The 13 Best Face Washes for Dry Skin, Tested and Derm-Approved (2024)

If you have dry skin, cleansing with a too harsh face wash can strip the surface oils you do have, leaving your skin feeling tight and dryer over time. But there are plenty of face washes designed to imbue parched skin with the extra moisture it needs to feel good. The best face washes for dry skin will do that while simultaneously removing impurities and grime to help keep your skin healthy and clean.

We tested over 85 face washes, using them twice daily at home and on-the-go, for over a month to help us find the best options for dry skin. Testers noted each product’s formula, effectiveness, ease of use, and overall results. In addition to considering these insights, we consulted with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King, MD for advice on things to consider when searching for a face wash for dry skin. With all that in mind, we curated the below list of face washes that will keep your dry skin happy.

Our Top Picks

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Best for Sensitive Skin:

Avene Milk Cleanser at Amazon$22

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What We Like

  • Gentle formula

  • Skin feels clean and looks radiant after use

  • Fragrance-free

What to Consider

  • Plastic cap is easily breakable

Key Ingredients: Squalane, apricot kernels, avocado oil︱Skin Type(s): All (including sensitive skin)︱Size: 5 fl oz︱Cruelty-Free: No

We love Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser because its gentle formula doesn’t strip skin of its natural oils, and its fresh scent is invigorating. When testing this one, we were thrilled to see it reduced redness, minimized pores, and left skin feeling moisturized and clean. It also efficiently removed makeup—no double cleanse required.

The face wash lathers really nicely is easy to spread onto the skin, and a little goes a long way. Plus, it’s lightweight—perfect for morning and evening cleansing. Overall, this face wash was a total hit, but the plastic cap is a little fragile, so we wish the packaging was a little higher quality.

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Lisa, tester with dry skin: “My face felt thoroughly cleansed after using this face wash, with no need to double cleanse. It did not over-strip my skin of natural oils or leave my face feeling tight. The face wash completely removed all of my makeup without any leftover residue.”

What We Like

  • Fragrance-free

  • Removes everyday makeup (except for heavy eye makeup)

  • A little goes a long way

What to Consider

  • Doesn't remove eye makeup as well

Key Ingredients: Rosewater, pineapple extract︱Skin Type(s): All︱Size: 6.7 fl oz︱Cruelty-Free: Yes

Fresh, clean, moisturized skin doesn’t have to come at a huge cost, as evidenced by budget-friendly Good Molecules’ Hydrating Facial Cleansing Gel. At under $15, this cleanser really impressed us with its gentle formula that left our dry skin feeling healthier and moisturized. Plus, since you only need to use a small amount of product each time you wash your face, the money you spend on it goes a long way.

We were happy to discover this face wash is fragrance-free (which was especially surprising given it’s made with pineapple extract), and we loved the radiant glow it leaves behind. It’s definitely an effective cleanser, but as with many other products on this list, you’ll want to use makeup remover for eyeliner and mascara.

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Carrie, tester with dry skin: “It did not leave my face feeling tight or dry, which I was really surprised by given the consistency, so it lives up to its name as hydrating.”

What We Like

  • Does not need to be rinsed off (but can be, if you’d prefer)

  • Lathers and spreads well

  • Great for morning cleansing

What to Consider

  • Doesn’t remove makeup as well as we’d like

Key Ingredients: Avene thermal spring water, glycerin︱Skin Type(s): Dry, very dry, sensitive︱Size: 6.7 fl oz︱Cruelty-Free: No

Avene Milk Cleanser is ideal for sensitive skin; it’s made with glycerin for hydration as well as Avene thermal spring water, which soothes and softens the skin. We love how clean our skin felt each time we used this face wash, and how gentle the formula is.

There’s something unique about this cleanser too: You can leave it on your face without rinsing it off (but you can rinse it off if you’d prefer). Its consistency is thick at first, but it thins down as it’s worked into the skin, so it doesn’t feel heavy (even when you leave it on). While it’s an effective cleanser, it takes a double cleanse to thoroughly remove makeup.

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What We Like

  • Moisturizing with ceramides

  • Skin feels softer after use

  • Lightweight formula

What to Consider

  • Nothing

Key Ingredients: Amino acids, ceramides, hyaluronic acid︱Skin Type(s): Normal, dry, sensitive︱Size: 12 fl oz︱Cruelty-Free: No

Drugstore favorite Cerave created this amazing Hydrating Cream-to-Foam cleanser that checks off so many boxes. After using this one, our skin felt moisturized, and we saw a big reduction in dry spots and flakiness.

This face wash was developed by dermatologists and is formulated with amino acids and ceramides to help cleanse and hydrate skin. We were impressed with its overall performance, from how well it lathers to how soft skin feels after every use. It’s a great option for someone with dry skin, but our tester with acne-prone skin did notice a slight uptick in breakouts while using the face wash.

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What We Like

  • Lathers well

  • Skin feels thoroughly clean and hydrated after use

  • Slightly grainy texture

What to Consider

  • Not the best at removing makeup

Key Ingredients: Saponaria balm extracts, gentle complex, aloe vera︱Skin Type(s): Normal, dry︱Size: 4.5 fl oz︱Cruelty-Free: No

Who doesn’t love a sudsy, foamy, moisture-rich cleanser? This one from Clarins feels like you’re giving yourself a facial. We were blown away by how well it lathers—especially since it comes out so thick at first. We also like that its slightly grainy texture dissolves, so it’s not harsh on dry skin.

This face wash provides a good cleanse that will leave your face feeling refreshed after use. We think it’s a great addition to anyone’s skincare routine, regardless of skin type, but it’s ideal for the morning since it’s not great at fully removing makeup.

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Maggie, tester with dry, acne-prone skin: “I really like the unique texture [of this face wash]. I had never used a hydrating formula with a bit of texture [before this], and I enjoy how it makes my skin feel a bit cleaner than [a face wash with] a gel consistency.”

What We Like

  • Skin feels smooth after use

  • Foamy formula is easy to spread and scrub into the skin

  • Minimizes pores

What to Consider

  • Strong tea tree oil scent

Key Ingredients: Betaine Salicylate, tea tree oil, pH balanced pH 5.31±1.00︱Skin Type(s): All︱Size: 0.67, 1.69, 5.07 fl oz︱Cruelty-Free: Yes

Amazon beauty shoppers with dry skin should definitely check out cosrx’s Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser. It’s made with soothing tea tree oil and is pH-balanced to ensure your skin has just the right amount of oil and water for a hydrated, healthy glow. After trying the product, we loved how smooth our skin felt and that our pores looked slightly smaller.

It lathers up quickly so little goes a long way with this face wash. It’s easy to spread across skin and it effectively removes makeup (except eye makeup, like mascara and eyeliner). Our only complaint is that the formula has a strong tea tree scent that may be overwhelming for some.

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What We Like

  • Skin looks glowy (not greasy) after use

  • Very gentle

  • Leaves skin feeling soothed and hydrated

What to Consider

  • Thick formula not great for removing makeup

Key Ingredients: Rose water, allantoin︱Skin Type(s): Normal, dry, combination, oily︱Size: 6 fl oz︱Cruelty-Free: Yes

Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser offers several benefits, but we especially love how it makes the skin glow after each use. It’s formulated with rose water, which soothes and refreshes skin, and allantoin, a calming hydrator ideal for dry skin. It eliminated dry, flakey spots on the face and left behind radiant, smooth skin.

This cleanser performed well for us, and we really enjoyed the gentle, hydrating formula. It does have a thick consistency, though, which can be a little difficult to rub off and is not ideal for makeup removal.

Read the Full Review: Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser Soothed My Sensitive Skin

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What We Like

  • Minimizes the look of pores

  • Fresh scent

  • Leaves skin feeling refreshed

What to Consider

  • Nothing

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid︱Skin Type(s): All︱Size: 5 fl oz︱Cruelty-Free: No

It’s tricky to find a cleanser for dry skin that also helps address acne since that typically involves using ingredients that dry out the skin, but this one from Hada Labo Tokyo delivers. In addition to providing a great cleanse, it’s made with hyaluronic acid, which helps keep skin looking and feeling hydrated. Our tester also noticed that it helped tighten the look of her pores and minimize the appearance of acne scars.

While fragrance can be hit-or-miss, the subtle, fresh scent of this face wash was definitely something that stood out to us (in the best possible way). We also love how refreshed our skin feels after cleansing and that the formula is gentle enough to use both morning and night. Honestly, there isn’t anything we don’t love about this cleanser.

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What We Like

  • Great for sensitive skin

  • Removes light makeup well

  • Chic packaging

What to Consider

  • Not a lot of product for the cost

Key Ingredients: Undaria seaweed, skin-identical moisturizing complex, witch hazel, safflower seed oil, glycerin︱Skin Type(s): Dry, sensitive, mature︱Size: 0.6, 5 fl oz︱Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you have dry skin and a little extra spending money, Osea’s Ocean Cleansing Milk is worth the splurge. The pH-balanced formula is made with high-quality ingredients like a super hydrating skin-identical moisturizing complex, soothing safflower seed oil, and glycerin. Our skin felt thoroughly clean but never stripped after using this wash.

Since this cleanser has a lightweight, lotion-like consistency, we appreciated the pump bottle because it made dispensing the product clean and easy. It also spreads well and is easy to rinse off when you’re done cleansing, but it’s worth noting that the formula doesn’t lather much. That wasn’t a dealbreaker for us, but if you like a foaming cleanser we suggest checking out the foamers on this list.

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What We Like

  • Skin looks glowy after use

  • Pump dispenser

  • Deeply moisturizing

What to Consider

  • Silver bottle packaging makes it hard to know how much is left

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, arginine, aloe vera︱Skin Type(s): All︱Size: 13.5 fl oz︱Cruelty-Free: Yes

Made with 50% glycerin, Prequel Gleanser Non-Drying Glycerin Cleanser offers an amazing, moisturizing cleanse. The formula was dermatologist-developed and tested, hypoallergenic, and fragrance-free. But most importantly, it’s effective. After testing this product, we were amazed by how well it moisturized—it always left our skin with a glowy, healthy appearance.

Even our tester with dry, acne-prone skin found the cleanser had enough moisturizing elements to offset the dryness that results from her topical acne treatments. After testing, she noticed her skin was free of dry, flakey patches. This product seriously delivers on its promise to clean and moisturize the skin, we only wish it weren’t packaged in a silver bottle so we could see how much product is left.

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What We Like

  • Subtle scent

  • Excellent moisturizing formula

  • Smooth, thick consistency

What to Consider

  • Thick consistency difficult to rinse off

Key Ingredients: Blackcurrant oils, sea buckthorn oils, fennel seed extract︱Skin Type(s): Sensitive, dry, irritated︱Size: 1.6, 5.1 fl oz︱Cruelty-Free: Yes

REN’s Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk not only does a great job cleansing, but it’s also one of the most sustainable products we’ve tried. It’s packaged in a tube that’s 50% recycled plastic with a cap made from 100% recycled plastic—plus when you’re done with it, you can toss the container right back into the recycling bin.

The formula’s pretty great too—we felt like our skin was moisturized, and balanced after washing with it. The gentle formula is a great option for someone with sensitive skin, and the thick consistency made it easy for us to spread across the face. However, the consistency did make it somewhat difficult to fully rinse off.

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What We Like

  • Reduces redness

  • Leaves skin feeling hydrated and clean

  • Removes makeup well

What to Consider

  • Nothing

Key Ingredients: Seaweed hyaluronate blend, aloe barbensis leaf juice︱Skin Type(s): All︱Size: 6 fl oz︱Cruelty-Free: Yes

Skinfix’s Barrier+ Foaming Oil Hydrating Cleanser is a gentle formula that’s ideal for everyday use. Not only is it made with moisturizing ingredients such as a seaweed hyaluronate blend for a super hydrated look, but it’s also one of the most effective face washes we’ve tried for removing makeup.

After using this product, our skin felt clean, hydrated (not stripped), and fresh. The big bonus with this one though is it also managed to reduce redness over the few weeks one tester used it. There honestly isn’t anything we’d change.

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Cara, tester with normal to dry skin: “This is going to become one of my go-to face washes … I like that it helps hydrate my skin a bit without being super creamy or greasy feeling.”

What We Like

  • Woodsy, herbal scent

  • Skin feels softer after use

  • Lightweight formula

What to Consider

  • Doesn’t lather

Key Ingredients: Emeblia extract, ceramides, ecotine and squalane︱Skin Type(s): Normal, dry, combination︱Size: 3.7 fl oz︱Cruelty-Free: Yes

While a scented face wash isn’t for everyone, if you’re someone who loves a good fragrance, then you should check out this one from Stripes. We were pleasantly surprised by the spa-like herbal scent when we washed with it. It’s not overpowering and doesn’t linger (though we wouldn’t mind if it did!), but it’s a delightful extra to an already great cleanser. It made us feel like we’d taken a trip to the spa.

The face wash has a super-hydrating formula with emeblia extract, ceramides, ecotine, and squalane. Even though it doesn’t lather much, we love how lightweight it is and how clean and moisturized our skin feels after using it.

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What to Look for in a Face Wash for Dry Skin

  • Emollient-Rich Formulas: If your skin is on the drier side, Dr. King recommends looking for a cleanser that’s rich in emollients (think: natural plant butters, oils, lipids, and fatty acids). These, she says, will help support and strengthen the skin’s natural barrier, which is responsible for trapping moisture.
  • Avoid Detergents: Dr. King recommends that anyone with dry skin steer clear of cleansers that contain harsh detergents like SLS or SLES. “They can strip the skin of its natural oils, leaving the skin drier with an impaired skin barrier function, potentially causing irritation,” she says. Instead, she recommends reaching for gentle options that contain cleansers like gluconolactone (a PHA) or lactic acid (an AHA).

FAQ

  • How often should you wash your face with dry skin?

    How often you wash your face will largely depend on your skin's needs and your lifestyle. It's common for people with dry skin to prefer cleansing once a day (usually at night) to prevent stripping their skin. However, if you work out in the morning and build up a sweat, it's best to wash your face twice a day.

  • Should someone with dry skin avoid chemical exfoliants?

    Dr. King suggests avoiding any potentially irritating or drying exfoliants, such as salicylic acid. If you’re looking for a cleanser that contains an exfoliating hydroxy acid, she recommends instead reaching for a PHA like gluconolactone, which doesn’t penetrate the skin as deeply, thus reducing the risk of dryness or irritation. Added fragrance is also usually best avoided, as it can cause irritation, especially when the skin is already dry.

Why Trust Byrdie

Ashley Ziegler is a lifestyle commerce writer specializing in beauty and fashion. She also tests products and services (including face washes) so she can stand behind her recommendations. Ashley has written for several Dotdash Meredith brands over the years including Byrdie, InStyle, Verywell Health, and HEALTH.com. She's also a mom of two and occasionally covers family-related content.

The 13 Best Face Washes for Dry Skin, Tested and Derm-Approved (2024)
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