Think of your cleanser as the best supporting actor in your skin-care routine: It may not get all the glory, but it does more than simply wash your face. The best moisturizing face washes are proof: They rinse away makeup, sunscreen, and grime all while delivering hydration, replenishing your skin barrier, and even addressing concerns like redness and acne, according to Kseniya Kobets , MD, a New York-based board-certified dermatologist.
But what does that look like in practice? Look for creamy, lotion-like formulas, hydrating ingredients (such as humectants like glycerin and hyaluronic acid ), and barrier-supporting actives like ceramides and squalane . After all, “the goal is clean skin, not ‘squeaky-clean’ skin,” says Dr. Kobets. These can also make cleansers a good bet for those with mature skin and sensitive skin alike.
Also worth keeping in mind: While people with dry skin can benefit from a moisturizing cleanser (no surprise here), these formulas can be especially helpful during the colder months, when dry air and lower humidity can leave skin more prone to dryness and irritation. Ahead, we found the best moisturizing face washes, from luxurious picks to drugstore heroes , that leave skin clean and comfortable.
Why it’s worth it: Consider “gleanser” (a mash-up of glycerin and cleanser) a pretty accurate name: Glycerin makes up a whopping 50% of the Prequel Gleanser Glycerin Body and Face Cleanser, giving this 2026 Best of Beauty Award winner plenty of reason to live up to its hydrating reputation. “Glycerin gets underestimated, but it’s an excellent humectant, meaning it attracts water and helps the skin hold onto it,” says Dr. Kobets.
It’s earned its spot on the shelf for the creamy feel and the way it leaves skin comfortable rather than dry or squeaky. The formula also gets a boost from oat extract and aloe for an extra dose of soothing TLC, making it a particularly nice pick when your skin is feeling sensitive or irritated.
One caveat: If you live for a big lather, this isn't your cleanser—its low-key texture doesn't produce much foam.
Tester feedback from beauty director Sarah Kinonen
“I'm super-adamant about showering twice a day—once before work, and then again before bed. I live in New York City—it's gross here!
And with multiple showers a day, I need a full-body cleanser that gets me clean quickly without drying me out. Enter, Prequel Gleanser.
It's packed with moisture-loving glycerin, lathers well on washcloths (my preferred delivery method), and is fragrance-free, which is a must for my sensitive-leaning skin. Everything below my neck is easily irritated by scent, so I try to stay far from it—and my seasonal eczema is grateful.” —Sarah Kinonen, beauty director
Why it’s worth it: CeraVe’s Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser is proof that a good face wash doesn’t require a hefty price tag. This thoughtful formula “includes ceramides to help support the skin barrier as well as humectants to help pull hydration into the skin,” says Nazanin Saedi , MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania.
But what really sets this cleanser apart is its shape-shifting texture: It starts rich and creamy, then transforms into a soft foam as you work it into your skin. Dr. Kobets calls it “the best of both worlds,” thanks to the cushy comfort of a cream cleanser and the more thorough rinse of a foam. It’s almost like a double-cleanse in one.
Why it’s worth it: When your skin is reactive—if it feels tight, itchy, or looks noticeably red after you use a certain product— your cleanser should be more of a wallflower in your routine than a showoff. To that end, Dr. Kobets recommends keeping things simple. “With redness, I prioritize fragrance-free formulas and barrier preservation rather than trying to ‘deep clean’ the skin,” she says.
One of her favorites for just that is Avène Tolérance Foaming Facial Cleanser, which takes that minimalist approach with a short list of skin-comforting ingredients, including thermal spring water, niacinamide, and glycerin. Thermal spring water is rich in skin-soothing minerals, while niacinamide “can help support the skin barrier and calm irritation,” says Dr.
Kobets. Glycerin, for its part, keeps skin hydrated, an especially welcome touch when it’s out of sorts.
The soap-free formula also lifts away traces of makeup and sunscreen without making sensitive skin feel like it’s been put through the wringer.
Why it’s worth it: Long-wearing foundation and waterproof mascara can be MVPs in your makeup routine, but getting them off at the end of the day? Less enticing.
If you’re still seeing streaks on your towel after cleansing, the Elemis Nourishing Omega Rich Cleansing Oil might just change your luck. This oil cleanser is made with a blend of pomegranate, winter rose, and chia seed oils, which glides over skin and melts away stubborn formulas without aggressive scrubbing.
It rinses away easily, leaving skin soft and comfortable rather than stripped. “The omega-rich oils contain fatty acids that support the skin barrier and leave the skin feeling softer and more comfortable,” says Dr.
Saedi. Plus, the uplifting TK scent turns makeup removal into a surprisingly luxurious ritual for your p.m. routine.
Tester feedback from contributor Sheryl George
“As someone with perpetually dry skin, I love a cleanser that can take off a full face of makeup and sunscreen without leaving my skin feeling stripped. This silky cleansing oil does exactly that.
I massage it onto dry skin, then add water to transform it into a milky emulsion that rinses away easily, taking the day's makeup and grime with it. My skin feels soft and nourished afterward, without that heavy, greasy film some cleansing oils leave behind.” —Sheryl George, contributor
Why it’s worth it: For skin that needs extra coddling, it doesn’t get much better than La Roche-Posay Toleriane Moisturizing Milky Cleanser, which is especially “excellent for allergy-prone or sensitive skin types,” according to Dr. Saedi.
The 2026 Best of Beauty winner has a milky texture that glides over skin and a nine-ingredient formula that keeps things uncomplicated. Mineral-rich thermal spring water calms skin, while glycerin boosts hydration and supports the skin barrier—a big deal, since an impaired barrier leaves skin more vulnerable to moisture loss and irritation.
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
"La Roche-Posay is one of the few skin-care brands I recommend to just about anyone, especially those with dry and/or sensitive skin. While I don't fall into either category (I have combination skin), I like to keep my cleansers simple and non-stripping.
This Toleriane Moisturizing Milky Facial Cleanser does exactly that and respects my skin barrier, thanks to a very minimal ingredient list featuring thermal spring water and glycerin. It always leaves my skin feeling baby-soft, which is important since it's the second step of my double-cleansing routine.
The giant bottle is a huge plus, too—more than enough to last me and my boyfriend many months, and even more convenient for families with kiddos." —Sarah Han, commerce editor
Why it’s worth it: A moisturizing cleanser for acne-prone skin? You read that right.
Those of us with breakouts still need moisture, especially if your skin-care routine includes acne-fighting actives like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid—which can often leave skin dry and flaky. Skinfix’s Balancing Soft-Foam Clay Cleanser takes a softer approach, pairing 1% betaine, a humectant that helps attract and retain water, with 4% kaolin clay to absorb excess oil.
The result is a creamy mousse that helps lift away excess oil and acne-causing buildup without making hydration an afterthought.
Tester feedback from contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai
“I might have acne-prone skin, but it's also really dry on the cheeks—and as I get older, that dryness just gets more noticeable. That's why I've been obsessed with this cleanser, which foams to the most satisfying lather and doesn't leave my skin feeling squeaky-dry.
It's made a difference in controlling my breakouts on the chin and jawline, and even the pores on my nose look a little smaller after consistently washing with this. It's not meant for eye makeup removal so I usually use it first thing in the morning in the shower, or—if I really need more acne control—after going in with an oil cleaner to remove my makeup.
It's not just the moisture, but the texture that sets it apart: As soon as I felt the mousse, I was hooked.” —Deanna Pai, contributing commerce editor
If you’re in the market for a moisturizing face wash, look for hydrating ingredients like “glycerin, and hyaluronic acid; they’re humectants that attract water and hydration into the skin,” says Dr. Saedi. These ingredients can help counteract the drying effects of cleansing, leaving skin more comfortable rather than stripped.
That doesn’t mean you have to swear off exfoliating cleansers altogether, but acids and physical scrubs may be too much if your skin tends to run dry. “Ultimately, you still have to see how the cleanser feels on your own skin,” says Dr.
Kobets. If your skin is also sensitive, she recommends looking for a daily cleanser with soothing ingredients such as Centella asiatica (commonly known as cica), oat, allantoin, or panthenol.
Also, prioritize a fragrance-free formula, since fragrance is a common irritant for some people.
Washing your face twice a day, once in the morning and again at night, is a good rule of thumb. A morning cleanse removes sweat, oil, and the residue from your nighttime skin-care products, while an evening wash clears away sunscreen, makeup, pollution, and the day’s accumulated oil and debris. It also gives your morning and nighttime skin-care routines a clean slate so that your subsequent skin-care products can perform their best.
There is one exception: If your skin is extremely dry, actively irritated, or experiencing an eczema flare, a morning cleanse may be more irritating than helpful. In that case, Dr. Saedi recommends simply rinsing with water in the morning and saving your gentle cleanser for nighttime. You should also cleanse after significant sweating, but resist the urge to overwash or scrub repeatedly, which can compromise the skin barrier, cautions Dr. Kobets.
Yes, but only to a certain extent. “Cleansers are not a replacement for your moisturizer ,” says Dr.
Saedi. Even the most hydrating face wash doesn’t get you off the hook for the rest of your routine.
That said, a moisturizing cleanser sets the foundation for skin that is balanced. “A well-formulated cleanser can minimize the loss of natural moisturizing factors and lipids while depositing humectants or emollients that leave the skin softer and more comfortable,” says Dr.
Kobets.
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