Cleansers are often overlooked (especially in a world full of enticing retinol serums and brightening vitamin C treatments), but they’re actually the most vital step in looking after your skin. After all, every successful routine begins with a proper, thorough cleanse, leaving the skin perfectly prepped to absorb anything you apply to it afterwards.
The best cleansers and face washes on the shelves should do two things: leave your skin free from make-up, excess oil and free radicals (especially in an age of ever-rising pollution levels), and keep it calm and balanced. The latter may sound like a given, but many alcohol and acid-laden cleansers will upset the skin barrier, leading to redness, irritation or clogged pores.
So, which one to choose? Here, we’ve rounded up the best gentle, balancing cleansers for every skin type, so you can set your skincare routine off on the right track...
This article originally appeared on Harper’s BAZAAR UK.
The stripped-back formula of this cleanser may seem at odds with Dr. Barbara Sturm’s incredibly advanced approach to skincare, but it’s actually a shrewd move. The gentle aloe and panthenol-based foam leaves skin clean, soothed, and perfectly prepped for an active-packed serum or two (perhaps the brand's legendary Hyaluronic Serum).
Dr. Barbara Sturm, £45.00, cultbeauty.co.uk
SHOP NOW
Many skincare brands would have you believe that acne-prone skin needs foams, acids and scrubs – but in fact, the opposite is true.
Countless dermatologists recommend La Roche-Posay's gentle milk cleanser, which will remove impurities without tampering with your skin's natural pH – simple, yet effective.
La Roche-Posay, £12.50, lookfantastic.com
SHOP NOW
Tata Harper’s extensive line houses myriad cleansers for all skin types, but this rich, silky oil is a real treat. Designed to dissolve sebum without stripping your skin of moisture, it’s formulated with a base of organic rose oil and boosted with the highest-grade plant extracts. As you can imagine, it smells incredible, too.
Tata Harper, £71.00, cultbeauty.co.uk
SHOP NOW
Related article: The Best Luxury Beauty Basics To Upgrade Your Bathroom Cabinet
If cleansing often leaves you red in the face, try switching to this ultra-gentle formulation. The unique creamy gel texture gives enough 'grip' for a satisfying facial massage, while the mild cleansing agents (akin to those found in contact-lens solution) will calm redness in an instant. Use it in conjunction with a (warm, not hot) flannel for best results.
Glossier, £15, glossier.com
SHOP NOW
A tried-and-tested favourite, this French pharmacy staple remains one of the best simple cleansers for easily sensitised skin. The milky formula is as gentle as can be: it’ll soothe irritation, inflammation and even allergy-ravaged skin, leaving it clean and calm.
Avène, £11.50, lookfantastic.com
SHOP NOW
Dermatologist Dr Sam Bunting has created a simple, effective edit of daily skincare essentials and her cleanser is superb. Colourless and fragrance-free, without foaming (which can strip the skin), the refreshing gel formula glides on, swipes impurities and rinses clear. Truly universal, it suits all skin types – even the problem-prone.
Dr. Sam's, £16.00, drsambunting.com
SHOP NOW
Related article: The 31 Best Skincare Brands, According To BAZAAR Editors
Designed to be used in the evening (there's a lighter cream formula for the morning), Decree's Deep Cleanse has an unusual milky-clay texture that works astonishingly well at decongesting overloaded skin.
Bentonite works in tandem with salicylic and lactic acids to remove every impurity, while non-comedogenic hydrators leave skin feeling supple.
Decree, £55.00, cultbeauty.co.uk
SHOP NOW
If you’re wearing a full face of make-up (or indeed, SPF), you likely need to melt it away before really treating and cleansing the skin itself – and this is where double cleansing comes in.
A balm is the ideal texture for your first cleanse, as the fatty-acid rich oils will melt down product residue, which can then be swept away with a warm, damp flannel.
Drunk Elephant's marula-based balm doesn't boast the heavenly scent or spa-like feel of many others, but it's kinder on skin and will dissolve mascara with ease.
Drunk Elephant, £29.00, cultbeauty.co.uk
SHOP NOW
Eve Lom’s genius new offering takes the hassle out of airport-friendly skincare. Each tub is filled with (biodegradable) capsules, each one containing a perfect single portion of nourishing cleansing oil – simply massage into dry skin and rinse.
What’s more, the eucalyptus and chamomile oil blend is the perfect remedy for dry, dull skin on a long-haul flight.
Eve Lom, £20.00, spacenk.com.uk
SHOP NOW
Related article: The Best Luxury Hand Soaps To Decorate Your Bathroom With