The 6 best face cleansers for every skin type, including Hyaluronic Acid cleansers

Key takeaways

• The best face cleanser is the one that leaves your skin clean without feeling tight. Dry skin usually does better with a cream or hydrating cleanser, oily skin with a gentle foaming gel.

• Hyaluronic Acid cleansers add a humectant to the wash, which can make cleansing feel less drying. They rinse off, so they don’t replace a serum or moisturizer.

• Our top pick for normal to dry skin is CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser, with three Ceramides and Hyaluronic Acid for $15.99.

• For removing makeup and sunscreen in one step, U Beauty’s The MANTLE Cleansing Balm turns from an oil-balm into a cleansing milk.

• However good the cleanser, how you wash matters too: lukewarm water, fingertips, and no more than twice a day plus after sweating, the AAD says.

Most people need one well-chosen face cleanser, not three. Start with your skin type. If your face feels tight after washing, your cleanser is probably too strong for it. If it still feels oily an hour later, you may want a foaming formula. The six picks below are grouped so you can find your match quickly, and four of them list Hyaluronic Acid.

None of these were tested on skin. We compared each brand’s product page and ingredient list, read in early October 2026, looking at cleansing agents, hydrating ingredients, the skin types each brand names, fragrance, and price.

How to choose a face cleanser for your skin type

• Dry or normal to dry skin: a non-foaming or lightly foaming cream cleanser with Glycerin and Ceramides. Picks 1 and 6.

• Oily or combination skin: a gentle gel that foams, ideally fragrance-free. Picks 4 and 5.

• Makeup and sunscreen wearers: a balm or oil first, or a cleanser made to do both jobs. Pick 2.

• Sensitive skin: a short list with no fragrance. Picks 3, 5, and 6.

The American Academy of Dermatology’s face-washing guide adds the technique: Use a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser without alcohol, wet your face with lukewarm water, apply it with your fingertips, rinse, and pat dry with a soft towel. A washcloth or mesh sponge can irritate skin. The AAD suggests washing once in the morning, once at night, and after heavy sweating.

Do Hyaluronic Acid cleansers work?

Hyaluronic Acid is a humectant, which means it holds water. A 2022 review of Hyaluronic Acid in skincare describes it as able to bind “1000 times its volume in water.” In a cleanser, though, it’s on your skin for a minute before you rinse it away.

So a Hyaluronic Acid cleanser is best thought of as a gentler wash rather than a hydrating step on its own. It helps most when it comes in a mild formula with Glycerin and no harsh surfactants, and when you follow it with a moisturizer. That’s how we compared the four Hyaluronic Acid cleansers below: by the whole formula, not by the HA alone.

1. CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser: best for normal to dry skin

CeraVe’s hydrating cleanser is a lotion-like wash made for normal to dry skin. Glycerin is second on the list, followed by three Ceramides (NP, AP, and EOP), Sodium Hyaluronate, and Cholesterol, the same lipid and humectant mix CeraVe uses in its moisturizers.

Key features:

• Ceramides plus Hyaluronic Acid: three Ceramides and Sodium Hyaluronate in a rinse-off formula.

• Free of added fragrance: per CeraVe.

• National Eczema Association: CeraVe says it’s accepted by the NEA.

Tradeoff: it doesn’t foam, which some people read as “not clean enough,” and heavy or waterproof makeup may still call for a balm first.

Best for: normal to dry skin that feels tight after foaming washes.

Price: $15.99.

2. U Beauty The MANTLE Cleansing Balm: best for makeup and sunscreen in one step

The MANTLE Cleansing Balm is U Beauty’s Double Cleanse in One Step. It starts as an oil-balm on dry skin; after up to a minute of massage, a splash of water turns it milky so it rinses clean. U Beauty positions it as both your makeup remover and your face wash.

Its cleansing system relies on emulsifiers, Sucrose Polystearate and Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, rather than a foaming surfactant. Glycerin is fourth on the list, and Sodium Hyaluronate and Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid appear further down, which is why we’ve grouped it with the Hyaluronic Acid cleansers.

Key features:

• Balm to milk: removes makeup, sunscreen, and the day’s grime without a separate first cleanse.

• Hyaluronic Acid: two forms, which U Beauty calls Short-Chain Hyaluronic Acid on the page.

• What testers said: U Beauty says 93% of 30 people felt their skin was hydrated after a week of daily use with a cloth, in a consumer perception study.

Tradeoff: it also carries fruit extracts that U Beauty calls Fruit Alpha Hydroxy Acids, plus Methyldihydrojasmonate, a fragrance ingredient, so very reactive skin may prefer a fragrance-free pick.

Best for: anyone who wears makeup or sunscreen daily and wants one cleanser that does both steps.

Price: $78 for 150 ml, or $38 for 50 ml.

3. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Gel Cleanser Fragrance Free: best Hyaluronic Acid gel cleanser

This is the pick for people who like a little foam. Neutrogena’s gel turns into a lather and lists Glycerin second, before mild surfactants, such as Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine and Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, with Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid at the end. Neutrogena says it’s for acne-prone, dry, and sensitive skin and removes makeup.

Key features:

• Glycerin plus Hyaluronic Acid: a humectant pairing in a foaming gel.

• Fragrance-free: it’s also free of soap, parabens, phthalates, and alcohol, per the brand.

• Simple routine: wet face, lather in your hands, massage, and rinse.

Tradeoff: Hyaluronic Acid is the last ingredient listed, so Glycerin is doing most of the hydrating work here.

Best for: combination or acne-prone skin that wants foam without the squeaky feel.

Price: varies by retailer (5 fl oz).

4. CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser: best for oily skin

CeraVe’s foaming gel is made for normal to oily skin. It lists Glycerin third and Niacinamide sixth, along with three Ceramides and Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, so it’s built to remove oil while leaving some hydrating ingredients behind.

Key features:

• Normal to oily skin: per CeraVe, a gel that foams and is described as non-drying.

• Niacinamide plus Ceramides: CeraVe says Niacinamide may help calm skin.

• Hyaluronic Acid: listed toward the end.

Tradeoff: it contains Methylparaben and Propylparaben, which some shoppers prefer to avoid.

Best for: oily or combination skin that gets shiny by midday.

Price: $15.99.

5. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Facial Cleanser: best for oily, sensitive skin

La Roche-Posay pitches this one at a combination that’s harder to shop for: oily skin that also reacts easily. It foams, with Glycerin second and Coco-Betaine third, and adds Ceramide NP (which the brand calls Ceramide-3), Niacinamide and its prebiotic thermal spring water. The brand says it removes excess oil while maintaining the skin’s moisture barrier and pH.

Key features:

• Fragrance-free and sulfate-free: both per La Roche-Posay.

• Ceramide NP plus Niacinamide: two ingredients the brand ties to the moisture barrier.

• Big bottle: 400 ml for about five cents per ml.

Tradeoff: there’s no Hyaluronic Acid, if that’s specifically what you’re after.

Best for: oily skin that also stings or flushes with stronger foaming washes.

Price: $19.99 for 400 ml.

6. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser: best for sensitive, dry skin

Cetaphil’s classic has just 10 ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Pantolactone, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Benzoate, and Citric Acid. It’s creamy, doesn’t foam, and can be used with or without water: Cetaphil says you can wipe off the excess with a soft cloth and leave a thin film on the skin.

Key features:

• Short list: 10 ingredients, no fragrance.

• Panthenol and Niacinamide: both near the top.

• No-water option: useful for skin that hates being rinsed often.

Tradeoff: it won’t remove long-wear makeup well on its own.

Best for: dry, sensitive skin and minimal routines.

Price: varies by retailer.

How to use a face cleanser

1. Pick the right step. If you wear makeup or sunscreen, a balm like pick 2 can do the job alone; a foaming wash may need a balm first.

2. Use lukewarm water and your fingertips, as the AAD recommends.

3. Don’t overwash. Twice a day, plus after sweating, is the AAD’s limit.

4. Moisturize after. Even a Hyaluronic Acid cleanser leaves the hydrating to your next step.

5. Patch test new cleansers. The AAD suggests testing a wash-off product on a small spot, such as the inside of your elbow, for 5 minutes twice a day over 7 to 10 days.

If you’re drawn to balms in particular, our guide to cleansing balms compares more of them.

When to see a dermatologist

If every cleanser stings, or your skin stays red, flaky, or itchy even with a gentle routine, book a board-certified dermatologist. Ongoing reactions can point to a skin condition or an allergy to an ingredient, and a dermatologist can help narrow it down.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best face cleanser?

It depends on skin type. For normal to dry skin, we’d start with CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser. For oily skin, CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser or La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Facial Cleanser. For makeup and sunscreen, U Beauty’s The MANTLE Cleansing Balm.

What is the best Hyaluronic Acid cleanser?

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser pairs Sodium Hyaluronate with three Ceramides. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Gel Cleanser is the foaming option, and The MANTLE Cleansing Balm lists two forms of Hyaluronic Acid in a balm.

Are Hyaluronic Acid cleansers worth it?

They can make washing feel less drying, especially in a gentle, fragrance-free formula. Because they rinse off, they work alongside a Hyaluronic Acid serum or moisturizer as the step before them, not a stand-in.

How many times a day should I wash my face?

The AAD suggests twice a day, morning and night, plus after heavy sweating.

Do I need a different cleanser for morning and night?

Not necessarily. Many people use one gentle cleanser twice a day. If you wear makeup or sunscreen, a balm at night and a lighter wash in the morning is a common split.