If intensive cleansers leave your skin feeling tight post-wash or the winter dryness is really getting to your skin, the best face washes for dry skin come to the rescue, providing the pore-unclogging cleanse you might want without any dryness afterward. For some people, dry skin can be a year-round struggle. For others, as we enter the tail end of the year, those balanced sebum levels you may have been enjoying in the sweatier months can get a little off-kilter, veering into dryness and patchiness—not to mention some serious cakiness as far as your makeup is concerned. Whatever the source of your dryness, it’s helpful for people with thirsty skin to shift gears, sudsing up with creamier, oil-based formulas that maintain a healthy skin barrier without stripping all that good hydration.
Our Top Face Washes for Dry Skin
Frequently Asked Questions
We pooled resources here at Allure to find out our staffers’ favorite face washes for dry skin, and then bolstered those with some additional picks from dermatologists. And don’t miss our FAQs for a primer on what ingredients to look out for (and avoid), or scroll right on to read about eight exceptional contenders for the best face wash for dry skin.
Best Overall: iS Clinical Cleansing Complex
iS Clinical
Cleansing Complex
Why it’s worth it: iS Clinical Cleansing Complex is our favorite cleanser for dry skin, since it ticks multiple boxes: Effectively removing dirt and grime is a given, but finding one that’s also gentle enough for sensitive types and offers mild exfoliation without stripping is a rare win. “It uses willow bark extract, a natural source of salicylic acid, along with sugarcane extract, a natural source of glycolic acid, to gently resurface dull, flaky areas,” says Whitney Hovenic, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Reno, Nevada. But despite those exfoliating benefits, “it remains remarkably hydrating and leaves the skin smooth, radiant, and balanced,” she adds.
“There’s a new cleanser on my vanity practically every night—sometimes I’ll even use three in one session because I cannot stand failing the white-towel test. iS Clinical Cleansing Complex has quickly become a go-to: It removes makeup nicely, the gel texture leaves my skin hydrated, and the hit of willow bark extract gives me a subtle glow. My bulletproof eyeliner still needs a little extra help, but my skin has been feeling noticeably softer since I added this into the rotation.” —Christa Joanna Lee, contributing commerce writer
- Key ingredients: Centella asiatica, chamomile flower, sugarcane, salicylic acid
- Fragrance-free: yes
- Texture: gel
Best Foaming: Chanel La Mousse
Why it’s worth it: Of course if Chanel were going to dream up the perfect face wash for dry skin, it wouldn’t be a basic gel, cream, or oil… it would be a mousse. The moment you work La Mousse onto your skin, it builds into a plush, cushiony lather that feels instantly soothing. It whisks away sunscreen, sebum, and makeup with ease, while camellia extract, glycerin, and ceramides reinforce your barrier and seal in hydration. The cleanser has a soft, elegant fragrance that makes the whole ritual feel extra luxurious without overwhelming your senses.
“A cleanser is a necessary, but uneventful part of a skin-care routine—or so I thought, until I started using Chanel Mousse. Oh my goodness, the texture on this product. Creamy, foamy, luscious, and effective without remotely stripping your skin down. It’s an expensive purchase, for sure, but just a dab is all you need, and it’ll easily cover your entire face and neck once it hits the water. Plus, I used to despise washing my face at night and often skipped it (shh!) before the Mousse entered my life. Now cleansing is a favorite part of my routine. The cream foams up and gently lifts the day away, leaving me with soft, supple, clean skin that doesn’t need to be washed twice.” —Shanna Shipin, senior commerce director
- Key ingredients: glycerin, camellia flower, ceramides
- Fragrance-free: no
- Texture: cream to foam
Best for Barrier Repair: Mixsoon PDRN Collagen Hydrating Gel Cleanser
Mixsoon
PDRN Collagen Hydrating Gel Cleanser
Why it’s worth it: Has your skin barrier been feeling irritated and angry? There’s a K-beauty fix for that. Like many Korean formulas, Mixsoon’s PDRN Collagen Hydrating Gel Cleanser leans ultra-gentle, thanks to a cushion of glycerin, sorbitol, and three types of hyaluronic acid that draw moisture in so your skin never feels tight or squeaky. The star ingredient, rice-derived PDRN, is blended with collagen extract, fermented soybean, and peptides to help strengthen and replenish stressed-out skin. It removes sunscreen and buildup while keeping your barrier hydrated and calm—key if you’re chasing that smooth, glass-skin look.
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
“Ok, technically, I have combo skin, but depending on the cleansers I use, my skin can definitely feel tight and uncomfy after my usual nighttime double cleanse (I really take my time to very thoroughly massage in my cleansing oil or balm, too). In my experience, gel cleansers are least likely to strip my skin, and Mixsoon’s PDRN Collagen Hydrating Gel Cleanser is no exception. It feels so incredibly soothing on my skin, and I do feel the hydrating benefits from PDRN, hyaluronic acid, collagen, and peptides. While no wash-off product is going to be intensely hydrating, I can always count on this one to keep my complexion happy and balanced. P.S. I also like that Mixsoon discloses the pH, which at 5.5, is very similar to our skin’s natural pH and thus unlikely to cause irritation.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
- Key ingredients: rice-derived PDRN, collagen, peptides
- Fragrance-free: yes
- Texture: gel
Best for Makeup Removal: Merit Great Skin Double Cleanse Face Wash
Merit
Great Skin Double Cleanse Face Wash
Why it’s worth it: There’s nothing that makes us want to try a product faster than its ability to multitask. Merit’s Great Skin Double Cleanse Makeup Removing Cleanser does exactly that, streamlining your routine with a bi-phase formula that removes makeup and cleanses in a single shake. Instead of traditional oils, it relies on lightweight emollients (like jojoba esters) paired with water-based surfactants and oat-derived amino acids to melt away everyday makeup, SPF, and grime without leaving a greasy film. Hydrators like glycerin help keep skin comfortable, while PHA (gluconolactone) offers gentle exfoliation. If you’re wearing heavy or waterproof eye makeup, you may still want a dedicated remover, but for daily looks, this makes cleansing a breeze.
“I don’t double-cleanse because it’s fun. Washing my face twice is just what I have to do to get all my makeup and skincare off—until I got this cleanser. The bi-phase formula dispenses as a foam that melts everything away without fussing with two products. My skin dries down to feel clean, soft, and not at all stripped.” —Jesa Marie Calaor, senior editor
- Key ingredients: oat surfactants, PHA, glycerin
- Fragrance-free: yes
- Texture: watery
More face washes for dry skin we love
Best for Sensitive Skin: SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser
SkinCeuticals
Gentle Cleanser
Why it’s worth it: Dry skin types should try a cushiony cream formula, according to Deanne Mraz, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Westport, Connecticut, who counts SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser among her favorites. “This cream-based cleanser removes impurities and excess surface oils while soothing and calming the skin,” she says. “It is an emollient-rich cleanser with a 3% concentration of allantoin, glycerin, and orange oil to soften and repair the skin barrier.” The latter ingredient is a known source of antioxidant vitamin C, which can also help brighten skin and even your complexion’s tone.
- Key ingredients: allantoin, glycerin, orange oil, coconut oil fatty acids
- Fragrance-free: yes
- Texture: cream
Best for Redness: Alastin Skincare Ultra Calm Cleansing Cream
Alastin Skincare
Ultra Calm Cleansing Cream
Why it’s worth it: Is your skin flushed from enthusiastic exfoliation? Extra tender after a laser treatment? Or does redness simply become your status quo the minute temperatures dip? Alastin Ultra Calm Cleansing Cream is made for any and all of these moments. This ultra-gentle, non-foaming formula “is very mild, while also very effective at removing dirt, oil, makeup, and impurities from the skin,” says Dr. Mraz. Its calming duo of oat protein extract and silver mushroom works to ease sensitivity and reduce redness and tenderness. With its creamy, milky texture and barrier-supporting linoleic acid, it leaves skin looking less inflamed and feeling more comfortable.
- Key ingredients: oat protein extract, silver mushroom extract, linoleic acid
- Fragrance-free: yes
- Texture: cream
Best for Eczema-Prone Skin: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser
La Roche-Posay
Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser
Why it’s worth it: It makes sense that La Roche-Posay’s Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser comes in multiple sizes—including a giant 13.5-ounce refillable—because if you have eczema-prone skin, this is the kind of cleanser you don’t want to run out of. A 2021 Best of Beauty award winner with the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance, it’s specifically formulated to cleanse without triggering flare-ups. Its formula helps calm and support the skin barrier with niacinamide and ceramides, two ingredients that replenish and strengthen without irritation, says Teresa Song, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. Meanwhile, the thermal spring water offers calming, antioxidant comfort as glycerin locks in moisture—helping prevent the dryness and itchiness that tend to exacerbate eczema flares.
- Key ingredients: ceramides, niacinamide, glycerin, thermal spring water
- Fragrance-free: yes
- Texture: cream
Best Drugstore: Avène Tolerance Extremely Gentle Cleanser Lotion
Avène
Tolerance Extremely Gentle Cleanser Lotion
Why it’s worth it: Avène Tolerance Extremely Gentle Cleanser Lotion is a no-rinse, wipe-off formula that keeps cleansing incredibly simple. Its sensitive skin-friendly ingredient list (gentle enough for kids) centers on thermal spring water and the brand’s D-sensinose postbiotic, which helps soothe and support compromised skin. “This is one of my go-to recommendations for dry skin because it cleanses using minimal ingredients and doesn’t disrupt the skin barrier,” says Dr. Hovenic. It’s not meant to tackle heavy makeup, but as a morning cleanse or an after-workout refresh, it leaves skin clean, soft, and comfortable—without any residue left behind.
- Key ingredients: D-sensinose (patented probiotic), thermal spring water, arginine
- Fragrance-free: yes
- Texture: lotion
Frequently Asked Questions
What factors make a face wash beneficial for dry skin versus a face wash that’s formulated for acne-prone skin?
Confused by “for all skin type” designations, or just not sure how to shop for your dry skin? Face washes designed for dry skin are typically formulated with gentle, hydrating ingredients that don’t strip the skin’s natural oils, according to Dr. Song. “Key ingredients focus on hydration, such as glycerin and ceramides, to support the skin barrier,” she says, adding that the texture tends to be creamy or oil-based for greater hydration.
She suggests avoiding foaming formulas since they often contain surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate (or SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate, which cosmetic chemist Kelly Dobos previously told us remove hydrating natural lipids, along with all that grime and sebum, when they’re included in face cleansers. This means that they can strip skin of moisture, and studies have shown that they can be harsh for dry and sensitive skin types. Still, many foaming face washes exclude those types of ingredients (double check your ingredient lists!), and plenty of new surfactants are specifically created to be mild on skin—such as cocamidopropyl betaine, according to Dr. Song —so we wouldn’t rule them out in this category entirely.
Meanwhile, face washes for acne-prone skin still start with a hydrating base, but tend to add in acne-fighting active ingredients such as salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or tea tree oil. Since acne-prone skin tends to mean greater oil production, cleansers with that skin type in mind will usually also contain stronger surfactants in a lightweight gel or foaming cleanser.
How should someone shop for face washes for dry skin, in terms of ingredients to look out for or avoid?
Face washes for dry skin are going to contain some of the same hydrators as formulas for other skin types, except you’ll likely see multiple of them in tandem since different types perform different functions—and often work well when combined. Dr. Song says to look for a cleanser with moisturizing ingredients such as emollients (which soften skin and restore the skin barrier), humectants (which draw moisture to the skin from the air or deeper in the skin), and occlusives (that help seal all that moisture in so your skin stays hydrated for longer). Hypoallergenic and fragrance-free formulas will be your best bet for sidestepping potential irritation.
How often should people with dry skin wash their face?
If you’ve been hoodwinked by a certain skin-care myth that people with dry skin should wash their face less frequently, we’re very happy to help debunk it. Dr. Song confirms that people with dry skin should still wash their face with cleanser and water (not just with makeup remover!) at least once a day, “as bacteria and environmental debris can accumulate on the skin through daily exposure.”
There’s some debate on exactly how frequently people should be washing their skin, but you definitely want to reserve time to thoroughly wash off makeup and sunscreen, along with the dirt and oil accumulated during the day, which is why Dr. Song suggests cleansing at night. You’ll know you’re overwashing if your face feels tight or dry—an effect that’s also related to the type of cleanser you’re using—so some trial and error to find the right formula for you may be necessary.
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When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best body washes for dry skin, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance (or lack thereof), texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
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