When it comes to cleansing our skin, we often reach for foaming or gel-based formulas that promise to deep clean and rid our faces of impurities. However, for those with dry or sensitive skin, these cleansers can be too harsh and strip the skin of its natural oils. That's where the best cream cleansers come in — a gentle yet effective option for all skin types. 

Also known as “cleansing milk or lotions,” cream cleansers have a smooth and silky texture that gently glides over the skin to remove dirt, makeup, and impurities. They not only leave your skin feeling clean but also nourished and hydrated. Our contributor Dr. Anju Methil, a renowned dermatologist and cosmetologist who is associated with ClinicSpots, says, “Cream cleansers are gentle on the skin and suitable for daily use. They effectively remove dirt and makeup while moisturizing the skin, making them ideal for various skin types, including sensitive skin. With various formulas available, you can find cream cleansers with added ingredients such as aloe vera, rosehip oil, or hyaluronic acid that cater to specific skin concerns. 

If you're new to the world of cream cleansers, we highly recommend incorporating one into your skincare routine. They offer a gentle and luxurious way to cleanse your face while promoting healthy, nourished skin. To make your search for the best cream-based cleanser a little easier, we’ve tested a few of them and compiled a list of some of our favorites. Keep reading to find your perfect match!

Cream cleansers are gentle and nourishing, thanks to their moisturizing, creamy texture. Unlike foaming cleansers, which tend to strip the skin of its natural oils, cream cleansers work by dissolving and removing impurities without disturbing the skin's protective barrier (1). This is particularly important for people with dry or sensitive skin, as a compromised skin barrier can lead to inflammation, dryness, and premature aging.

The main active ingredients in these cleansers are typically mild surfactants and emollients. Surfactants are compounds that help to break down dirt and oil on the skin's surface, making them easier to remove. Emollients, on the other hand, help to soften and hydrate the skin, leaving it feeling smooth and supple. Some common emollients found in cream cleansers include shea butter, glycerin, and coconut oil.

One of the critical benefits of cream cleansers is their ability to remove makeup and other impurities without harsh rubbing or scrubbing. This makes them ideal for people who wear heavy makeup or have sensitive skin that is easily irritating by rough handling. Cream cleansers are also often formulated with additional ingredients like antioxidants, vitamins, and botanical extracts, which can provide further nourishment and protection for the skin.

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  Best Overall

  CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser

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CeraVe's Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Facial Cleanser, developed in collaboration with dermatologists, features a unique one-step cleansing formula enriched with three essential ceramides (1, 3, 6-II). This gentle skin cleanser not only thoroughly removes oil and makeup but also hydrates the skin barrier. As it transforms from a cream into a delicate foam when combined with water, it maintains a fragrance-free, paraben-free, soap-free, and non-comedogenic formula with a skin-identical pH. It's a versatile option for both normal and dry and sensitive skin types.

 

2

Best Antioxidant Cleanser

First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser

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The First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser is a fragrance-free solution that's exceptionally gentle on sensitive skin while remaining highly effective for all skin types. This cream facial cleanser generates a soothing and hydrating creamy lather while effectively removing makeup and cleansing your skin. In addition, our tests show that it boasts a pH-balanced formula that doesn't strip the skin of its essential oils and rinses off cleanly without leaving any residue.

3

Best Hypoallergenic Cleanser

Cetaphil Hydrating Foaming Cream Cleanser

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This is a gentle yet potent foaming facial cleanser, clinically proven to effortlessly remove dirt, oil, and makeup without depleting the skin's protective barrier. It leaves your skin feeling both soothed and well-hydrated, maintaining the skin's natural pH balance. This is possible thanks to a formulation that includes prebiotic aloe vera, hydrating glycerin, and essential vitamins B5 (panthenol) and B3 (niacinamide). Designed to cater to the most sensitive skin, this hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic formula is devoid of fragrances and parabens.

4

Best Hydrating

ACURE Seriously Soothing Cleansing Cream

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The Acure Seriously Soothing Cleansing Cream offers a luxurious and velvety texture, similar to high-end cleansers, but at a much more affordable price. Enriched with calming plant extracts like chamomile and calendula, this incredibly creamy cleanser utilizes gentle surfactants for cleansing your skin while preserving its moisture with hydrating emollients. Based on our tests, it's surprisingly easy to rinse off with just water despite its creamy consistency

5

BEST UNSCENTED CLEANSER

Malin + Goetz Foaming Cream Cleanser

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Introducing Malin + Goetz Foaming Cream Cleanser, a harmonious blend designed for both men and women. This gentle face cleanser embraces all skin types, offering a soothing and moisturizing experience. The vegan and cruelty-free formula boasts a non-stripping, pH-balanced composition. Fragrance and sulfate-free, it incorporates prebiotics to calm and soothe the skin. Elevate your skincare routine with a thoughtful blend that goes beyond cleansing, ensuring your skin feels nourished and cared for with every use.

6

Best Unscented Cleanser

TATCHA The Rice Wash

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TATCHA's The Rice Wash is a gentle cream cleanser designed to effectively cleanse without compromising your skin's natural softness and radiance. Formulated with Japanese rice powder, it exfoliates and softens the skin, while papaya enzymes assist in removing dead skin cells and enhancing cell turnover. This 4 oz. natural cleanser is devoid of harsh sulfates, parabens, and synthetic fragrances, making it compatible with sensitive skin. Use it every day to unveil a brighter, more radiant complexion.

7

Best Anti-aging Cleanser

Murad Resurgence Renewing Cleansing Cream

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This luxurious lathering face wash effectively soothes, brightens, and replenishes facial skin, all while protecting the skin's natural moisture barrier. A gentle, exfoliating cleanser, it rejuvenates and hydrates, preserving your skin's youthful suppleness. Ideal for normal, dry, and combination skin types, it can be used daily for optimal results. Its key ingredients include apricot and starflower oils for hydration, papaya enzyme, algae extract for exfoliation, and essential fatty acids for moisture retention. Plus, it's free from parabens, sulfates, and phthalates

8

Best Drugstore Makeup Cleanser

Pond's Cold Cream Make-up Remover

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Pond's Cold Cream cleanser is your ultimate solution for makeup removal and skin hydration. This timeless beauty essential blends oil and water harmoniously and has been a trusted skincare product since 1907, cherished by generations of women. Unlike typical cleansers, Pond's Cold Cream is an impressive 50% moisturizer, effectively combining deep cleansing with moisturization. It effortlessly eliminates dirt, makeup, and even stubborn waterproof mascara while infusing essential moisture into your skin, leaving it soft and smooth, all in a single, convenient routine.

 

9

Best for Rosacea-prone Skin

Paula's Choice SKIN RECOVERY - Softening Cream Cleanser

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This skin-softening formula hydrates and soothes dry skin, reducing dullness and redness. It works gently yet thoroughly, providing comfort to dry and very dry skin while visibly improving softness and suppleness. The best part is that this richly hydrating and skin-soothing face wash rinses off easily with water, leaving your skin smoother, softer, and comfortably clean. Incorporate this cream cleanser for dry skin into your daily morning and evening skincare routine as the first step, ensuring clean, clear, and well-hydrated skin. 

10

Best Vegan Cleanser

GLYTONE Mild Cream Cleanser

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This gentle exfoliating formula revitalizes the skin, eliminating impurities and unveiling a radiant complexion. Glycolic acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid from sugar cane, is infused with a 3.4 free acid value, effectively exfoliating dead surface cells. Glycerin provides nourishing and emollient qualities, leaving the skin moist but also soft and supple. The humectant properties of this face cleanser maintain the skin's water balance on an intercellular level, ensuring proper hydration and nourishment.

11

Best Restoring Cleanser

GROWN ALCHEMIST Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser

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The Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Facial Cleanser combines aromatic botanical extracts like olive leaf, and plantago extract to remove impurities delicately. Also, it cleanses without causing dehydration or stripping the skin of its natural soothing properties. To use, massage onto your facial skin morning and night, then rinse off with warm water. This gentle formula is suitable for both normal and dry skin types. Moreover, this indulgent cleanser features a fragrant scent designed to relax your mind and soothe your skin and is elegantly packaged in an amber bottle for a touch of sheer luxury.

 

12

BORGHESE Crema Saponetta Creme Cleansing

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Borghese Foamy Facial Cleanser is your solution for deep pore-level cleansing, as it effectively removes the day's accumulated dirt and impurities while rejuvenating and nourishing your skin. This cream-based cleanser offers a thorough exfoliation without depleting your skin's natural moisture, leaving it moisturized and supple. Key ingredients such as hyaluronic acid attract and bind moisture, sea salt cleanses pores and balances oil production, and chamomile soothes and calms the skin from within. It's a comprehensive skincare solution for a refreshed and clean complexion.

 

13

epicuren Discovery Apricot Cream Cleanser

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The Apricot Cream Cleanser from Epicuren Discovery is a gentle, non-foaming cleanser. It efficiently removes your makeup and helps prevent moisture loss during cleansing. Serving as an effective makeup remover, it is suitable even for the most sensitive of skin types. According to our research, this face product is designed specifically for dry skin and features rich oils that help to minimize moisture loss during the cleansing process.

 

14

Versed Keep The Peace Acne-Calming Cream Cleanser

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Versed Keep the Peace Acne-Calming Cream Cleanser is designed for breakout-prone skin. Unlike many acne cleansers, this one feels gentle and indulgent, avoiding dryness and stripping. Infused with an optimal 1.5% concentration of salicylic acid, it is recommended to massage into the skin for a full minute to allow the active ingredient to work its magic on clogged pores. In addition, it features blue tansy oil to soothe irritation.

Now, let’s review the factors to remember while choosing the best cream cleansers for your skincare routine!

When it comes to finding the perfect cream cleanser for your skin type, there are several factors that you need to consider. Here are some things to remember while browsing the skincare aisle.

1. Skin Type: 

When choosing the best cream cleanser for your skincare routine, it's essential to consider your skin type because different skin types have unique needs and sensitivities. The right cream cleanser can help maintain the balance and health of your skin. If you have dry skin, select hydrating ingredients like antioxidants, vitamins, ceramides, and hyaluronic acids. Whereas, if you have oily skin, choose a cream-based cleanser with exfoliating ingredients like salicylic and glycolic acids. Use a gentle, balanced cream cleanser that cleanses without over-drying the skin if you have combination skin. A gel-cream cleanser might be suitable. For sensitive skin, opt for a fragrance-free and hypoallergenic cream cleanser with soothing ingredients like chamomile or aloe vera. Avoid harsh chemicals and exfoliants.

2. Texture:

The texture of a cleanser affects how it feels on your skin, its cleansing abilities, and how well it suits your skin type and preferences. So, always choose a cleanser’s texture that complements your skin's needs. For instance, if you have dry skin, opt for cream cleansers, while gel or foaming cleansers are better for oily skin. If you have sensitive skin, choose a texture that doesn't irritate. Cream and micellar cleansers are often more gentle options.

3. Skincare Concerns:

Cream cleansers are versatile and generally cater to various skin types and concerns, but the choice of ingredients and formulation can impact their suitability for addressing specific issues. If your primary concern is dryness or sensitivity, use a cream cleanser with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides to replenish moisture and soothe the skin. For aging skin, look for cream cleansers with anti-aging ingredients, such as peptides or antioxidants, to support collagen production and combat fine lines. 

For individuals with hyperpigmentation or uneven skin tone, consider a cream cleanser with brightening agents like vitamin C or niacinamide to promote a more even complexion. Always check the ingredient list and choose a cream cleanser that addresses your skincare concerns for optimal results. Lastly, don’t hesitate to consult a dermatologist if you are unsure what to pick. 

4. Sulfate-free:

Sulfates are harsh detergents often added to cleansers to create a lathering effect. While lather might make you feel like your skin is thoroughly cleaned, sulfates can strip your skin of its natural oils and cause irritation. Look for a cream cleanser that is sulfate-free to avoid any potential problems.

5. Low in Silicone: 

Silicone is a popular ingredient in many skincare products because it can create a smooth, velvety, soft texture. However, too much silicone can clog your pores and cause breakouts. Choose a cream cleanser that is low in silicone to keep your skin clear and healthy.

6. Free of Mineral Oil:

Mineral oil is a heavy, greasy substance often used as a moisturizing agent in skincare products. However, it can also clog pores and prevent your skin from breathing properly. Opt for a cream cleanser free of mineral oil to avoid any unwanted side effects.

7. High in Hydrators:

Cream cleansers gently remove dirt and impurities while leaving your skin feeling soft and moisturized. Look for a cleanser high in hydrating natural ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or ceramides to keep your skin looking and feeling its best.

8. Low in PUFAs:

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential fats for overall health. However, when applied to the skin in high concentrations, they can break down and cause inflammation. Choose a cream cleanser low in PUFAs to avoid any potential irritation.

9. Low in Fragrance:

While fragrance can make your cream cleanser smell amazing, it can also cause skin irritation or allergic reactions. If you have sensitive skin, opt for a fragrance-free cleanser to minimize your risk of adverse reactions.

Dr. Anju Methil, a renowned dermatologist and cosmetologist, adds, “Cream cleansers typically have a balanced pH that closely matches the skin's natural pH, usually around 5.5. Maintaining this pH protects the skin's barrier and prevents dryness and irritation. So, this feature must also be considered while choosing cream cleansers.”

If you're wondering who should consider using a cream cleanser, the answer is simple: anyone who wants a deep cleanse and hydrate their skin without stripping it of its natural oils.

Cream cleansers are particularly suitable for those with dry or sensitive skin as they tend to be less harsh than other types of cleansers. They gently remove dirt and impurities from the skin while leaving behind a nourishing layer of moisture that keeps the skin soft and supple.

Additionally, if you live in a harsh climate, such as one with cold winters or low humidity, using a cream cleanser can help prevent your skin from drying out and cracking.

However, cream cleansers can benefit all skin types, including oily or acne-prone skin. This is because some cream cleansers contain ingredients that help to balance the skin's natural oils and prevent breakouts.

Ultimately, whether you choose to use a facial cream cleanser will depend on your individual skin needs and preferences. But if you're looking for a gentle, effective way to refresh, cleanse, and nourish your skin, a cream cleanser is worth considering.

If you have decided to incorporate a cream cleanser into your skincare routine, it is essential to know how to use it correctly. Read on to learn the process of using a cream cleanser, as well as some tips to get the best results!

1. Start with a Clean Face:

Before using your cream cleanser, it is essential to have a clean face. You must remove any makeup or sunscreen using a makeup remover or micellar water.

2. Apply a Small Amount of Cream Cleanser:

Squeeze a small amount of cream cleanser onto your fingertips, and gently massage it onto your face in circular motions. Start at your forehead and work down to your cheeks, nose, and chin. Avoid the eye area.

3. Rinse Thoroughly:

After massaging the cream cleanser onto your face, rinse it with lukewarm water. Rinse your face thoroughly, ensuring no residue is left behind.

4. Pat Dry with a Towel:

Gently pat your face dry with a soft towel. Avoid rubbing your skin with the towel, as this can cause irritation and damage to your skin.

5. Follow with the Rest of Your Skincare Routine:

After cleansing, it is essential to follow with the rest of your skincare routine. This includes using a toner, serum, and moisturizer to lock in hydration and protect your skin from environmental stressors.

A cream cleanser can be a fantastic addition to your skincare routine. It is essential to use it correctly to get the best results. With these tips, you can enjoy clean and hydrated skin all day.

Cream cleansers are a luxurious way to cleanse your face and provide many benefits unmatched by other types of cleansers. Here are some of the benefits of using a cream cleanser:

1. Moisturizing Properties:

One of the main benefits of using a cream cleanser is its moisturizing properties. Unlike other cleansers, these cleansers have a thick, creamy formula that can hydrate your skin while removing impurities. They contain natural emollients and moisturizers like jojoba oil and glycerin, which help keep your skin feeling soft, supple, and moisturized.

2. Gentle And Suitable for Sensitive Skin:

Cream cleansers are also gentle and suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. They are typically free from harsh ingredients like sulfates, parabens, and synthetic fragrances, which can irritate and damage the skin. Cream cleansers can help calm and soothe sensitive skin while gently removing impurities.

3. Deeply Cleanses the Skin:

Cream cleansers can deeply cleanse the skin and remove dirt, oil, and impurities without stripping the skin of its natural oils. They can penetrate deep into the pores, unclog them, and remove excess sebum, which can lead to acne breakouts and other skin issues.

4. Nourishes the Skin with Essential Vitamins And Minerals:

Most cream cleansers are formulated with natural and nourishing ingredients like vitamins A, C, and E, which provide essential nutrients to the skin. These vitamins can help repair and protect the skin from environmental damage and boost collagen production, resulting in healthier, smoother, and younger-looking skin.

5. Improves Skin Texture And Tone:

Using a cream cleanser regularly can improve skin texture and tone. It can help brighten dull and tired-looking skin and even skin tone, leaving it radiant and glowing. The nourishing and hydrating properties of cream cleansers can help plump and firm the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Conclusion

Finding the best cream cleanser can be a game-changer for your skincare routine. A good cream cleanser not only removes impurities and dirt but also nourishes and hydrates the skin, leaving it soft and smooth. Whether you have oily, dry, or sensitive skin, there are plenty of cream cleansers out there that cater to different skin types and needs. Whatever your choice, make sure to choose a cream cleanser that suits you and complements your skincare routine to achieve healthy and radiant-looking skin.

Contributor: Dr. Anju Methil, Dermatologist and Cosmetologist - Clinicspots