Face Wash For Sensitive Skin: A Complete Guide

Do you struggle to find a facial wash for sensitive skin? You’re not alone. For many of us whose skin is prone to flare ups and redness, finding the right products (whether that’s skincare or make-up for sensitivity) can entail a lot of trial and error.

We spoke to some leading skin experts to find out exactly how to find the best facial cleanser for sensitive skin. 

Causes of sensitive skin

Sensitive skin is defined by the occurrence of unpleasant sensations (stinging, burning, pain, itchiness or tingling) in response to applying skincare products or being exposed to harsh weather conditions. Sensitivity is where the nerve endings in your skin become easily inflamed — causing irritation — and is often related to a weakened skin barrier. 

There are several causes of sensitive skin — ranging from skin conditions, genetics and lifestyle choices — to simply overwhelming your skin with too many active ingredients. “Skin sensitivity can often go hand in hand with dry skin, due to the lack of sebum that causes a weak barrier function,” says skin expert and founder of OSKIA skincare, Georgie Cleeve. “This can cause skin to become sensitive to external elements such as pollution, UV rays and strong skincare ingredients,” she adds.

However, oily, acne-prone skin can also become sensitive due to inflamed and infected pores. Over-exfoliation or using products that are too strong for your skin type can affect the skin barrier function and microbiome — which need to remain strong to keep skin healthy.

What is a good facial wash for sensitive skin?

Choosing the best cleanser for sensitive skin can be difficult — but luckily, there are products out there with sensitive skin-friendly formulas. “I recommend using a cleanser that is hydrating and gentle on your skin barrier — meaning it shouldn’t strip your skin of its natural oils or contain irritants,” says dermatologist Dr Jason Thompson.  

It’s important to avoid harsh, heavily scented foaming cleansers if you have sensitive skin, as these can tend to damage the skin barrier and leave skin feeling tight, dry and inflamed. Cleansers that mechanically exfoliate (containing granules that act as scrubbing agents) can also irritate the skin and damage the skin barrier, which can in turn cause skin to become red, painful, and blemished.  

If you are looking for an exfoliating cleanser, stick with one that contains a gentler chemical exfoliant, such as a polyhydroxy acid, and make sure that it’s fragrance-free. 

While cleansing sensitive skin, it’s also wise to use warm (not hot) water, and use patting motions to dry the skin, rather than rubbing it with a flannel. 

Most sensitive face wash products are formulated to be as effective as other cleansers, but just gentler on the skin. Just because the formula may be milder, it won’t necessarily reduce the cleanser’s efficacy.

5 face wash for sensitive skin dermatologist-recommended

Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser

If you prefer the feel of a foaming cleanser, this soothing offering is your best option. The Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser contains plant-based skin-loving ingredients such as Alpine herbs, organic aloe vera and organic saponaria that create a hydrating, non-stripping, luxurious foam. 

The new Gentle Complex—a blend of the purest Organic Golden Gentian and Organic Lemon Balm extracts, soothes and softens the skin for an exceptionally gentle cleansing experience.

One-step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser

Exfoliating is vital to keep your skin clean in-and-out. However, for sensitive skin, an exfoliator can easily create irritation if you choose a product that has harsh ingredients or too big scrubs. As we recommended above, a cleanser with gentle exfoliating ingredients can be a great alternative choice. This One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser, rich in Alpine herb extracts, removes make-up, cleanses and exfoliates the skin in one simple step while maintaining the skin’s natural balance. 

The fresh gel is enriched with plant-based microbeads, which transform into a lightweight and creamy foam. Your skin will be soothed and softened right away. 

Velvet Cleansing Milk

Milky is one of the cleansing textures that is most gentle to sensitive skin. Velvet Cleansing Milk removes makeup from the face, eyes, and lips as well as impurities and any traces of pollution. This facial wash for sensitive skin has a silky and creamy texture, enriched with the Clarins [Gentle Complex] with organic yellow gentian and lemon balm extracts to soothe and soften the skin

Precious La Mousse Gentle Cleansing Foam

If you are looking for a cleanser that can bring a wonderful skincare experience like a spa, Precious La Mousse Gentle Cleansing Foam is the perfect choice. Comes with a brush specially designed, this facial cleanser brings purity and comfort of clean, fresh and revitalised with the Moonlight Flower cryoextract. Moonlight Flower extract is the most precious ally in reactivating skin’s youthfulness through a unique cryoextraction procedure at -196°C. Plus, the Leaf of life extract boosts the skin’s natural synthesis of hyaluronic acid, preserving hydration.

FAQs

What should I wash a sensitive face with?

“Always use a cleanser that is suitable for your skin type and is pH balanced — ideally around 5.5 for sensitive skin,” says Cleeve. Application and removal of a cleanser is also very important if you have sensitivity — be cautious with the temperature of the water you are using to remove the cleanser with (it should be lukewarm), and try to use a soft cloth to gently pat it off your skin. 

Can face wash cause dry skin? 

According to Dr Thompson, the wrong kind of face wash can cause sensitive skin to become drier. “Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) is a commonly used surfactant that you often find in harsh foaming cleansers, which can irritate sensitive skin if used in high concentrations. So, it’s usually a good idea to avoid this ingredient,” he advises. 

“Cleansers containing strong active ingredients such as AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic and lactic acid) or BHAs (beta hydroxy acids) can be great for chemical exfoliation. But if you suffer from sensitive skin, it can make your skin drier and more inflamed. I’d advise against these if you’re looking for a face wash for dry, sensitive skin.” 

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