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The best sensitive-skin friendly cleansers

Gentle and effective

By Briar Clark

BEAUTYcrew Junior Beauty Writer / February 11 2021

A skin care routine without a cleanser is like a sandwich without bread - it just doesn’t hit the same y’know? Not only does this vital step help to wash away makeup, dirt and impurities, the right cleanser will reveal the clarity of your complexion, buffing away dead skin cells and promoting cell renewal in the process.

There is a fine line though; excessive cleansing or stripping formulas can disrupt the balance of the skin’s natural microbiome, potentially compromising the lipid barrier, which can lead to excessive oil and sebum production, and even premature ageing.

That’s why we love sensitive-skin friendly formulas that purify skin without upsetting it in the process. These are the best sensitive-skin friendly cleansers:

Clarins Soothing Gentle Foaming Cleanser

Nourishing, hydrating and packed full of Shea and Roman Chamomile, this gentle foaming cleanser removes makeup and impurities without stripping skin of it’s moisture, helping to preserve the skin’s natural microbiota. Plus, with a soap and SLS-free formula you can look forward to hydrated, soft skin post-cleanse - no tight, squeaky clean skin to be seen here folks.

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AHC Aqualuronic Cleanser

Boasting a whopping triple-dose of hyaluronic acid, this hypo-allergenic formula is the ultimate hydrator, gently buffing away the skin’s impurities, as well as makeup and dirt for a plump and purified complexion. Moisturised and balanced, skin will be left glowing after being treated to a cleanse with this little guy.

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FENTY SKIN Total Cleans'R Remove-It-All Cleanser

With a 2-in-1 cleansing formula that steams through makeup, this absolute time-saver of a cleanser is the perfect pick for those of us who like to wear a lot of makeup on the daily. Say goodbye to lengthy double or even triple cleansing routines when you add this to the kit. Plus, it’s packed full of delicious smelling antioxidant-rich barbados cherry and coconut-derived cleansing agents, which makes washing your face akin to eating dessert before dinner. Pure heaven.

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LANEIGE Moisturizing Cream Cleanser

Plant-derived natural oils power this gentle-on-skin cleanser that hydrates as you clean, while also prepping the skin and promoting absorption of your other skin care steps - we love. Soft skin sans that uncomfortable tightness impending...

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YOUTH TO THE PEOPLE Superfood Cleanser

Clogged pores and PH-imbalanced skin are no match for this pick. It’s infused with cold-pressed antioxidants that deep clean skin while also ensuring it’s integrity by maintaining the skin’s natural protective barrier. The kale, spinach, and green tea enriched formula is also effective enough for a double cleanse. Makeup and dirt are shivering in their boots.

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In need of the kind of purification that goes beyond cleansing? Try these 7 purifying face masks for acne-prone skin.

Main image credit: @fentyskin

Briar Clark

Briar was a Beauty Crew intern before she joined the crew full time in 2019 as a Beauty Assistant, and as a Junior Beauty Writer as of 2020. She is a self-professed skin care obsessive, always on the hunt for the perfect mascara, and can't go past a Fenty lipgloss.