You know that scene in "My Best Friend's Wedding" when Julia Roberts's character self-identifies as the Jell-O to Cameron Diaz's crème brulée? It's simple. Comfortable. Maybe that's what Michael wants! Well, face wash is the Jell-O of skin care.
Fancy face masks and exfoliators are nice, but to be clear: they could never be Jell-O. To put it simply, face wash is the essential first step in any good skin-care routine (some dermatologists even say that, if you do anything at all, make it that you take off your makeup at night). But much like the aforementioned gelatin snack, there are lots of variations of facial cleansers.
Choosing the right one for you depends on your skin type and needs. If you experience dryness, for example, you might lean toward a hydrating or gentle formula; acneic types might benefit by picking one that's spiked with acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid . No matter what you're looking for, we've hand-selected the best face washes and facial cleansers on the market to get the job done.
In the slides ahead, you can shop editor-approved picks for every budget, from drugstore brands like Cerave and Cetaphil to cult favorites like Glow Recipe and Glossier. Who knows if it's what Michael would want, but it's definitely what your skin deserves . Best Multipurpose Face Wash Gntl Skin Wash ($38) If you're in the market for a face wash that's both gentle and multifunctional, the Gntl Skin Wash will be right up your alley.
It's pH-balanced, formulated for all skin types, and it can be used everywhere from your face to your feet. It's gentle AF, so it won't strip your skin, but instead will leave you feeling as soft as a baby's bottom. Best Probiotics Face Wash Tula The Cult Classic Purifying Cleanser ($24) Formulated with probiotic extracts, white tea, turmeric, and blueberry, this pick is perfect for anyone experiencing with stubborn hormonal acne.
It's a lightweight gel that lathers into a cream when mixed with water, and doesn't leave your skin feeling dry. Read the full editor review for more info. Best Creamy Face Wash For Dry Skin Glow Recipe Avocado Ceramide Moisture Barrier Cleanser ($28) The lotion-to-foam formula delivers the satisfying suds you want from a face wash without stripping your skin's moisture barrier.
It uses avocado oil to gently break down makeup, and a blend of ceramides and postbiotics hydrates long after you've rinsed. It's so high on our recommendations list, it even won itself a coveted PS Beauty Award . You can also read one editor's review here for more.
Best Gentle Face Wash For Dry Skin La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser ($17) This milky, ubergentle formula from La Roche-Posay simultaneously removes makeup and coddles dry, rough patches without stripping your skin of its natural oils. If you have dry, acne-prone skin, this will help keep your skin breakout free and hydrated at the same time. Read our full editor review .
Best Face Wash For Dry Skin CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser ($13, originally $17) If you have dry skin that veers on the sensitive side, try this face wash. Somewhere between a jelly and lotion, it has all the good-for-you hydrating ingredients you want from a cleanser without the fragrance or other potential irritants. To learn more, read one editor's full review .
Best Foaming Face Wash For Acne CeraVe Renewing Gentle SA Cleanser ($13, originally $17) Acne treatments are notoriously harsh, which is why sticking with a gentle cleanser is key. This face wash is mild but also sprinkles in a low dose of salicylic acid that dissolves a day's worth of grime without stripping the skin. Best Salicylic Acid Face Wash For Acne Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser ($15) A tried-and-true favorite for years, this salicylic-acid-spiked face wash dissolves any gunk chillin' in your pores but never leaves the skin feeling tight or dry.
I Replaced 6 Different Beauty Devices With This 1 Tool — Shop It on Sale Best Drugstore Face Wash Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser ($13) This options has long been considered one of the best drugstore face washes, and for good reason: almost anyone can use it without irritation. It's pH balanced, fragrance-free, and developed specifically for those with sensitive skin. Plus, it's affordable, and you can find it at your local drugstore.
Best Milky Face Wash Glossier's Milky Jelly Cleanser ($12) The best thing about the no-frills formula behind this jelly cleanser is just that: a bouncy, lightweight formula that dissolves makeup and leaves skin feeling soft and supple. Best Creamy Face Wash For Oily Skin Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser ($35) If clay is known for sucking up oils like a vacuum, then consider this formula the Bissell 1831. Hydrating rice oil esters make sure the deep clean never dries out your skin, but it makes sure to clear out all the gunk.
Best Gel Face Wash For Combination Skin Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Gel Cleanser ($13) With combo skin, you need to get a cleanser that does both: hydrate . . .
without feeling heavy. This hyaluronic-acid-infused formula is exactly that: a lightweight gel formula that makes your skin feel silky soft. Best Exfoliating Face Wash Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore-Minimizing & Polishing Powder Cleanser ($38) Another PS Beauty Award winner, this powder exfoliator works across every skin type, but especially those with combo.
All you need is a splash of water, and the AHA-powered clay powder will suds up nicely, exfoliate gently, rinse off easily, and leave your skin just feeling better overall. Best Face Wash Overall Fresh Mini Soy Makeup Removing Face Wash ($16) Yes, the Fresh Mini Soy Makeup Removing Face Wash is a gel, but this formula is also somehow creamy and moisturizing. The second it mixes with water, it forms a buttery soap that grips onto makeup and oil fast — all it takes is a few splashes of water to rinse away everything.
Read the full editor review . Best Cream Face Wash For Normal to Combination Skin Kiehl's Since 1851 Ultra Facial Cleanser ($25) You can't go wrong with this sudser, which leaves your skin feeling like it just got a hug of hydration (you can thank the hydrating avocado oil and apricot kernels for that). This Liquid Eyeliner Looks Shockingly Natural and Stays Put All Day Best Cleansing Oil DHC Deep Cleansing Oil ($22, originally $28) There's a reason beauty editors and dermatologists alike love this cleansing oil: it's loaded with hydrating ingredients like olive oil, vitamin E, and rosemary leaf oil, and it turns into a liquidy milk texture that feels just plain decadent.
It's so good, one bottle is sold every 10 seconds. Best Cleansing Balm Eadem Dew Dream Cleansing Balm ($30) Whatever holdups you might have from your past bad relationship with cleansing balms, we're happy to report that this formula from Eadem is the exception. Not only was it a PS Beauty Award Winner, but the sorbet-like balm melts into a milky cleanser that rinses off clean and takes every bit of makeup — yes, even your toughest waterproof mascara — with it, keeping skin feeling super hydrated.
Best Micellar Cleansing Treatment Perricone MD No:Rinse Micellar Cleansing Treatment ($40) Not to sound hyberbolic, but we'd give this wash 10 out of five stars if we could — it's that good. The lightweight gel formula has the makeup removing benefits of a micellar water, but is loaded with amino acids and vitamin B5 that simultaneously hydrate and cleanse the skin, but without irritating it, and builds up the just-right amount of suds that works across a spectrum of skin types. — Additional reporting by Renee Rodriguez Kelsey Castañon is a Brooklyn-based writer, editor, and content strategist with more than 13 years of experience in publishing.
She is currently the senior content director at PS, where you can find her stockpiling (and reporting on) everything from skin care to wine. Renee Rodriguez is a staff writer and social producer for PS. She writes across all verticals, but her main areas of expertise focus on fashion and beauty content with an emphasis on reviews and editor experiments.
She also produces social content for the PS TikTok and Instagram accounts..
