Nipun Kapur has looked at more than 20 cleansers, and most of them earn her approval. Her approval rate of 81% tells you she is not looking for reasons to skip things. But when she does skip something, she explains exactly why, and that is where her record gets really useful.
What does Nipun Kapur recommend in cleansers?
Nipun keeps coming back to cleansers that actually do their job without asking too much of your wallet. She called the CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser 'fabulous' and praised the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser as the right choice for oily, acne-prone skin. The COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser got a warm nod too, a 'good to have' in her words. The Minimalist Neem and Salicylic Acid Face Wash she names an outright winner, saying it actually delivers results while most drugstore alternatives fall flat. The Anua Heartleaf Plus Vitamin E Pore Control Cleansing Oil is her other named winner in this category. A clear pattern runs through her approvals: effective formulas at sensible prices, matched to what your skin type actually needs.
In her words
"Actually use a product which is good for you which is actually delivering results. Minimalist Salicylic Acid Face Wash - why are you wasting your time with a NE Himalaya face wash or any of these products which are terrible?"
"CeraVe hydrating cleanser that's fabulous."
"If you have acne prone skin and it's oily, use a foaming cleanser. You can use the CeraVe Foaming Cleanser. [...] Any cleanser which is foaming would be good."
"La Roche Posse subplast"
"Clinique, they are the expensive ones, [...] are there for removing tan."
"This is my recommendation which is a not a must to have but is a good to have from COSRX... the good morning pH cleanser is fabulous"
How many cleansers has Nipun Kapur reviewed?
Nipun Kapur has reviewed 26 cleansers, for an approval rate of 81%. 21 approved, 1 mixed, and 4 skipped.
What has Nipun Kapur skipped in cleansers?
Nipun skipped very few cleansers, but her reasons are clear and worth knowing. She passed on the EltaMD Acne Oil-in-One Gel Cleanser because of price, saying that once a cleanser goes beyond about fifteen dollars she does not think it is worth it, and at thirty-four dollars it was a complete pass. The Tatcha Deep Cleanse Balancing Exfoliating Cleanser she found unremarkable, describing it as 'just a regular face wash' with nothing special to offer. The Caudalie Vinoclean Cleansing Oil did not make the cut because she felt it did not emulsify well, leaving a layer on the skin after rinsing, which she said makes it a poor cleansing oil. And on the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water, she makes a practical point worth remembering: micellar water is simply not the right tool for breaking down sunscreen, and a cleansing balm or oil is what you need for that job.
"It just feels like a regular face wash. I don't know, it has these little mini beads and maybe that's why they call it exfoliating, and it is exfoliating but like it doesn't feel anything special."
"The reason is because I feel like its emulsification is not nice... Even when you wash it off you feel like there is a bit of a layer left. That is not a good cleansing oil."
"This is a complete pass. [...] If a cleanser in general goes beyond $10 or $15, I don't really think it's worth it. For me at $34, it's a complete pass."
"Micellar water and cleansing milk is not the same as using a cleansing balm or a cleansing oil. [...] Sunscreen filters are very very tough to break down, therefore cleansing balm is recommended."
What should you take from Nipun Kapur's picks?
Nipun Kapur's record on cleansers is reassuring. She approves of most of what she tries, and her named winners, the Minimalist Neem and Salicylic Acid Face Wash and the Anua Heartleaf Plus Vitamin E Pore Control Cleansing Oil, cover very different needs, an affordable, results-focused face wash and a well-performing cleansing oil. Her skips come down to price and performance, not format. If she passes on something, she tells you exactly what fell short.
Watch Nipun Kapur say it
Every verdict here comes from a video. These are the moments themselves, each one jumping straight to the bit about that product.
- Anua Heartleaf Plus Vitamin E Pore Control Cleansing OilNamed a winnerWatch at 1:56
- Minimalist Neem and Salicylic Acid Face WashNamed a winnerWatch at 11:18
- Tatcha Deep Cleanse Balancing Exfoliating CleanserSkipped itWatch at 3:53
- Caudalie Vinoclean Cleansing OilSkipped itWatch at 1:58
- EltaMD Acne Oil-in-One Gel CleanserSkipped itWatch at 8:55
- Garnier Micellar Cleansing WaterSkipped itWatch at 7:51
- CeraVe Hydrating Facial CleanserRated itWatch at 3:10
- CeraVe Foaming Facial CleanserRated itWatch at 17:59
- La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle CleanserRated itWatch at 50:44
- Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing BalmRated itWatch at 18:55
- COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel CleanserRated itWatch at 6:06
- The INKEY List Fulvic Acid Brightening CleanserRated itWatch at 20:36
- Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing FoamRated itWatch at 3:26
- Juno & Co Jade Clean 10 Cleansing BalmRated itWatch at 11:57
- d'Alba White Truffle Return Oil Cream CleanserRated itWatch at 5:18
- Purito Green Avocado Cleansing BalmRated itWatch at 11:51
- Selfless by Hyram Refreshed CleanserRated itWatch at 7:33
- Pyunkang Yul Deep Clear Cleansing BalmRated itWatch at 1:15
- Garnier Micellar Water with Salicylic AcidRated itWatch at 1:54
- Bioderma Sensibio Oil CleanserRated itWatch at 4:21
- Cetaphil Hydrating Foaming Cream CleanserRated itWatch at 14:17
- Beauty of Joseon Radiance Cleansing BalmRated itWatch at 11:54
- Versed Day Dissolve Cleansing BalmRated itWatch at 12:07
- Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing BalmRated itWatch at 7:50
About this expert
See everything Nipun Kapur has reviewed
Related guides
This guide reflects what Nipun Kapur said across her videos about 26 products in cleansers, aggregated by The Guru Index. Sponsored takes are excluded. The approval rate is the share of these products she approved. It is general information, not medical advice.