Best face wash for extremely dry skin

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Best face wash for extremely dry skin

Best face wash for extremely dry skin

Washing your face is a daily ritual. Morning and night, you cleanse your complexion to ensure dirt, grit, and grime aren’t sitting on your skin. Unfortunately, some face washes get rid of more than you want them to—including natural oils and hydration—leaving skin a bit too squeaky clean. 

Sure, you want your face wash to do its job, but no cleanser should leave your pores feeling parched. Unsurprisingly, this can be a big issue if you already have dry skin. Those with dry skin types know all too well how flaky, rough, itchy, and tight their skin can get, especially after cleansing. But we're not just going to sit back and take the discomfort. We tapped NYC-based dermatologist Dr. Daniel Belkin to learn more about finding the right cleanser for dry skin.

How to Choose a Face Wash for Dry Skin

According to Belkin, there are a few things to look for in a face wash for dry skin. He suggests skipping traditional bar soaps. “Bar soaps are alkaline and can strip oils from the skin,” he explains. He also recommends avoiding foaming, powder, and gel cleanser formulas which are typically more drying than cream or lotion formulas. 

If you want a face wash with an exfoliating action, he suggests choosing one that contains an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). “These can gently chemically exfoliate while also providing some hydration, which is great for dry skin,” he notes. Lastly, if your skin is sensitive, skip glycolic acid and opt for lactic acid which tends to be more gentle. 

Ready to shop? Below are some of Belkin’s top face washes for dry skin along with a few of our favorites. You’re going to want to stock up before winter hits. 

More Editor-Approved Products for Dry Skin

Shop the Best Face Washes for Dry Skin

Best face wash for extremely dry skin

Look Fantastic, Boots

Cleansing probably isn’t the sexiest part in your skincare routine; however, it is the most vital. A good face wash should excel in two areas – it should rid your skin of excess make-up and oils, and leave your crucial skin barrier calm and happy. What’s more, deep cleansing every morning and night will allow your skin to properly soak up the array of skincare goodies you layer on afterwards (including serums, toners and moisturisers).

The right face wash can help to alleviate a number of concerns – from dryness to acne – but if you’re working with a particularly dry complexion, Dr. Sam Bunting, founder of Dr. Sam’s Skincare, says it’s important to choose a hydrating formula. 'All cleansing has an impact on the skin’s barrier function - even the simple interaction with water depletes skin lipids and moisturising factors,' she explains. 'This is potentially troublesome for those with dry skin who have less barrier reserve.' So, the lesson here: use a face wash for dry skin that is specifically designed to hydrate as well as it cleans.

Which face wash texture is best for dry skin?

Cleansers and face washes can come in a variety of textures – from oils to gels, milks and balms. While most are fine for dry skin, Dr Sam’s preference is a non-foaming gel cleanser. 'They have ultra-gentle surfactants that remove make-up, oil and grime with minimal disturbance of the skin’s lipid barrier.'

The good news: there are plenty of textures and types on the table for you to try, but you should pay attention to what’s inside the formula to soothe dry skin. As Dr Sam suggests, it’s about finding something that isn’t packed full of ingredients, but rather boasts a simpler yet effective formula. 'I recommend avoiding cleansers with fragrance, foaming agents and essential oils which can all trigger irritation and sensitivity in those with dry skin,' says Dr Sam. 'It’s also important to cleanse with lukewarm water rather than hot as this can also leach away skin lipids. Pat skin gently, dry with a towel and avoid rubbing.'

The best face washes for dry skin, according to the experts

So now that’s covered, the real question is which one to go for? With such an array of products out there, finding your holy grail can be a lengthy (and pricy) process. Here, we share the best face washes for dry skin according to the Women’s Health beauty team.

1

drsambunting.com

Flawless Cleanser

2

The Ordinary boots.com

Squalane Cleanser

3

La Roche-Posay WAS £20 NOW £16

Toleraine Dermo Cleanser

4

Kiehl's lookfantastic.com

Ultra Facial Cleanser

5

Byoma cultbeauty.co.uk

Creamy Jelly Cleanser

6

CeraVe WAS £10 NOW £8

Hydrating Cleanser with Hyaluronic Acid

7

Ren Clean Skincare spacenk.com.uk

Perfect Canvas Jelly Oil Cleanser

8

Cetaphil boots.com

Gentle Skin Cleanser

9

Elemis lookfantastic.com

Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm

10

Fresh lookfantastic.com

Soy Face Cleanser

How can I clean my very dry skin?

Simple changes can soothe dry skin.
Close the bathroom door..
Use warm rather than hot water..
Limit your time in the shower or bath to 5 or 10 minutes..
Wash with a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser..
Apply enough cleanser to remove dirt and oil, avoid using so much that you see a thick lather..

What should I wash my face with for dry skin?

When you have dry skin, consider a gentle cleanser with added moisturizers like ceramides, hyaluronic acid or glycerin. Your skin should feel soft and smooth after cleansing. If the cleanser makes your skin feel too dry, tight, or irritated, try a different one.
These are the cleansers that were most recommended to me by the doctors I consulted:.
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser for All Skin Types. ... .
Cerave Hydrating Facial Cleanser. ... .
Cerave Foaming Facial Cleanser. ... .
J&J Purpose Gentle Cleaning Wash. ... .
Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser. ... .
Elta MD Foaming Cleanser..

Why is my face so dry after washing my face?

The surface of your skin contains oil, along with molecules called natural moisturizing factors. These help protect your skin's natural moisture barrier. Overwashing your skin can lead to dryness since it removes these molecules. If your skin feels tight or irritated after bathing, it may be a sign you're overwashing.