11 Best Face Washes for Dry Skin

Cleansing can be harsh on your skin and especially harsh if you have dry skin. The last thing you’ll want is for your skin to be left feeling tight and uncomfortable after washing it.

If this sounds like a problem you regularly have, then the good news is that there are plenty of face washes out there that will not only cleanse your skin but also leave it feeling soft and nourished. 

Best Face Washes For Dry Skin

Below we’ve compiled a list of the best face washes you can use if you suffer from dry skin.

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser

Use this as a daily cleanser for any normal to dry skin that becomes sensitive.

It’s a cream texture and helps to retain moisture in the skin while also cleansing and removing all traces of makeup. 

It will maintain the skin’s natural barriers and pH levels which is especially important if you have dry skin.

Infused with Prebiotic Thermal Water, Niacinamide and Glycerin, these key ingredients will leave the skin feeling hydrated and nourished. 

You should use this product by first wetting your skin and then massaging the cleanser into the face. Wash off and pat your face dry. 

The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser

Specially created for normal, oily, combination or dry skin types, this cleanser will target any dryness on the face to ensure it stays smooth and hydrated.

It’s a gentle and moisturizing cleanser that’s also free from any harmful ingredients such as parabens, sulfates, and formaldehyde. 

You can use it for any skin problems concerning your pores and dryness.

To use, you should dispense the product onto clean hands and then gently massage it into damp skin and then rinse it off. 

A vegan, gluten free product.

First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser

This cleanser may be sulfate-free and fragrance-free but don’t think that means it will struggle when it comes to removing any dirt and makeup.

This face wash will still effectively cleanse the skin without causing any irritation or disrupting your skin’s natural barrier. 

Thanks to it being pH balanced, this face wash is perfect if you have dry skin.

It’s also infused with a variety of antioxidants, which will reduce any inflammation and irritation. 

The added glycerin in this product will help to smooth and hydrate and the infused aloe and allantoin will nourish and soothe the skin. 

A vegan and cruelty free product.

CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser

Remove both your face and eye makeup while also cleansing and hydrating your face.

Coming from the pump with a rich and creamy texture, it will then turn into foam as soon as it is met with water. 

Created with a non-drying formula, this face wash won’t strip the skin or leave it feeling tight and uncomfortable. 

Infused with hyaluronic acid and amino acids, both of these ingredients will work at keeping your skin hydrated, while also retaining any moisture. 

A fragrance free, non-comedogenic product.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Lightweight Hydrating Facial Gel Cleanser

Use this cleanser to boost your skin’s hydration and leave it feeling soft and supple.

Containing hyaluronic acid, this ingredient will increase the skin’s hydration and keep it locked in. 

It’s a lightweight cleanser so you don’t have to worry about it clogging your pores and the gel will turn into a foaming cleanser that will remove even the toughest makeup and dirt on the skin. 

Also, as a hypoallergenic cleanser, you can use it if you have sensitive skin. This product is free from any fragrances, parabens, oils, alcohol and soap.

Neutrogena is also a dermatologist-recommended brand, so you can ensure that it will be kind to your skin. 

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Skin Types Cleanser for Unisex

This face wash is ultra-gentle on the skin but will still effectively lift away any dirt, grime and makeup without drying out your skin any more than it already is.

Infused with apricot kernel oil and squalane, these key ingredients will cleanse your skin without stripping it of its natural oils, which are needed to keep it hydrated and healthy. 

You should apply a small amount of this cleanser to your skin with clean fingertips. Massage onto your damp face in circular, upward motions and then rinse off.

For maximum results, you can pair this cleanser with Kiehl’s other ‘Ultra’ facial products such as their moisturizing cream. 

PRB Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Cleanser

The Inkey’s List Cleanser will really get to work at hydrating the skin while also thoroughly cleansing and removing any traces of stubborn makeup.

It will leave your skin feeling soft and smooth and looking healthy and nourished.

Formulated with hyaluronic acid, this ingredient will help to retain any moisture in the skin to ensure it doesn’t feel tight and uncomfortable after each wash. 

Drunk Elephant Beste No.9 Jelly Cleanser

This is a non-irritating cleanser that will remove all traces of dirt and makeup.

It’s packed full of ingredients that will help to nourish the skin and protect its natural barriers, which can be one of the main causes of your skin becoming dry. 

Key ingredients include glycerin which will replenish hydration levels, Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis which soothes and hydrates and virgin marula oil which will nourish and cleanse the skin. 

After a day of use, 99% of 106 customers agreed that this face wash felt free from impurities and debris, 97% agreed that it wasn’t irritating for the skin and 93% agreed the skin felt balanced, soft, and supple. 

This cruelty-free product is vegan and gluten-free.

Glossier Milky Jelly Gentle Gel Face Cleanser

As a nourishing and pH-balanced cleanser, this face wash will dissolve makeup, dirt and debris while still keeping the skin feeling conditioned and comfortable.

It’s been specially created for dry and dull skin and being a lightweight gel, you don’t have to worry about it clogging pores. 

Ingredients include rose water which will help to soothe the skin and allantoin which will comfort any dry skin. 

You can use this morning and night, just apply a couple of pumps onto wet skin, massage in and then rinse and pat dry. 

Vegan and cruelty-free product.

REN Clean Skincare Jelly Oil Facial Cleanser

This is a gentle, oil-based cleanser which will remove even the toughest makeup and dirt from your face.

After use, your skin should feel purified, balanced and hydrated. It should leave it feeling soft and comfortable without any harsh tightness. 

REN Clean Skincare are well known as a brand for delivering high-performance skincare while always keeping sensitive skin in mind. 

To use this product, work the jelly into dry skin so that it turns into an oil. Watch as it removes makeup and dirt from the skin and then rinse off. 

Vegan and cruelty-free product.

Cetaphil Face Wash Hydrating Gentle Skin Cleanser for Dry to Normal Sensitive Skin

This has been clinically proven to hydrate the skin while also cleansing to remove any dirt and makeup.

This Cetaphil cleanser will provide you with a huge 48 hours’ worth of hydration. It will soothe, cleanse and protect the skin’s natural barrier. 

Formulated with glycerin, this ingredient will help to provide your skin with even more moisture while also leaving it feeling smooth and nourished. 

As a hypoallergenic product, it can be used on even the most sensitive of skins. It’s free from any fragrances, sulfates and parabens, so you can be sure that it won’t irritate the skin. 

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It’s important to find the right face wash for yourself if you have dry skin. Not only do you want something that’s going to hydrate, but you’re also going to want a cleanser that will nourish and remove any dirt, makeup and debris at the same time. 

Key ingredients to look out for when choosing your perfect face wash include hyaluronic acid, which helps to lock in moisture, glycerin to smooth and hydrate your skin and allantoin which soothes any dryness.

If you have sensitive skin, then it may even be worth looking out for products that are hypoallergenic or free from irritants such as parabens and sulfates. 

Cream or gel formulas are usually best the type of face washes to go for as they are usually more hydrating and mositurizing. A gel formula is usually lightweight, helping to prevent your pores from becoming blocked, making it suitable if you have acne-prone skin. 

Whichever face wash you decide to go for, there’s no doubt you’ll be able to find one that meets your needs, whether you want a lightweight cleanser, an oil formula or something suitable for your sensitive skin.

Check out our curated list of the 12 best body washes for dry skin that’ll soothe and moisturize. 

To give your face a real treat, see our reviews for the Best Facial Steamers, they are a vital part of any professional facial treatment which you can do at home. They are the ultimate skin decongestant tool, allowing any active ingredients you use on your face afterwards to more effectively sink into your skin.