The cornerstone of any good skincare routine, an everyday cleanser is essential to ensure you’re working with a clean canvas. As skincare isn’t a one-size-fits-all matter, the best face wash can differ based on your skin type, however, it’s typically best to opt for fragrance-free face washes or cleansers. While added fragrance can contribute to a luxurious cleansing experience, it doesn’t provide any real skincare benefits and can potentially irritate or further dry out sensitive and dry skin types.
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Finding the right fragrance-free face wash depends on your skin type, though as a general rule it’s essential to avoid overly harsh cleansers that leave your skin feeling tight and ‘squeaky-clean’. These strip the skin of its natural moisture and will only harm your skin in the long run. Instead, opt for fragrance-free face washes that contain ingredients like antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides, which work to hydrate and soothe the skin as they cleanse. Oily and acne-prone skin types can benefit from the inclusion of exfoliating ingredients like lactic acid, salicylic acid, and glycolic acid, which work to remove dead skin cells and keep pores clean. Meanwhile, dry and sensitive skin types often respond best to fragrance-free cleansers that come in an oil, milk, balm, or creamy consistency, as these cleanse without drying or aggravating the skin.
To save you from having to sift through endless ingredient lists in search of a fragrance-free gem, we’ve done the work for you. These are the 9 best fragrance-free face washes and cleansers for all skin types, from dry and sensitive to oily and acne-prone.
1. Bioderma Sensibio Foaming Gel
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.
Best for: sensitive skin
2. CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser
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.
Best for: sensitive, dry, normal skin
3. Fresh Soy Face Cleanser
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.
Best for: sensitive, dry, normal skin
4. Avène Extremely Gentle Cleanser
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.
Best for: dry, sensitive skin
5. Holifrog Shasta AHA Acid Wash
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.
Best for: acne-prone, combination, oily skin
6. Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser
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.
Best for: normal, combination, oily skin
7. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser
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.
Best for: sensitive, dry skin
8. Dermalist Ultra Hydrating Lactic Acid Cleanser
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.
Best for: normal, acne-prone, oily skin
9. Paula’s Choice Omega+ Complex Cleansing Balm
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.
Best for: all skin types, including sensitive
FAQ
The best cleansers for extremely sensitive skin is the CereaVe Hydrating Cleanser which is dermatologist-approved. Additionally, rise-free cleansers can work well for sensitive skin; the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleaner and Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser are both good options with gentle ingredients.
The best cleansers for acne-prone and oily skin types are the Paula’s Choice Pore Normalising Cleanser, Holifrog Shasta AHA Acid Wash, and Dermalist Ultra Hydrating Lactic Acid Cleanser.
Words by Arabella Johnson & T. Angel
