10 Seriously Gentle Cleansers That Are Perfect For Sensitive Skin

Ad info | Products marked with an * have been gifted. As always, all opinions are completely my own.

Choosing the right cleanser is a tricky task in itself… but it’s 1000 times harder when you’re bringing sensitive skin into the mix.

There’s a whole host of ingredients you have to look out for. Alcohol, sulphates, fragrance and exfoliants: all of these can potentially be irritating to people with sensitive skin.

And, while there’s no guarantee that these ingredients are going to cause irritation (everyone’s skin is different after all), it pays to be aware of what’s in the products you use.

But where do you start?

There’s so many cleansers out there and, though they all have the same function, not all of them are sensitive-skin friendly.

So, here’s a roundup of the top 10 cleansers that have worked for my sensitive skin. I’ve split them into two categories – 1st cleanse and 2nd cleanse – to show where they go in your double cleanse routine.

1st cleanse

1. The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter

This is an affordable, nourishing cleansing balm that rivals luxury cleansers with triple the price tag. It contains moisturising ingredients, like shea butter and olive oil, which are rich in antioxidants. You’ll also find vitamin E and sunflower seed oil in here too – both of which strengthen the skin barrier and reduce irritation.

This was the first cleansing balm I ever tried and it hasn’t let me down. I repurchase this every time I run out, just because it is so trusty and gentle. It’s pretty solid in the tin, but once you warm it up in your fingers it turns into a gorgeous oil consistency that removes even the toughest of makeup with very little rubbing.

Read all about it in my review here.

2. ESPA Hydrating Cleansing Milk*

If you’re looking for a makeup remover that’s not in the form of an oil or balm, this is it. No, it’s not actually made out of milk – but it does have a light, milky texture! This cleanser is primarily water-based, so it’s not going to feel greasy or heavy on the skin. Rather, it has a sort of cooling, refreshing effect on application. It almost feels like you’re applying an essence or lotion!

The ESPA Hydrating Cleansing Milk is loaded with plant oils and extracts that are really beneficial for the skin. Soybean oil and sweet almond oil are high in fatty acids which help keep the moisture barrier in good condition, while chamomile extract addresses redness and inflammation. There are some fragrance ingredients in here too, but I haven’t found that these have caused any irritation. My skin gets on really well with this product, and I’ve been enjoying using a milk instead of a balm – there’s far less need to ‘warm’ it up. It really is a case of pouring it onto a cotton round and swiping it across the face.

2. The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm

The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm is a TikTok fave, and considering how gentle it is, it’s no wonder so many people love it. Enriched with moisturising, soothing ingredients such as oat kernel oil, oat kernel flour and sweet almond oil, this doesn’t just remove makeup, it also calms the skin as it cleanses.

While it does leave a bit of a residue on the skin, this cleansing balm lives up to its promise of providing lasting hydration. I really do feel that my face feels significantly less dry after I use this! Oh, and I can’t forget to mention that this is vegan, non-comedogenic and fragrance-free. A quick search on Incidecoder shows that this formula contains practically no irritants, which is great news for us sensitive-skinned people.

Interested in finding out more about this product? Read my full review of The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm here.

4. SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil*

If cleansing oils are more your thing, the SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Cleansing Oil is well worth a try. This has a light, watery consistency that not only does an amazing job at removing makeup, but also feels super refreshing when it’s applied to the skin. This does contain a few essential oils, but these seem to be lower down on the ingredients list so they shouldn’t cause any irritation.

As with all the products in the SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella line, Centella Asiatica is the skincare superstar here. Centella, or cica as it is otherwise known, is highly praised for its ability to soothe the skin and reduce inflammation. Jojoba oil and olive oil, two other key ingredients in this cleansing oil, are also brilliant at protecting the skin’s moisture barrier and reducing irritation.

5. ESPA Tri-Active™ Regenerating Calming Cica Cleansing Balm*

Looking to achieve that relaxing spa experience at home? This cleansing balm HAS to be part of your nightly routine. With the inclusion of lavender oil and Roman chamomile, the ESPA Tri-Active™ Regenerating Calming Cica Cleansing Balm smells DIVINE. Better than that though, this cleanser is bursting with plant oils that have incredible moisturising and skin protecting properties. Grape seed, sweet almond, sunflower seed, flax… the list goes on.

Like the SKIN1004 cleansing oil, this balm contains Centella Asiatica to calm the skin and reduce redness. It’s also formulated with other innovative ingredients, such as winged kelp, which fight off free radicals and deliver hydration. The Tri-Active formula is made up of three key components – plant actives, marine actives and aromatherapy – which work together to create a nourishing, deeply relaxing cleansing experience. There’s also three stages to the cleansing process: the cleanser transforms from a balm to an oil, and then to a milk. This allows it to really melt into the skin and remove makeup in a gentle yet effective way.

2nd cleanse

1. CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser

This is the cleanser that I’ve purchased the most – I can’t even count how many of these I’ve gone through! It’s dependable, and super reasonably priced. Win, win! Plus, because I know that my skin doesn’t react to it, it’s the product I always go back to if my face ever gets dry and irritated. Nothing helps bring your skin barrier back to its normal, healthy state like this does!

The CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser is chock full of nourishing, skin-soothing ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid. It’s also non-comedogenic and fragrance-free. The formula doesn’t foam, which takes some getting used to. But, since it doesn’t include harsh foaming agents like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), you shouldn’t find this to be drying or moisture-stripping.

2. Facetheory Glow-C Cream Cleanser*

The Facetheory Glow-C Cream Cleanser (previously Vitamin C Cream Cleanser C1) has a thick, creamy texture, meaning it feels pretty much like a moisturiser when you initially squeeze it out. This should give you a hint as to just how gentle this cleanser is!

Those with sensitive skin might have a tendency to avoid vitamin C products, as – depending on the form and concentration – they can be quite potent. This cleanser, however, contains sodium ascorbyl phosphate which is one of the gentlest forms of vitamin C. It’s also packed with ingredients like apricot kernel oil, avocado oil and sweet almond oil which are rich in skin-nourishing fatty acids.

Best of all, this cleanser comes in a scented and unscented version, the latter obviously containing no essential oils or fragrance. This is perfect for those who want to avoid these potentially irritating ingredients all together.

3. Youth To The People Superfood Cleanser

This Youth To The People cleanser is pretty pricey, but it is worth it! As the name suggests, the cleanser is formulated with superfood extracts such as kale, spinach and green tea – all of which are rich in antioxidants. It also contains aloe vera and German chamomile which have been shown to soothe the skin and reduce inflammation.

The scent and consistency of this cleanser really add to that fresh, clean feeling you get when you wash your face. Fortunately, this experience comes without any of the dryness or tightness you might experience with other facial cleansers. This, like the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, is one of the products I turn to when my skincare routine really needs to be stripped back to basics.

Want to find out more? Check out my full review of the Youth To The People Superfood Cleanser here.

4. Grüum Kÿra Gentle Face Wash

For something that’s kind to both your face and your wallet, Grüum’s Kÿra Gentle Face Wash is a solid choice. The lightly foaming formula removes impurities and dirt without stripping the skin of its natural oils. It also contains anti-inflammatory, antibacterial ingredients, like eucalyptus and lavender, which makes it suitable for both sensitive AND blemish-prone skin. If, like me, you fall in both skin types, you’ll know just how tricky it can be to find a product that ticks both of these boxes!

Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate (DLS), a mild surfactant, replaces traditional cleansing agents (like SLS and SLES) in this formula. It still has the purpose of cleaning the skin and lifting excess oils, but it’s generally considered to be gentler and much less irritating.

One thing to bear in mind, though, this does contain fragrance ingredients like citronellol and limonene. So if your sensitive skin doesn’t cope very well with fragranced products, you should patch test it first.

5. Faace Dirty Daily Cleanser*

The Faace Dirty Daily Cleanser is packed with brilliant plant-based ingredients which remove dirt, pollution, sweat (and all other kinds of debris from your skin) while at the same time protecting the acid mantle and minimising moisture loss. Aloe vera, vegetable glycerin and Biosaccharide Gum-1 help to soothe and hydrate the skin, zinc fends off breakouts, and rose water (with its anti-inflammatory properties) reduces irritation and redness.

This is a gel-type cleanser which uses plant-derived surfactants (like coco glucoside) to achieve that satisfying foaminess many of us love in a face wash without those drying after-effects sometimes caused by traditional foaming agents. One thing to note: like the Grüum Face Wash, this cleanser does contain a handful of fragrance ingredients and essential oils so make sure to spot test first.

So, there you have it – 10 seriously gentle cleansers that are suited to sensitive skin. Which of these cleansers would you use? Let me know!