7 Cleansers for Dry Skin

October 14, 2020

By: Skincare.com by L'Oréal | skincare.com by L'Oréal

If you have dry skin, chances are moisturizer is the most popular player in your skin-care arsenal. Using a hydrating cream is a no-brainer for fighting off flakes. While your moisturizer shouldn’t go anywhere, there’s another part of your routine that can help combat dry skin and irritation: your cleanser. From gel textures and gentle formulas to balms and soothing ingredients, face washes specifically formulated for dry skin are key when dealing with a sensitive complexion. To help you find the right one, we’ve rounded up our favorite cleansers for dry skin, ahead.

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Wash

Whether your dry patches are in concentrated areas or you have flakiness all over, this La Roche-Posay cleanser is a step toward more hydrated and moisturized skin. Its creamy, milky texture is gentle enough for all skin types, including sensitive. With ceramides, niacinamide and glycerin, this face wash is calming, soothing and won’t disturb your skin’s moisture barrier.

CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser

Typically, foaming cleansers are great for oily skin types, but this CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser allows dry skin types to experience a foamy cleanse that doesn’t strip the skin. It begins as a cream and then transitions to a soft foam to effectively remove dirt and makeup without drying out your skin. It’s packed with three ceramides, hyaluronic acid and amino acids to help maintain the skin barrier and lock in moisture.

SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser

Start your hydrating skin-care routine off right with this SkinCeuticals wash. It’s a non-foaming, gentle cleanser packed with ingredients like glycerin and orange oil. It’s a great option for anyone with dry and sensitive skin.

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser

Formulated with squalane, apricot kernel oil, vitamin E and avocado oil, this gentle face wash helps remove dirt and debris without stripping skin. It also balances the skin’s pH without aggravating or drying out your complexion.

HoliFrog Tashmoo Water Lily Nourishing Milky Wash

Winter can aggravate dry skin on its own; don’t add to the irritation by picking a cleansing formula with alcohol or harsh ingredients. For an ultra-soothing and hydrating option, try the botanical formulation of this HoliFrog wash. The jelly texture, amino acids and plant extracts are nourishing and refresh your skin after just a few uses.

Elemis Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm

A day of heavy makeup can make you feel like scrubbing away at your skin is necessary to get it clean. In reality though, you’ll only dry out your complexion further. Instead, opt for a powerful cleansing balm, like this pick from Elemis. It dissolves all traces of makeup and leaves skin feeling soft, smooth and hydrated.

Garnier SkinActive Soothing Cleansing Milk

This gentle, foaming cleanser is infused with rosewater to both calm and cleanse skin. It’s paraben-, silicone-, sulfate- and dye-free, making it a safe and soothing option for anyone with dry or easily irritated skin.