I’m An Esthetician Who Has Tried Hundreds of Cleansers—These Are the Best Ones for Dry Skin
As an esthetician, I spend a lot of time talking about cleansers. After all, cleansing is the cornerstone of every great skincare routine. It sets the stage for everything that follows: how well your serums absorb, how comfortably your moisturiser sits on the skin, and whether your complexion feels balanced or irritated before you’ve even applied anything active.
For dry skin, especially, cleansing isn’t a step to rush through. Dryness is almost always linked to a compromised skin barrier or a lack of lipids, so using the wrong cleanser can quickly make things worse—tightness, flaking and irritation can easily occur. The best cleansers for dry skin won’t just remove makeup and SPF, they’ll help to maintain the delicate moisture barrier that keeps your skin healthy, calm and resilient.
What I see most often with new clients is people choosing cleansers based on trends rather than their skin type. A foaming gel cleanser that works wonders for oily skin will leave dry skin feeling stripped, but a cleansing balm that feels luxurious for someone with dryness will feel heavy for someone who has combination skin. Cleansers aren’t one-size-fits-all, and dry skin needs formulas intentionally designed to support moisture retention, barrier repair and comfort.
With new textures and technologies emerging constantly—oil-to-milk cleansers, gentle exfoliating washes, microbiome-supporting formulas—it can be hard to know where to begin. Over the past few weeks, I’ve tested the best cleansers for dry skin to see which ones really deliver. These formulas nourish, protect and cleanse without compromise, and they all deserve a place on the top shelf of anyone struggling with dryness or dehydration.
(Image credit: @thatgracegirl)
What should you look for in a cleanser for dry skin?
If you have dry skin, the goal is to cleanse without disrupting your moisture barrier. Look for creamy, balmy or oil-based textures which will dissolve makeup and SPF effectively while cushioning the skin with nourishing lipids. Hydrating ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, oat extract, and aloe help the skin retain moisture during cleansing, preventing that tight, squeaky-clean feeling afterwards. Ceramides and fatty acids strengthen the skin barrier, while ingredients like squalane and plant oils (such as sunflower, jojoba, olive) nourish and soften.
You should also pay attention to the surfactants, the ingredients that actually do the cleansing. Mild, non-stripping surfactants like cocoyl glutamate or PEG-6 capric/caprylic glycerides cleanse without stripping oil from the skin. Finally, look for irritant-free formulas: fragrance-free or very lightly fragranced options tend to be gentler on dry, reactive skin. Choose a cleanser that feels comfortable as you use it—your skin should feel refreshed but comfortable, and not parched, when you rinse.
What should you avoid in cleansers for dry skin?
Dry skin should avoid anything that over-cleanses. Harsh foaming agents like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), strong astringents and alcohol-heavy formulas can strip the skin of its natural oils, worsening dryness and increasing sensitivity. You should also avoid overly aggressive exfoliating cleansers or formulas with high concentrations of exfoliating acids if your skin barrier is already compromised. In addition, fragrance can also be sensitising for some people with dry or reactive skin, so fragrance-free formulas are often better. If your cleanser leaves your face feeling tight, squeaky, or in need of immediate hydration, it’s not the right fit.
(Image credit: @thatgracegirl)
The Best Cleansers for Dry Skin
- Best Overall Cleanser for Dry Skin: Deviant Pro-Biome Cleanser
- Best Gel Cleanser for Dry Skin: Dr Sam’s Flawless Cleanser
- Best Balm Cleanser for Dry Skin: Skin Rocks Cleansing Balm
- Best Exfoliating Cleanser for Dry Skin: Aveeno Calm + Restore Gentle PHA Exfoliating Cleanser
- Best Cream Cleanser for Dry Skin: La Roche-Posay Toleraine Dermo-Cleanser
1. Deviant Pro-Biome Cleanser
Deviant
Pro-Biome Hydrating Cleanser
Key ingredients: Amino acids, probiotics, glycolipids, prickly pear
This is everything that a cleanser for dry skin should be. Light but creamy in texture, non-foaming, and leaves skin feeling as soft and nourished as if it was just moisturised. The magic behind it? Instead of sulphates and surfactants, it uses an innovative new glycolipid technology to cleanse and lift away impurities without disturbing the skin barrier. What’s more, it then floods the skin with moisturiser utilising amino acids and electrolytes, as well as prebiotics balance the skin microbiome.
Pros
- Balances the skin biome
- Improves long-term skin health
Cons
- Only available on the brand’s website
2. Dr. Sam’s Flawless Cleanser
Dr Sam’s
Flawless Cleanser
Key ingredients: Water, aloe vera, vitamin E, allantoin
Squeaky-clean should never be the goal, but if you do a prefer a gel formula that leaves skin feeling light and refreshed, look no further. This soothing gel cleanser is free from foaming agents and fragrance, so it’s super gentle and won’t leave skin feeling tight and stripped. I particularly love it for a morning or second cleanse.
Pros
- Non-foaming
- Fragrance-free
Cons
- Can he hard to get product from the bottom of the bottle
3. Skin Rocks The Cleansing Balm
Skin Rocks
The Cleansing Balm
Key ingredients: Jojoba oil, macadamia oil, sweet almond oil, squalane, vitamin E, sunflower seed oil
Due to their oil-based formulas and nourishing nature, most cleansing balms will suit dry skin, but this is one of my favourite formulas to recommend. It’s packed with nourishing oils that soften and nourish skin while simultaneously breaking down and melting away makeup and sunscreen. If you’re not particularly sensitive, opt for the fragranced version—it smells incredible.
Pros
- Available both fragranced and fragrance-free
4. Aveeno Calm+Restore Gentle PHA Exfoliating Cleanser
Aveeno
Calm+Restore Gentle PHA Exfoliating Cleanser
Key ingredients: Sunflower seed oil, glycerin, oat, gluconolactone (PHA), allantoin
While over-exfoliation can worsen and aggravate dryness, dry skin can still benefit from mild exfoliation, especially if you experience rough, textured areas of dryness. This soothing gel cleanser calls upon a gentle exfoliant, gluconolactone, which will help to remove dead skin, leaving your complexion brighter and smoother.
Pros
- Gentle enough for sensitive skin
- Affordable
5. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser
La Roche-Posay
Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser
Key ingredients: Water, glycerin
Due to its incredibly minimal formula, this is a brilliant option for anyone whose dryness comes with heightened sensitivity and easily irritated skin. It has a soothing cream consistency which feels more like moisturiser than cleanser and can be rinsed off with water or cotton pads.
Pros
- Suitable for very sensitive and eczema-prone skin
Cons
- A double cleanse is required for makeup removal
6. Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture Deep Cleansing Oil
Haruharu Wonder
Black Rice Moisture Deep Cleansing Oil
Key ingredients: Rice bran oil, sunflower seed oil, olive fruit oil, jojoba seed oil, macadamia seed oil
Like cleansing balms, cleansing oils are a brilliant option for dry skin types, and this one in particular works especially well for dry skin. It has a light, silky texture (which makes it ideal for massage) and it rinses off without leaving any unwanted residue.
Pros
- Effective for makeup removal
- Fragrance-free
7. NIOD Hydro-Ester Cleaning System
NIOD
Hydro-Ester Cleaning System (hecs)
Key ingredients: Polyglyceryl-4 olivate, ethyl olivate, linoleic, oleic, and palmitic triglycerides, rice lipids, tomato fruit lipids
This oil-like cleanser is designed to remove makeup while also replenishing moisture levels and it does both exceptionally well. If you don’t like to use multiple cleansers to remove your makeup, you can rest assured that even just one wash with this will break down and remove the most stubborn traces of makeup.
Pros
- Gentle but effective for removing makeup and sunscreen
8. The Inkey List Cream-to-Milk Cleanser
The Inkey List
Cream-to-Milk Cleanser
Key ingredients: Glycerin, shea butter, rice bran oil, hyaluronic acid
I always describe this as a ‘basic-in-a-good-way cleanser’. It’s a gentle, no-nonsense cream formula which emulsifies into a silkier, milky formula once water is added. It won’t shift heavy makeup, but it’s perfect for a morning cleanse.
Cons
- May not be effective for heavy makeup removal
9. Tatcha The Rice Wash
Key ingredients: Glycerin, rice powder, seaweed/algae extract, hyaluronic acid
The Japanese rice powder in this refreshing cream cleanser provides a gentle exfoliation, while algae and hyaluronic acid replenish skin’s moisture levels. The whipped texture gives it a luxurious feel—you’ll genuinely look forward to washing your face with this one.
Pros
- Cleanses without stripping
How We Tested
When testing these cleansers for dry skin, I evaluated the texture, glide and ease of massage into damp skin, then assessed how well each formula removed makeup and sunscreen without leaving tightness or residue. I used each cleanser across multiple days in both morning and evening routines, monitored how my skin felt immediately and a few hours later, and noted any signs of dryness, redness, or irritation. I also layered serums and moisturisers afterwards to see how well the skin absorbed them post-cleanse.
Why Trust Us
At Who What Wear UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products, including skincare, makeup, hair and nails, over the years and work closely with trusted experts—dermatologists, make-up artists and leading industry insiders—to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.
