As a must-have in your regimen, these are the hero products to keep skin clean and comfortable throughout the year
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Oskia London – Renaissance Cleansing Gel
The gel-to-oil hybrid breaks down make-up, sweat, SPF, dirt, and grime with ease and is a rich texture that suits oilier skin types. It doesn’t leave a greasy film on the face, which can exacerbate oiliness, instead leaves behind luminous, fresh feeling skin thanks to a formula enriched with fruit extracts, borago seed oil and hydrating glycerin. Massage in one pump of product onto dry skin, splash face with water, and remove with a lukewarm flannel to ensure every last scrap of make-up is gone in seconds.
Verdict: This comforting gel texture is super luxurious without scrimping on efficacy and can remove even the most stubborn waterproof mascaras.
Buy here (£36).
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SkinCeuticals – Simply Clean Gel Cleanser
This gel cleanser is great for giving your skin a deep clean first thing in the morning and as a second cleanse once you’ve taken your make-up off in the evenings. It leaves skin softer and noticeably smoother, emulsifying into a luxurious lather when mixed with water. It’s also particularly gentle on skin, especially if you’re struggling with a sore breakout or are left with patches of dryness from spot treatments. Once rinsed off, skin doesn’t feel taut and it’s brilliant for reducing redness thanks to a calming blend of botanical extracts of chamomile and aloe vera.
Verdict: A fuss-free gel cleanser that’s worth the splurge for your second cleanse. Simply massage into damp skin and rinse off.
Buy here (£35).
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Exuviance – Gentle Cleansing Cream
If you’ve ever had a build-up of excess oil and a smattering of spots decorating your chin, cheeks or forehead, you’ll know the uncomfortable sore feeling that comes with the inflammation. This cleansing cream soothes that, while effectively removing make-up while keeping the skin’s hydration levels topped up. With a formula rich in polyhydroxy acid (PHA) and botanicals, it’s soap-free and refreshing with a subtle scent that’s luxurious but not overpowering. A tube of this will last months and we can’t get enough of it.
Verdict: This cream cleanser keeps a shiny T-zone a bay and irritated complexions calm, it’s worth every penny.
Buy here (£31).
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Avène – Extremely Gentle Cleanser
With oily skin comes congestion, as excess oil production can sit on the skin, clog pores, lead to breakouts and disrupt a flawless face of make-up. If you’re after a plant-based cleanser that will reduce all of that, while removing make-up and calming inflammation, add this to your shopping basket ASAP. Even the most sensitive skin types can benefit from this and it will tackle oil production swiftly. Within a few weeks of use, you’ll find a noticeably calmer complexion that was less angry and inflamed.
Verdict: This is a soothing, gentle milk cleanser for sensitive skin that won’t break the bank.
Buy here (£11.50).
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The Body Shop – Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter
This is the best cleansing balm on the market. Rich in sustainably sourced shea butter, which is a star ingredient for dry skin, and Norfolk-grown camomile, it melts down into a luxe, buttery oil to swiftly remove smokey eye shadow, full coverage foundations, contour, the lot. No matter how sensitive your skin is or if you’re a contact lens wearer, a grape-sized amount is all you need to leave skin super clean. It’s completely vegan and compact too, housed in an aluminium tin that’s fully recyclable.
Verdict: This does exactly what it says on the tin, leaving not a trace of make-up left in sight once massaged into skin and removed with a warm flannel.
Buy here (£11).
Courtesy of the brandBEST FOR DRY SKIN
Wildsmith – Active Repair Nourishing Cleansing Balm
Those with drier skin types can afford to play with richer oil-based balms and luxurious textures like this one. Made by Hampshire based brand Wildsmith, it’s delicately fragranced and packed with plant oils and butters to quench thirsty skin with a delicate aromatic scent that doesn’t cause any irritation. Translucent in colour, with an ample amount to last you months, it’s a skin treat that leaves a radiant boost to your complexion. An added bonus is its packaging is compostable and made from locally sourced and upcycled agricultural waste, including corn and barley husks.
Verdict: A fast-acting way to wash your face, this is a rich cleansing balm worth investing in that’ll leave radiant results.
Buy here (£45).
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La Roche-Posay – Effaclar H Cleanser
This dermatologist led brand is a game changer for your routine. There’s no bells or whistles, simply effective, accessible and affordable skincare, that’s widely loved for its cleansers. This cream option is brilliant if you're suffering from flaking skin or patches of dryness that are common when on acne medication. One pump applied onto wet hands is all you need, and it’s a fragrance-free option that won’t irritate or strip the skin while ridding it of any tightness often associated with dry skin. It’s packed with skin-soothing ingredients including niacinamide to treat blemishes and texture and linoleic acid to add moisture and plumpness.
Verdict: Perfect for skin that needs a bit of comfort, this cream cleanser is gentle and soothing.
Buy here (£12.50).
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Decleor – Neroli Bigrade Hydrating Facial Cleansing Milk
Decleor have mastered this cleansing milk that is sweetly scented with essential oil neroli and sweet almond, to create a gentle formula that hydrates and nourishes skin for a pampering treat. It’s as close we’ll probably get to a spa experience in 2021 and has a pleasant but not overwhelming fragrance. It leaves no residue once washed off and while it suggests using a damp cotton pad swept over skin, we find it most effective at removing make-up when massaged into skin and taken off with a lukewarm muslin cloth.
Verdict: Treat yourself to this lavish milk cleanser that’s softening and hydrating.
Buy here (£26).
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Kate Somerville – Goat Milk Cleanser
Rich and creamy, this cleanser feels as comforting as a moisturiser and has amassed a cult following. With a subtle scent of vanilla, it’s equal parts luxurious and effective, emulsifying on contact with water. A pleasure to use, it doesn't leave skin tight nor dry, is gentle but not greasy and creates a lovely clean and comfortable complexion to finish off the rest of your skincare routine. It’s a fantastic option for sensitive skin too, packed with a cocktail of ingredients including goat milk, manuka honey, jojoba, and avocado oils.
Verdict: This cream cleansing is a great all rounder for morning and evening cleansing that leaves skin super soft.
Buy here (£32).
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Beauty Pie – Japanfusion Pure Transforming Cleanser
You’d be forgiven for expecting a gel or cream texture from a tube of this, but it is in fact a balm. It melts into an oil once massaged into dry skin before becoming a milky texture once mixed with water and effortlessly breaks down make-up, SPF, dirt, and grime. As it’s a tube, it feels much more hygienic than putting your hands into a pot and it leaves no greasy residue on the skin. It does an impressive job too at removing waterproof mascara without the need for an eye make-up remover. It’s vegan too, packed with pombe yeast, jabara extract, and vitamin E to deliver moisture, keep skin supple and rich in antioxidants to protect from free radicals.
Verdict: If you’re a Beauty Pie member, this costs just £7.47, but even at full price it’s worth every penny for a buttery soft cleansing balm.
Buy here (£25).
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Bioderma – Sensibio H2O Make-up removing Solution
Loved by make-up artists working backstage at fashion shows, this is one of the OG micellar waters. When applied to a cotton pad and swept across the face, eyes and lips, it removes all kinds of make-up, from the smokiest of eyeshadow looks to the boldest red lip. It doesn’t leave behind an oily sheen, nor any tightness and is fragrance and alcohol free too, which minimises irritation. It’s also brilliant if you’re feeling lazy or don’t have access to running water, just be sure to try and apply it with reusable cotton pads to reduce your use of disposable alternatives.
Verdict: Not even the most full coverage of foundations stands a chance against this micellar water, keep it by your bedside at all times and apply with a cotton pad.
Buy here (£15.80).
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Aesop – In Two Minds Facial Cleanser
For combination skin that doesn’t know if it’s coming or going, try this gel-based cleanser that’s infused with salicylic acid, witch hazel and sage leaf. The trio of ingredients effectively work to reduce inflammation, banish blemishes and hydrate drier areas. It won’t strip skin of its natural oils either, which can often be a cause of increased oil production if you use the wrong cleanser. The apothecary brown glass bottle adds a touch of beauty to your skincare shelf too. Lightweight and gentle, there’s nothing not to love and will leave your skin clean, refreshed and balanced.
Verdict: Catering to all aspects of combination skin, this gel cleanser is great for dissolving debris that can clog pores and lead to breakouts, as well as treating dehydration and dryness.
Buy here (£35).
Courtesy of the brandBEST ON A BUDGET
This is a great go-to cleanser when you’re experiencing a breakout or lacking in moisture and want something that will calm stressed skin. All skin types can benefit from using this however and from less than a tenner leaves your skin feeling smooth and refreshed. It’s got a cult following on the skincare side of TikTok for good reason too, thanks to its lightweight formula made up of ceramides and lipids which together strengthen the skin barrier, retain moisture and protect from environmental aggressors. The huge 236ml bottle dispenses a generous amount of product with each pump too and will last months.
Verdict: A great all-rounder for every skin type, this is a brilliant budget-friendly, fuss-free milk cleanser.
Buy here (£9.50).
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The Ordinary – Squalane Cleanser
When it comes to budget skincare, few brands have quite the stellar reputation for affordability and efficacy as The Ordinary. While its retinols, vitamin C serums and niacinamide treatments have glowing reviews from beauty affiocondos, its squalane cleanser is an underrated gem. It’s a moisturising cleansing balm that will leave skin make-up free in seconds without a greasy residue and suits all skin types. It’s rich in squalane which is a lightweight oil that balances oil production and is anti-inflammatory. When massaged lightly onto dry skin it emulsifies into an oil and can be easily removed with a lukewarm flannel. It’s silky, functional and fuss-free.
Verdict: This is a lightweight cleansing balm that is great for all skin types and the bank balance.
Buy here (£5.50).
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Superfacialist - Vitamin C+ Skin Renew Cleansing Oil
Cleansing oils are a luxurious way to remove makeup that don’t need to break the bank. While you can spend tens of pounds on one, this option from Superfacialist is an excellent one if you’re shopping on a budget. Providing a daily dose of vitamin C, a brightening agent, it can shift stubborn waterproof mascara and cakey concealer with little effort. While not as potent as a leave-on vitamin C serum, it’s a great first step at tackling lacklustre skin in your routine. It’s perfect if you want something pampering but effective, and the 200ml bottle lasts well over six months.
Verdict: This luxurious cleansing oil rich in vitamin C feels more expensive than it actually costs and can remove a full face of make-up with ease.
Buy here (£12).
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The Inkey List – Oat Cleansing Balm
This British beauty brand aims to demystify the jargon surrounding skincare and offer a plethora of products that your skin actually needs. It’s an affordable cleansing balm that suits all skin types, even the most sensitive, with gentle but hardworking ingredients such as oat kernel oil and oat powder. Combined they smooth skin, along with reducing redness and inflammation. It’s great for balancing out temperamental skin, whether that’s excess oil production or dryness. It spreads onto damp skin easily and rinses off quickly too when using a warm flannel, making it the perfect timesaver for taking off a full face of makeup.
Verdict: Softening and gentle to skin, this cleansing balm is a speedy way to melt down make-up.
Buy here (£9.99).