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 [1] 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 [2] 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 favourites like Glow Recipe and Glossier. Who knows if it's what Michael would want, but it's definitely what your skin deserves.
Best Face Wash For Oily Skin
Anokha Oatmeal Cleansing Milk [3] (£34)
The creamy, milky formula delivers the satisfying cleanse you want from a face wash without stripping your skin's moisture barrier. It uses colloidal oatmeal to gently remove dead skin cells, absorb excess oils, and repair the skin's outer layer. We recommend following the cleansing milk with the Anokha Lotus Flower & Rosewater Toner [4] (£43) to lock in hydration all day long.
Best Face Wash For Oily Skin
OleHenriksen Find Your Balance Oil Control Cleanser [5] (£25)
Not only does this face wash smell like minty heaven in a tube, but it's also loaded with glycolic and lactic acids and a blend of antiseptic botanicals that keep your forehead shine-free.
Best Face Wash For Oily Skin
Wow Skin Science Apple Cider Vinegar Face Wash [6] (£7)
Yes, we love how the dual-purpose (and hypoallergenic) silicone brush is already built into this sudser — it'll never feel easier to exfoliate away dead skin cells and oil buildup, that we can promise you — but we also dig how the formula is gentle, despite how harsh ACV can sometimes be. Instead, this blend balances the active ingredient with soothing aloe vera and hydrating vitamin E, keeping shine in check without causing any irritation.
Best Face Wash For Dry Skin
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser [7] (£15)
This milky, ubergentle formula from La Roche-Posay simultaneously removes makeup and coddles dry, rough patches without stripping your skin of its natural oils.
Best Face Wash For Dry Skin
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser [8] (£12)
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 [9].
Best Face Wash For Dry Skin
DHC Deep Cleansing Oil [10] (£27)
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 Face Wash For Acne
CeraVe Renewing Gentle SA Cleanser [11] (£14)
Acne treatments [12] 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 Face Wash For Acne
The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser [13] (£12)
You can consider maskne a thing of the past with this formula. Packed with 2 percent of the pore-clearing salicylic acid, plus oil-controlling zinc, it gently dissolves any dirt and grime while treating breakouts in the process.
Best Face Wash For Acne
Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser [14] (£20)
A tried-and-true favourite for years, this salicylic-acid-spiked face wash dissolves any gunk chillin' in your pores but never leaves the skin feeling tight or dry.
Best Face Wash For Sensitive Skin
Perricone MD No:Rinse Micellar Cleansing Treatment [15] (£33)
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.
Best Face Wash For Sensitive Skin
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser [16] (£10)
This options has long been considered one of the best drugstore face washes, and for good reason: almost anyone can use it without irritation.
Best Face Wash For Sensitive Skin
Glossier's Milky Jelly Cleanser [17] (£16)
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 Face Wash For Oily Skin
Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser [18] (£28)
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.
Best Face Wash For Combination Skin
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Gel Cleanser [19] (£8)
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 Face Wash For Combination Skin
Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore-Minimizing & Polishing Powder Cleanser [20] (£23)
Another POPSUGAR 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 For Combination Skin
Then I Met You Soothing Tea Cleansing Gel [21] (£34)
Sake isn't just good with a plate of sushi, it can also work wonders for the skin. Just take this wash, which contains fermented rice water, plus liquorice root, to both hydrate and clear the skin.
Best Face Wash For Normal Skin
Fresh Mini Soy Makeup Removing Face Wash [22] (£14)
Yes, the Fresh Mini Soy Makeup Removing Face Wash is a gel, but this formula is also somehow creamy and moisturising. 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.
Best Face Wash For Normal Skin
Kiehl's Since 1851 Ultra Facial Cleanser [23] (£21)
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).