The 7 Best Cleansers for Combination Skin That Really Work

Best Overall

Philosophy Purity Made Simple One-Step Paraben Free Facial Cleanser

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What do buyers say? 5,000+ Ulta reviewers rated this product 4.7 stars or above.

Philosophy created this cleanser to multitask for even the most complicated of skin. It gently cleanses, so it’s not too harsh for those with sensitive skin. At the same time, it also smoothes, removes makeup, and extracts dirt from your pores. The natural oil extracts also help condition and balance your skin for a clearer complexion.

This product has thousands upon thousands of five-star reviews on Sephora, and the brand positions it as the number one face wash in America.

Active Ingredients: Meadowfoam seed oil | Skin Type: Balanced to dry | Benefits: Cleanses, hydrates, tones | Size: 1 ounce, 8 ounces, 16 ounces, 22 ounces, 32 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Budget

Pond's Pond’s Cold Cream Cleanser

4.8

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If your skin is more dry than oily, this could be the best for you because it’s infused with so much moisture. What makes this cleanser unique is it’s actually made up of 50% moisturizer to infuse your skin with as much hydration as possible.

Like a typical cleanser, it removes dirt and excess makeup from your skin but saves you the added step of applying moisturizer afterwards. The cooling sensation feels great during application, and it doesn’t leave any residue on your skin.

Price at time of publish: $6

Active Ingredients: Mineral oil, beeswax | Skin Type: Balanced, dry, sensitive | Benefits: Cleanses, hydrates, removes makeup | Size: 3.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Foaming

Cetaphil PRO Foaming Face Wash

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Cetaphil’s daily facial wash is always a crowd favorite, but their newest foaming cleanser might just beat it. Because it foams up, it has a rich lather that rinses away easier than before. It’s a gentle cleanser, so it doesn’t irritate sensitive skin while still removing any dirt or oil on your face after a long day.

To make sure your skin doesn’t feel stripped dry or too tight, it’s infused with skin conditioners and a vitamin complex, two ingredients that provide your skin with moisture and overall balance.

Price at time of publish: $9

Active Ingredients: Vitamin B5, vitamin E | Skin Type: Dry, balanced, sensitive | Benefits: Cleanses, hydrates | Size: 8 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Best Organic

Kora Organics Foaming Cleanser

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Supermodel Miranda Kerr started her beauty line Kora Organics to give people luxe organic beauty products that are effective and clean. Her foaming cleanser was designed specifically with combination skin in mind. It treats oiliness, enlarged pores, and an uneven skin tone without leaving the skin feeling stripped. It’s formulated with nourishing, all-natural ingredients, like noni fruit, green tea extract, sandalwood oil, and aloe vera.

Active Ingredients: Noni fruit, green tea extract, sandalwood oil, aloe vera | Skin Type: All | Benefits: Cleanse, balance oil production, removes makeup | Size: 3.38 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Best for Acne

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Face Wash Daily Scrub

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When it comes to acne, it’s important to know what you’re looking for when shopping for a great cleanser. This face wash includes 2% salicylic acid, a known acne treatment most useful for blackheads. The oil-free formula should be used twice a day and followed up with your favorite moisturizer and SPF to protect your skin from the sun's harsh rays and any other environmental factors.

Price at time of publish: $8

Active Ingredients: Salicylic acid | Skin Type: Acne-prone | Benefits: Cleanse, exfoliate | Size: 4.2 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for Removing Makeup

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Makeup Cleansing Balm

4.6

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It Cosmetics created this makeup-removing balm to put all others to shame. Most makeup removers can dry or irritate the skin, especially skin that’s more sensitive, but this formula tackles stubborn makeup without any unwanted side effects.

This balm is infused with an anti-aging serum, so it can reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles while it cleanses the skin. To top it all off: It’s cruelty-free and made without parabens, sulfates, and phthalates.

Price at time of publish: $42

Active Ingredients: Collagen, hyaluronic acid, peptides, ceramides | Skin Type: Combination, sensitive Benefits: Cleanses, removes makeup, hydrates, softens | Size: 2.82 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Cleansing Water

Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water

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There's water in the name, but this cleanser is more than just plain tap. It boasts tiny micelles, which cluster together to lift out dirt, oil, and makeup stuck in your pores without harsh rubbing, tugging, or—in some cases—rinsing. For this particular formula, no water or washcloth is needed, which means you can cleanse from virtually anywhere regardless of your proximity to a sink.

Price at time of publish: $11

Active Ingredients: Micelles | Skin Type: All | Benefits: Cleanses, removes makeup | Size: 13.5 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes