If Your Skin Is All Red And Dry, It Could Be Your Face Wash (2024)

Finding the best face wash can seem daunting you have sensitive skin. You need a cleanser that will do a thorough job of cleaning without turning your complexion into a dry, red, super-irritated mess.

Wondering what sensitive skin means, exactly? "Sensitive skin refers to burning and stinging of the skin when you use personal care products,” explains Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. “The wrong skincare products easily disrupt the skin barrier in people with sensitive skin, leading to microscopic cracks, loss of hydration, and inflammation.”

Meet our experts: Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, Miriam Vega Gonzalez, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Philadelphia

So what’s the best way to avoid irritating your face if you've got sensitive skin? In general, Dr. Zeichner recommends sticking to gentle, soap-free cleansers if you can (since true soap can be harsh and drying). He also suggests you steer clear of exfoliating products (i.e. anything that says brightening or has active ingredients like glycolic acid is a no-go for you). These “can cause more harm than good,” says Dr. Zeichner.

Instead, try any one of these 10 best face washes for sensitive skin. That's right! Keep reading for the most gentle cleansers out there, according to experts.

Anyone else love when a product has the word 'milk' in its name? Just us? Anyways, with ingredients like glycerin and oatmeal, this gentle cleansing formula will be extra soothing to your sensitive face. Plus, it's free of fragrance, alcohol, and sulfates, which is what you should be looking for on an ingredient label, says Miriam Vega Gonzalez, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Philadelphia.

"I know this brand uses ingredients that won't harm the skin," says Dr. Vega Gonzalez. "I usually recommend it to all of my patients who have sensitive skin or dermatitis."

Dr. Vega Gonzalez loves this gel-based formula that's soap-free, paraben-free, and oil-free. It lathers really easily when you combine with water and yeah, it's also super gentle on irritated skin.

“Micellar water is among the most gentle cleansing technology available,” Zeichner says. “Tiny droplets of oil known as micelles trap dirt and oil to help remove it from the skin.”

“Cold creams are a great option for people with dry and sensitive skin because it is gentle and leaves behind a hydrating film,” Zeichner says.

“Some cleansers designed for sensitive skin contain ingredients that have anti-inflammatory effects,” Zeichner says. “Feverfew [which is in this wash] is a botanical extract that can calm inflammation in the skin and help reduce redness."

This sensitive skin face wash is so mild it’s recommended for people with acne, eczema, and rosacea, to name a few. “This cleanser is specially formulated with hydrophobically modified polymers that prevent the cleansing ingredients from penetrating past the outer skin layer. So you can enjoy the lathering cleanser without experiencing dryness,” Zeichner says.

This cleanser doesn’t contain soap, is non-comedogenic, and doesn’t leave behind an irritating residue. “Lipid-free [a type of soap-free formula suitable for sensitive skin] cleansing lotions can be used across all skin types, and are especially useful for patients with sensitive skin,” Zeichner says. “They can be applied and wiped off without even using water.”

This gentle wash uses hyaluronic acid and ceramides to help keep your skin’s natural moisture while cleaning it up in the process. “I've been using this foaming cleanser for years,” says Women's Health beauty director, Brian Underwood. "It's one of the few options that foams into a really nice lather without stripping skin. It's fantastic!"

“Formulated with selenium- and strontium-rich thermal spring water, this cleanser hydrates and helps support a healthy microbiome,” Zeichner says.

“Formulated with calming botanical extracts, this milky cleanser helps hydrate the skin while removing dirt,” Zeichner says.

This best-selling cleanser is extra hydrating and will leave your skin looking sooo supple. That said, note that it contains Coco-Betaine as an ingredient, which Dr. Vega Gonzalez says can be irritating for *some* people even though it's in many products made for sensitive bbs.