8 Best Face Washes For Sensitive Skin (2023)

Sensitive skin can be quite the trouble. Easily irritated and prone to redness, itching, rashed, and even burning, sensitive skin is — as the name says — sensitive to a wide range of environmental factors. Sensitive skin can be caused by a variety of factors, such as using the wrong skincare products that contain irritants, environmental aggressors, and even genetics. Is your skin also delicate and thin? Sensitive skin often lacks the natural barrier that protects the skin from external factors and disturbs the skin’s natural ability to retain moisture and its essential nutrients. 

With all of these susceptibilities and higher reactivity to allergens, it can be extremely challenging to find a skincare product that works for you and helps your skin feeling and looking soft and smooth, healthy, and non-irritated. We also know it can be extremely challenging to scour the cosmetic aisles and how overwhelming it can be to try new products without knowing whether you’ll be feeling itchy with red, irritated skin. 

But we want to help you! We know that everyone deserves a skincare routine that is easy, hassle-free and doesn’t have you worry about what’s going to happen to your skin next. Everyone deserves to have clean, refreshed skin that is optimally hydrated and nourished.

Because of that, we have compiled a list of the 8 best face washes for sensitive skin. We’ve done the work and inspected each product carefully to ensure that you don’t have to worry about your sensitive skin and can fully focus on what matters in life. Are you ready to get a grip on your sensitive skin and transform worries into dream-like ease and comfort? Read on and let us join you on a transformative journey. We are so excited to see you be your best, most confident self. 

1. Blu Atlas Volcanic Ash Face Cleanser

The winner of winners for the best face washes for sensitive skin is the Volcanic Ash Face Cleanser from Blu Atlas. We’re obsessed with the products from Blu Atlas because they not only produce high quality, premium skin-care, but deliver results you can actually see and feel. In this innovative formula, the brilliant people at Blu Atlas have combined the power of two ingredients at their core. Volcanic ash and lactobacillus ferment combine the strong properties of deeply cleansing with the gentleness sensitive skin needs. 

Volcanic ash, also known as bentonite, consists of ultra-fine particles that have a variety of powerful properties. These fine particles are highly absorbent, acting on any build-up, oil, dead skin, and impurities and practically lift these off the skin during washing. They also enter your pores to give you a deep sense of freshness and cleanliness, without stripping the skin off any natural oils and moisture, helping the pores to become tighter without clogging them and giving your skin a healthier glow. 

Lactobacillus ferment filtrate helps the skin maintain a healthy balance of microorganisms and ecosystem which is extremely important for overall skin health. As a probiotic, it provides the skin with beneficial bacteria while combating the growth of harmful bacteria, removing impurities, and strengthening the skin’s natural barrier for a softer, nourished, and rejuvenated feel. Additionally, lactobacillus ferment filtrate helps the skin to restore and maintain the skin’s natural pH balance, which promotes natural defenses as well as a glowing complexion.

Blu Atlas have taken on the skincare market and have been outperforming other popular skincare brands. By creating high-quality products with natural, plant-based, clean ingredients, they are not only creating products that are kind to you but also the environment. That’s why the Blu Atlas Volcanic Face Wash is certified cruelty-free and vegan, free from toxic chemicals such as parabens, sulfates, phthalates or other synthetics, making it specifically perfect for anyone with sensitive skin. 

Are you ready to transform your skincare routine and start seeing actual results that will transform your skin to the healthiest, most radiating self it has ever been? Blu Atlas’ customer commitment is unparalleled! If you’re not in love with their products - and we bet you will - they’ll return your money, guaranteed. 

2. Ethique SuperStar!™ Solid Face Cleanser and Makeup Remover

Are you ready to meet a super star? The Multi-tasking wonder bar from Ethique - with the incredibly fitting name - SuperStar, has you say goodbye to the hassle of juggling all these different skin-care products to achieve a cleansing, moisturizing finish. The Ethique SuperStar Solid Face Cleanser and Makeup Remover is the ultimate solution for all your skincare needs, combining beauty and simplicity in this single solid bar.

Suitable for all skin types, skin that tends to be a bit more on the sensitive side will especially love this SuperStar. It is a blend of cocoa, kokum, and coconut butter which creates a creamy-rich feel that cleanses away impurities, makeup, dead skin cells, while delivering hydration in a smooth way without feeling slick or greasy.

Sweet Orange essential oil is derived from orange peel and is one of the true secrets to this multi-tasking wonder bar. Brimming with limonene, a strong yet gentle degreasing agent, it acts on excess oil and grease, deeply cleansing your pores without disturbing the natural balance of oils in your skin. Castor oil works with limonene to dissolve build-up oils and waxes, making this SuperStar solid bar an excellent product for your skincare routine.

Ethique sources their ingredients from nature, making this facial cleanser an all-natural, plant-based product. At Ethique, they’re not only committed to provide you with the best nature has to offer while looking after our planet, but also care for their employees and only use fair-trade cocoa butter from cooperatives in Ghana. Cocoa butter creates a protective barrier on the skin to prevent trans-epidermal water loss, increasing the skin’s ability to retain moisture and all the nutrients that the Ethique SuperStar Solid Face Cleanser provides.

Experience the best for yourself. A sophisticated, sustainable face wash that leaves you smelling sweet and fresh, while rejuvenating your skin and uplifting your skincare ritual to a whole new level.

3. La Mer The Cleansing Foam

Dr. Max Huber is the visionary behind this feather-light cleanser that is the epitome of care for your skin. As an aerospace physicist and dreamer, he worked tirelessly to realize his own destiny. More than 6000 experiments and 12 years of research later, Dr. Huber discovered a cell-renewing elixir that transforms the look of skin to the healthiest state it will have ever known. 

Miracle Broth, his wondrous elixir, is created with innovative craft and care. A slow and intricate fermentation process, which takes three to four months to perfect, is at the heart of each product from La Mer. Through this process, light and sound energy is infused into sea kelp, allowing vitamins, minerals, and ample pure ingredients to concentrate in a way that is greater than the sum of its parts.

The sea kelp is hand-harvested in the pristine waters off Vancouver Island. Kelp is the key ingredient for the Miracle Broth and contains exceptional self-regenerating powers and is one of the fastest growing plants on earth. Through the light and sound infusion, the individual ingredients in kelp are transformed into micronutrients which are readily recognized and absorbed by the skin, making it the most efficient way for your skin to receive the nurturing powers from nature.

In addition, lime tea adds to the potency of the Miracle Broth. Through a delicate and intricate slow-extraction process, antioxidants are unlocked from the outermost peel of limes. Antioxidants help your skin retain a strong natural barrier that protects your pores from environmental stressors so that you can feel as beautiful as ever.

Lightweight and packed with healing properties, The Cleansing Foam from La Mer combines the transformative powers of the sea with the magic that science and patience provide. A unique combination of determination, research, and immaculate results are sure to leave you feeling in awe. 

4. Clinique Take Take The Day Off™ Cleansing Balm

Do you know the feeling of coming home after a long day and wishing you could just, quite literally, wash the day off? Clinique’s Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm is designed for that feeling and will help you return to a clean, refreshed feeling, so that you can fully relax.

The lightweight formula is gentle yet strong to remove stubborn eye and face makeup and sunscreens. With a small dollop of this balm, the solid balm transforms into a silky oil upon application that practically lifts off and dissolves any impurities, makeup, dirt, dead skin cells, and returns the feeling of clean, refreshed skin.

Safflower seed oil is rich in linoleic acid which acts as a natural emollient, delivering essential moisture to your skin while being non-drying and non-greasy. You’ll practically feel all the grime and grind wash away.

With a non-comedogenic formulation, being fragrance-free, allergy-tested, and made without synthetic colors, alcohol, talc or gluten, this product not only delivers what it promises but is also cruelty-free, vegan, and ethical. Your skin and the planet are going to thank you.

5. Omorovicza Queen Cleanser

No matter your gender or sexual orientation, we all have a queen in us who deserves to be treated royally and luxuriously. At Omorovicza they know that a luxurious treatment needs to deliver results and be of the highest quality so that you can experience the ultimate skincare and take your skincare routine from dull to a tranquil ritual that invigorates the senses and awakens the queen within you.

Inspired by the nostalgic cold-cream rituals, you’ll be able to feel the cooling, refreshing texture of this cleanser and be transported through years of skincare experience that bring you the highest-quality experience. With this indulging moment of self care your skin is left perfected, gently clean and thoroughly nourished. 

The rich and creamy texture removes impurities and pollutants. With a blend of precious oils and purifying moringa seed peptide, this cleanser supports your skin’s natural barrier and acts on your pores, tightening them without clogging them, leaving your skin wonderfully soft, smooth, and with a queen glow. Calendula extract is an excellent calming agent that reduces signs of blemishes and irritation, so that your skin can be its most rejuvenated and refreshed self. Thanks to the courtesy of glycerin and Hungarian thermal water, your skin is feeling fresh, hydrated, cool, and you’ll experience a creamy texture that cleanses away makeup, impurities, grime, all without effort or drying out.

So if you’re wanting to achieve a long-lasting effect and feel a combination of luxury and efficacy, then the Omorovicza Queen Cleanser is perfect for you. With its ability to soothe, cleanse, and balance, your sensitive skin is going to thank you and leave you feeling like a true queen, time over time.

6. Eve Lom Cleanser

With a heritage stretching back more than 35 years, unlock the secret to radiant, glowing skin with Eve Lom’s Cleanser. Eve Lom has drawn on her childhood experiences in the garden where she discovered for herself the immensely powerful healing properties of many  botanicals. Natural chamomile, clove, and eucalyptus have inspired her especially to formulate this cult-favorite cleansing balm which is going to deliver you right back to her garden so that you can experience the healing and powerful properties of nature yourself.

A signature blend of aromatic oils will create an aromatherapy for you that elevates your skincare ritual to the next level. These oils work together to cleanse, hydrate, and tone your skin for the freshest feeling you’ll have ever experienced. 

The Cleanser from Eve Lom is the go-to choice for millions worldwide. And besides their powerful cleansing and refreshing effects, Eve Lom is dedicated to creating high-performance premium skincare solutions that deliver radiance, rejuvenation, and renewal, all while being environmentally conscious. Free from harmful additives like parabens, sulfates, and phthalates, you can feel confident in your skincare choices.

At the core of Eve Lom is the ancient British tradition of “taking the waters”. This tradition is a practice of wading and bathing through and in warm, mineral rich water to transfer the healing properties of thermal water to the body. Eve Lom has taken this philosophy and with each application of their amazing cleanser, you’ll feel the amazing effects of this tradition right in your own home. A spa-like, indulging, and invigorating skincare ritual that is rejuvenating and will leave your skin with a beautiful, natural glow.

7. Chantecaille Rose de Mai Cleansing Balm

We are so excited to introduce the Chantecaille Rose de Mai Cleansing Balm to you! A luxurious, plant-based, vegan skincare experience that will leave your skin refreshed, hydrated, cleansed, and with a glowing rosy dew.

The silky and lightweight texture is infused with the rare and sought-after Rose de Mai flower which is extremely unique and known for its powerful anti-aging and skin-perfecting properties and benefits. Chantecaille are also innovative forerunners and have been the first to introduce the plant stem cells from the Rose de Mai flower into its products. 

Plant stem cells are regenerative, meaning they’ll help your skin regenerate itself, giving you a youthful, healthy complexion. Additionally, the Chantecaille cleanser is packed with antioxidants and nourishing ingredients such as rosehip and tamanu oils, raspberry stem cell extracts, phytic acid and hyaluronic acids. These natural ingredients work together to exacerbate their powerful properties and gently remove all traces of dirt, makeup, impurities, and build-up, while purifying and replenishing the skin.

All Chantecaille products, including this cleanser, are free from animal components, phthalates, parabens, sulfates, mineral oils, synthetics and any other harmful additives. Instead, they only use the highest quality, pure botanicals so that you can be confident that you’re providing your skin with only the best of the best. 

We also absolutely love Chantecaille’s commitment to environmental conservation. They donate over 3 million dollars to support endangered species and fragile ecosystems. Sylvie Chantecaille said it so beautifully: “My great hope is that we will all learn what a gift we've been given to be on this planet, and that we will come together to protect it”. We’re not crying, you’re crying! 

So why not treat yourself to a piece of luxury with this silky, smooth, excellent Rose de Mai cleansing balm, and support a brand that is more than 100% committed to you and our beautiful planet and all it has to offer.

8. Tula Purifying Face Cleanser

Are you ready to say good-bye to dull, tired-looking skin? Are you ready to say hello to a glowing, revitalized complexion? If you answered yes to these questions, then get ready to meet Tula’s Purifying Face Cleanser, an absolute favorite in the skincare world and an absolute best-seller! And we understand why Tula’s Purifying Face Cleanser is among the best face washes for sensitive skin. It leaves your skin feeling purified, clarified, balanced, without affecting your natural skin’s balance or over-drying.

Dr. Roshini Raj, a renowned gastroenterologist with over 20 years of experience in probiotics, is the brilliant brain and founder behind Tula. Her expertise and deep understanding of science, especially the role of probiotics in digestive health, Dr. Roshini Raj used that knowledge as her founding inspiration to extend that knowledge to create skincare products that harness the power of probiotics and superfood to deliver maximizing, enlightening results for your skin. All of Tula’s products are based on the probiotics ingredients that will nourish your skin from within, deeply hydrate your skin layers, and leave the skin soft and smooth.

Dr. Roshini Raj and her team of excellent dermatologists and skin care experts believe in creating products that actually work. All their formulations are back up through scientific and clinical research so you can be confident that you will receive what is promised. Believe us, your skin is going to thank you for looking after it with this excellent choice of a facial cleanser. 

No matter if you’re looking for a product that cleanses and simultaneously improves your skin’s look or whether you simply want to feel fresh and good, Tula’s Purifying Face Cleanser has you covered!

But besides creating a face cleanser that has science written all over it, Tula are also immaculate and unparalleled in their mission to embrace and empower beauty and positivity from the inside out. Tula has made a commitment to never retouch or alter any photos of skin and instead showcase real, untouched beauty, from people all around the world. With real people vouching for Tula and real people showing off their transformative experience, we know you’ll be in love with how your skin feels and looks in no time.

Get ready for a good skin day, every day, day after day.

Frequently asked questions

When and how should I use a facial cleanser?

Cleansing your face of environmental irritants, pollutants, dirt, or even just to remove makeup, facial cleansers are an essential part of a daily skincare routine. They help remove all the things you don’t want on your face and which would otherwise clog up your pores which can lead to serious skin problems such as blackheads, acne, or other adverse skin reactions. 

Generally, it is recommended to use a facial cleanser twice daily, once in the morning and once at night before bed. Although you wouldn’t experience any environmental pollutants or dirt or make up throughout the night, a facial cleanse in the morning will prime your skin for the use of a moisturizer or day cream and can help balance the skin’s natural oil production. Using your facial cleanser at night helps your skin to remove all the skin has encountered throughout the day. Using a soft cotton cloth can be beneficial to make a facial cleanse more pleasant as cotton is gentle on the skin.

To use a facial cleanser, wet your face with lukewarm water. You don’t want to use cold water, as this will close up your pores, and water that is too hot can damage the skin cells and cause itchiness, burning, and irritation. Lukewarm water will help your pores to open up and make it easier for the cleanser to remove all impurities from the skin and pores. Use a small amount of cleanser (less than a dime sized dollop is usually sufficient) and massage the cleanser into your skin, using gentle, circular motions. Focus on areas that require a bit more care or that tend to be oilier and dryer, such as the areas around the nose and the forehead. 

Using a cotton cloth with fine fibers can be useful to avoid being too rough with the skin. Rinse your face thoroughly with lukewarm water afterwards and ensure to remove all traces of the cleanser. Avoid rubbing your face dry and instead use a soft towel and gently pat the skin dry. Rubbing can cause too much friction which may be irritating for sensitive skin whereas patting is much gentler.

What is the difference between a cleansing foam, a cleansing balm, and a cleansing gel?

Facial cleanser can be in a variety of forms, such as gels, balms, and foams. Their main difference lies in their texture and the feel of the consistency as well as how they interact with the skin.

Cleansing foams are airy and light. They lather the skin gently and the foam texture helps to lift off impurities and excess oils without affecting the natural oils of the skin. Foams are great for oily skin but because of their lightweight feel, they are super gentle which makes them an excellent choice for sensitive skin.

A cleansing gel is more jelly-like and often translucent. Gels often contain agents that are soothing and cooling, making these a perfect choice for irritated, red, burning skin. A cleansing gel can often feel a little less lightweight than a cleansing foam but that doesn’t mean it's weighing the skin down. 

Cleansing balms have the thickest consistency and a solid texture. Don’t be fooled because of the more dense consistency, as balms are excellent for people with sensitive skin as the texture helps to dissolve makeup and impurities while simultaneously allowing the skin to absorb nutrients deeply into the skin’s layers. Cleansing balms also often contain butters and oils, that provide deep cleansing effects while also providing a high source of nutrients.

Ultimately, it depends completely on your preferences and what feels best for you. Knowing your skin type can help in making an informed choice. Most importantly, make sure your cleanser of choice is free from harmful ingredients or allergens.

What should I look for when choosing a facial cleanser for sensitive skin?

You’ll want to ensure that your cleanser of choice has non-irritating ingredients that won’t strip the skin of its natural oils and doesn’t leave the skin feeling dry. Some ingredients that you can look out for are gentle surfactants, like cocoyl glutamate, decyl glucoside, and cocamidopropyl betaine. While these names may sound like they should be harmful, they are actually natural derived ingredients that help clean the skin without causing irritation. Soothing ingredients like aloe vera, chamomile, and green tea can help soothe the skin, especially when your skin is already feeling a little irritated, looking red, or feels itchy.

Hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and glycerin act as natural regulators of the skin’s moisture and can help the skin balance its natural moisture level more efficiently. 

Anti-inflammatory agents may also be a good choice to look out for. Niacinamides and bisabolol can reduce redness and inflammation and help the skin heal from exposure to irritants. 

While it’s important to know what’s in your cleanser, it’s just as important to watch out for things that should be left out. Alcohol, fragrances, sulfates, and parabens or phthalates can be particularly irritating for sensitive skin. If you are a bit unsure about how your skin may react, we recommend to test out the cleanser on a small patch of your skin on your forearm or the back of your hand. Consulting your dermatologist of trust is also a fantastic idea to receive much more personalized recommendations.