24 Of The Best Face Washes And Cleansers In 2025
Your face wash might not be the product in your skincare routine that you give much thought to, but, the experts say, you really ought to. As well as being one product you use on a daily basis, it sets the tone for how effective the rest of your routine will be. “Get cleansing wrong and it’s very hard to get skincare right,” agrees skincare expert and dermatologist Dr Sam Bunting. “And you can tell you’ve got it wrong by looking for one – or all – of three warning signs that will indicate your cleansing routine isn’t ideal.” Those signs include skin that feels dry or tight, or has that tell-tale “squeaky clean” feeling, skin that’s irritated, bumpy, sore and stingy or skin that experiences more breakouts than usual. If any of those sound familiar, then it might be time to rethink your face wash and what you need from it. Whether it’s a deep cleansing for city dwellers or a soothing wash for sensitive skin, we’ve tried them all in the name of saving your skin.
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How we chose the best face washes
From cleansing balms to clay cleansers and foaming washes to gentler creams, Vogue beauty editors got hands on with each of the face washes included in this edit. Scoring them based on how well they remove make-up and grime, as well as their skin feel, only the best facial cleansers made our edit. Whatever your preference, we’ve shortlisted the best face washes for every skin type, so you can take your pick of our tried and tested favourites that leave the face feeling refreshed and not stripped.
The best face washes at a glance:
- Best oil-based face wash: Medik8 Lipid Balance Cleansing Oil,
£29£24.65 - Best face wash for oily skin: Dermalogica Active Clay Cleanser, £39
- Best face wash for sensitive skin: Avène Tolerance Control Extremely Gentle Cleanser, £14.50
- Best face wash for dry skin: CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser,
£17£14 - Best face wash for dull skin: Skinceuticals Glycolic Renewal Cleanser Gel,
£44£38.50
The best face wash for overall health: Dr Sam’s Flawless Cleanser
Why we love it: A gentle, uncomplicated cleanser that effectively removes all dirt and debris from skin and ensures it’s left feeling hydrated and supple. This is a great does-it-all product as it works on all skin types and is loaded with hydrating skin-softening ingredients. Expertly formulated by a dermatologist and reasonably priced too. You can’t go wrong.
Type: gel
Best for: all skin types
The best oil-based face wash: Medik8 Lipid Balance Cleansing Oil
Why we love it: “No matter what I’ve got on my face – be it foundation, powder and even eyelash glue – this oil cleanser makes taking the day off an absolute breeze. As someone who prefers a pre-cleanse, I love it before going in with another face wash, but the formula is powerful enough to get everything off in one go. It’s enhanced with antioxidant moringa extract, which acts like a magnet for impurities and dirt to thoroughly cleanse the skin.” – Tracy Achonwa, Vogue beauty commerce writer
Type: oil
Best For: All skin types, especially dry
The best exfoliating face wash: S’able Labs Qasil Cleanser
Why we love it: An exfoliating cleanser that intelligently refreshes while caring for the skin. Powered by Quasil, the crushed leaves from the Gob tree that is native to Somaliland, the fine powder (which contains twice the antioxidant level of vitamin C) is used to brighten and deep cleanse skin.
Type: Cream
Best For: All skin types
The most affordable face wash: Garnier Micellar Cleansing Gel Wash
Why we love it: If you’re a fan of the Garnier cult micellar water, this is a must have. The lightweight formula sweeps dirt and make-up away with ease. Non-irritating and hydrating, this is the perfect cleanser for sensitive skins.
Type: Gel
Best For: All Skin Types
The best clay face wash: Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser
The best face wash for improving glow: Oskia Renaissance Gel
Why we love it: If you’re after the best face wash for glowing skin, look no further than Oskia’s Renaissance Cleansing Gel which is packed to the brim with ingredients that leave skin fresh, smooth and radiant. Think pumpkin enzyme, which helps to lift gunk from pores, vitamins C and E to brighten and protect, and starflower oil and magnesium to boost firmness.
Type: Gel-to-Oil
Best For: All Skin Types
The best deep clean face wash: Clinique All About Clean 2-in-1 Cleansing + Exfoliating Jelly
The best face wash for oily skin: Dermalogica Active Clay Cleanser
Why we love it: A brilliant one if you have oily skin, this cleanser utilises charcoal and kaolin clay to absorb excess oil and detoxify the skin, while broccoli extract and aloe help to soothe. You can use it as a mask, too – just leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes for an elevated effect.
Type: Clay
Best For: Oily and Acne-Prone Skin
The best anti-inflammatory face wash: Dr Barbara Sturm Cleanser
Why we love it: With an onus on taking down inflammation in the skin, Dr Barbara Sturm’s skincare line is always a good bet. This cleanser is no different and contains aloe vera and panthenol to soother irritation, calm and smooth the skin.
Type: Foam
Best For: All Skin Types
The best balm face wash: Sarah Chapman Skinesis Ultimate Cleanse
Why we love it: Morphing from a sumptuous balm to milk, Sarah Chapman’s Ultimate Cleanse is an ideal companion for a facial massage. It also does a good job at lifting pollution and dirt from the face, with omega-rich oils and antioxidants making it the ultimate “all bases covered” cleanser.
Type: Balm-to-Milk
Best For: All Skin Types
The best softening face wash: The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser
Why we love it: They say you get what you pay for, but this squalane-filled, balmy cleanser actually stands up to the expensive guys in terms of efficacy. It’s brilliant at drawing dirt from pores while keeping skin soft and supple, and works well for all skin types.
Type: Oil
Best For: Normal to Dry Skin
The best face wash for sensitive skin: Avène Tolerance Extremely Gentle Cleanser
The best face wash for dry skin: CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser
Why we love it: An excellent cleanser – and a certified British Vogue beauty team favourite – CeraVe’s Hydrating Cleanser is packed full of ceramides to keep the skin barrier intact, as well as hydrating hyaluronic acid. Plus, it removes make-up in a flash. It’s good for all skin types – even those prone to irritation – as it’s soap-free and doesn’t foam.
Type: Cream
Best For: Normal to Dry Skin
The best face wash for soothing redness: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser
Why we love it: Aggravated and sensitive skin types in particular will love this La Roche-Posay formula, which is a milk consistency and helps relieve the skin of its discomfort. TLC in a bottle.
Type: Milk
Best For: Sensitive, Intolerant and Allergy-Prone Skin
The best face wash for congested skin: Eve Lom The Original Balm Cleanser
Why we love it: A spa day in a tub, Eve Lom’s cult cleanser is a must-try for those who love the ritualistic side of cleaning their face. With a cocktail of aromatic plant oils, like eucalyptus, hops and Egyptian chamomile, it’s as calming as it is cleaning and helps gently exfoliate congested skin.
Type: Balm
Best For: All Skin Types
The best face wash for itchy skin: Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturising Cleanser
Why we love it: Known for being the Duchess of Sussex’s go-to LA facialist, Kate Somerville’s goat milk line blends natural milk proteins with avocado oil and manuka honey to softly cleanse the skin. Excellent for sensitive skin types – and no it doesn’t smell like farmyard.
Type: Cream
Best For: Normal to Dry Skin
The best face wash for acne-prone skin: Medik8 Clarifying Foam
Why we love it: If you’re looking for the best face wash for acne prone skin, look to Medik8, whose Clarifying Foam cleanser contains a gentle combination of alpha hydroxy and beta hydroxy acids to help exfoliate without stripping the skin. It’s also full of niacinamide, which helps calm and bolster the skin barrier, as well as tea tree oil to help prevent further breakouts.
Type: Foam
Best For: Acne-Prone Skin
The best fragrance-free face wash: Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
Why we love it: The latest in Elemis’s brilliant balm cleanser category has all the whipped wondrousness of the brand’s bestselling Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, but without the fragrance. Offering, quite frankly, the most luxurious and spa-like cleansing experience, this one is great for even the most sensitive of skin types. A beauty editor favourite.
Type: Balm
Best For: All Skin Types
The best face wash for dull skin: Skinceuticals Glycolic Renewal Cleanser
Why we love it: For oily, mature or congested skin, look to SkinCeuticals Glycolic Renewal Cleanser, a formula that delivers glycolic to exfoliate, smooth and even out skin tone – leaving bright, refreshed skin in its place.
Type: Soft-Foaming
Best For: Dull, Discoloured or Ageing Skin
The best low-lather face wash: Drunk Elephant Mello Marula Cream Cleanser
Why we love it: Formulated with colloidal oatmeal and marula oil, this low-lather cleanser is a gentle, but effective, way of removing make-up and the day’s grime without leaving skin stripped, tight or dry.
Type: Cream
Best For: All Skin Types, especially sensitive
The best anti-pollution face wash: Chanel Le Lait Anti-Pollution Cleansing Milk
Why we love it: Everyone enjoys the sight of a monochrome Chanel product on their bathroom shelf – and this is a particularly good option. Designed to combat pollution, this cleanser contains micro-algae to ease cellular stress, and marine salicornia to strengthen the skin and fend it off. It looks good and works hard.
Type: Milk
Best For: All Skin Types
The best ceramide-enriched face wash: BYOMA Creamy Jelly Cleanser
Why we love it: Byoma, a beauty brand dedicated to creating active skincare that also helps boost the skin’s barrier function, has created the perfect cleanser for easily aggravated skin. Suitable for all skin types, this creamy jelly cleanser will remove make-up and refresh skin, all whilst protecting skin with its nourishing tri-ceramide complex.
Type: Gel
Best For: Normal to Dry
The best vegan face wash: Milk Makeup Vegan Milk Moisturising Cleanser
The best brightening face wash: Aesop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser
Why we love it: Ideal for city dwellers, this parsley seed-powered facial cleanser removes surface impurities with ease. Its lactic acid-infused formula mildly exfoliates skin over time, working alongside liquorice root to even the complexion and reveal smooth and glowing skin.
Type: Gel
Best For: Normal, Combination to Oily Skin.
FAQs
What’s the difference between a face wash and a cleanser?
“There’s a tremendous degree of variability between different cleansers,” says Dr Bunting. “A face wash is a type of cleanser that is removed with water, rather than something that is wiped off. This is my preferred form of cleanser for all skin types. I formulated Flawless Cleanser to be my ideal cleanser, it’s non-foaming, non-fragranced, won’t clog pores or disturb the skin’s pH. It effectively removes make-up, sunscreen and oil/grime in one go. It is the perfect single cleanse.”
Is it necessary to double cleanse?
“Double cleansing, use of cleansing devices and the inclusion of active ingredients in cleansers are all embellishments on cleansing that I actively recommend avoiding as they are either inefficient or leave skin depleted and less tolerant of ingredients like retinoids,” says Dr Bunting. “Unless skin is exceptionally dry, I recommend cleansing twice a day to remove dead skin cells, excess oil that can block penetration of your serum and any residual skincare applied at night.”
Take your time over it and make working whichever formula you choose into your skin a daily ritual; whether you look to invigorating facial massage with a balmy cleanser (a great first port of call in the evening to lift the day’s dirt), or simply enjoy washing off your face wash with icy cold water in the morning, make it a time for you.
From CeraVe’s Hydrating Cleanser to Eve Lom’s classic Balm Cleanser, here is Vogue’s pick of the best face washes to try now.
