The Style and Beauty Doctor has reviewed at least 20 cleansers, and her approval rate sits at 75%. Most made the cut. What separates the ones she liked from the ones she passed on usually comes down to two things: how a cleanser feels on the skin, and whether it can actually handle real makeup.
What does The Style and Beauty Doctor recommend in cleansers?
She comes back to foaming and gel cleansers again and again, naming the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser as a solid example of what she looks for. She also rated the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser, which uses a gentle amount of salicylic acid, an ingredient that helps clear out pores. For something richer, she praised the Glow Recipe Avocado Ceramide Moisture Barrier Cleanser for its creamy texture and soft feel, though she pointed out it works best for dry skin and is not quite right for double cleansing when you are wearing heavy makeup. The Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser earned a mention too. She said it is gentle enough to use twice and suits almost all skin types, which she sees as a real advantage.
In her words
"I like this similar cleansers that are like in this vein where it's like a foaming cleanser. CeraVe has one."
"I used a very gentle salicylic acid face cleanser from the La Roche-Posay Effaclar line."
"This is a pretty standard cleanser. I would probably use this on a regular basis just based on how it felt. I would definitely use the creamy jelly moisturizer more than I would that milky moisture cleanser, but not bad, not bad, not bad."
"That one is more of a cream cleanser, and it's typically something I couldn't use until it's dead winter, but if you have dry skin, that's also one to look at. It has such a nice creamy texture and it's gentle. I wouldn't use it to double cleanse because the texture doesn't feel right. It depends on how much makeup you're wearing. If you're wearing just light makeup, maybe you could double cleanse with it, but the kind of makeup I wear, I wouldn't."
"Um the hyaluronic cloud cleanser from uh what's that guy's name? Peter Thomas Roth."
"The Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser, very gentle, also something that you could just cleanse twice with to remove makeup. The difference is that the Kiehl's one is more universal, so [...] it can pretty much be used for all skin types, whereas the Glow Recipe Avocado one I would say that's more towards dry skin."
How many cleansers has The Style and Beauty Doctor reviewed?
The Style and Beauty Doctor has reviewed 20 cleansers, for an approval rate of 75%. 15 approved, 3 mixed, and 2 skipped.
What has The Style and Beauty Doctor skipped in cleansers?
She skipped very few cleansers across this whole set, which is worth noting. The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm was one she passed on, and she was direct about why: she did not like the smell or the texture, even while admitting it actually removed makeup well. The BYOMA Milky Moisture Cleanser was the other, and her reason was personal rather than a flaw in the formula. Her skin runs oily and she wears full makeup, so a rich, low-lather cleanser just would not do enough for her. She was quick to add that someone with dry or sensitive skin might find it exactly right.
"My opinion still remains with this Oat Cleansing Balm: I do not like the smell and I do not like the texture. But as you can see it is melting that makeup off."
"Out of all of these, the only one that I probably wouldn't use is the Milky Moisture Cleanser, and that's because my skin is more of an oily type and I do tend to wear makeup, and I feel like that just wouldn't cut it for me. [...] If you're someone with a drier and or sensitive skin type, maybe the Milky Moisture Cleanser might be right up your alley, because it has a richer texture, it doesn't lather as much, and typically [...] when things lather less they tend to be more moisturizing."
What should you take from The Style and Beauty Doctor's picks?
Her record on cleansers shows she tends to trust formulas that are gentle but effective, and she thinks carefully about whether a cleanser can stand up to the makeup she actually wears. When she skips something, it is usually because of texture, scent, or a mismatch with oilier skin, not because the formula is bad for everyone. Anyone shopping this category could do well to think about their own skin type and makeup habits before deciding, just as she does.
Watch The Style and Beauty Doctor say it
Every verdict here comes from a video. These are the moments themselves, each one jumping straight to the bit about that product.
- The INKEY List Oat Cleansing BalmSkipped itWatch at 11:44
- BYOMA Milky Moisture CleanserSkipped itWatch at 33:04
- CeraVe Foaming Facial CleanserRated itWatch at 41:33
- La Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Gel CleanserRated itWatch at 45:26
- BYOMA Milky Jelly CleanserRated itWatch at 35:07
- Glow Recipe Avocado Ceramide Moisture Barrier CleanserRated itWatch at 18:16
- Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Whipped Cream CleanserRated itWatch at 41:45
- Kiehl's Ultra Facial CleanserRated itWatch at 18:39
- Tatcha Matcha Cleanse Daily Clarifying Gel CleanserRated itWatch at 1:47
- Neutrogena Stubborn Body Acne WashRated itWatch at 4:50
- Tatcha Camellia 2in1 Makeup Remover and CleanserRated itWatch at 1:47
- Dollar Tree Gentle Skin CleanserRated itWatch at 6:01
- Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Cleansing GeléeRated itWatch at 16:39
- Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Gentle CleanserRated itWatch at 3:20
- CeraVe Renewing SA CleanserRated itWatch at 3:04
- Tatcha Rice Wash Skin Softening CleanserRated itWatch at 1:47
- La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming CleanserRated itWatch at 40:16
About this expert
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This guide reflects what The Style and Beauty Doctor said across her videos about 20 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.