Best Skin Cleansers & Face Washes for Sensitive Skin

I must have done something really brutal in a past life because I'm being punished by having sensitive skin. I can't even get kissed by the guy I'm seeing, Devon Thomas, without a little bit of redness flaring up. I'm always experimenting with face washes for sensitive skin hoping that, one day, I'll find the perfect face wash for me. I know somewhere out there the perfect face wash is searching for me too!

Neutrogena's ultra gentle cleanser was developed by dermatologists for conditions as sensitive as eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis. It's supposed to be a hydrating cleanser that provides protection and cleansing. A woman can dream! "Repunzel, Repunzel, let down your hydrating cleanser!" A face wash that doesn't cause breakouts is my prince charming. Or princess charming. Why not "princess charming"? It's a fairy tale; anything can happen!

"Dermatologist recommended this for the dry skin from this winter weather. I love it! My dryness went away almost overnight and that says a lot when it was dry enough to land me in my Derm’s office." –Tara C.

This face wash is made of lavender, chamomile, and calendula. Is this face wash or a sleepy time tea? I feel soothed just writing about it! With this product, I'm going to need to remember to not steep it before bedtime with the hopes that it provide me with sweet dreams.

"I have been using this cleanser for many years now. It eliminated a skin issue on my eyelids that I had dealt with for years that even dermatologists and eye doctors couldn't help me with. If you have sensitive skin try this cleanser. It is very light, no obnoxious odors, leaves your skin feeling smooth and clean." – Karen

Like other face washes for sensitive skin, the Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser promises to remove dirt, oil, and makeup without irritating skin. What makes this product unique, though, is the Feverfew extract, which I've only ever used to treat migraines. It makes sense to put Feverfew in a cleanser since it's effect is calming!

"I ended up selecting this product, and let me tell you, it's a life saver. It was the only product that did not burn my very irritated skin. The rash quickly cleared up (within 24 hours), the acne too - I'm happy to say I no longer look like a monster from a child's nightmares." – Tianna

Does progressive skin health mean that it supports LGBTQI+ rights as well as equal work for equal pay? Because that's the only type of skincare product I want to use! The product description specifies using just two to three drops on your face, which means this is very potent stuff!

"I like this cleanser because it is nowhere near as harsh as some of the ones for oily, acne prone skin (which I have). I use it interchangeably with the Enzymatic Foaming Cleanser and they both work great. It doesn't add any extra oil to my face." - JB

This cleanser won the Allure Best of Beauty Award in 2016. That's a big deal because in 2016 a lot of people were breaking out from the stress of watching Candidate Sex Criminal in the election. This product is full of natural ingredients: cotton extract, rice extract, and aloe. Sounds like a winning combination!

"Love Burt's Bees, and this face moisturizer is one of my favorites from them. It's not heavy or greasy at all, has very little scent, and is all natural and cruelty free. All those are a must for me and I've been using this face cream for a couple years now." –KCJC

Bioelements uses olive oil to protect the skin. A bit of water activates the olive oil into a foaming cleanser full of gentle ingredients that keeps your skin safe. If the olive oil is as good for my skin as it is spritzed on popcorn, then I am good to go!

"I have very dry skin and my face no longer feels stripped of moisture after I wash. It works beautifully to remove all traces of makeup and sunscreen." –heyrey

Cetaphil is an old standard of face washes for the sensitive skin type like me. It's something I've used myself in the past, so I know it's good for acne-prone skin. I even keep a travel version of this product in my soccer bag so that I can use it after every game or practice. An old staple!

"I've been using Cetaphil and its associated moisturizer since I was a teenager. No other product cleaned my oily skin without drying it horribly, and it took care of my acne and later it helps with Rosacea. Also, I keep a little in a container in my purse. Because it's so easy (put on, wipe off with tissue) to use, I can freshen my skin anywhere." – Sheryl Suko

This sounds like one of the most indulgent facewashes for sensitive skin around. It has a whipped texture that the copy on the product says turns into a "sumptuous cream." Sumptuous! Mmmm; sounds delicious! I don't eat sweets but if some of this delicious face cleanser gets in my mouth I'm not going to spit it out!

"As a 45-yr-old who has suffered from acne since I was 12, I'm always searching for the best acne products available. The First Aid Beauty Gentle Cleanser is by far THE BEST acne face wash! It makes your face feel so clean, easily removes makeup, and reduces pore size. I will say I've noticed it bringing already-existing pimples to the top, which needs to happen for them to heal. I'm so impressed with this product and intend to continue use. I've even ordered the repair cream." – Amy T

Sircuit Skin promises that their products are cutting edge and make use of the most current breakthroughs in cleaning science. That explains the plus sign in "X-TRAP+"! Hopefully, X marks the spot where there's no breakouts! Honestly, I'd prefer a treasure chest full of great facewashes to a treasure chest full of doubloons. I'd spend those doubloons on facewashes either way!

"Love it! I've been using it for years. It's the only cleanser that gets rid of all my makeup and doesn't dry out my skin. It's super concentrated, little dab will do you." –Jackie

Clean & Clear is as much of a bathroom sink staple as Cetaphil. It's the first cleanser a lot of people try and the one that many people keep using. Toothbrush, hairbrush, and Clean and Clear are what I used to bring to middle school sleepovers!

"I tried a million different cleansers (including a few others by Clean and Clear) and this was the first one that didn't cause breakouts. I always take some with me in a travel container when I'm away from home, because I start getting pimples within a day if I use anything else. " – Mireaux

The active ingredients in this product include salicylic acid, glycerin, and yucca extract. If yucca is as good in a cleanser as it is in a dinner, then sign me up!

"I'm a makeup artist with oily skin and this is essential. It deep cleans without stripping away my natural oils. I would usually use a harsher cleanser which would make my oily skin completely dry and flakey and then oily by the middle of the day. This is a must!!!"– Jess

Skinfood is one of the most popular brands of Korean face washes for sensitive skin. It uses egg whites because they stimulate collagen growth, which translates into more resilient skin. I have many sources of resiliency, like the best motivational soccer quotes to remember before a game and plenty of inspiring feminist quotes. But I can always use more!

"I LOVE THIS PRODUCT. AS SOON AS I CAN GET MY COINS IN ORDER (currency conversion is the killer) I AM BUYING THE ENTIRE LINE! You do not have to use a lot of this product so one tube will last months." –Z. London

This cleanser will help moisturize to prevent drying while also nourishing the skin with antioxidants. Who could ask for more?!

"This stuff is magic! My entire life I have had oily, sensitive skin, and very recently diagnosed with rosacea. My skin was in the worst flare I've ever experienced and I broke out in excema [sic] on my face at the same time from my adult braces (how embarrassing) and I decided to order this. I was on antibiotics which helped so much but this stuff helped as well! Moisturized so well, not greasy, very lightweight.. I'm sold! I could never find a good skincare routine that didn't bother my roseacea.. [sic] Never ever using anything ever again besides this!!" –surfmom

This is one of the face washes for sensitive skin that promises to cleanse without over-drying. It's designed by dermatologists to treat rosacea, eczema, etc.

"After hearing about this product from my dog's dermatologist (don't question that), and after struggling with little staph/MRSA infections on my face, I decided to try this face wash. Since I have started using it, I have not had a single staph outbreak on my face (as opposed to nearly 5 in an 8 month period). It has eliminated the need for me to go on oral antibiotics. While I'm not sure if this product is 100% responsible for my health improvement, I definitely think using a cleanser with bleach in it has helped me immensely. I highly recommend." – Tyler Janoski

This product claims to gently remove impurities from your skin, which is all we can hope for when it comes to face washes for sensitive skin. Sometimes you use a face wash and it makes you break out. That doesn't happen with food! You never eat a meal and then suddenly feel hungry! But when you try a new face wash there's a chance it actually makes things worse. EUCH!

"I have adult cystic acne due cause by all the medications I take. I didn't have that much when I was a teenager so dealing with this kind of serious level of acne in your 30's & and 40's is really difficult and of course downright embarrassing. I was on the Glytone when I saw the cream wash, didn't even know they had one. I ordered it right then. Best choice I ever made. My face looks amazing! I've got my husband using it too." – mysoulextremes

This is a product that's 100 percent natural plant-based cleanser. It's also rich in antioxidants. It sounds more like a superfood loaded smoothie that I'd make myself in the morning more than it sounds like a face wash! But it's got high reviews, which makes it sound like one of the best face washes for sensitive skin.

"I have areas on my chin and cheeks that require attention due to hyper pigmentation. I'm skeptical about skin products. I've used the vitamin C cleanser for two weeks and I can see a difference. My skin is brighter and the pigment on my problem areas seem to be lightening up. The problem did not appear over night so, it will take time. I like the mildness of the cleanser, and the clean fragrance. It is now my only cleanser for my face. You only need a little on your palm and you get a nice lather. If you are like me, and have tried several products, give this a try. You maybe pleasantly surprised." – Elizabeth Bennett