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“Sensitive skin refers to burning and stinging of the skin when you use any personal care products,” says Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. So, picking a right cleanser for sensitive skin is more important as wrong one may irritate you.
Care for your sensitive skin basically starts from using a gentle face wash otherwise it might be tough to tackle your skin. So, an authentic cleanser for sensitive skin is essential but finding out it is time-consuming. No problem — here I am helping you with a list of the 10 best face washes that will soothe, hydrate, and cleanse your sensitive skin very gently.
How to identify if you have sensitive skin
If you feel burning, redness, itchiness, tightness, or stinging with the contact of environmental or emotional factors like dust, stress, pets, weather change, or products then you have most probably sensitive skin. Many people also say they do not find any visible effects after using any product or contacting anything but they feel uncomfortable skin. It is also the symptom of sensitive skin.
Still, if you are not sure, see the signs below. If you have any of these characteristics, you should be more careful to use any products.
- Intolerable to fragrance
- Reacts easily to any new products
- Tight or dry skin
- Flushes easily after taking alcohol or spicy foods
- Sensitive or sore by touching anything
- Stinging or burning with products
- Extra dryness in winter
- Rashes, bumps, or itchiness with a little irritant
- Redness or hives
- Feeling uneasy with synthetic or coarse fabrics
- Easily gets burnt with the sun or wind
- Having dry patches
- May have oily patches
- Seeing broken capillaries easily on cheeks and nose
- Reacts badly with the weather change
- Uneven tones with flakiness
How to choose a gentle cleanser if you have sensitive skin
Creamy Formula: Often sensitive skin becomes tight and dry. It needs a moisturizer after cleansing. A creamy face wash does not strip away natural oils of the skin rather it gives essential moisture. Pick the cleanser that says creamy or lotion-based.
Fragrance-Free: Fragrance may trigger your skin, so go for unscented face wash. Read the label carefully.
Soothing Formula: Look for the ingredients that can calm the skin like aloe vera, chamomile, rose water, etc.
Hydrating Formula: Hyaluronic acid is a super moisturizer that can retain over 1,000 times its weight in water within the cells of the skin [S]. Ceramides, glycerin, etc. are also good moisturizers.
Anti-Aging: Keep your eyes also on anti-agers. They will keep blackheads, acne, dark spots, and wrinkles at bay. But, sometimes they may strip out natural oils of the skin. But using a moisturizer after cleansing will ensure its natural balance.
Soap-Free: Cleansers that have no soapy residues or harsh chemicals are always recommended for sensitive skin. Keep your eyes on the label.
No Triggers: It should be free from alcohol, dyes, paraben, sulfate, SLS, mineral oils, essential oils, no animal substances, etc.
The best face wash and cleanser for sensitive skin
We invested about 25 hours to find out the best ones. And finally, we selected these 10 cleansers based on rating, reviews, and ingredients. I hope, now you can pick your favorite face wash for your sensitive skin.
1. Eucerin Sensitive Skin Expert Redness Relief Cleansing Gel
It is suitable for dry, sensitive skin. This face wash cleanses the skin gently without drying or irritating. Fragrance-free, no soapy residue. It creates moisture-rich lather that leaves the skin squeaky clean and smooth. Eucerin Gentle Hydrating Foaming Cleanser also enhances, protects, and repairs your burnt damaged skin from sun, dryness, allergens, hives, or other rough elements. Many of our readers said that this face wash is so nice for their extremely sensitive skin. This cleans their skin, won’t dry it or fragranced, and works exactly what they expect.
2. Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser
Its foaming formula politely removes all makeup buildups leaving your skin soft, relieved, and hydrated. This cooling face wash lifts away all excess oils, dirt, and impurities while mitigates rashes, burns, irritation or dryness. Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser contains chamomile and feverfew extracts that immediately soothe redness, itchiness, and inflammation. Gentle enough for daily use as it has no fragrance and soap while also it is hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic. A dermatologist-recommended cleanser for ultra-sensitive skin.
3. Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cleanser
It is a soap-free, fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, and hypoallergenic creamy face wash that leaves your skin refreshed and comfort. It gently cleanses the skin while also protecting its natural moisture. Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cleanser thoroughly removes makeup, excess oils, dirt, and pollutants leaving your face so soft and clean. This cleanser is a dermatologist-recommended for various skin conditions. It has also no irritating essential oils that can exuberate your sensitive skin more.
4. Dove Unscented Hypo-Allergenic Beauty Bar Sensitive Skin
Dove beauty bar is my favorite one. My whole family use DOVE. This one is recommended by pediatricians. It contains mild cleansers and 1/4 moisturizing cream that retains the natural moisture of the skin. After cleansing, it leaves the skin more radiant, cooler, and softer. Dove Unscented Hypo-Allergenic Beauty Bar cleanses all dirt, impurities, dead skin cells, makeup, oils, and pollutants without tightening or irritating the skin as it has no soapy residue. This face wash contains 100% natural moisturizers that soak in the skin smoothly leaving you more comfortable.
5. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
Its non-irritating, mild and creamy cleanser and moisturizer cleans and softens the skin. This face wash can be used for face, hand, and body. It is an award-winning and clinically proven daily face wash for sensitive skin to calm and hydrate it. It eliminates dirt, impurities, and makeup leaving the skin soothed and healthy. It is soap-free, won’t strip skin’s natural oils, won’t leave the skin tight, and maintains its natural pH. The cleanser opens up pores and cleanses them deeper down to protect excess oils and acne.
6. DERMA E Sensitive Skin Cleanser
It lifts away all pollutants, makeup, and grimes leaving the skin calm, clean, and smooth. This cleanser reduces irritation, rashes, redness, hives, dryness and other signs of sensitive dry skin. This fragrance-free and pH balanced face wash is blended with lemongrass, green tea, aloe, chamomile, and pycnogenol that make the most sensitive skin refreshed, clean and cool. These antioxidants also hydrate and protect the skin from wrinkles, dryness, and spots. DERMA E Sensitive Skin Cleanser is daily usable for men, women, and adults. 100% cruelty-free, vegan, and no mineral oil.
7. Avene XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cleansing Oil
Approved by the National Eczema Association to be used for sensitive skin, eczema, atopic dermatitis, and very dry skin. It is hypo-allergenic, non-comedogenic, fragrance-free, and physiological pH balanced. This cleanser is also enough gentle for infants and children. It treats itchiness, redness, inflammation, and rashes. Avene XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cleansing Oil targets root causes for itchy, rough, and bumpy skin. Perfect to use on face or body during shower.
8. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser
This is another excellent face wash for sensitive skin. It contains creamy cleansers that are oil-free, suitable for normal, dry, or sensitive skin, fragrance-free, paraben-free, and infused with niacinamide, glycerin, ceramide-3, and prebiotic thermal water. The cleanser goes deep down to pores and takes out all dead skin cells, pollutants, tan, bacteria, and makeup residues. Its hydrating texture calms and nourishes the skin. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser retains the skin’s natural oils and gives essential moisturizers if your skin needs. It also gets rid of eye makeup and maintains the skin’s natural pH and protective barrier.
9. Hada Labo Gentle Hydrating Cleanser
Japan’s #1 cleanser for sensitive skin. It is fragrance-free and made with hyaluronic acid, and good for itchy, dry, burnt skin. No mineral oil, dyes, alcohol, paraben, and non-drying formula. Hada Labo Gentle Hydrating Cleanser removes all dirt, makeup, oils, and impurities and locks the skin in real moisturizers. This face wash deeply purifies the skin leaving a glowing and dewy look. Its hyaluronic acid retains proper moisture to the skin. Also, good for rosacea and helps reduce wrinkles, fine lines, and dry lines.
10. Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser
Dermatologist-tested, no soap, sulfate, gluten, or harsh ingredients that may trigger the skin. Non-comedogenic, oil-free, and eliminates makeup, dirt, and oils without over-drying the skin. It does not cause acne, blackheads, and blemishes. No detergents or chemical irritants, so Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser is effective for winter, itch, ichthyosis, psoriasis, eczema, and dry skin.
How and when to use a cleanser for sensitive skin
If you feel extra dry sensitive skin then use the face wash just once a day (before bedtime) and then apply a moisturizer. YOU CAN USE A HYDRATING TONER OR MICELLAR WATER IN THE MORNING.
Cleanse your face twice a day if you have less dry skin. Every time, immediately after cleansing, apply some moisturizer to rehydrate the skin.
What else you can do to manage your sensitive skin
Avoid Irritants: If you have sensitive-prone skin; anything like foods, clothes, products, dust, smoke, hot temperature, cold weather, pets, bugs, mites, stress, lack of sleep, and other pollutants can cause your skin itchier. Whenever you confirm triggers, avoid them.
Skin Test: Take a skin test before using any new product. Observe it for 48 hours to see reactions.
Healthy Eating: Check out what you are eating. Some foods can cause allergic reactions, irritation, or rashes. Drink lots of water. It will flush out toxins and keep the skin well hydrated, plump, and free from breakouts.
Use SPF: Ultraviolet rays of the sun cause rashes, tan, redness, and burn. Wear sunglasses or SPF moisturizer before going in the sun.
Under Eye Care: Skin around the eyes is very sensitive, thinner, and more damaged-prone. Use special cream for under eye. Cleanse the skin under the eyes carefully. Remove dark circles to get a complete glowing look.
Use Wipes: Using facial wipes than towels can also ensure a better look as wipes are finely made.
Apply Toner: Using a toner will calm and clean the skin. Rose water works more effectively for sensitive skin. It reduces aging signs while also soothes and hydrates the skin.
Apply Mask: Use some gentle and calming face masks like a mixture of oatmeal and yogurt. This pack will politely get rid of dead skin cells and nourish the skin. Yogurt and milk give the skin some potent nutrients that it needs to be glowing and healthy.
Use Lukewarm Bath: In the cold weather, take a bath with lukewarm water because hot water may make your sensitive skin angrier. You can put a few teaspoons of honey in the bathtub to make it more nourishing.
What I think about sensitive skin
Before using any new product, take a patch test. If any product cause irritation or stinging then avoid using it. If your skin is severely dry or sensitive, talk to a dermatologist. And always read the label before buying a product.
Wondering if anyone can help me out. So I’ve used Dove soap on my face for many years and I was thinking of trying a facial cleanser instead. I’ve tried the Cetaphil bar and also neutrogina for sensative skin. In both cases….my eyelids get irritated and I wake up with burning eyes and even some skin peeling with my eyelids. Can anyone please recommend something that I could possibly use. No issues with the standard dove soap but my skin is a little dry when I use it. Thanks