The 13 Best Drugstore Face Washes We’ve Tested That Perform as Well as High-End Cleansers

Best Overall

Cetaphil PRO Foaming Face Wash

$11 at Ulta $9 at Target $9 at Walmart

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, vitamin B5, vitamin E | Skin Type: All | Size: 8 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No

This universal crowd-pleaser is all the things you want a cleanser to be: gentle, effective, and super affordable. We loved the lightweight foamy texture and the way this thoroughly cleansed the skin without stripping it or leaving behind a residue. While foam formulas are typically more drying, we actually found this to be moisturizing. The fact that it’s fragrance-free and completely non-irritating is another major win in our book—it’s a failsafe pick for all skin types. It is worth noting, however, that while it did a great job removing foundation, it doesn’t do quite as well removing eye makeup.

Best Budget

The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser

$11 at Sephora $11 at Ulta $11 at Target

Key Ingredients: Squalane | Skin Type: All | Size: 1.7 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Drugstore products are, by definition, easy on the wallet, but this option is inexpensive even by those standards. It’s an awesome face wash and makeup remover in one; it’s an oil-based emulsion that helps break down oils in your makeup. That helps make it nice and hydrating; we also noticed that it left our complexion more radiant and glowy. And even though it’s oil-based, it didn’t cause any irritation or breakouts. The only thing is it does go on pretty thick and solid, and requires a little bit of massaging and mixing with warm water to get it to a milky consistency. But once you do that, this pick is sure to please.

Best for Acne-Prone Skin

Differin Daily Deep Cleanser

$8 at Amazon $10 at Target $10 at Walmart

Key Ingredients: Benzoyl peroxide | Skin Type: Oily, acne-prone | Size: 4 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No

The star of the show in this formula is a 5% concentration of benzoyl peroxide, a well-known acne-fighting ingredient. And it was, indeed effective at helping to treat and prevent acne and keeping clogged pores at bay during testing. It was actually less irritating than other benzoyl peroxide cleansers we’ve tried, however, it did cause some dryness. One tester mitigated this by not using it every day, but rather as more of a treatment cleanser that she alternated with a gentler, more hydrating formula. Because it is a more medicated formula, you’ll want a separate cleanser for removing makeup.

Best for Dry Skin

e.l.f Cosmetics Holy Hydration! Daily Cleanser

View on Elfcosmetics.com

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides | Skin Type: All | Size: 3.7 oz.  | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Loaded with hydrating hyaluronic acid and skin-strengthening ceramides, this is a must-try for those with dry skin. It’s also incredibly gentle, yet still delivers impressive cleansing prowess, effectively removing dirt and makeup—no need to double cleanse. It’s easy to apply and spread the gel-like formula (which emulsifies when mixed with water) and leaves the skin smooth and glowy. The only drawback? It does smell a bit like chemicals upon application, but thankfully, the scent doesn’t last.

Best for Textured Skin

Olay Regenerist Regenerating Cream Facial Cleanser

$8 at Target $8 at Walmart View on Olay.com

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, salicylic acid | Skin Type: All  | Size: 5 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No

This cleanser goes above and beyond its standard call of duty, offering simultaneous exfoliating benefits. It contains both salicylic acid (which offers gentle chemical exfoliation) and exfoliating beads, offering both sides of the exfoliation spectrum. It left our complexion softer, smoother, and more radiant—and without any dryness.

Despite having a thick and creamy texture out of the bottle, once it lathers, it feels featherlight and there’s no greasy residue. It also removed makeup well. However, one of our testers noticed an uptick in acne while using it, so if you have reactive skin, we suggest limiting your use of this one.

Best for Oily Skin

Weleda Skin Food Face Care Nourishing Oil-to-Milk Cleanser

$10 at Amazon

Key Ingredients: Sunflower seed oil, chamomile extract | Skin Type: All | Size: 2.5 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

We know what you’re thinking—an oil cleanser for oily skin? Yep. We couldn’t get over how well this formula helped break down excess oil, especially in our T-zone. And because it’s an oil-based option, it’s also innately hydrating, leaving skin feeling softer and more moisturized—the best of both worlds.

It’s worth noting that the texture is a little different than other cleansers. It comes out fairly solid (we likened the texture to Vaseline), and is meant to be spread onto dry skin. Since it’s very spreadable, this application method worked well. Once you add water, the consistency transforms into more of a lightweight milk. It wasn’t particularly great at taking off makeup so it would be best reserved for no-makeup or lighter makeup days.

Best for Sensitive Skin

Aveeno Calm + Restore Redness Relief Foaming Cleanser

View on Ulta $11 at Target View on Aveeno.com

Key Ingredients: Feverfew | Skin Type: Sensitive, dry | Size: 6 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No

This pick is so incredibly gentle that even our tester with rosacea and sensitive skin not only tolerated it but loved it. It checked the boxes for effective cleansing, not causing any irritation, and even tamping down redness. While it’s not necessarily moisturizing, the lightweight foam also isn’t drying, another important point for those with sensitive skin. While it removed face makeup fairly well, keep in mind that this won’t do the trick for mascara and eyeliner.

Best Moisturizing

Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser

View on Ulta View on Target $9 at Walmart

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, coco glucoside | Skin Type: All | Size: 8 oz.  | Cruelty-Free: No

This hydrating pick—also a favorite of dermatologists— is a good choice for all skin types, including super-sensitive ones. (The formula is so gentle that it has the National Eczema Association’s seal of approval.) It’s sulfate-free, so it doesn’t overly strip the skin, and the addition of glycerin helps increase moisture. It boasts almost a lotion-like consistency and leaves skin feeling great immediately after application, but also generally softer and smoother the longer you use it. Just keep in mind that the creamy texture doesn’t foam up much, so if you love lots of lather you may want to try a different winner from this list.

Best Foaming

Bioderma Sensibio Foaming Gel

$18 at Amazon $17 at Dermstore View on Bioderma.us

Key Ingredients: Micelles, coco glucoside | Skin Type: All | Size: 16.7 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No

We had nothing negative to say about this foaming formula, another surefire pick for all skin types. One pump of lightweight gel (which transforms into a featherweight foam) was all it took to completely cleanse the skin. We couldn’t get over how well it removed makeup, including more stubborn eye makeup like mascara, even when we didn’t use a makeup wipe beforehand. Still, despite its top-notch efficacy, it wasn’t in the least bit stripping and didn’t trigger any irritation or breakouts. What more could you ask for?

Best Pore Cleanser

Bioré Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser

$7 at Target $12 at Walmart $8 at Riteaid.com

Key Ingredients: Charcoal | Skin Type: Oily, Acne-prone | Size: 6.77 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No

The pore strips from this brand may get the majority of the love but don’t sleep on this cleanser. We loved how well it removed excess oil and opened clogged pores but didn’t feel drying or stripping. It’s also stellar at breaking down makeup— it even dissolved mascara.

It does bear mentioning that it contains menthol, which gives it a cooling sensation and distinct scent. Neither bothered us a ton, but if you’re sensitive to fragrance or don’t necessarily want that tingly type of feel, that is something to keep in mind before purchasing.

Read the full review: I Tried Bioré’s Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser—Here's My Honest Review

Best for Makeup Removal

Burt's Bees Gentle Face Cleanser

$13 at Walmart $9 at Jcpenney.com $13 at Walgreens

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, aloe vera | Skin Type: All | Size: 8 oz.  | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This formula is the way to go for those who don’t want to use (or buy) a separate makeup remover or deal with double cleansing. Even when we wore a full face of makeup, it still thoroughly and completely cleansed our skin while still imparting a touch of hydration. The hybrid texture also won us over; it’s a cross between milk, oil, and foam. It lathers nicely, too, and in our experience, just a penny-sized amount was all it took to score all of the benefits. It can sometimes separate, so make sure to give it a good shake before using it, but that wasn’t a major deterrent in our book.

Best Scent

Pixi Rose Cream Cleanser with Rose & Chamomile Flower

View on Ulta $18 at Jcpenney.com

Key Ingredients: Aloe, rose flower oil, chamomile, avocado oil  | Skin Type: All | Size: 4.5 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you want a face wash that smells delightful, we suggest this one. It has subtle, floral notes but it’s mild and doesn’t linger, so it’s great if you just want a hint of a nice scent. The fragrance is naturally derived and didn’t trigger any irritation during testing, even on sensitive skin. This one’s definitely on the creamier side—it’s part of what makes it so moisturizing and non-stripping—so it doesn’t really lather, but that didn’t bother us. And, it’s a top-notch makeup remover, too.

Most Invigorating

Yes to Grapefruit Daily Foaming Cleanser

View on Yesto.com

Key Ingredients: Grapefruit, vitamin C | Skin Type: Dull, uneven | Size: 5 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Keep this one on hand for sleepy mornings when you need a pick-me-up (outside of caffeine). The zesty, citrus scent was arguably our favorite attribute, but we also loved how well the light foam cleansed our skin (and removed makeup), but never left our complexion feeling dry or stripped. And the pump-top bottle was perfect for dispensing just the right amount of product every time.

While the product does claim to offer brightening benefits, we didn’t notice any. Still, when it comes to an all-around effective cleanser that gets the job done while also smelling completely delightful, this really can’t be beaten.