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The Best Facial Cleanser for Combination Skin

Cleansing combination skin can be a bit of a grey area. Mainly because, ideally, you need a product that works for both oily and dry skin. Now you could just get two cleansers and switch them out depending on how your skin is feeling, but who has the time and the money for that?

As someone with sensitive combination skin, I’ve been on a journey to find a cleanser that will hydrate the skin without stripping it, all while being gentle enough to keep the skin barrier strong. 

I’ve found a bunch of great cleansers to add to your skin care routine that will work just as well on your oily areas as they do dry spots.

Keep on reading to find the best cleanser for your skin…

How we selected the best face washes for oily skin

Combination skin can be unpredictable; sometimes you may be leaning more on the oily and acne-prone side, and other times your skin may be feeling dry and sensitive. Finding any skincare products, let alone facial washes and cleansers, that will work for all scenarios can be a challenge.

When I’m looking for cleansers, I want a product that delivers the best of both worlds. I don’t want a rich, creamy cleanser that will overload my skin and potentially block my pores, but I also don’t want a light, foaming cleanser that leaves my skin feeling tight and stripped of all moisture.

After testing countless cleansers and finding too many that were not good for combination skin, I’ve discovered some impressive ones I would happily recommend to anyone. Depending on your budget, there’s a mixture of drugstore and higher-end cleansers, but all of them are Volumes of Beauty approved.

What’s the best cleanser for combination skin overall?

There are lots of different cleansers to choose from, but for me, it comes down to a product that not only keeps breakouts and oil at bay but also cares for and nourishes my skin. So there’s a clear winner…

Tower 28 Beauty SOS Gentle Hydrating Gel Cleanser + Makeup Remover 

I may well be one of Tower 28’s biggest fans, I haven’t met a product from them that I haven’t liked. The great thing about this brand is that they specifically target people with sensitive or irritated skin. The SOS Gentle Hydrating Gel Cleanser + Makeup Remover, in particular, is fragrance-free, hypoallergenic and made without sulfates, SLS & SLES; all things that can aggravate combination skin and encourage breakouts. This super gentle cleanser removes makeup, gives skin that bit of much-needed hydration, and calms down any irritation without making acne and excess oils any worse.

The best facial cleansers for combination skin

Looking for even more products to cleanse your combination skin type? I’ve got plenty of recommendations that anyone with combination, dry or acne-prone skin will love.

You’ll see that I’ve not really included many exfoliating cleansers that use things like glycolic acid or salicylic acid to remove dead skin, that’s because I think having a good, gentle cleanser is much more important – all those other intense ingredients can come elsewhere in your routine.

Here are some top face cleanser picks to treat combination skin and acne breakouts without drying out the skin.

 La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Face Wash for Oily Skin

If there’s one brand I trust to look after my skin and keep blemishes away, it’s La Roche Posay. Their Toleriane Purifying Foaming Face Wash is gentle, leaves the skin feeling fresh and never irritates my sensitive skin. It’s the kind of product that I use when my skin is freaking out, or I’m using more intense products (like acids etc.) and I need something I can count on.

Youth To The People Superfood Gentle Antioxidant Refillable Cleanser

The Youth To The People Superfood Gentle Antioxidant Refillable Cleanser is pH balanced, purifies the skin, and improves the appearance of pores over time. Although this would work well for pretty much any skin type, I think combination skin will especially like the hardworking formula of this skin cleanser.

Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin

Cleansers are on your skin for no more than a minute or two. So, do you need to spend the same amount as you would on a serum or moisturizer? Probably not. If you want a budget cleanser that will work for combination skin, the Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin is a great, no-frills option. It’s also a dermatologist’s favorite, probably because it’s simple, does the job, and works for pretty much every skin type. 

Naturium Niacinamide Cleansing Gelee 3%

I really like the Natirium products; they feel like a step up from your typical drugstore skincare products, but still with a somewhat reasonable price tag – under $20 for a cleanser isn’t too shabby. The star ingredient of the Niacinamide Cleansing Gelee 3% is, you guessed it, niacinamide, which helps to balance oil and leave the skin feeling smooth. It also has hyaluronic acid, which boosts hydration. 

CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Face Wash

Most people with combination skin would probably walk straight past any product with the word ‘hydrating’ in the name, but I’m here to make the case for hydrating cleansers for everyone — not just those with dry skin. The CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Face Wash is a good place to start; it’s a foam cleanser that doesn’t feel too thick and nourishing. It also helps to remove excess oil without completely stripping the skin.

The INKEY List Oat Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm

If you have combination and acne-prone skin, avoiding anything that could clog your pores is usually a good idea, but you still need a good oil-based cleanser to remove makeup, dirt and impurities at the end of the day. Cleansing balms can be a bit hit or miss with combination skin, but I like The INKEY List Oat Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm as it glides on, removes all traces of makeup, and emulsifies easily. Just make sure to follow up with one of the water-based cleansers from the list to make sure it’s all removed properly.

Paula’s Choice RESIST Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser with Hyaluronic Acid

Another example of how a great skin care product for combination skin can also have some hydration is the Paula’s Choice RESIST Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser. It gently cleanses the skin and helps to reduce any irritation thanks to ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides and aloe. With this, your skin will be prepped for the rest of your routine.

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