The best cleansers for combination skin,according to dermatologists and skincare experts
The 11 cleansers that dermatologists and skincare experts rate highest for combination skin, ranked by genuine consensus.
These are the 11 cleansers that the dermatologists and skincare experts we follow rate most highly for combination skin, ranked purely by how warmly they talk about them in their own reviews. No brand pays to appear, and the order updates as new reviews come in.
Geek & Gorgeous 101 Mighty Melt Cleansing Balm leads with a Guru Score of 95% from 11 gurus, and it is also a budget buy. If price matters, the top splurge is Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser at number 11, with a Guru Score of 59%. Of the 10 we hold a full ingredient list for, 10 skip drying alcohol and 5 are fragrance-free.
Under each pick is what the experts liked about it and, where we hold one, a line a guru actually said about it. A Guru Certified mark means broad agreement across many experts. Skin is personal, so anything new is best patch-tested first.
The podium
95%Guru Score101 Mighty Melt Cleansing Balm
“It's a really nice cleansing balm, a bit on the softer side, but incredible at removing things without stripping the skin. It's one of my favorite cleansing balms I've ever tried.”Doctorly
What the gurus liked: Lightweight texture, nicer on humid skin; Rinses clean without residue or a cloth
The catch: Packaging sits halfway down the jar
Fragrance-free.
90%Guru ScoreNon-Drying Glycerin Cleanser
“I am still using the Prequel cleanser. This is my holy grail cleanser. It is so, so incredible.”Abbey Yung
What the gurus liked: Leaves skin soft without tightness or film; Hydrating formula ideal for dry and mature skin
The catch: Foaming action may not suit all preferences
Fragrance-free.
87%Guru ScoreLiving Cleansing Balm
“The Living Cleansing Balm from Then I Met You. An icon in my bathroom for the last 5 years. I love this. I will forever love this.”James Welsh
What the gurus liked: Removes makeup and sunscreen without stripping; Soft, melts smoothly into oil
The catch: Pricey for a cleansing balm
The rest of the list
- 4
DHCDeep Cleansing OilGuru CertifiedOily skinCombination skinMid-range87%10 gurus“It rinses off easily with water, and it's a great one if you're new to cleansing oil.”Dr. Jenny Liu
What the gurus liked: Hydrating and does not leave residue; Lightweight texture with subtle rosemary scent
The catch: Can leave a film over eyes that needs rinsing
Fragrance-free.
- 5
Krave BeautyMakeup Rewind Transforming Jelly Oil CleanserOily skinDry skinBudget buy82%11 gurus“My favorite cleansing oil that was actually in my best of 2025 videos, the Krave Beauty Makeup Rewind Cleansing Oil.”Hyram
What the gurus liked: Thick, viscous texture that doesn't drip or run; Breaks down makeup and sunscreen without rubbing
- 6
Beauty of JoseonRadiance Cleansing BalmOily skinCombination skinMid-range80%10 gurus“I love how the little scoop stays put in the lid. It's like the perfect size to just hold it in the lid. This is great. It's a cleansing balm that spreads on the skin nicely.”Dr Dray
What the gurus liked: Melts away makeup quickly with minimal rubbing; Absorbs without leaving a film or residue
The catch: Requires a spatula to scoop out
- 7
VersedDay Dissolve Cleansing BalmOily skinCombination skinMid-range79%12 gurus“I actually think that this is my favorite drugstore cleansing balm. That's saying a lot. I love the texture of this.”Skin Obsessed Mary
What the gurus liked: Melts makeup off on contact; Removes makeup and sunscreen thoroughly
The catch: Strong eucalyptus scent irritates some eyes
- 8
CeraVeHydrating Cream-to-Foam CleanserOily skinDry skinBudget buy77%11 gurus“For a gentle cleanser, I love something that will remove dirt, oil, makeup, and sunscreen. The CeraVe hydrating cream to foam cleanser is great.”208SkinDoc
What the gurus liked: Works for combination, dry, and sensitive skin; Large bottle lasts a long time
Contains: Hyaluronic acid, Salicylic acid, Ceramides. Fragrance-free.
- 9
Skin1004Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing OilOily skinDry skinMid-range77%11 gurus“I love this cleansing oil. In fact, I'm going to say of all the cleansing oils I have ever tried, this one's just the best. It's great because it's calming and soothing.”Mad About Skin
What the gurus liked: Lightweight, doesn't feel heavy or greasy; Removes makeup and sunscreen without residue
The catch: Pump dispenses too much product at once
- 10
Youth to the PeopleKale and Green Tea Spinach Vitamin Superfood CleanserOily skinCombination skinMid-range64%10 gurus“My personal favorite for helping with blackheads is the Youth To The People Superfood Cleanser.”Hyram
What the gurus liked: Powerfully removes oil and buildup; Gentle surfactants, soothing scent
The catch: Heavy glass bottle, not travel-friendly
Contains: Vitamin C.
- 11
Drunk ElephantBeste No. 9 Jelly CleanserOily skinCombination skinSplurge59%8 gurus“I finished a little tiny sample of the Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser which was just a perfect size for the cabin.”No BS Beauty
What the gurus liked: Gentle enough for daily use without stripping; Small size lasts many trips
The catch: May not remove all eye makeup despite claims
Fragrance-free.
Who's doing the judging
Ranked from the public takes of 40 independent gurus, including 12 dermatologists, 4 makeup artists and 2 doctors.
DoctorlyDermatologist
Dr. Shereene IdrissDermatologist
Dr DrayDermatologist
208SkinDocDermatologist
Dr. Sam EllisDermatologist
Dr. Daniel SugaiDermatologist
The Budget DermatologistDermatologist
Dr. Vanita RattanDoctor
Dr. Jenny LiuDermatologist
Lab Muffin Beauty ScienceCosmetic Chemist
Dr. MaminaDermatologist
Dr. Somji SkinCosmetic Surgeon
Dr Alexis StephensDermatologist
Dr. Aleksandra BrownDermatologist+26These are independent experts we follow, not an in-house panel. We collect opinions they have already shared publicly on YouTube; they are not connected to The Guru Index and have not endorsed this ranking. "Guru" is our own editorial title for the voices we trust.
You asked
What is the best cleanser for combination skin?
On the latest data it is Geek & Gorgeous 101 Mighty Melt Cleansing Balm, with a Guru Score of 95% from 11 gurus. The ranking above lists all 11 that clear our bar, in order.
What cleanser for combination skin do dermatologists recommend?
Of the 12 dermatologists whose reviews feed this ranking, 5 approve of each of DHC Deep Cleansing Oil, Versed Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm and CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser, more than any other pick on the list.
Which cleanser for combination skin has been reviewed by the most experts?
Prequel Non-Drying Glycerin Cleanser: 14 gurus have weighed in on it, more than any other pick here, and it holds a Guru Score of 90%, at number 2 on the list.
What do the top cleansers for combination skin have in common?
Of the 10 we hold a full ingredient list for, 10 skip drying alcohol and 5 are fragrance-free. That is a pattern in what the experts rate, not a rule: the ranking itself is by their verdicts.
How is this ranking decided?
We rank by the Guru Index consensus score: the warmth of every independent expert take we have logged for each product, with a minimum number of reviewers required so a single enthusiastic review can't top the list. Nothing here is paid placement.
How we make money. Some shopping links may earn The Guru Index a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes which products rank or how they score.