6 Moisturizing Face Washes for Dry, Mature and Sensitive Skin

A cleanser can set the tone for the rest of your routine. For dry, mature or sensitive skin, a formula that removes sunscreen, makeup and everyday grime without leaving a tight, squeaky finish can make the first step feel a lot more considered. Dermatologist Kseniya Kobets, MD, says the aim is clean skin, not the stripped sensation that can follow an overly aggressive wash.

For a more comfortable cleanse, look for lotion-like textures and ingredients such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which draw water to the skin, or ceramides and squalane, which help support its moisture barrier. These formulas can be especially appealing in cold, low-humidity weather, when skin may feel drier or more easily irritated. The six picks below cover different preferences, from a low-foam glycerin cleanser to an oil that melts away tenacious makeup.

At a glance

• Best overall: Prequel Gleanser, $18
• Best drugstore: CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser, $19
• Best for redness: Avène Tolérance Cleanser, $20
• Best for makeup removal: Elemis Nourishing Omega Rich Cleansing Oil, $56

Prequel Gleanser: Best overall

Prequel Gleanser’s name nods to its headline ingredient: glycerin. The face and body cleanser contains 50% glycerin, a humectant that attracts water and helps skin hold onto it, Kobets says. It also features oat extract and aloe, and earned a 2026 Best of Beauty Award.

The creamy, fragrance-free formula is designed to leave skin comfortable, and it suits all skin types, with sensitive skin a particular match. Its texture has a trade-off: it doesn’t make much foam. Beauty director Sarah Kinonen, who says she showers twice daily and has sensitive-leaning skin, likes that it cleans quickly without drying her out. She finds it works up a lather on a washcloth, her preferred way to use it, and says its lack of fragrance suits her skin.

Key ingredients: glycerin, oat extract and aloe. Fragrance-free: yes. Price: $18.

CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser: Best drugstore

This cleanser shifts from a rich cream to a soft foam as it’s massaged into skin. That change gives it the cushion of a cream cleanser with the rinse of a foaming wash; Kobets describes the pairing as the best of both worlds. Dermatologist Nazanin Saedi, MD, says the formula combines ceramides to support the skin barrier with humectants that draw in hydration.

Glycerin and hyaluronic acid join the ceramides in a fragrance-free formula aimed at normal to dry skin. The product was listed at $19; the source also showed an Amazon price of $12, reduced from $16, at the time of publication. Its texture may appeal to anyone who wants more lather than a lotion cleanser usually provides, without giving up a creamy start.

Key ingredients: glycerin, hyaluronic acid and ceramides. Fragrance-free: yes. Best for: normal to dry skin.

Avène Tolérance Foaming Facial Cleanser: Best for redness

When skin feels reactive, a pared-back cleanser can have a useful supporting role. Kobets recommends fragrance-free formulas that prioritize the skin barrier over an intense “deep clean.” Avène Tolérance Foaming Facial Cleanser follows that approach with thermal spring water, niacinamide and glycerin. The soap-free, fragrance-free formula is intended to remove traces of makeup and sunscreen while keeping the cleanse gentle.

Thermal spring water contributes minerals, while niacinamide can support the skin barrier and help calm irritation, Kobets says. Glycerin brings hydration. At $20, this is a considered option for sensitive skin or visible redness, especially for readers who want a simple formula and a soft foam.

Key ingredients: thermal spring water, niacinamide and glycerin. Fragrance-free: yes. Best for: redness and sensitive skin.

Elemis Nourishing Omega Rich Cleansing Oil: Best for makeup removal

For long-wearing foundation or waterproof mascara, an oil cleanser can loosen makeup without relying on vigorous rubbing. Elemis Nourishing Omega Rich Cleansing Oil blends pomegranate, winter rose and chia seed oils. Massage it over dry skin, then add water: contributor Sheryl George says it turns into a milky emulsion that rinses away makeup and daily buildup without leaving the heavy film she’s encountered with some oils.

Saedi says the omega-rich oils contain fatty acids that support the skin barrier and leave skin feeling softer. The $56 cleanser isn’t fragrance-free; its uplifting scent is part of the sensorial experience. George, who describes her skin as persistently dry, says it removes a full face of makeup and sunscreen while leaving her skin comfortable.

Key ingredients: pomegranate, winter rose and chia seed oils. Fragrance-free: no. Best for: makeup removal.

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Moisturizing Milky Cleanser: Best for sensitive skin

The milky texture and nine-ingredient formula keep this 2026 Best of Beauty winner focused on a gentle cleanse. Saedi recommends it for allergy-prone or sensitive skin types. Thermal spring water and glycerin are the featured ingredients: the first contributes mineral content, while the second helps hydrate. Supporting the skin barrier matters because a weakened barrier can leave skin more prone to moisture loss and irritation.

Commerce editor Sarah Han, who has combination skin, says she likes the cleanser as the second step in her double-cleansing routine because it feels simple and non-stripping. She describes her skin as soft afterward and appreciates the large bottle. The fragrance-free cleanser costs $20 and is suited to sensitive or reactive skin.

Key ingredients: thermal spring water and glycerin. Fragrance-free: yes. Price: $20.

Skinfix Balancing Soft-Foam Clay Cleanser: Best for acne-prone skin

Skin prone to breakouts can still need a cleanser that takes hydration into account, especially when a routine includes drying ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Skinfix pairs 1% betaine, a humectant that attracts and retains water, with 4% kaolin clay, which absorbs excess oil. The creamy mousse also uses coconut-derived cleansers to lift away oil and buildup.

Contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai says the cleanser makes a satisfying lather without leaving her dry cheeks feeling tight. She uses it in the morning or after an oil cleanser when she’s removing makeup; it isn’t intended for eye makeup removal. Pai says the texture won her over, and reports that it has suited her combination of acne-prone and dry skin. The $30 formula is not fragrance-free.

Key ingredients: betaine, kaolin clay and coconut cleansers. Fragrance-free: no. Best for: combination and acne-prone skin.

What to look for in a moisturizing face wash

Glycerin and hyaluronic acid are humectants, meaning they attract water and help keep skin hydrated, Saedi says. For skin that is also sensitive, Kobets suggests considering soothing ingredients such as Centella asiatica (cica), oat, allantoin or panthenol, and opting for fragrance-free formulas if fragrance tends to irritate your skin. Exfoliating cleansers aren’t automatically off the table, but acids and physical scrubs may feel like too much for skin that runs dry. Pay attention to how a formula feels on your own skin.

How often to cleanse dry skin

Twice daily is a common routine: in the morning to remove sweat, oil and leftover nighttime products, and in the evening to clear away makeup, sunscreen and the day’s buildup. But if skin is extremely dry, irritated or in an eczema flare, Saedi suggests rinsing with water in the morning and keeping the gentle cleanser for nighttime. After heavy sweating, washing can help remove residue; Kobets cautions against repeated scrubbing or overwashing, which can compromise the skin barrier.

Can a cleanser moisturize skin?

A well-formulated cleanser can help skin feel softer and more comfortable, and may limit the loss of natural moisturizing factors and lipids while depositing humectants or emollients, Kobets says. It doesn’t replace moisturizer, Saedi emphasizes. Think of a hydrating cleanser as a supportive first step that leaves skin feeling balanced, rather than the whole hydration routine.

Experts and product review

Kseniya Kobets, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Elmsford, New York, and director of cosmetic dermatology at Montefiore Einstein Advanced Care. Nazanin Saedi, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania.

Product assessments considered ingredients and efficacy, packaging, protection, texture and wear. Editors and contributors tested the products, and dermatologists helped assess formulas and ingredients. The review process also considers brand claims and, when needed, peer-reviewed scientific and medical research. Testers and editors bring varied ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders and backgrounds to product evaluations.

For dry or sensitive skin, the strongest fit depends on what you want from the rinse: Gleanser brings a high-glycerin, low-foam feel; CeraVe offers a cream-to-foam transition; and Elemis turns makeup removal into an oil-to-milk step. Choose a texture and ingredient blend that leaves your skin comfortable, then follow with moisturizer.