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This post will be sharing 11 of the Best Face Wash for Dry Skin from the Drugstore.
For someone like me that has dry dehydrated skin, one of my biggest struggles is finding cleansers that will leave my skin hydrated. There are tons of gentle cleansers on the market that claim to be ‘non-stripping‘ but unfortunately, my skin needs more than that. It is one thing for your face wash to remove dirt, makeup and sunscreen. It’s another thing entirely for the product to not dry out your skin but leave it hydrated instead.
This is why I’m always very hesitant to try out new cleansers because more often than not, they fall short. I have a holy grail cleanser which I have been using for over two years and so far it hasn’t failed me. This means that I’ll continue to repurchase it until it is discontinued.
So, if you have dry or dehydrated skin and you’re struggling to find a face wash that works for you, then this post is for you.
Here are 5 Best Face Wash For Dry Skin That I’ve Personally Tried and Recommend
Some people might say that cleansers are not that important since they are rinse-out products. But I beg to differ. A hydrating cleanser is a great base for the rest of your skincare routine especially if you don’t use a toner or any hydrating product afterwards. When your skin is clean and plump, your serums absorb faster and doesn’t pill.
Neutrogena Hydroboost Water Gel Cleanser
This is my all-time favourite cleanser that I was talking about. I’ve been using it for almost three years now and recently paused to try out other cleansers. One of the first things that drew me into this cleanser is the presence of Hyaluronic Acid. I was struggling so much with my winter skincare and accidentally stumbled on the Hydroboost line. While the rest of the products in the line haven’t impressed me, this cleanser is a winner any day. It has the perfect gel texture that lathers up beautifully. Even if I’m too lazy to double cleanse, this cleanses my skin thoroughly and leaves it well – hydrated.
Cerave Hydrating Cleanser
The first few times I tried this cleanser, I absolutely hated it until it started to grow on me. Now, I’m happy to say that I’ve found a way around it. It might not be the best face wash for dry skin but I love it. Particularly how gentle it is when I use it as my morning cleanser. I hardly ever use it in my nighttime routine because I’ve found that it is nearly not enough to take off dirt, grime and sunscreen. But for quick mornings? It is perfect. Just like the rest of the Cerave line, it is formulated with 3 Ceramides, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin and Cholesterol.
La Roche Posay Toleraine Hydrating Gentle Cleanser
When I finally decided to try this La Roche Posay cleanser, I hoped it will give my Neutrogena Hydroboost Water Gel cleanser a run for its money. Unfortunately, it didn’t. This is more of a super gentle milk cleanser. Ideally, I shouldn’t have problems with it. I don’t. It is just a step higher than the Cerave Hydrating Cleanser. They’re both gentle cleansers that are better used as a second cleanse. I don’t wear makeup, just sunscreen and I’ve found this cleanser to be great after my cleansing oil/balm. It is formulated with Thermal Water, Niacinamide, Ceramide and Panthenol. It lathers up a bit and still keeps your skin decently hydrated.
Simple Waterboost Micellar Gel Wash
This is easily my new favourite face wash. Simple as a brand is often overlooked/underrated but once in a while, I find some gems like the Simple Hydrating Cleansing Oil and the Waterboost Micellar Water. They are the only products that have been specifically formulated for dry dehydrated skin that has impressed me. This is a gel cleanser that reminds me so much of the Neutrogena Hydroboost Cleanser. It’s slightly thicker and lathers up a lot which can be discouraging. But after rinsing out, it leaves your skin plump and hydrated. I’ve never been so happy to use a face wash. The shocking thing about this cleanser is that it is not even formulated with Hyaluronic Acid. Instead, it is formulated with Glycerin and Panthenol. So, if your skin doesn’t agree with Hyaluronic Acid, this is a better option.
Avene Gentle Milk Cleanser
After trying out a few milk cleansers, I’ll probably not be investing as much in them in the future. They’re really just great for morning routines if you can afford the luxury of having two different cleansers. If you wear a lot of sunscreen and makeup, you’ll find them pretty underwhelming and if you don’t cleanse thoroughly, you’ll have higher chances of breaking out due to dirt clogging your pores. So, either make sure you’re oil cleansing properly before using a milk cleanser or get a gel cleanser. For this Avene cleanser, I got some La Roche Posay Vibes. It’s really gentle, doesn’t strip your skin and the hydration afterwards is not too bad. It is formulated with Thermal Spring Water and Sodium Hyaluronate; a derivative of Hyaluronic Acid.
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6 Other Face Washes for Dry Skin You Should Consider Trying
For transparency purposes, I decided to separate the face washes I’ve actually tried and the ones I haven’t. This way, I can give a bit more in-depth review of each of them. But if any of those five don’t work for you, here are seven others that are worth checking out.
Vanicream Gentle Cleanser
Vanicream is one of those drugstore brands that dermatologists love to formulate because of its gentle formula. Similar to Cetaphil, they a lot more elegant and offer a nicer formulation. This gentle cleanser is formulated with Glycerin and is free of all the nasties generally found in skincare.
Aveeno Calm + Restore Nourishing Oat Cleanser
This cleanser is currently on my wishlist but always seems to be sold out. It shows how good it probably is. It is formulated with nourishing Oat Kernel Flour, Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate. I really can’t wait to try this cleanser. Based on the reviews I’ve seen, it is amazing!
Cerave Hydrating Cream to Foam Cleanser
Another cleanser on my wishlist is the new Cerave cleanser. Apparently, it is supposed to be an updated version of the Cerave Hydrating Cleanser. This one is better formulated to thoroughly remove grime, makeup and sunscreen. Once I get through my other bottle, I’m getting this next.
ELF Holy Hydration Daily Cleanser
I recently got the face cream from this line because I’m a sucker for great moisturizers. I figured the cleanser would be equally decent too. This one is also formulated with Peptides just like the moisturizer. Additionally, it has Glycerin, Ceramides, Cholesterol and Sodium Hyaluronate. It has a very similar ingredient list with Cerave asides from the peptides. If you really like this cleanser, I suggest you get the moisturizer as well.
Paula’s Choice Resist Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser
Based on my experience with Paula’s Choice, they really don’t have any bad products. So you know that this cleanser will definitely come through. It is formulated with Glycerin, Green Tea and Chamomile Extracts. Most times, if a product is well-formulated with Glycerin, it might have no use for Hyaluronic Acid. You won’t even feel the difference. Glycerin is an equally amazing humectant.
Derma E Hydrating Alkaline Cloud Cleanser
Brands always like to use all kind of adjectives for their hydrating cleanser to different them when they are mostly all formulated with Hyaluronic Acid. This is an interesting formula because it contains Snow Mushroom which is quietly making its entrance into the skincare world. But it’s a drugstore product that is cheap, accessible and worth trying out. Who knows? Your skin might actually like it.
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In Conclusion,
I hope this list of the best face wash for dry skin will help you find your new holy grail cleanser that works beautifully with your skin.
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