If you have sensitive skin you have likely fought a lifelong battle with cleansers. From harsh exfoliants to overly drying and irritating formulas, finding something you can use twice (yes, twice) a day without inducing a flare up, isn’t as easy as you maybe once thought.
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What we’ve learnt from our time in beauty, is that what isn’t in a formula is often as important as what is in it, so from creams, to balms, to the humble micellar water, we’ve rounded up our favourite formulas to ensure your skin is squeaky clean, without the drama.
The Original – Avène Extremely Gentle Cleanser
Hailing from France, Avène’s thermal spring water skin care was one of the first to cater for sensitive skin types. One of the most trusted brands in the category – this ‘extremely gentle cleanser’ is just that – super soothing and free of potential irritants, it manages to remove all grime and leave your skin soft and clean. Find out more here.
The Balm – Clinique Take The Day Off Balm
Dissolve SPF, stubborn makeup and environmental pollution with Clinique’s lightweight cleansing balm. The non-greasy, non-drying formula transforms from a solid balm into a silky oil upon application.
Plus, the addition of Safflower seed oil and vitamin E help to enhance radiance, reduce redness and hydrate tired skin.
Read more Clinique Take The Day Off Balm reviews here…
The Cream – Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser
Inject moisture into dry skin, remove stubborn makeup and keep sensitive skin nourished and supple with the ultra-creamy Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser.
Read more Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser reviews here…
The Micellar – Bioderma Sensibio H2O
As a non-rinse, non-fragranced product micellar waters as a general rule are a great way to remove makeup for those with sensitive skin. This one in particular is a holy-grail product to those in the know (I, personally use it religiously), being gentle on the skin while removing even the heaviest of eye makeup. Find out more here.
The Splurge – SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser
Formulated specifically for sensitive or traumatised skin this emollient and skin-conditioning rich cleanser is worth every penny. And considering its $70 price tag, that’s really saying something.
Read more SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser reviews here…
The Steal – Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
This cleanser has been passed down through generations for good reason. With no fragrance or soap it is super gentle and cleanses skin without drying it out. It’s even gentle enough for babies. Find out more here.
The Foam – Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser
Described as being as gentle as a milk and more effective than a soap, The Gentle Foaming Cleanser from Clarins gently sweeps away impurities. It utilises the power of ingredients hazelnut, jojoba, cottonseed and soapwort to purify the skin while respecting the skin’s natural pH.
Read more Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser reviews here…
The Exfoliator – Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant
Exfoliating cleansers for sensitive skin are hard to come by, so Dermalogica’s non-abrasive hydroxy acid is the gentle solution we’ve been dreaming of.
Formulated with lavender and aloe vera to soothe redness, plus salicylic acid to remove dead skin cells, incorporating this into your routine twice a week will keep the skin smooth, hydrated and free from dead skin.
Read more Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant reviews here…
My favourite cleanser is Ultraceuticals gentle cleansing gel
I've only tried the Clinique one… I didn't like it. Didn't remove my sunscreen. And it's mineral oil based. Not good.
Avene ticks all my skincare boxes. Love this brand.
Clarins is my go to cleanser I just love it, my skin feels fresh clean and moisturised.
Thankfully I don't really have sensitive skin
I don't generally have sensitive skin so I don't need to worry but I do like the looks of the Skinceuticals cleanser.
I do have sensitive skin that can be very reactive. I do have several cleansers that my skin is happy about and they are not always ones designed for sensitive skin. The Neutrogena Hydro Boost Cleanser is awesome. So are most cream cleansers.
Have no fave yet. Have no sensitive skin. Though, using harsh cleansers, who wants that anyways.
I’m currently using Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser. It’s great! I remove my makeup with Clinique Take The Day Off cleansing balm, and then use the Kiehl’s under the shower.
My current fav is L'Oreal Paris Age Perfect Cleansing Milk.
Keen to try the Avene cleanser
I'm using QV at the moment and find it's gentle.
Luckily I don’t have sensitive skin most of the time. I like foaming cleansers best which are often not great for sensitive skin.
Love Avene, my skin is super sensitive. Cetaphil irritated my skin.
Need one for oily skin
I don't have sensitive skin. I tend to change my cleansers as I like trying new products
Cerave facial cleansers are really good and very gentle. So was Derma Sukin – but Chemist Warehouse have now stopped stocking Derma Sukin 🙁
I don't have sensitive skin but dry skin and sometimes still tend to prefer these cleansers.
Go-to cleansers are really good for sensitive skin too!
I'm so grateful that I don't have sensitive skin. I love Clinique Take the Day Off Balm & Cetaphil Cleanser. I keep a giant tub of Cetaphil in my shower to use as a body wash before a date – it makes my skin freakishly soft! I've been trying to find an Aussie-made alternative, but nothing makes my skin so soft to the touch.
Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser is so good to use in the winter time.
Good information. Thanks
I don't have particularly sensitive skin but I like using gentle cleansers. I find most cream cleansers are quite gentle and don't dry out my skin
I haven't tried the Clinique take the day off even though I've been meaning to for ages. I used to love Cetaphil before I realised that it broke me out.
I'm looking for a new cleanser, maybe the Avene. I've tried the Cetaphil and it dried my skin. The CeraVe Hydrating cleanser was just so so
I currently use a gel cleanser, but I don't have sensitive skin
Cetaphil and Dermaveen do fantastic cleansers or sensitive skin. I also use Shu Uemura's oil cleanser which works wonders.
Bookmarking this article to work through the list. My stupidly sensitive skin thanks you BH.
I can attest to the Bioderma Micellar Water, that one definitely is kind to skin. Have not used it to remove makeup though.
I think Cetaphil is great. These products are SO affordable, but really effective and very gentle. You don't always have to pay heaps to get something that works.
I love Avene products.
Cetaphil blocks my pores but I love the Bioderma Micellar water. It is the best I have tried.
Always on the lookout for good cleansers so will be reading some reviews on these.
I use to use cetaphil face cleanser. I now use neutrogena gentle cleaner and a deep clean cleanser. Have been happy with them for a few years
Avene products gave me more pimples their moituriser would make my skin really oily, and accidentally get close to my eye and burn me like crazy! I love ultracuticals cleanser so much !
Nothing grabs me this month.
I have sensitive skin – so my skin likes simplicity the best.
My sister loves Cetaphil but it makes my skin so oily, I really wanted to love it. I'm using Cerave and that's really good!
I have sensitive skin and I find that Clinique Take The Day off is great and doesn't irritate.
my sister also use this one more thank half of year
I like the Bioderma Micella Water. Gentle, effective and so easy to use.
I have sensitive skin and being older struggle to control sun damage. I use La Roche-Posay Anthelios Invisible Fluid Facial Sunscreen and found that it does not cause any problems for my otherwise very sensitive skin. Its light and easy to apply and provides SPF50+ protection. My dermatologist recommended it thus the reason I tried it
Bioderma is great for my sensitive skin
I have very sensitive skin and I just have to add La Roche-Posay Effaclar Micro Peeling Cleanser and Dermaveen Foaming Facial Cleanser to this list. Both of these are fantastic and don't irritate my skin at all.
Cetaphil was very gentle but not sure if I would use it on my baby…
Never tried Cetaphil but will check it out. Thanks for the info.
Love skinceuticals or laroche posay for my sensitive skin