We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.
Best Dermatologist-Approved Face Wash
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser
Read more
Washing your face may be the most basic of skincare steps, but dermatologists and skincare experts know that using the right cleanser for your skin is key for a clear, radiant complexion. Face wash helps remove debris, including makeup, dirt and pollution, and excess oil that can dull skin, clog pores, and cause discoloration and breakouts. But don’t grab any old soap: “A sulfate- and soap-free cleanser for the face will be pH-balanced and gentle to maintain skin’s barrier without stripping,” says Whitney Bowe, M.D., a New York City dermatologist and author of The Beauty of Dirty Skin.
The Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab has a decades-long history of testing face wash formulas for cleansing efficacy and their effects on skin. First, the GH beauty team scans the market for face washes across price points from drugstore to high-end brands, which are then vetted by Beauty Lab scientists. Next, the product labels are masked to eliminate brand bias before they are distributed to hundreds of consumers across the country.
Testers use the products in their regular skincare routine, then evaluate them on criteria including ease of application, texture, scent, how effectively they wash away makeup, impurities and excess oil and how skin feels and looks after use (including any irritation). In the most recent GH Beauty Lab face washes test, 4,512 data points were tallied to find the best facial cleanser formulas on the market.
Whether your skin is combination, dry, oily, acne-prone, sensitive or somewhere in between, and no matter what type of formula you prefer, here are the best face washes and cleansers for all skin types tested by the GH Beauty Lab and recommended by skincare experts for your healthiest, most glowing skin ever.
1
Best Overall Face Wash
SkinCeuticals Soothing Cleanser Foam
Pros
- Lush lather
- Deeply cleanses
- No residue
Cons
- Pricey
With the highest level of lather of all the GH Beauty Lab test-winning cleansers, SkinCeuticals’ foam (with no obvious scent) rose to the top for washing away leftover makeup, impurities and excess oil. It earned a near-perfect score for effectively cleansing, with 96% of users confirming that it deeply cleaned their complexions, and for being easy to apply and rinse off. Testers loved the “refreshing texture” that “left no residue.”
Pros
- Effectively cleanses
- Won't dry out skin
- Good value
Cons
The classic low-lather, powder-fresh-smelling Cetaphil liquid was the tester favorite in the GH Beauty Lab’s test, leaving skin clean yet supple thanks to moisturizing glycerin. It rated highest among testers, with 86% saying they’d continue to use it, and scored well for making skin feel soft and hydrated. “This didn’t overdry or make my skin feel stripped,” and “My face even appears smoother,” two fans said.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
3
Best Dermatologist-Approved Face Wash
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser
Pros
- Won't strip skin's oils
- Fragrance- and sulfate-free
- Large bottle is long-lasting
Cons
A favorite of Dr. Bowe's, this La Roche-Posay face wash is infused with prebiotic thermal water. “This soothing creamy cleanser is soap-free, sulfate-free, oil-free, fragrance-free, and non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog pores,” she says. “A probiotic or prebiotic cleanser will also help to fortify the skin’s beneficial bacteria, keeping the natural barrier healthy.”
4
Best Face Wash for Glowing Skin
Aveeno Positively Radiant 60 Second In-Shower Facial
Pros
- Two-in-one formula
- Deep cleans and exfoliates
- Leaves skin glowing
Cons
A GH Beauty Award winner, Aveeno’s innovative face cleanser/mask hybrid is applied in the shower to work with the steam, exfoliating and purifying with glycolic acid and kaolin clay. A tester noted that her face "looked clearer and more vibrant" after use.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
5
Best Face Wash for Sensitive Skin
Fresh Soy Face Cleanser
Pros
- Gentle and non-irritating
- Boosts radiance
Cons
- Pricey
Naturally scented with cucumber and blended with nourishing botanicals like sunflower oil, Fresh’s nearly foamless wash was mildest on skin and best at boosting radiance in the GH Beauty Lab’s test. A rare 100% of testers, including those with sensitivity, said it didn’t irritate skin. “I have extremely sensitive skin and had no reactions to this,” one marveled. It also made dull skin “brighter” and with “a glow,” others said.
6
Best Face Wash for Combination Skin
Philosophy Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser
Pros
- Balances oily and dry areas
- Can be used on face and eyes
Cons
This classic skin-balancing Philosophy cleanser infused with botanical oils like meadowfoam and rosewood is the best-seller at Ulta, with more than 3,000 five-star reviews. “It removes all makeup, cleanses, moisturizes, and makes your face look and feel fresh,” one reviewer raved. “Best facial cleanser I have ever used.”
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Pros
- Contains acne treatment ingredients
- Controls oil
Cons
This Vichy gel cleanser is GH Beauty Lab chemist Danusia Wnek’s go-to for her acne-prone complexion. “It contains exfoliating ingredients like salicylic acid, the active ingredient for acne treatment, and glycolic acid, which are great for smoothing texture and brightening,” she says. “I love the way it smells and how well it cleans my skin.” And it has long-term anti-breakout benefits: “It has been an ongoing staple in my cleansing routine for keeping acne at bay and controlling my oily T-zone,” Wnek explains.
Pros
- Softens skin
- Gentle and non-irritating
Cons
- Pricey
Made with high levels of moisturizers like sweet almond oil, shea butter and honey, Naturopathica’s rich balm, a GH Beauty Award winner, relieves dehydrated skin as it gently cleanses. "My inflamed face actually felt better — and the jar lasts," a tester reported.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Pros
- Clarifies skin
- Applies easily
- Bargain price
Cons
Fragrance-free with medium suds, YourGoodSkin’s gel gave the most complexion-clarifying cleanse with repeated use in the GH Beauty Lab’s test. 80% of testers found that their skin was clarified and clear after one week, the top mark of all tested. It also ranked first in ease of application. “I liked the toned feeling it gave my skin,” a user revealed. “It seemed to help clear up congested areas.”
10
Best Face Wash for Redness
Cetaphil Gentle Foaming Cleanser
Pros
- Thoroughly cleanses
- Soothes skin
- Non-irritating
- Great value
Cons
This Cetaphil foam face wash is a favorite of GH Beauty Lab senior chemist Sabina Wizemann, who has rosacea, and her entire family. “It feels so luxurious that I look forward to cleaning my face, and it removes sticky SPF moisturizers and makeup without harsh rubbing,” she says. “It also leaves skin soothed and softened — a godsend to my rosacea-prone skin because it cleans well without any irritation or dryness afterward.”
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Pros
- Boost radiance and a youthful look
- Contain's anti-aging ingredients
Cons
Made with age-fighting ingredients like plant stem cells and peptides, Mary Kay’s cleanser, a GH Beauty Award winner and Good Housekeeping Seal star, does more than purify your complexion. Beauty Lab evaluations of consumer studies found that it gently cleanses and tones to make mature skin look fresher and more youthful, increases radiance, and helps maintain skin’s moisture.
Pros
- Softens skin
- Removes makeup
- Good value
Cons
This unique GH Beauty Award-winning Pond's cleansing balm is a face wash in solid form that morphs into an oil on skin (and doubles as a makeup remover). It left one tester’s complexion feeling “supple, as if I’d applied moisturizer.”
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
13
Best Micellar Water Face Wash
Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water
Pros
- Removes makeup and cleanses
- Gentle and non-drying
- No rinsing needed
- Bargain price
Cons
Swipe Garnier’s 2-in-1 micellar water makeup remover and face wash combo, a Good Housekeeping Beauty Award winner, all over your face with a cotton pad — no need to rinse. The formula thoroughly cleanses and clears makeup, yet is non-drying, Beauty Lab evaluations found.
Pros
- Solid no-spill formula
- Portable
- Great value
Cons
A GH Beauty Award winner, this next-generation face wash from St. Ives is a portable, no-mess solid stick based on coconut oil that morphs into a soft, creamy lather on damp skin. After use, skin felt "clean yet silky and not dry," a tester said.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
15
Best Multi-Purpose Face Wash
Olay Daily Deeply Clean 4-in-1 Water Activated Cleansing Face Cloths
Pros
- Time-saving
- Thoroughly cleanse even makeup
- Non-drying
Cons
Wet these soft Olay single-use cloths with water to cleanse, tone, and gently exfoliate in one swipe. These GH Beauty Award-winning and Seal star wipes are proven to effectively wash away even eye makeup without over-drying skin, Beauty Lab evaluation confirmed.
Pros
- Rich in natural oils
- Deeply nourishes skin
- Aromatherapy scent
Cons
- Pricey
- May be too oily for acne-prone skin
This rich Elemis cleansing balm, a GH Beauty editor all-time favorite, is packed with nourishing botanical oils, including sweet almond, lavender, coconut, and chamomile. "This cleanser melts in, instantly softening dehydrated skin with no tight feeling afterward," she says. "And it smells like an aromatherapy treatment at the spa."
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
17
Best Exfoliating Face Wash
Neutrogena Skin Balancing Milky Cleanser
Now 24% Off
Pros
- Gently exfoliates
- Silkens skin
- Good value
Cons
A GH Beauty Award winner based on skin softeners like sunflower oil and glycerin, this new kind of cleanser from Neutrogena in comforting milk form also lightly exfoliates with gluconolactone, a buzzy polyhydroxy acid. “My face felt like silk,” a fan said.
18
Best Face Wash Wipes
Olay Sensitive Hungarian Water Essence Calming Makeup Remover Wipes
Now 16% Off
Pros
- Easy to use
- No rinsing needed
- Thoroughly removes makeup
- Soft, gentle cloths
Cons
No stinging or tugging: Olay’s cushiony, fragrance-free towelettes infused with aloe sweep away makeup fast without irritating. The GH Seal star and Beauty Award winner effectively removes even waterproof eye makeup while leaving skin hydrated, per Lab data.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
19
Best Face Wash + Makeup Remover
Bioderma Sensibio H2O Soothing Micellar Cleansing Water and Makeup Removing Solution
Pros
- Thoroughly removes makeup
- Saves time
- Soothing and non-irritating
Cons
Morning or night, Bioderma’s micellar water, a GH Beauty Award winner, cleanses skin and removes makeup (even waterproof mascara!) in one quick step. It’s hydrating and soothing, so it’s suitable for sensitive and easily irritated skin, too. Wizemann has used it for years: “It wipes away makeup effortlessly, leaves no stickiness behind, and doesn’t sting my skin or eyes,” she says. GH Beauty Lab evaluations found that it removed 99% of makeup in just three swipes.
April Franzino
Beauty Director
April (she/her) is the beauty director at Good Housekeeping, Prevention and Woman's Day, where she oversees all beauty content. She has over 15 years of experience under her belt, starting her career as an assistant beauty editor at GH in 2007, and working in the beauty departments of SELF and Fitness magazines.