12 Best Facial Cleansers for Combination Skin

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If your skin has a singular issue, like oiliness all over or dry patches here and there, finding the proper treatment is simple. However, matters become more complicated for those with combination skin, including oily and dry patches.

Because your skin is a combination, you need a cleanser that strikes a delicate balance, meaning that not all facial cleansers suit you. Some may be too weak to hydrate and smooth your dry areas, while others may be too strong, perhaps exacerbating your oily and dry places.

Combination skin is difficult to treat since the oilier regions of your face need to be removed, while the drier sections need to be moisturized without drying out. Thus, it would help if you had a face cleanser that cleanses and moisturizes more than various skin types. 

How vital are facial washes? Do face cleansers have other benefits? What are the finest combination skin face washes? Start with the initial question.

How vital are face washes?

Only your face is continually exposed to bacteria, dirt, viruses, and everything else. Even as you sleep, your face gathers much junk that shouldn’t be carried into the day, whether skin cell renewal or pillow and bed sheet dust. To remove a day’s impurities before bed or to avoid layering facial products on top of a night’s filth, thoroughly cleaning your face with a suitable face wash is crucial.

You want clean skin from the inside out and a new appearance. A proper face wash removes dirt that could clog pores and produce acne, pimples, and lumps. The appropriate face wash is gentle but effective without depriving the skin of natural oils or hydration.

Regular facial cleansing removes surface and more profound facial waste, allowing more toner, moisturizer, and serum absorption. It also balances facial skin pH, making it look and feel healthier. A suitable cleanser keeps your face moist and bright with natural oils.

Your skin’s tiny pores and sebum, or oil, produce it. This oil makes your skin look good and forms a barrier between your hair cells and the skin’s surface. It keeps dangerous substances and particles from entering your skin, causing reactions and irritations.

Washing your face eliminates dirt and skin cells that can clog hair follicles and trap oil and sweat. Skin can become dry, oily, and wrinkled from not getting enough water or getting blocked up. This problem often leads to acne, clogged pores, and facial irritation.

What is a combination skin type?

How your body creates sebum, commonly known as oil, and the amount of sebum that your body produces are the two primary factors that determine your skin type. Various elements, including the external environment, your internal emotions, hormones, heredity, and, over time  natural aging, influence oiliness.

There are two tried-and-true ways to determine the type of skin you have. The first is the “wash, watch, and wait” method, in which you wash your face and then monitor how it reacts after thirty minutes. Using a blotting sheet to analyze your skin is the second way to determine your skin type. After you have cleansed your skin and waited 30 minutes, you may choose which areas of your face are oily by patting different regions of your face.

You will be able to locate a skin care product that is appropriate for your skin type and address any potential issues or concerns that you may have with your present skin if you are first able to identify your skin type. 

Therefore, we invested a significant amount of time and effort into investigating the topic of the most effective cleansers for combination skin, and what we discovered was that each composition possesses its distinct collection of perks and drawbacks. After looking at several highly rated ones, we decided to stick with only the very finest.

Our Top Pics

Philosophy Purity made simple one-step facial cleanser.

Philosophy created this cleanser to address even the most complex skin issues. This cleanser is mild enough for even the most delicate skin types. It also cleans your pores, removes your makeup, and leaves your skin feeling silky smooth. You can expect a more radiant appearance due to the natural oil extracts’ ability to condition and balance your skin.

Thousands of satisfied customers have given this face wash five stars on Sephora, and the company promotes it as the best facial wash in the United States. Philosophy Purity is the best option for combination skin because it cleans thoroughly without drying out the skin.

Pros

  • Gentle formula
  • Paraben-free
  • Won’t strip skin

Cons

  • It can leave a greasy residue

Pond's Cold Cream Cleanser

Because of the large amount of moisture it contains, this may be the ideal option for those with dry skin. The 50% moisturizing content of the cleanser ensures that your skin will receive the highest amount of hydration possible.

It cleanses the skin of debris and excessive makeup like a regular cleanser but eliminates the need for a separate moisturizer application. A refreshing, cooling feeling is felt instantly upon application, and no sticky residue is left behind.

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Dermatologist-tested

Cons

  • Smaller than other options

Cetaphil PRO Foaming Face Wash

Although Cetaphil’s daily facial wash has long been a customer favorite, the brand’s most recent foaming cleanser may be even more popular. Because it foams up, it produces a thick lather that is easier to remove from the skin than before. Because it is a mild cleanser, it does not irritate sensitive skin, but it is still effective at eliminating any debris or oil that may be present on your face at the end of the day.

Skin conditioners and a vitamin complex are incorporated into the formula to provide hydration and a sense of balance to the skin, preventing it from feeling either tight or dehydrated. This ensures that your skin does not feel too tight or dry.

Pros

  • Lathers well
  • Gentle formula
  • Won’t strip skin

Cons

  • The pump bottle can get stuck

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Face Wash Daily Scrub

When searching for an effective cleanser to treat acne, it is essential to have a clear idea of what characteristics to seek in a product. This face wash contains 2% salicylic acid, a well-known acne treatment that is particularly effective for blackheads.

 It would help if you used the oil-free mixture twice a day and followed up with your preferred moisturizer and sun protection factor (SPF) product to shield your skin from the damaging effects of the sun and any other environmental variables.

Pros

  • Effective against blackheads
  • Oil-free
  • Affordable

Cons

  • not ideal for sensitive skin

Kora Organics Turmeric Glow Foaming Cleanser

Since ancient times, holistic medicine practitioners have used turmeric as an anti-inflammatory, acne-fighting, and hyperpigmentation-fading substance. Supermodel Miranda Kerr founded Kora Organics to provide consumers with premium, all-natural cosmetics. This turmeric cleanser was formulated to address dryness and dullness. Without leaving skin feeling bare, it relieves dryness, enlarged pores, and uneven skin tone. Aloe vera and turmeric work together to soothe and fight inflammation in this plant-based mix, which is meant to brighten and clean.

Pros

  • Won’t strip skin
  • Natural formula

Cons

  • Contains fragrance

SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser

This one is for those of you struggling with dull, dry, or flaky skin. This facial cleanser has been developed with a combination of alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs), often known as salicylic acid, which dissolves dead skin cells in a way that is both gentle and effective, leaving you with a complexion that is revitalized and glowing. Even if it may be too harsh for some people to use daily, you will most certainly see effects if you incorporate it into your skincare routine a few times per week.

Pros

  • Combats dull, dry, and flaky skin  
  • Gentle yet effective formula  Leaves
  • skin radiant and refreshed

Cons

  • Contains PEGs
  • Potentially too intense for daily use

Tatcha The Rice Wash Soft Cream Cleanser

The rice wash from Tatcha claims to make your skin more supple, and I can attest that it delivers on that promise. It relies on a combination of Japanese rice powder, algae, and hyaluronic acid to moisturize, nourish, relax, and smooth your complexion while combating dryness. Although the cost per ounce is very high, you will not be sorry if you purchase it within your financial means.

Pros

  • Effective ingredients
  • Noticeable results
  • Leaves leave the skin smooth and plump

Cons

  • High price per ounce

Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser

This light gel wash is the best way to remove dirt and cosmetics from the skin’s surface. It has hyaluronic acid, blueberry extract, high antioxidants, and a mix of lactic and glycolic acids. A gentle exfoliating action leads to the appearance of skin that is clear and luminous and pores that are noticeably minimized as a result of this.

Fundamental components:

In the human body, hyaluronic acid is a polysaccharide that occurs naturally. Our joints, nerves, hair, skin, and eyes benefit from this substance’s cushioning and lubricating effects. When applied to the skin, it performs the function of a moisture binder, which means it will bind to the water in the cells, making them appear fuller (while also attracting and retaining water from the surrounding atmosphere).

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Smells good
  • Lathers well

Cons

  • Contains fragrance

Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water All-in-1 Cleanser & Makeup Remover

Even though it contains water in its formulation, this cleanser is much more effective than plain old tap water. It is packed with micelles, tiny molecules that clump together to loosen debris, oil, and makeup lodged in your pores, avoiding severe rubbing, pulling, or, in some circumstances, rinsing. Because this method does not require water or a washcloth, it enables you to clean your face without being restricted to a specific location or dependent on the availability of a sink.

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Travel-friendly
  • No rinsing needed

Cons

  • Can be drying

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Makeup Cleansing Balm

IT Cosmetics developed their makeup-removing balm to be superior to competitors. The majority of makeup removers can cause the skin to become dry or irritated, and this is especially true for more sensitive skin. However, this solution removes even the most stubborn makeup without causing these adverse effects.

This balm has been enhanced with a synthetic anti-aging serum, which means that in addition to cleansing the face, it can also minimize the appearance of pores and wrinkles. In addition to not being tested on animals, this balm doesn’t include parabens, sulphates, or phthalates in its production.

Pros

  • Gentle formula
  • Paraben-, sulfate-, and phthalate-free
  • Multi-purpose

Cons

  • Reviewers note it smells bad

Biotique Honey Gel Foaming Face Wash

Biotique is a one-of-a-kind brand that has been around since 1992 and offers products that can give your skin and hair a salon-like appearance at home. The products contain natural components, essential minerals, and vitamins to provide comprehensive safeguards and nourishment for the skin and hair. The product’s formula, which comes in the shape of a gel, is ideal for combination skin types. 

Honey is included in the product because of its inherent skin-lightening and healing properties.

Utilized ingredients include Arjun, Banhaldi, Chhoti Dudhi Ritha, and Himalayan Water Q.S.

In addition, the product contains the vitamins B1, B2, C, B6, and B5, and nutrients such as coppers, iodine, and zine, all of which are beneficial to the skin in terms of mending and calming it.

This product is suitable for use by either men or women.

Pros:

  • Soap-free
  • Suitable for all skin types
  • Negative chemical compounds

Cons:

  • Not recommended for allergic reactions to honey

Elemis Nourishing Omega-Rich Cleansing Oil

You only need one to two pumps to massage into dry skin, and then you can take in the lovely, energizing perfume while you do so. The texture is light and silky. After this, a small amount of water is added to the oil to emulsify it, and the oil converts into a creamy milk that removes makeup and other impurities. After rinsing it off—I used a cloth for further exfoliating action—you will be left with skin that is quite pleasant, soft, and smooth. Very nice!

Pros:

  • Light texture
  • Restores balance and protects the skin microflora
  • A delicate blend of over 90% natural oils
  • Lifts impurities and removes makeup

Cons:

  • Nothing

Conclusion and Judgement

Our top recommendation is the Philosophy Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser, a mild face wash that does not include any fragrances, does not exfoliate the skin, and leaves you with a balanced complexion. But if you’re on a tighter budget, we recommend the time-honored cleanser that has become a drugstore classic: Pond’s Cold Cream Cleanser. This product removes makeup and moisturizes the skin at the same time.

Stick to it

Cleansers designed for combination skin may come in the shape of a gel, foam, or cream, or they may contain microbeads. Take into account how the cleanser feels on your skin when you are deciding which one to purchase. Facial cleansers that contain particles targeted for exfoliating tend to irritate sensitive skin if the user has this skin type. If you want a cleaner that is easier to remove, you should use a foaming cleanser like Cetaphil Gentle Foaming Cleanser rather than a heavy cream. This can happen because foam cleansers are more easily rinsed away.

Formula Type:

Examine the cleanser’s recipe to determine whether it is free of animal testing and whether or not it contains any fragrances. If you suffer from sensitive skin or an allergy to certain compounds frequently found in cleansers designed for combination skin, this is an important detail to pay particular attention to. The Philosophy Purity Facial Cleanser is a superb item with no fragrance and is not prone to aggravate sensitive complexions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the combination skin cleanser’s benefits?

People with mixed skin have oily and dry spots. This usually causes an oily “T-zone” (nose, forehead, chin) with dehydrated cheeks. Oily skin is shiny and feels greasy, whereas dry skin is red, irritated, or flaky. Choose a cleanser developed for combination skin to maintain hydration without aggravating oil or dryness.

What is the best way to clean combination skin?

As with any cleanser, moisten your face with cool water. Use clean hands or fingertips to massage the cleanser into your skin. By checking first, you can avoid using this cleanser on your eyelids or right behind your eyes. Otherwise, scrub your forehead, nose, chin, and cheeks evenly. Rinse with lukewarm water and lightly wipe your face with a dry towel. To avoid breakouts, wash your towels often to remove bacteria that can stick to your face

How frequently should people who have combination skin use cleansers?

The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends washing your face twice daily, morning and night. To avoid blocked pores and pimples, wash your face with a cleanser after working out or sweating profusely.

Everyone’s skin is different. Make changes if your skin seems excessively dry from cleaning twice a day or too oily after cleaning once.