Best Face Cleansers for Dry Skin

By Nora Ellison · Label data checked October 23, 2026

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Short answer

For dry skin, start with CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser. CeraVe lists it for normal and dry skin, its key ingredients are ceramides NP, AP and EOP and hyaluronic acid, and it’s sold as fragrance free. If your skin is also sensitive, Dermalogica Ultracalming Cleanser is listed for normal, dry and sensitive skin. These picks come from brand labels; we haven’t tested them.

Our label-based picks for dry skin

Start here for dry skin
Brand lists it for normal, dry skin
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser
Ceramides NP, AP and EOP, hyaluronic acid · normal, dry skin · no scent flags recorded
Check price on Amazon
If you’re also sensitive
Brand lists it for normal, dry, sensitive skin
Dermalogica Ultracalming Cleanser
Panthenol, cucumber fruit extract, raspberry fruit extract · normal, dry, sensitive skin · no scent flags recorded
Check price on Amazon

Which one fits your main goal?

Glowing, hydrated skin: CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser, because it’s brand-listed for dry skin, and the brand describes it as hydrating. See the ingredients for hydration.
Less tightness and flaking: Dermalogica Ultracalming Cleanser, because it’s brand-listed for dry skin, and the brand describes it as nourishing or barrier-supporting. See the ingredients for tightness and flaking.
Fewer breakouts and clogged pores: Dermalogica Breakout Clearing Foaming Wash, because it’s brand-listed for all skin types, dry skin included, and the brand positions it for breakouts or pores. See the ingredients for breakouts.
Smoother-looking fine lines: Brickell Redefining Anti-Aging Face Wash for Men, because it’s brand-listed for all skin types, dry skin included, and the brand positions it for fine lines or firmness. See the ingredients for fine lines.
More even tone and fewer dark spots: CeraVe Brightening Vitamin C Cleanser, because it’s brand-listed for all skin types, dry skin included, and the brand positions it for tone or dark spots. See the ingredients for dark spots.

By budget

Under $20: Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cleansing Foam. See the product page for store prices and when each was checked.

Bands come from the lowest in-stock store price checked in the last 36 hours, never from Amazon. Prices change often.

All 29 face cleansers listed for dry skin

Product	Key ingredients	Skin type (brand)	Fragrance	Size	Price band
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser	Ceramides NP, AP and EOP, hyaluronic acid	normal and dry skin	Marketed as fragrance free	Not recorded	No current price
Dermalogica Ultracalming Cleanser	Panthenol, cucumber fruit extract, raspberry fruit extract	normal, dry and sensitive skin	No scent flags recorded in our glossary	Not recorded	No current price
Brickell Purifying Charcoal Face Wash for Men	Activated charcoal, olive oil, jojoba, aloe, green and white tea	dry, sensitive and oily skin	No scent flags recorded in our glossary	Not recorded	No current price
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser Bar	Brand doesn’t name one	normal and dry skin	Marketed as fragrance free	Not recorded	No current price
Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser	Ceramide NP, phytosterols, shea butter, murumuru seed butter, and conditioning oils	dry and normal skin	Scent ingredients flagged	150 ml	No current price
Perricone MD High Potency Classics Nutritive Cleanser	Thioctic acid, copper gluconate, zinc gluconate, magnesium aspartate, and sodium laureth sulfate	normal and dry skin	Scent ingredients flagged	Not recorded	No current price
Elemis Sensitive Cleansing Wash	Chamomile, thyme, and lady's mantle	dry and sensitive skin	Scent ingredients flagged	200 ml	No current price
CeraVe Hydrating Micellar Water	Brand doesn’t name one	all skin types	Marketed as fragrance free	Not recorded	No current price
CeraVe Hydrating Makeup Removing Plant-Based Wipes	Brand doesn’t name one	all skin types	Marketed as fragrance free	Not recorded	No current price
Brickell Redefining Anti-Aging Face Wash for Men	Hyaluronic acid, MSM, geranium, centella, green tea, sodium ascorbyl phosphate	all skin types	No scent flags recorded in our glossary	Not recorded	No current price
CeraVe Brightening Vitamin C Cleanser	Vitamin C, niacinamide, ceramides	all skin types	No scent flags recorded in our glossary	Not recorded	No current price
Lab Series Daily Rescue Hydrating Gel Cleanser	Brand doesn’t name one	all skin types	Scent ingredients flagged	100 ml	No current price
Dermalogica Breakout Clearing Foaming Wash	Tea tree leaf oil, oleanolic acid, and licorice root extract	all skin types	Scent ingredients flagged	Not recorded	No current price
Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash	Papain	all skin types	Scent ingredients flagged	200 ml	No current price
Lab Series All-In-One Multi-Action Exfoliating Face Wash	Brand doesn’t name one	all skin types	Scent ingredients flagged	100 ml	No current price
Lab Series Anti-Age Max LS Rich Foaming Face Wash	Trehalose, sodium hyaluronate, green tea, algae	all skin types	Scent ingredients flagged	100 ml	No current price
Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Rejuvenating Cleansing Foam	Brand doesn’t name one	all skin types	Scent ingredients flagged	Not recorded	No current price
Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Foam	Brand doesn’t name one	all skin types	Scent ingredients flagged	Not recorded	No current price
Perricone MD Neuropeptide Pore-Refining & Resurfacing Cream Cleanser	Glycolic acid, lactobionic acid, salicylic acid, niacinamide, peptides	all skin types	Scent ingredients flagged	Not recorded	No current price
Laneige Perfect Renew Nourishing Oil-to-Foam Cleanser	Jojoba seed oil, argan kernel oil, evening primrose oil, ceramide NP, and 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid	all skin types	Scent ingredients flagged	Not recorded	No current price
Elemis Pro-Collagen Hydrating Cleansing Mousse	Earth marine water, padina pavonica ferment and inulin	all skin types	Scent ingredients flagged	Not recorded	No current price
Sulwhasoo Signature Ginseng Facial Soap	Brand doesn’t name one	all skin types	Scent ingredients flagged	Not recorded	No current price
Perricone MD Vitamin C Ester Citrus Brightening Cleanser	Vitamin C Ester, DMAE and copper complex	all skin types	Scent ingredients flagged	Not recorded	No current price
Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cleansing Foam	Blue Hyaluronic Acid, papain, lactic acid, and Undaria pinnatifida extract	all skin types	Scent ingredients flagged	Not recorded	Under $20
Dermalogica Magnetic[+] Afterglow Cleanser	Positively charged hyaluronic acid, murumuru butter, oat, lotus root extract, and 10% glycerin	all skin types	Scent ingredients flagged	Not recorded	No current price
Dermalogica Oil to Foam Total Cleanser	Sea buckthorn oil and plant-derived prebiotic	all skin types	Scent ingredients flagged	Not recorded	No current price
Dermalogica Skin Resurfacing Lactic Acid Cleanser	Lactic acid, rose flower oil, and antioxidant conditioning	all skin types	Scent ingredients flagged	Not recorded	No current price
Clinique For Men Charcoal Face Wash	Charcoal, glycerin	all skin types	Marketed as fragrance free	200 ml	No current price
Clinique For Men Face Wash	Aloe, sucrose	combination and dry skin	Marketed as fragrance free	200 ml	No current price

8 of these name dry skin specifically; the rest are listed for all skin types. Each fact comes from the brand’s own label or product page, checked October 23, 2026 or earlier. We haven’t tested these products.

More ways to choose

All gel, foam & cream facial cleansers, with picks for every skin type
Best face cleansers for oily skin
Best face cleansers for sensitive skin
Ingredients for dry skin

Common questions

What is the best face cleanser for dry skin?

How many face cleansers here are made for dry skin?

29 of the 51 we track are brand-listed for dry skin. 8 of them name it specifically; the rest are listed for all skin types.

Which face cleanser for dry skin is the most hydrating?

We can’t measure hydration, since we don’t test products. CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser is the pick here because it’s brand-listed for dry skin, and the brand describes it as hydrating.