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Facial Cleansers For Every Type of Beauty Lover

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Have you ever gone to the store for a new facial cleanser but ended up walking away because there were far too many options? Although there is no harm in randomly choosing beauty products, you need to really know your skin in order to select products that will work with your face, rather than against it.

Is your skin sensitive towards perfumes or strong odors? Or, does your face break out every time you use a new wash? Defining your skin’s weaknesses is the first step, and now it is time to find a cleanser that will play to your skin’s strengths! I reviewed countless facial cleansers from drug-store to designer and curated a list with categories for different beauty product preferences. Here are the best cleansers for every type of beauty-lover:

Prettiest Packaging:

1. Retrouvé Luminous Cleansing Elixir

Retrouvé Luminous Cleansing Elixir | $75

This cleanser provides the ultimate cleansing experience! The balm-like formula is rich in beneficial oils and will hydrate your skin while removing impurities.  Plus, it's sitting pretty on your sink.

2. Arya Essentials Botanical Cleanser

Arya Essentials Botanical Cleanser | $55

This cleansing oil contains precious oils, rich turmeric, and papaya to create a luxurious milk that is activated with water. Not only will the powerful active botanical ingredients restore the natural moisture barrier of your skin, but the Botanical Cleanser will also balance your skin’s PH-levels.

3. Pai Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser

Pai Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser | $50

Made from an alcohol and detergent-free formula, the Camellia & Rose Cleanser will help maintain the skin’s natural oil balance. Plus, this hydrating cleanser will even gently remove your eye make-up!

4. Tata Harper Nourishing Oil Cleanser

Tata Harper Nourishing Oil Cleanser | $68

The Nourishing Oil Cleanser will cleanse your skin, all while providing vitamins and nutrients that won’t strip the skin. One wash with this will leave your skin soft and refreshed!

5. SkinOwl Beauty Bar

SkinOwl Beauty Bar | $24

Are you ready to raise the bar (literally) on cleansing? SkinOwl is a respected leader in the green beauty space, and these non-toxic beauty bars will likely become your go-to — Available in Matcha, Tomato, and Charcoal varieties.

Best-Smelling:

1. Skin Laundry Gentle Foaming Wash

Skin Laundry Gentle Foaming Wash | $20

If fresh linen is your go-to scent, this cleanser is for you! The Skin Laundry formula leaves skin clean and soft, while effectively removing dirt and grime.

2. L'Occitane Immortelle Precious Cleansing Foam

L'Occitane Immortelle Precious Cleansing Foam | $11.50

This cleansing foam is made with Immortelle Floral Water, which gently cleanses skin and leaves a soft, floral fragrance.

3. Promise Organic Argan Creme Facial Cleanser with Soap Berries

Promise Organic Argan Creme Facial Cleanser with Soap Berries | $7.99

If you’re sensitive about having bad-smelling aromas near your face, this facial cleanser smells INCREDIBLE. Plus, the formula uses Aloe Vera instead of water to ensure hydration and nourishment.

4. Sonya Dakar Silver Clarifying Wash

Sonya Dakar Silver Clarifying Wash | $59

Does your skin get irritated easily? This face wash is designed with powerful acne fighting ingredients and natural probiotics to create a sulfate-free formula that is ideal for sensitive skin.

5. Circ Cell Mandarin Cleansing Milk

Circ Cell Mandarin Cleansing Milk | $45

This rich, creamy cleanser consists of aloe vera, licorice root, Vitamin C, and seaweed, mandarin, grapefruit, and orange extracts and will brighten your skin with its soothing formula.

6. Tammy Fender Purifying Cleansing Gel | $50

Tammy Fender Purifying Cleansing Gel | $50

This purifying cleansing gel is like receiving a nightly facial. Not only is it tough on breakouts, but it will also prep your skin to fight future blemishes.

Most Raved About:

1. Shea Terra Organics Rose Hip Black Soap Face Wash

Shea Terra Organics Rose Hip Black Soap Face Wash | $16.65

This face wash started the black soap craze. Not only does this ancient African formula rid your skin of dead skin, even your skin tone, and fight acne, but it will also give you a younger, more radiant appearance in just minutes.

2. Origins Clear Improvement Powder Cleanser

Origins Clear Improvement Powder Cleanser | $30

This concentrated powder will turn into a creamy cleanser when it comes into contact with water. Made up of bamboo charcoal, this product is designed to clear pores and leave skin feeling refreshed!

3. Beverly Hills MD Rose Stem Cell Daily Cleanser

Beverly Hills MD Rose Stem Cell Daily Cleanser | $70

This cleanser combines the power of the rose flower stem cells and antioxidants to provide a softer, more youthful-looking complexion… every time you cleanse!

4. Context Skincare Daily Facial Cleanser

Context Skincare Daily Facial Cleanser | $30

This daily facial cleanser combines jojoba oil, avocado oil, cucumber oil, chamomile oil, lemon & rose hip extract, and Vitamins A+E to create a powerful formula that will deeply clean clogged pores.

5. Le Metier de Beaute Daily Refresh Cleanser

Le Metier de Beaute Daily Refresh Cleanser | $50

This daily cleanser will exfoliate, extricate, and nourish your skin back to its full potential. The vitamin-rich formula reduces wrinkles and fades dark spots, all while stimulating microcirculation and oxygenation of the skin.

6. Jurlique Purely Age-Defying Nourishing Cleansing Oil

Jurlique Purely Age-Defying Nourishing Cleansing Oil | $30.40

Not only will this cleansing oil improve the skin’s moisture barrier, but it also uses antioxidants to protect against environmental aggressors!

For Sensitive Skin:

1. Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Foam EX

Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Foam EX | $36

This non-stripping formula will lather in your hands and effectively remove impurities. Using a combination of Japanese apricots and Dokudami, this cleanser will soothe your skin and leave it feeling hydrated.

2. Root Science Gentle Cleansing Bar

Root Science Gentle Cleansing Bar | $20

Get this: This facial cleanser is waterless AND tough enough to remove any impurities from your skin, all while being completely organic.

3. Bioderma Sebium H20

Bioderma Sebium H20 | $11.90

This make-up removing purifying cleansing solution will refresh oily and blemish-prone skin using its gentle cleansing water formula. The Sebium H2O is available in three different bottle sizes, 100ml, 250ml (standard), and 500ml.

4. e.l.f. Micellar Cleansing Water

e.l.f. Micellar Cleansing Water | $7

This is e.l.f’s new and improved Cleansing Water! The alcohol-free formula is perfect for sensitive skin, that leaves skin feeling refreshed, and doubles as a makeup remover.

5. Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser

Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser | $26

This foaming cleanser is as gentle as cleansing milk! The non-comedogenic formula is gentle enough to eliminate impurities without causing irritation and will leave you with a glowing complexion.

6. SkinCeuticals Foaming Cleanser

SkinCeuticals Foaming Cleanser | $34

If you prefer lightweight formulas, this cleanser is for you. It is ideal for all skin types and will clear surface impurities, leaving the skin feeling refreshed.

7. Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel | $37

This cleansing gel is soap-free, which means it is ideal for sensitive skin. The calming Balm Mint and Lavender extracts will soothe your skin, while gently foaming away toxins using natural Quillaja Saponaria.

For a Deep Clean:

1. Proactiv + Skin Smoothing Exfoliator

Proactiv + Skin Smoothing Exfoliator | $40

This micro-bead formula uses glycolic acid to smooth away excess oil, impurities, and kill bacteria that causes blemishes.

2. Lancôme Énergie De Vie Foaming Cleanser

Lancôme Énergie De Vie Foaming Cleanser | $35

This purifying foam cleanser will take the fatigue right out of your skin! The unique, non-drying formula provides a deep clean for a smoother complexion.

3. MAC Cosmetics Green Gel Cleanser

MAC Cosmetics Green Gel Cleanser | $22

This skin-tingling formula will control oil production, leaving a clear, smooth complexion!

4. DCL Active Mattifying Cleanser

DCL Active Mattifying Cleanser | $27

If your skin is oily or breakout-prone, this cleanser is for you. With a formula that combines lactic and salicylic acids, the mattifying cleanser will prep your skin to combat future flare-ups.

5. Ulta Beauty Radiant Skin Warming Charcoal Cleanser

Ulta Beauty Radiant Skin Warming Charcoal Cleanser | $12.50

Did you know charcoal powder can help draw out toxins and impurities from your skin? This charcoal cleanser not only provides a warming sensation that will open your pores for a deep cleanse, but it also has Vitamin C to help brighten and even your skin tone.

6. AMOREPACIFIC Treatment Cleansing Foam

AMOREPACIFIC Treatment Cleansing Foam | $50

This sulfate-free cleansing foam will remove impurities and makeup, all while providing antioxidant and antibacterial protection for the skin!

7. Mary Kay ClearProof Clarifying Cleansing Gel

Mary Kay ClearProof Clarifying Cleansing Gel | $16

This cleansing gel is the first step in the Clear Proof Acne System. The deeply-cleansing formula will penetrate your pores by dulling impurities and removing dirt.

8. SKINN Cosmetics Pure Pore Detox

SKINN Cosmetics Pure Pore Detox | $20 - $28

The problem with some cleansers is that they strip your skin of natural oils. However, SKINN Cosmetics’ Pure Pore Detox uses rare Brazilian Volcanic White Clay and Amazonian Green Clay for a gentle, yet deeply purifying cleansing experience!

9. LANEIGE Multi Cleanser

LANEIGE Multi Cleanser | $22.49

This foaming cleanser has a rich lather that offers a deep cleansing experience. The Papaya enzymes clear your skin of dead surface cells, all while the Micro-cellulose beads remove impurities.

For Dull Skin:

1. Snowberry Gentle Cleanse & Tone

Snowberry Gentle Cleanse & Tone | $48

This soft foaming formula will cleanse AND tone! Snowberry’s Gentle Cleanse & Tone is a two-in-one cleanser-toner that replenishes the skin and leaves it feeling beautifully refreshed.

2. SheaMoisture Instant Rebound Foaming Facial Wash

SheaMoisture Instant Rebound Foaming Facial Wash | $9.99

This foaming facial wash will pamper your depleted, dull skin from your stressful lifestyle. By combining organic Shea Butter, Dragon’s Blood Extract, and nourishing oils, SheaMoisture created a formula that will energize your skin with a radiant glow.

3. The Unveil Cleanser Melt Concentrate by MAHALO Skincare

The Unveil Cleanser Melt Concentrate by MAHALO Skincare | $70

This potent blend of precious super-oils, supercritical extracts, antioxidant-rich plant butters, and Earth minerals will sink luxuriously into skin and unveil a glowing complexion.

4. Perricone MD Citrus Facial Wash

Perricone MD Citrus Facial Wash | $45

Dry skin? This facial wash will unveil your skin’s natural radiance using Dr. Perricone’s proprietary Vitamin C Ester.

5. Goldfaden MD Pure Start Detoxifying Facial Cleanser

Goldfaden MD Pure Start Detoxifying Facial Cleanser | $35

The secret ingredient in this cleanser is Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, which helps retain moisture! Plus, the formula is designed to stabilize your PH-levels for a radiant complexion.

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