The Best Cleansers for Combination Skin, According to Dermatologists (2024)

According to multiple experts, a light foam-based cleanser can do wonders for combination skin because, as Davis notes, the consistency of foam effectively cleanses excess oil without stripping the skin. This one starts out as a cream and turns into a foam as you rub it in, which Dr. Hope Mitchell, the founder of Mitchell Dermatology in Perrysburg, Ohio, says is a best-of-both-worlds scenario for combination skin. “It goes on like a cream and lathers into a hydrating foam, effectively cleaning the skin without leaving it feeling tight or dry,” she explains. Mitchell adds that the budget-friendly cleanser “contains ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and amino acids that help maintain the skin’s natural barrier and lock in moisture.”

Dr. Oma Agbai, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at UC Davis, told us about this lightweight foam cleanser formulated specifically for sensitive combination skin. Its gentle formula contains no oil or soap (ingredients that can make oily skin oilier and dry skin dryer), and, as she explains, “the foaming action can remove oil and residue without over-drying the skin.”

Foaming formulations can sometimes leave skin feeling tight or dry, but not this cleansing foam from Andalou Naturals, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick. “Generally with foaming cleansers, we think of them as good for oily skin, but because this one is so soothing on the skin, it’s well suited for those who have dry skin as well,” she says. In addition to soothing aloe vera and moisture-boosting hyaluronic acid, the formula also contains alpine rose stem cells, which provide added antioxidant benefits.

“Simple’s products contain very gentle agents. They don’t have a lot of ingredients in them,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Divya Shokeen. Since combination skin can more easily be tipped into overly dry or overly oily territory, she suggests keeping your cleanser, well, simple: “You don’t want it to be the thing that’s going to supply you with all these serums, but more so just remove the impurities without irritating the skin.” This face wash contains no dyes, perfumes, or harsh chemicals, just vitamins E and B5 and a soothing chamomile extract called bisabolol.

Several dermatologists we spoke to suggested Vanicream’s gentle cleanser as well. “It’s super gentle, but it still does a really good job of cleansing,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. David Kim, who recommends it for patients of all skin types. He does advise using it in tandem with an oil-based face wash if you’re wearing makeup, but for a regular end-of-the-day cleanse, it “gets everything off your skin without stripping it,” he says.

For people with combination skin that tends to break out, Hartman suggests this vegan cleanser formulated with natural ingredients including “cold-pressed kale, spinach, and green tea,” which he says “can clear breakouts and blackheads while restoring skin’s pH level without over-drying.” It has a rich gel texture that will be plenty hydrating for dry spots, Hartman adds.

Those whose combination skin is made up of extremely oily and dry spots should consider this balancing gel-based cleanser from Neutrogena, which comes recommended by four different dermatologists we spoke to. It’s specifically formulated for combination skin and contains “polyhydroxy acid, or PHA, a gentle exfoliant that helps to unclog pores while evening the skin’s texture and tone,” explains Dr. Caroline Robinson, the founder of Tone Dermatology. While all skin types can benefit from PHA, she says, combination skin responds exceptionally well to it because PHA is “both an exfoliant and a humectant, so it leaves the skin balanced and never stripped.” Robinson adds that the molecules in PHA are larger, so “they do not penetrate as deeply,” making the ingredient much less irritating.

Dr. Garshick also likes the Cetaphil Acne Gentle Clear cleanser for its hydrating, creamy finish. “It’s gentle, nourishing, and moisturizing,” she says, while still containing 2 percent salicylic acid to help clear up and prevent breakouts. Aloe and white-tea extract help defend against the salicylic acid’s drying effect as well.

Picking a cleanser with mild exfoliating properties could be helpful for controlling particularly oily, acne-prone areas on your T-zone, according to Dr. Kathleen S. Viscusi, a co-founder of Dermatology and Surgery Specialists of North Atlanta. She recommends this gel cleanser from SkinMedica, which “contains salicylic acid as well as a blend of fruit extracts, jojoba oil, and citric acid,” a formula that “works as a light exfoliant to improve the skin’s overall tone and texture without being overly drying or irritating.” If you go for it, Viscusi suggests only using it “a couple times a week, especially in summer,” to avoid over exfoliating.

Mitchell calls Ambi’s exfoliating wash great for combination skin because it’s light and contains salicylic acid along with jojoba microbeads, ingredients that she says “safely exfoliate, remove oil, and prevent breakouts.” The cleanser hydrates skin with natural ingredients like oat and sea whip, Mitchell adds.

Glycolic acid helps provide a gentle chemical exfoliation by promoting cell turnover, explains board-certified dermatologist Dr. Rebecca Marcus. This fragrance-free, noncomedogenic gel cleanser from SkinCeuticals contains 8 percent glycolic acid as well as phytic acids; it works well to “get rid of dirt, makeup, and sunscreen without drying out the skin,” she says.

It’s fairly common for many people to switch to a heavier moisturizer to quench dry skin in winter, and Robinson says those with combination skin should consider doing the same with their cleansers. Her favorite option for treating combination skin in colder months is this Avène cleanser, which she calls “rich and calming.” It has a creamier texture, but still effectively removes dirt and oil from pores without drying out the skin, according to her. Its formula also includes some of the brand’s thermal spring water as an extra-soothing ingredient for inflammation or irritation. Robinson adds that those who like to make the most of their products could use it year-round “to help remove makeup as the first step of a double cleanse.”