The Best Fragrance-Free Face Washes & Cleansers For All Skin Types

Designed with sensitive and reactive skin in mind, the Bioderma Sensibo Foaming Gel provides a thorough clean while respecting the skin’s barrier. While most fragrance-free cleansers for sensitive skin have milky or creamy consistencies, this cleanser comes in a satisfying foaming gel that contains coco-glucoside and glyceryl oleate to restore and moisturise the skin as it cleanses.

Price: $26.99AUD
Best for: normal, oily, combination, sensitive skin

What we like:

• Satisfying lather, effective second cleanse, completely removes all skincare and makeup without leaving residue behind

What we don’t like:

• While it’s designed with sensitive skin in mind, some users found this cleanser a little stripping so it might not be suitable for those with dry skin

A dermatologist-approved option, the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser removes dirt and impurities from the skin while hyaluronic acid and a trio of ceramides provide hydration and strengthen the skin barrier. A budget-friendly option for all skin types.

Price: $15.99AUD
Best for: sensitive, dry, normal skin

What we like:

• Hydrating, doesn’t strip the skin of moisture, affordable price point

What we don’t like:

• Best used as a second cleanse, need an oil or balm cleanser to remove makeup first

Made with the skin’s optimal pH levels in mind, the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser provides a gentle yet efficacious cleanse while amino acid-rich soy proteins work to soften the skin. The gel consistency makes for a satisfying cleansing experience, with the addition of aloe vera and rosewater having a soothing and calming effect.

Price: $59AUD
Best for: sensitive, dry, normal skin

What we like:

• Good for those who prefer gel cleansers, hydrating and cooling on the skin

What we don’t like:

• Slightly higher price point

A rinse-free cleanser, the Avène Extremely Gentle Cleanser contains the patented ingredient parcérine which supports the hydrolipidic barrier on the skin, allowing it to cleanse without irritation or dryness. Containing gentle ingredients including the signature Avène thermal spring water, it possesses soothing and hydrating properties, while its rinse-free nature prevents increased irritation that can accompany rinsing with water.

Price: $32.99AUD
Best for: dry, sensitive skin

What we like:

• Very gentle, can be used with or without water, calms redness and irritation

What we don’t like:

• Nothing!

Though many dedicated cleansers for sensitive skin are fragrance-free, it can be difficult to find fragrance-free exfoliating face washes. However, the Holifrog Shasta AHA Wash more than fits the bill. Made with a quintet of alpha-hydroxy acids—glycolic, mandelic, lactic, tartaric, and citric—this cleanser boasts a light creamy, non-foaming gel consistency and works to address clogged pores, rough texture, and adult acne.

Price: $58AUD
Best for: acne-prone, combination, oily skin

What we like:

• Lightly exfoliates the skin, reduces breakouts

What we don’t like:

• Not suitable for those using retinol, can be too harsh for sensitive skin

A fragrance-free foaming cleanser suited to normal, combination, and oily skin types, the plant-based Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser provides a deep clean without being harsh on the skin. Green clay works to pull impurities out of the pores while rice esters restore hydration levels.

Price: $58AUD
Best for: normal, combination, oily skin

What we like:

• Cleanses pores without drying skin out

What we don’t like:

• Sometimes leaves residue behind, texture can be a little thick and goopy

A rinse-free fragrance-free cleanser with very minimal ingredients, the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser is designed to nourish even the most sensitive skin types. The milky consistency removes impurities and dirt from the day, while hero ingredient glycerin keeps skin moisturised and hydrated.

Price: $32.95AUD
Best for: sensitive, dry skin

What we like:

• Suitable for all skin types, calms irritation

What we don’t like:

• Need to double cleanse to remove makeup

A cleanser that exfoliates as it hydrates, the Dermalist Ultra Hydrating Lactic Acid Cleanser cleanses the skin of impurities while lactic acid sloughs off dead skin cells, allowing other skincare products to penetrate the skin better. A slew of antioxidant-rich ingredients like vitamin C, finger lime, green tea, and chamomile work to brighten the skin and protect against free radical exposure.

Price: $69AUD
Best for: normal, acne-prone, oily skin

What we like:

• Works to exfoliate the skin and improve skin texture over time

What we don’t like:

• Might be too harsh for sensitive skin

A highly-nourishing cleanser, the Paula’s Choice Omega+ Complex Cleansing Balm can be used on both wet and dry skin, as a first or second cleanse. It effortlessly removes makeup and impurities, while a blend of coconut, jojoba, and meadowfoam seed oils leave skin feeling soft and hydrated. Best of all, it rinses completely clean, without leaving any trace of residue behind.

Price: $42AUD
Best for: all skin types, including sensitive

What we like:

• Thick balm texture feels amazing on the skin, effective at removing even the most stubborn eye makeup, doesn’t sting eyes

What we don’t like:

• Best used as a first cleanse and followed up with a gel or cream cleanser

This lightweight gel cleanser from Mecca’s affordable in-house skincare brand Mecca Max contains hydrating glycerin and aloe vera alongside niacinamide which works to reduce irritation and improve skin tone.

Price: $18AUD
Best for: all skin types, including sensitive

What we like:

• Forms a satisfying lather, gentle on the skin but ensures an effective clean, good price point

What we don’t like:

• Nothing!