From Gentle to Active, These Are the 10 Best Face Cleansers in 2026
I’m the go-to guide gal and routine queen here at Adore Beauty. I have a background in media and communications, and over 3 years experience in the beauty industry.
When I’m not answering all of your burning questions, you can find me spruiking underrated products to my co-workers and trying to figure out what our best bloody mascara is.
Even though cleansing is your very first skincare step, it’s something that is often overlooked in favour of investing in fancy serums, treatments and face masks.
But here’s the truth: getting your facial cleanser right is often what can make and break your skincare routine.
There are several ways you can go about figuring out what cleanser is right for you, and you can incorporate several kinds of cleansers at different points in your routine to achieve particular results.
So, to make finding your perfect cleanser super straightforward, we’ve put together a neat list of all our favourite face cleansers for every skin type, concern and purpose.
Choosing the Best Skin Cleanser for Your Skin Type
Not all of us know how to choose a cleanser based on your skin type. So, here’s all the basic info:
- Normal Skin: likes simple gel cleansers.
- Oily Skin: likes lightly foaming cleansers.
- Combo Skin: likes gentle exfoliating cleansers.
- Dry Skin: likes hydrating cream cleansers.
Choosing a Cleanser to Treat a Skin Concern
If you have any specific skin concerns, you might want to choose a cleanser that will complement this.
For instance, if you have very sensitive skin you should choose a very gentle cleanser that has minimal active or harsh detergents.
Active cleansers can also be added into a routine intermittently to treat specific skin concerns like hyperpigmentation or acne-prone skin.
For these skin concerns we recommend using formulas with AHA’s, BHA’s or Vitamin C several times a week, followed by SPF of course.
Choosing a Cleanser to Remove Makeup
Along with your daily cleanser and any active cleansers, you may also need something specifically to remove stubborn makeup and SPF.
This can be something like a micellar water, a makeup remover or even an oil based cleanser for double cleansing.
We have plenty of great options that get rid of heavy makeup easily.
Here Are Our Best Face Cleansers in 2026:
A Gentle Cleanser All Skin Types Will Love
The CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser is a soap-free cleanser designed for all skin types, especially sensitive and dehydrated skin. This lightweight gentle facial cleanser instantly cools the skin without disturbing it’s natural moisture and pH levels. Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramides and Glycerine help to hydrate and protect the skin, while reducing flare-ups and irritation. Plus, it’s gentle enough to be used daily, both in the morning and evening, leaving your skin feeling clean, moisturised and refreshed.
A favourite amongst Adore Beauty shoppers, Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel is the perfect everyday cleanser for those with normal and combination skin. Effortlessly removing impurities, dead skin cells, makeup, and excess oils, this daily facial cleanser leaves skin feeling squeaky-clean without disturbing the skin’s natural moisture and pH levels. This bestselling cleanser blends Melissa Extract and Lavender Oil to keep skin feeling calm and nourished. Use regularly in the morning and evening to kickstart your skincare routine with a thoroughly cleansed complexion.
This staff favourite cleanser, the Medik8 Lipid-Balance Cleansing Oil is the perfect first step in your double cleanse routine. Slightly foaming and highly effective, this weightless oil cleanser helps to break down makeup, SPF, oil, dirt and impurities. It creates a milky emulsion that also works to balance the skin and replenish your barrier. It’s ultra-gentle, loves all skin types, and leaves skin soft, plump and radiant. Best used in the evenings before your daily cleanser.
A (Very) Good Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin
If you have sensitive skin, you’ll want to avoid using abrasive cleansers full of harsh cleansing agents. The Skinstitut Gentle Cleanser has a mild, but effective formula perfect for cleansing sensitive skin in the morning and evening. This hydrating formulation is also perfect for nourishing dry and flaky complexions and is enriched with Vitamin E, Goji Berry, Green Tea, and Aloe Vera. It leaves skin calm, supple, and protected against environmental aggressors. This product is also infused with Vitamin B5, which calms redness and is a perfect choice for managing rosacea. Easily one of the best hydrating cleansers for sensitive skin that is dry and tight.
Sick of scrolling? Take our cleanser finder and find the best cleanser for your needs... or continue reading our roundup of best cleanser for every skin type below...
The asap daily facial cleanser provides a thorough cleanse that leaves your complexion looking brighter and clearer. Ideal for combo skin types, this formula contains Glycolic Acid to deliver light exfoliation, removing even the most stubborn bacteria from the skin. Gentle enough to be used every day, but potent enough to deliver fast results, this cleanser gently resurfaces skin, removes dead skin cells, excess oils, and bacteria. This daily facial cleanser also contains White Tea, which soothes inflammation. With regular use, skin will look brighter, clearer, and healthier in no time at all.
The Alpha-H Balancing Cleanser is a multipurpose cleansing milk, perfect for dry and sensitive skin types. Although traditional cleansers can be drying, this milky formula leaves skin feeling hydrated and supple, making it the best gentle cleanser. Infused with antioxidant Vitamin A and moisture-boosting Aloe Vera, this formula works to calm sensitive skin while locking in moisture. It’s also one of the best face washes for oily skin, as it helps to balance sebum levels and rids the skin of acne-causing bacteria.
The Hunter Lab Charcoal Cleansing Stick is a unique and natural balm cleanser, perfect for deeply cleansing and purifying all skin types. This effective facial cleansing stick contains only natural and vegan ingredients to deliver a deep and thorough cleanse. Charcoal and Green Tea to draw out impurities while protecting skin against free-radical damage. These detoxifying ingredients also work to pull out excess oils, impurities, and pollutants to reveal a brighter and healthier complexion. Simply dampen and massage the cleanser into the face until it lightly emulsifies. Thoroughly rinse with warm water and follow with moisturiser to lock in hydration.
If you have oily, acne prone skin you might want to try the Cosmedix Clarify Salicylic Acid Foaming Cleanser. This active foaming formula helps to fight congestion and breakouts using Salycilic acid to help clean out those pores. Aloe Vera and D-Panthenol then help to soothe any irritation or redness and help to rebalance the skin. While you’re sure to feel super clean, this hydrating foam won’t strip your skin. You can use this cleanser regularly or just as an occasional treatment product. It’s also a great face wash for men who are on the fence about skin care.
Another Classic Cleanser for Combination Skin
Balancing combination skin can be a struggle. Cleansers designed for dry skin may feel too rich, and cleansers for oily complexions may feel dehydrating. One of the best face washes for combination skin is the Aesop In Two Minds Facial Cleanser, which is an expertly formulated dual-purpose cleanser that tackles it’s complex needs. It works to decongest pores and gently exfoliate the skin without stripping moisture or disturbing the natural pH of your skin. Ingredients like Salicylic Acid, Sage Leaf and Witch Hazel are carefully blended to soothe, protect, hydrate, and clarify the skin. Use morning and evening for the best results.
Maintain Your Moisture Balance With This All-rounder
The Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser is a bestselling anti aging cleanser with cult status in the beauty industry, known and loved for being a great all-rounder. Suitable for all skin types, this daily cleanser thoroughly removes makeup and impurities to reveal a brighter and healthier complexion. This cleanser is infused with hydrators such as Squalane, Apricot Kernel Oil, and Avocado Oil to lock in moisture and Vitamin E to soothe and protect the skin from environmental aggressors. For the cleansers best results use this slightly foaming cleanser twice daily.
We hope you learnt a lot about our best facial cleansers including some of our fave cleansers for combination skin, good face wash choices for oily skin types and the best cream cleansers Australia wide!
Brand and product inclusions are at the sole discretion of Adore Beauty. We do not seek or accept payment from brands or individuals listed in our guides.
You can find out more about cleansers in these guides below...
Still on the search for the perfect cleanser? Try our cleanser quiz to find the best cleanser for your skin's needs
