The Best Cleansers For Dry Skin

Dry skin needs a routine packed with TLC, from your cleanser though to your SPF. You might think that a wash-off cleanser would cause fewer problems for dry skin, but alcohol and foaming agents may be lurking inside, waiting to wreak havoc on dry and dehydrated complexions. 

These types of ingredients are added to cleansers to help to break down oils in makeup, but can leave dry skin feeling tight, uncomfortable, and flaky after stripping the natural protective oils that dry skin types are already lacking. Throw in added fragrances and pH disrupting soaps and you’ve got yourself a ready-made nightmare for dry skin. 

The good news is that there are plenty of cleansers out there for dry skin that will wash away the day and makeup, without leaving your skin feeling like sandpaper. Keep scrolling for all of our picks. 

This rich balm-to-oil formula has been made using 86% naturally derived ingredients, including ceramide-rich oat lipids and soothing chamomile. Ceramides are the top of the list essentials for strengthening the skin barrier, while chamomile is known to help calm stressed and inflamed skin. Use the Butter Cup Cleansing Balm as the first step in your nightly skincare routine and watch it melt away makeup and SPF while cleansing and soothing dry skin. 

Designed with dry and combination skin in mind, Clinique’s Liquid Facial Soap Mild creates a soft, non-drying lather to cleanse the skin gently but thoroughly. Developed by dermatologists, the mild formula removes traces of dirt, dead skin cells, and impurities, all while protecting the skin’s natural moisture balance for clean skin that doesn’t feel taut or dry. 

The Ordinary’s Squalane Cleanser is a fan favourite for a reason. The balm-to-oil cleanser uses the powers of squalane, a gentle, plant-derived emollient found in our skin, to softens and restore skin without washing away any of those essential oils. The cleanser does all this while dissolving makeup and impurities to leave the skin feeling moisturised and definitely not dry. 

The clue is in the title here. The Hydro Bank Hydrating Cleansing Gel is a lightweight jelly cleanser that works to remove all traces of makeup and impurities, without compromising on hydration. Using a three-pronged hydrating blend of polyglutamic acid, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin, the cleanser helps to hydrate, replenish moisture, and help the skin hold on to said moisture. 

CeraVe’s unique selling point is that all their products feature ceramides, the essential components in a healthy skin barrier and the best friends of dry skin types. The Hydrating Cleanser is fragrance free, non-comedogenic, and features three essential ceramides to help the skin retain natural moisture. Ideal for removing makeup and impurities, the cleanser is a bathroom staple for dry skin. 

Formulated with avocado oil, rich in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidant vitamins C and E, Yes To’s hydrating cleanser is ideal for caring for dry skin. Developed by dermatologists, and without dry skin irritating parabens, SLS and silicones, the milky cleanser can be used daily to wash away dirt, oil, and impurities, all while hydrating with hyaluronic acid. 

‘Balancing’ in a key word in dry skin vocabulary, and this cleanser knows exactly how to do it. Formulated with broad leaf kelp extract to soften and hydrate and wheat protein to retain moisture, this frothy cleanser works to remove makeup and impurities without leaving the skin feeling stripped or tight. 

NUDESTIX’s hydrating gel cleanser is ideal for anyone looking for a fuss-free formula. The gentle, non-foaming, and water-based cleaner works to cleanse the skin without surfactants, fragrances, or chemicals. A great buy for dry, sensitive skin types, the cleanser uses hyaluronic acid to hydrate, anti-inflammatory bergamot, mushroom to brighten, and cicer seed to improve skin texture.