There are a lot of sites out there that help you with this. One of my favorites is https://incidecoder.com/ give it a try. You can look for ingredients as well as for specific products and they will tell you if an ingredient is a goodie to have in your product or not.
How many of these cleansers have you tried and what is your favorite among them? Or tell me what is your favorite cleanser even if it’s not on this list by commenting below. Until next time, stay safe and educate yourself.
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