Face cleansers are an important part of any skincare routine and for years we have measured their worth with whether or not they leave behind a 'squeaky clean' feeling. But, it is safe to say that we have now moved on from this ancient unspoken skin rule and finally foraged our way towards the best natural face cleansers which are known to be gentle on the skin. As indicated by our tests, these cleansers do give a clean feeling but without causing excessive dryness or the commonly felt tightness of the skin.

As the name suggests, natural face cleansers are specialized face cleansers that are formulated with nature-derived ingredients like botanical extracts and essential oils. They don't contain any synthetic ingredients or fragrances that are usually found in conventional face cleansers. These cleansers are gentle on the skin yet effective against all the dirt, sebum, pollutants, debris, makeup, or any other impurities that accumulate on the skin. While harsh chemicals can cause disruption in your skin's microbiome and damage your skin barrier, natural facial cleansers with their very natural ingredients help repair the skin cells and protect against further damage. That is why we are here with our top recommendations!

Through our trial and error, we discovered the best natural facial cleansers available in the market so that you can give your skin the best treatment. Our team of experts has tested these cleansers based on their formula, texture, ingredients, fragrance, and customer reviews. So now all you need to do is get ready to say hello to the flawless skin of your dreams. Join us as we explore the power of nature!

• 1
  Best for All Skin Types

  Coola Facial Cleanser

  PRICE ON AMAZON

Soothe active acne, and irritated skin with Coola's face wash. Infused with cucumber, the soothing scent and soft texture feel lovely on the skin. Most suitable for sensitive skin, this cleanser instantly hydrates and moisturizes your skin. Take a little amount on your palms, lather it well, and then massage it onto damp skin. The cleanser is infused with hydrating ingredients that don't strip it of any natural oils. It removes residue and restores your skin barrier to give you a beautiful glow. 

2

Best for Dull Skin

InstaNatural Skincare Vitamin C Cleanser

BUY ON AMAZON

You won't be able to get your hands away from this natural face cleanser from InstaNatural because it's just that good. Enriched with the goodness of vitamin C, it brightens skin tone, improves skin texture, and gives an overall radiant look. It is your ticket to a refreshed and rejuvenated complexion. Because it is formulated with sodium ascorbyl phosphate, one of the most stable forms of vitamin C, and other skin-soothing ingredients like aloe vera, coconut water, and shea butter, it is quite gentle on the skin.

3

Best for Enlarged Pores

Pacifica Sea Foam Complete Face Wash

BUY ON AMAZON

With the power of coconut water, aloe vera, sea algae complex, and other key antioxidants, this Pacifica natural facial cleanser is your one-stop solution. You no longer need to remove makeup before using a face wash for an effective cleanse because this one will remove it all for you in one go, from dirt and dust to contour and blush. That's not all though! This foam cleanser also helps minimize the appearance of pores and keeps breakouts at bay. As indicated by our tests, the silky smooth texture of this cleanser offers a good user experience, proving just how much better it is than using a bar soap.

4

Most Moisturizing

Ktchn Apothecary Hydrating Facial Cleanser

BUY ON AMAZON

Sometimes skin needs some extra loving and pampering to look and feel its best. And we have the perfect natural skin cleanser just for that moment. This face cleanser from Ktchn Apothecary is a gentle cream cleanser with a rich texture and quite a hydrating formula that leaves skin looking supple and soft. It may not lather much, but that doesn't mean it cannot cleanse well. It has a gentle yet effective cleansing mechanism that takes care of everything. Drawing from our experience, this face wash has emerged as a 2-in-1 product that cleanses as well as moisturizes.

5

Best for Youthful Glow

Pure Biology Facial Cleanser

BUY ON AMAZON

The Pure Nature Facial Cleanser combines the power of science and nature to bring you this wonderful sulfate-free formula enriched with many essential oils. It is full of antioxidants and a perfect solution for getting brighter and younger-looking skin. This nourishing cleanser maintains the skin's moisture balance. While it doesn't strip the skin, it also prevents excess sebum, making it the best natural face wash. Our team discovered through using this product that despite having essential oils in its formulation, this face wash works just fine for sensitive skin types.

6

Best for Oily Skin

Beauty by Earth Foaming Face Wash

BUY ON AMAZON

A good face wash may be hard to come by, but a natural face wash may feel even harder. However, things have been made easier, thanks to this Beauty by Earth Foaming Face Wash. Formulated with key ingredients like aloe vera, glycerin, blueberry extract, green tea, and pomegranate extract, it does a great job of washing away dirt, oil, and other impurities from the skin. From its packaging to its fragrance, everything will force you to acknowledge that this is the best natural face cleanser you can get your hands on. After putting it to the test, we discovered that it gives optimal results after removing makeup and then washing the face with this cleanser.

7

Best for Smooth Texture

Nourish Organic Moisturizing Face Cleanser

BUY ON AMAZON

Grab onto a green helping hand to make your skin glow like it has never before! This natural organic face wash comes packed with the goodness of star ingredients like cucumber, watercress, and organic aloe vera, all good sources of antioxidants. It makes for a good second cleanse, thanks to its gentle yet effective cleansing properties. However, based on our firsthand experience, we suggest using this face wash sparingly and perhaps on alternate days to ensure it doesn’t cause unwanted dryness. It doesn’t have any added fragrance but it does have a faint fragrance from the natural ingredients used in its formulation.

8

Best Overall

Ursa Major Fantastic Face Wash

BUY ON AMAZON

Refresh and rejuvenate your skin with the Ursa Major Fantastic Face Wash, which true to its name, is actually quite fantastic. It has a sulfate-free formula infused with aloe, sugar maple, white tea, lemon, and rice extract that not only offers a deep cleanse, but also gently exfoliates. Its green and earthy scent might not be everyone's cup of tea. However, as soon as you see the glow it leaves on your skin, you will forget about everything else. When we trialed this product, we found it to be especially effective against breakouts, making it a good natural face wash for acne.

9

Best for Sensitive Skin

Foxbrim Naturals Coconut Milk & Honey Face Cleanser

BUY ON AMAZON

It may not lather like your usual cleansers, and it may not have an invigorating smell to it, but it is still the best natural facial cleanser you can add to your skin routine for clean skin, especially if you have a sensitive skin type. With natural and organic ingredients like coconut milk, honey, aloe vera, vitamin E, rosemary, and gotu kola, this face wash cleanses well, leaving the skin softer and brighter than before. After conducting experiments with it, we found that it has a lotion-like consistency and does a great job of nourishing skin.

10

Best Vegan Formula

Thrive Skincare Face Wash

BUY ON AMAZON

This face wash from Thrive Skincare is the best natural cleanser that is not only good for your face but also for the environment. The brand has a sustainable business model that brings all the plant-based healthy ingredients used in the formulation of this cleanser straight from the farm to your face. Packed with the power of antioxidants and high-quality ingredients like argan oil, glycerin, and plant extracts, it leaves the skin feeling cleaner, softer, and healthier. Through our practical knowledge, we can say that this may not be an ideal cleanser for sensitive skin.

11

Farmacy Clean Bee Ultra Gentle Facial Cleanser

BUY ON AMAZON

Natural facial cleansers that combine the power of science and nature are truly a class apart. And this has been proven again and again by this cult-favorite face cleanser from Farmacy. Its popularity is off the charts, and why won't it be? This face cleanser offers a thorough cleanse despite having a gentle formula and is the perfect choice for clean and calm skin. You get a squeaky clean feeling without putting your skin through dryness or the feeling of tightness. Our investigation demonstrated that it is not only effective on dirt, sebum, and makeup but also on acne and breakouts.

12

Mad Hippie Cream Cleanser

BUY ON AMAZON

This all natural facial cleanser from Mad Hippie is not only gentle but also moisturizing, something all of us need at some point in our skincare journey. However, it is especially good for dry and sensitive skin types. It works wonders at combating dryness and rough patches on the face.  This creamy cleanser comes infused with jojoba oil, shea butter, hyaluronic acid, and green tea extracts, it also helps soothe irritated skin. Our findings show that it can also remove most of the daily makeup, except the stubborn waterproof one.

13

LILY SADO Milk + Manuka Ultra Moisture Face Wash

BUY ON AMAZON

The combination of coconut milk and manuka honey is used in many formulations, but none of them can match the brilliance of this LILY SADO face cleanser. It is gentle, ultra moisturizing, and cleanses well without stripping or irritating the skin, making it a good natural face wash for sensitive skin. There is more to it though! It also works well for oily and acne-prone skin. It may not feel very nourishing if you have dry skin, but it still gets the job done. We have found from using this product that its lotion-like consistency is quite easy to use and handle.

14

Natural Outcome Teen Skin Gentle Clarifying Face Wash

BUY ON AMAZON

Acne is one of the most common skin issues faced by people worldwide, irrespective of their age. However, teenagers seem to be at the receiving end of this pesky problem most of the time. What they need is a specialized skincare routine with a natural acne face wash like this one from Natural Outcome. It is a gentle cleanser that caters specifically to the needs and concerns of teen skin without including any nasty or harsh ingredients. After trying out this product, we can say that with regular use you can see reduced breakouts and clear skin in no time.

15

Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser

BUY ON AMAZON

Get the best of both worlds with this all natural face cleanser from Tata Harper. It is a 2-in-1 product that cleanses as well as exfoliates to give you soft, smooth, and glowing skin. It packs a powerful punch against dead skin cells, excess sebum, and buildup on facial skin, thanks to the presence of ingredients like apricot microspheres, pomegranate enzymes, and white willow bark. It combines both physical and chemical exfoliants to buff and polish out your skin to restore its radiance. Based on our observations, we find it to be gentle enough on the skin for daily use.

16

S.W. Basics Cleanser

BUY ON AMAZON

We need a basic, fuss-free cleanser in our skincare regimen and S.W. Basics gets it. They made this rose-scented oil-based cleanser as the first line of defense against impurities, dirt, dust, pollution, and makeup. With just 3 gentle ingredients, including rosewater, glycerin, and tea tree oil, it offers a gentle yet effective cleansing for almost all skin types. This all natural cleanser balances sebum production and keeps excessive oil at bay. This in turn helps reduce breakouts and dull-looking skin. We determined through our tests that it makes skin look and feel good with consistent use.

When buying the best natural face cleansers for your skin, there are a few things that you must keep in mind to find the ideal match for your skin type and concerns. With our detailed buying guide, you can understand what you are getting into and make an informed choice. Here are the aspects you must carefully consider as you go for your next shopping spree at Target:

Skin Type

Consider your skin type, whether you have dry, oily, normal, or combination skin type. You must also consider whether you have sensitive or acne-prone skin. It will help you narrow down your choices and pick the right set of ingredients and formulas. 

Skin Concerns

The next thing you must consider is your primary skin concern. While the main purpose of cleansers is to clean your face of dirt, makeup, sebum, and any other impurities, you can find many face cleansers that offer many more skin benefits. Determine whether you are looking for help with uneven skin tone, rough and bumpy texture, dull skin, dark spots, enlarged pores, sun damage, dehydrated skin, fine lines, and clogged pores, to name a few.

Cleanser Type

You must pay attention to only your skin type but also the type of cleanser. This is because natural face cleansers are of different types. They are typically gel, water, oil, or clay-based. There are also foaming face cleansers (or cleansing foams) and cream or lotion-based face cleansers. You must choose the formula based on your skin's needs.

Ingredients

Don't just believe the claims and go through the ingredient label carefully. Make sure that your natural face cleanser contains natural and organic ingredients. If it's not 100% natural then at least the majority of the ingredients must be natural. 

Targeted Ingredients

Look for specific ingredients to target specific skin concerns. For instance, witch hazel, tea tree oil, algae extract, and willow bark extract work best for oily and acne-prone skin, while shea butter, macadamia oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, sunflower oils, and avocado oil are great for dry skin. For skin brightening, you must look for vitamin C-rich fruit extracts, papaya extract, turmeric, glycolic acid, and licorice. Glycerin, aloe vera, and cucumber extracts are musts for boosting natural hydration. If you want to target signs of aging, you must look for ingredients like rosehip oil, carrot seed oil, vitamin C, plant-derived AHAs, green tea, avocado, pomegranate extracts, and argan oil. Holy basil, rosemary oil, or the presence of rosmarinic acid in a face wash can help protect against DNA damage caused by certain chemicals as it contains lipophilic esters. 

Scent

While natural face cleansers don't use any added or artificial fragrance, you must not forget that most botanical extracts and natural ingredients have a fragrance of their own. Some formulas also include essential oils, which are specifically known for their calming scents apart from their skin-benefitting properties. So you must make sure that the fragrance of the product is to your liking and doesn't feel overpowering especially if you suffer from migraines and other smell-induced sensitivities. 

Allergens and Irritants

Read the ingredient label carefully and ensure there are no items on the list that can lead to skin allergies or irritation.

Cleansing Action

Since most natural facial cleansers use nature-derived surfactants, not all of them will produce a rich lather. While it is not an indicator of a cleanser's cleaning abilities, lather does add to the user experience. Therefore, you must pick a cleanser based on your preferences for the lather as well.

Reputable Brands

Pick natural face cleansers from reputable brands like True Botanicals, Ursa Major, InstaNaturals, Tata Harper, and Mad Hippie. This will ensure that you are getting the top-quality ingredients and formulas.

Ask for Expert Recommendations

If you feel confused or suffer from skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, or melasma, you must make it a point to consult a board-certified dermatologist. They are experts and will be able to give you personalized recommendations. It is better than experimenting on your own and causing further damage or irritation to the skin.

Customer Reviews 

Read customer reviews and feedback as available on various online platforms and beauty blogs. It will give you a better understanding of the product's efficacy and performance.

You don't have to do anything special to use a natural face cleanser, but here's a step-by-step guide on how to use it for optimal benefits:

• Start with clean hands. Wash your hands thoroughly with a gentle hand wash and pat them dry. This will ensure that there's no transfer of dirt or bacteria from your hands to your face.
• Splash your face with water. You must give preference to lukewarm water as it helps loosen up the dirt, oil, and debris.
• Squeeze out a small amount of your natural face cleanser. It must be adequate to cover your face and neck. The exact amount will depend on the product's texture and formula. Typically, experts suggest using a dime-sized amount.
• Apply the cleanser to your face and use your fingertips to gently massage it all over. Start from your forehead and work your way down. Focus more on areas like your T-zone which generally produces more oil than the rest of your face. 
• Make sure to use your fingertips in gentle circular motions. Keep it up for about a minute while making sure that you have touched every nook and cranny of your face.
• Wash off your face with lukewarm water. Make sure you have completely removed all the remnants of the cleanser from your skin. 
• You may also use cold water or ice water for the final rinse to feel more refreshed and minimize the appearance of pores.
• Wipe the face with a clean and soft towel. Don't pat it completely dry. Let your skin remain damp as it will help with better product absorption.
• Follow up with your usual skincare routine.

There are many benefits of using natural face cleansers for your skin and we have summarized some of the major ones here:

Gentle and Moisturizing 

Natural face cleansers are usually sulfate-free and contain fewer harsh ingredients. Even if they are not free of sulfates, they have a mild formula that is also moisturizing. The amount of moisturization differs from cleanser to cleanser depending on the skin type it caters to.

Reduced Risk of Allergies and Irritation

Natural ingredients or natural products are not a sure-shot guarantee against the occurrence of skin allergies or irritation. In fact, some natural ingredients may also cause a skin reaction or flare-up. However, with a natural face cleanser, the risk of it all is reduced when compared to regular face cleansers. Since there are no alcohol, synthetic fragrances, and other such ingredients, natural facial cleansers offer a worry-free experience.

Nourishing Formula

These days even conventional face cleansers offer a hydrating and nourishing formula but they cannot compare to the amount of nourishment provided to the skin by natural skin cleansers. With skin-friendly ingredients like aloe vera, jojoba oil, argan oil, coconut oil, pomegranate extracts, green tea, licorice, shea butter, coconut milk, and honey, to name a few, these natural skin cleansers offer essential nutrients and adequate nourishment to the skin. They are also suitable for mature skin.

Rich in Antioxidants

Many natural facial cleansers contain botanical extracts and thus, are rich in antioxidants. It means these face washes not only cleanse and hydrate, but also reduce signs of aging and protect the skin against environmental stressors like UV damage, free radicals, and pollution.

Fragrance for the Senses

Natural face cleansers don't use artificial fragrances. However, they are not fragrance-free either. Natural ingredients and botanical extracts have their unique yet invigorating aromas that allow these cleansers to offer you a wonderfully fragrant experience. Moreover, some of these cleansers contain essential oils, which makes them even more fragrant.

Good for the Environment

Most brands that manufacture natural face cleansers are ethical, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. You will find that almost all of these brands are cruelty-free and vegan-friendly. They use recycled plastic for packaging the face wash or use recyclable plastic. They also take on several initiatives like planting trees, recycling plastic waste, or clean ocean drives.

Our skin goes through a lot already, and it doesn't have to be put through the harsh chemical ingredients and formulas of regular face cleansers. Choose what is best for your skin with the best natural face cleansers and say hello to healthier and happier skin. These face cleansers use natural ingredients, essential oils, and botanical extracts in gentle and nourishing formulas to rejuvenate and replenish your skin. With our recommendations and comprehensive guide, you can easily navigate the otherwise overwhelming world of natural face cleansers. From enlarged pores and excessive oil to dryness and rough patches, these face cleansers target multiple skin concerns without causing further damage to the skin.