For the uninitiated, cold creams are facial cleansers that come with a dual role of moisturizing the skin while leaving behind a ‘cooling sensation’ in their wake when applied. Cold creams are mostly used as a part of the nighttime skincare regime, essentially to take off tough, waterproof makeup, sunscreen, oil, debris, and environmental pollutants. 

According to Dr. Andrea Suarez, a board-certified dermatologist, like attracts like and so she advocates an oil or lipid-based cleanser like a cold cream to dissolve the water-resistant makeup, dirt, or sebum that accumulates through the day before actually going in with a gentle non-soap cleanser with a Ph of 5.5 to 6.5 to finally get rid of the oily residue. “It’s just a more efficient way to remove that layer…the lipid fatty part of the cream or oil-based cleanser really nicely starts to melt away that film, and then, the next step - the gentle cleanse - takes off that oily dirty residue and washes it away,” she says. Going in straight with a cleanser can mean washing the face a few too many times to get it clean - which means stripping the skin of natural lipids, which can ultimately irritate the skin, concludes Dr. Suarez. 

Sharing the basic differences between cold creams and moisturizers, our contributor Anna Misztela, a board licensed esthetician and Founder of the supplement brand - Beauty and Cutie, says, “Cold creams tend to have a significantly thicker consistency than moisturizers. They can also partially cleanse the skin, while moisturizers are used only to hydrate the skin and tend to have a much thinner consistency.” That’s why it’s essential to use cold creams too.

Going in straight with a cleanser can mean washing the face a few too many times to get it clean - which means stripping the skin of natural lipids, which can ultimately irritate the skin, concludes Dr. Dray. We have done the research for you to find the best fit for your skin. All you need to do now is pick out the most-suited cold cream for your skin.

• 1
  Best for Dry, Damaged Skin

  Crépe Erase Advanced Body Repair Treatment

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This two-in-one cream by Crépe Erase works beautifully on every skin type. Made with original citrus, this repair treatment is rich in anti-aging properties and promotes collagen production. Enriched with Vitamin E and coconut oil, this cream smoothens the skin, hydrates, and gently exfoliates as well. You can either use it twice a day or add it to your PM routine to wake up the next day with silky smooth skin. Another great advantage of this cream is that it replenishes tired and dull skin almost immediately. 

2

Best Non-comedogenic

CeraVe Makeup Remover Cleanser Balm

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CeraVe Makeup Remover Cleanser Balm is a rich cold cream for dry skin that is suitable for all skin types and in particular suits sensitive skin. It is formulated with 3 essential ceramides and jojoba oil which helps remove makeup, dirt, and impurities without stripping the skin of moisture. The best part is that it’s non-sticky, non-greasy, and works very well on skin with stubborn eczema. To apply, take a small amount and massage it onto the face in a circular motion, rinse it off with water, and pat dry. The jar is only 1.3 oz - so if you wear makeup every day, this product wouldn’t last you very long.

3

Best for Neck and Chest

Perricone MD Cold Plasma Plus+ Neck & Chest Broad Spectrum

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This neck and chest cold plasma cream by Perricone MD is hydrating and perfect for every skin type. Primarily made with Vitamin C, this cream aids in reducing uneven skin tone, fine lines and pigmentation caused due to sun exposure. Take a dollop of this cream on your palms and gently massage it onto your skin to get hydrated, nourished skin. Regularly using this cream smoothens crepey, fragile skin, smoothes wrinkles, and gives your skin a dewy finish. 

4

Dry Skin Friendly

Pond's Cold Cream Cleanser

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Pond’s Cold Cream Make-up Remover is one of the best cold creams on the market formulated with 50% moisturizer. It melts makeup effortlessly, giving you soft, healthy-looking skin instantly. It is, essentially, a makeup remover and a moisturizing cleanser, enriched with mineral oil and beeswax that suit normal to dry skin types. Through our trial and error, we discovered that with grandma’s favorite product, a little goes a long way. After a long day at work, you just need a pearl-sized amount on your skin. You can either wipe it off with cotton pads or use a wet washcloth.

5

Best Child-Friendly

Bioderma ABCDerm Cold-Cream

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Made especially for babies and children, Bioderma ABCDerm Cold Cream is a nourishing body cream that nourishes and protects delicate skin. It is a thick cold cream infused with apricot kernel oil and beeswax that eradicates dryness and makes the babies’ skin soft and comfortable. It provides relief, especially to children suffering from eczema or dry, itchy skin. Moreover, it spreads easily, gets absorbed quickly, and keeps the skin intensely moisturized for a really long time. To use, apply as needed on the clean, dry skin of your baby.

6

Best for Winter Skin

POND'S Moisturing Cold Cream

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Pond’s Moisturising Cold Cream stands true to its name and offers intense hydration to dry, rough skin. Formulated with 10 skin nutrients such as mineral oil, ceresin and beeswax, and moisturizer, it is a face and hand cream that works wonders, particularly in winter. However, after putting it to the test, we concluded that it gets too greasy on the face if not applied in a thin layer. It’s a leave-in cold cream that can be used morning and night daily.

7

Best for Skin Tightening

Perricone MD Cold Plasma Plus Fragile Skin Therapy

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Cold Plasma Plus+ Fragile Skin Therapy by Perricone MD is a body treatment multitasking cream that firms and nourishes areas with delicate skin such as arms, shins, and neck, even crepey-looking skin, while imparting a healthy glow. It is made with growth-factor peptide, micro-hyaluronic acid, and retinol, which makes the cream quickly absorbable by the skin while promoting a visibly stronger, firmer appearance. Based on our observation, we recommend using it both morning and night - before applying your moisturizer and SPF - for the best results.

8

Albolene Moisturizing Cleanser

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Albolene Moisturizing Cleanser is an all-in-one product that cleanses, moisturizes, and removes makeup without the need for using water. Made for dry and combination skin types, it is great for your nighttime routine when you have had a long day and want to skip steps and get skin care done quickly. All you need to do is take the cold cream in a small amount on the palm of your hands, rub it onto your face and eyes, massage gently, and wipe it off with a towel. And you are left with a clean, moisturized face ready to take on the night.

9

Grace & Stella Cleansing Balm

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The makeup meltaway F Balm, This Works! Cleansing Balm by Grace & Stella comes enriched with vitamin E, synthetic beeswax, and cetyl ethyl hexanoate that deeply cleanses and moisturizes the skin in just one application. The creamy formula is great for sensitive and dry skin because it can be used to get rid of tough makeup, sunscreen, oil, and grime. Drawing from our experience, this cold cream reaps the best results after it has been washed off with warm water and followed up with Grace & Stella’s foaming face wash for a double cleanse.

10

Best Affordable

W7 Peachy Clean Makeup Remover & Cleansing Balm

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W7 Peachy Clean Makeup Remover & Cleansing Balm effortlessly removes waterproof makeup and debris while leaving behind a beautiful peach scent. Scoop out a small amount in clean, dry hands, rub it over your face gently, then take a splash of water to emulsify it, and finally, rinse it off with water. When we trialed this product, we found out that the cold cream for sensitive skin leaves behind a ‘vaseline’ like film on the face - therefore, it is mandatory to double cleanse the face properly to avoid clogged pores.

11

Best for All Skin Types

Alpyn Beauty Juneberry & Collagen Hydrating Cream Cleanser

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Packed with the goodness of wild juneberry, plant-based collagen, and circular jojoba beads, Alpyn Beauty Juneberry & Collagen Hydrating Cream Cleanser, gives off a cooling sensation while removing impurities, exfoliating, moisturizing, and smoothening the skin all at the same time. Formulated especially for dry, dehydrated skin, the cold cream cleanser can be applied on wet or dry face and rinsed off or even left on for five minutes as a mask for intense cleaning and hydration of the skin. It has a nice natural, earthy scent which is a result of its all-natural ingredients.

12

Most Hydrating

ROKKISS Onestep All-In-One Cleansing Balm

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As the name suggests, Rokkiss Onestep All In One Cleansing Balm melts away long-lasting, tough-to-take-off makeup simply by rubbing a dime-sized product onto the face. We recommend massaging congested areas in a circular motion and rinsing the face off with water. Infused with olive oil, tocopherol, shea butter, and grapefruit extract, the cold cream hydrates and brightens while also adding luster and elasticity to the skin. It does not break out acne-prone or oily skin, however, we recommend you do a patch test before applying on the entire face.

Since we have a variety of the best cold creams to choose from, we will now tell you which ones are best suited for specific needs.

Discussing some facts about cold creams, our contributor Anna Misztela, a board licensed esthetician and Founder of the supplement brand - Beauty and Cutie, says, “Cold creams are thick, oil based formulations that are greasy in nature and when applied liberally to the face, they can help regain lost moisture and combat winter dryness. But if you apply cold cream and set out in the sun, you might look pale or tanned because its oil base attracts more dust and pollutants which then form a thin layer on your face. Furthermore, your face will still be exposed to the full UV effects of the sun. So if you use a cold cream, make sure it has SPF ingredients, or apply sunscreen as well. Of course, if you are wearing a cold cream it likely means the weather is cold and dry which can cause your skin to dry out and become flaky, leading inevitably to itching, resulting in inflammation which is another source of hyperpigmentation.”

Cold creams are the first step in any skincare routine. This is how you can choose the best one for you.

Skin type

There are cold creams formulated for different skin types - dry, oily, acne-prone, sensitive, and mature skin. Check the ingredients before you purchase the best-suited one for your skin. Look for hydrating ingredients such as glycerine, shea butter, and ceramides while choosing for dry skin. For oily skin, we suggest lightweight and non-comedogenic ones. For sensitive and acne-prone skin, you may want to avoid products with harsh ingredients such as alcohol, fragrances, and dyes. Whereas for mature skin, hyaluronic acid, retinol, antioxidants, and peptides work really well. 

Purpose

Identifying your purpose for using a cold cream is important in choosing the right one for you. There are cold creams specifically designed to remove makeup, and sunscreen, and cleanse the face of impurities, oil, and dirt, and can be used independently. Then there are ones that can be left overnight for complete intense hydration of the facial skin. Cold creams can also be left on as a mask for deep cleansing. Finally, there are cold creams that can need to be followed up with a gentle cleanser for a double cleanse since they don’t get completely washed off with water and leave behind an oily film on the face. 

To have some ‘me time’ after a long day, one can incorporate a skin time routine into their lifestyle. Self-care is an expression of self-love, and we highly recommend you take this time to care for your skin and give it the TLC it deserves. Cold creams are an essential part of this regime - especially if you have dry, dull skin. Cold creams impart a luminous glow and bring out your best radiant self once you have your hands on the correct product that not only suits your skin type but also fits well into the requirements of your skincare routine. 

Contributor: Dr. Andrea Suarez, Board-Certified Dermatologist

Anna Misztela, Board licensed Esthetician, Founder of Brand Beauty&Cutie