I'm An Esthetician Who Has Tried Hundreds of Cleansers—These Are the Best Ones for Dry Skin

As an esthetician, I spend a lot of time talking about cleansers. After all, cleansing is the cornerstone of every great skincare routine. It sets the stage for everything that follows: how well your serums absorb, how comfortably your moisturiser sits on the skin, and whether your complexion feels balanced or irritated before you've even applied anything active.

For dry skin, especially, cleansing isn’t a step to rush through. Dryness is almost always linked to a compromised skin barrier or a lack of lipids, so using the wrong cleanser can quickly make things worse—tightness, flaking and irritation can easily occur. The best cleansers for dry skin won't just remove makeup and SPF, they'll help to maintain the delicate moisture barrier that keeps your skin healthy, calm and resilient.

What I see most often with new clients is people choosing cleansers based on trends rather than their skin type. A foaming gel cleanser that works wonders for oily skin will leave dry skin feeling stripped, but a cleansing balm that feels luxurious for someone with dryness will feel heavy for someone who has combination skin. Cleansers aren’t one-size-fits-all, and dry skin needs formulas intentionally designed to support moisture retention, barrier repair and comfort.

With new textures and technologies emerging constantly—oil-to-milk cleansers, gentle exfoliating washes, microbiome-supporting formulas—it can be hard to know where to begin. Over the past few weeks, I've tested the best cleansers for dry skin to see which ones really deliver. These formulas nourish, protect and cleanse without compromise, and they all deserve a place on the top shelf of anyone struggling with dryness or dehydration.

What should you look for in a cleanser for dry skin?

If you have dry skin, the goal is to cleanse without disrupting your moisture barrier. Look for creamy, balmy or oil-based textures which will dissolve makeup and SPF effectively while cushioning the skin with nourishing lipids. Hydrating ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, oat extract, and aloe help the skin retain moisture during cleansing, preventing that tight, squeaky-clean feeling afterwards. Ceramides and fatty acids strengthen the skin barrier, while ingredients like squalane and plant oils (such as sunflower, jojoba, olive) nourish and soften.

You should also pay attention to the surfactants, the ingredients that actually do the cleansing. Mild, non-stripping surfactants like cocoyl glutamate or PEG-6 capric/caprylic glycerides cleanse without stripping oil from the skin. Finally, look for irritant-free formulas: fragrance-free or very lightly fragranced options tend to be gentler on dry, reactive skin. Choose a cleanser that feels comfortable as you use it—your skin should feel refreshed but comfortable, and not parched, when you rinse.

What should you avoid in cleansers for dry skin?

Dry skin should avoid anything that over-cleanses. Harsh foaming agents like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), strong astringents and alcohol-heavy formulas can strip the skin of its natural oils, worsening dryness and increasing sensitivity. You should also avoid overly aggressive exfoliating cleansers or formulas with high concentrations of exfoliating acids if your skin barrier is already compromised. In addition, fragrance can also be sensitising for some people with dry or reactive skin, so fragrance-free formulas are often better. If your cleanser leaves your face feeling tight, squeaky, or in need of immediate hydration, it's not the right fit.

The Best Cleansers for Dry Skin

1. Best Overall Cleanser for Dry Skin: Deviant Pro-Biome Cleanser
2. Best Gel Cleanser for Dry Skin: Dr Sam's Flawless Cleanser
3. Best Balm Cleanser for Dry Skin: Skin Rocks Cleansing Balm
4. Best Exfoliating Cleanser for Dry Skin: Aveeno Calm + Restore Gentle PHA Exfoliating Cleanser
5. Best Cream Cleanser for Dry Skin: La Roche-Posay Toleraine Dermo-Cleanser

1. Deviant Pro-Biome Cleanser

2. Dr. Sam's Flawless Cleanser

3. Skin Rocks The Cleansing Balm

4. Aveeno Calm+Restore Gentle PHA Exfoliating Cleanser

5. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser

6. Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture Deep Cleansing Oil

7. NIOD Hydro-Ester Cleaning System

8. The Inkey List Cream-to-Milk Cleanser

9. Tatcha The Rice Wash

How We Tested

When testing these cleansers for dry skin, I evaluated the texture, glide and ease of massage into damp skin, then assessed how well each formula removed makeup and sunscreen without leaving tightness or residue. I used each cleanser across multiple days in both morning and evening routines, monitored how my skin felt immediately and a few hours later, and noted any signs of dryness, redness, or irritation. I also layered serums and moisturisers afterwards to see how well the skin absorbed them post-cleanse.

Why Trust Us

At Who What Wear UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products, including skincare, makeup, hair and nails, over the years and work closely with trusted experts—dermatologists, make-up artists and leading industry insiders—to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.

We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.