Regular soaps—whether they're bar or liquid—strip away oils from the skin, drying it out and doing more harm than good. With industrial surfactants, synthetic fragrances, harsh sulphates and more, plain soap can also damage skin microflora, impairing the skin's function.
Dry skin stripped of its natural oils is not only less healthy, but also looks worse.
Even those with the oiliest of skin shouldn't be using plain soap—stripping away the oils can stimulate the skin to produce even more oil, making the problem worse.
Not All Cleansers Are Good For Your Skin
Just because a product is labeled as a face cleanser doesn't mean it's any better than a regular soap. Like every other type of personal care product, cleansers can also have iffy ingredients.
From skin-drying alcohols and sulfates to parabens, there can be ingredients in face washes you'll want nowhere near your face.
We looked at 20+ of the most popular clean and natural face cleansers on the market
Common Ingredients of Note in Face Cleansers
Cocamidopropyl Betaine (CAPB) - This functions as both a cleanser and foaming agent. It's an organic compound derived from coconut oil, and is found in several of the natural cleansers we looked at.
CAPB is known to cause skin irritation in some users. In fact, CAPB was named The American Contact Dermatitis Society’s “Allergen of the Year” in 2004. (source),
It's not the ingredient itself that causes contact dermatitis, but the residues of other chemicals used in its production. While pure CAPB should not have the risk of causing irritation or dermatitis, it's impossible to know whether a product is using pure CAPB or not.
While we don't give a product a negative rating based on including this ingredient, we highlight all products that do so you can make a decision accordingly.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) - None of the natural face washes we looked at contained SLS, but it's a common ingredient in many cleaners you'll find at the drugstore. Its purpose is to give the foamy consistency we typically associate with cleaning. In skincare, SLS can cause skin and eye irritation, dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis, as well as increase transepidermal water loss—drying out the skin. (source)
Drying alcohols - These include ethanol, denatured alcohol, ethyl alcohol, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, SD alcohol, and benzyl alcohol (when used as a main ingredient). These alcohols will dry out the skin, causing more harm than good. This doesn't apply to fatty alcohols you'll find in some of the cleaners we looked at, including cetearyl alcohol.
Our Methodology
We looked at social media, popular online shops like Credo, Sephora, and iHerb, and reviews across the internet to find 21 of the most popular face cleansers.
We reviewed 20+ of the most popular clean and natural cleansers available. They're rated on this scale:
– These products are the best of the best. They contain all-clean ingredients, are non-toxic and are often the best choice for our environment.
– These products are typically quite good, but don’t go above and beyond like our best choices.
– These products are typically okay, but have some issues that make us unable to give them a “Good” rating. Often times they contain ingredients that are questionable.
– These products typically have toxic ingredients or issues that make them dangerous or unsuitable to use. These products should typically be avoided.
The Best Natural Face Washes
These natural face cleansers are the best ones we looked at. Any of these are a great choice for anyone looking for a natural, safe, and reliable face wash.
Indie Lee
This cleanser has a simple list of ingredients and none of them are of concern. The product is scented with strawberry seed oil—you’ll notice a strong strawberry fragrance in this product.
Ethylhexylglycerin can be a mild skin and eye irritant. Extra care should be taken when using products with this ingredient around the face. (source)
Ingredients:
Potential irritants: 1*
Herbivore
With absolutely no ingredients of concern, nor potential irritants, this cleanser is one of the best we looked at. The base is organic rose water and coconut water—the rose water giving the product a mild rose scent.
Ingredients:
One Love Organics
This non-drying cleanser has a clean list of ingredients, with no potential irritants. For this reason, we give it a top rating. It has a light scent that most users find pleasant, thanks to the honeysuckle extract.
Ingredients:
Tata Harper
While this cleanser has a list of clean, organic ingredients, there are a couple to be aware of. Limonene and linalool are well-recognized consumer allergens, so if you’re prone to skin reactions, just beware of this.
Other than that, this is a great (if expensive) cleanser with clean ingredients.
Ingredients:
Potential irritants: 4*
OSEA
With many organic ingredients and no ingredients of concern, this is one of the best cleansers we looked at. Unlike some of the others we gave a “best” rating, this one contains a few potential irritants to watch out for if you have sensitive skin.
Ingredients:
Potential irritants: 4*
Natural Face Washes Rated: Good
These natural cleansers are good, but have one or two ingredients that stop us from giving them a "best" rating.
The Ordinary
Squalane is the main ingredient in this cleanser, which has only one ingredient of concern: Isoceteth-20.
Isoceteth-20 can be contaminated with ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane, possible human carcinogens.
Ethylhexylglycerin can be a mild skin and eye irritant. Extra care should be taken when using products with this ingredient around the face. (source)
Ingredients:
Potential irritants: 2*
Moon Juice
This cleanser is scented with essential oils and has no concerning ingredients besides those that can be potential irritants and/or allergens.
Coco-Betaine can be contaminated with amidoamine and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine, both of which are potential skin and eye irritants. This ingredient was named The American Contact Dermatitis Society’s “Allergen of the Year” in 2004. If you’re prone to skin irritation or allergies, you might wish to avoid this ingredient. (source)
Ingredients:
Potential irritants: 4*
Acure
Cocamidopropyl Betaine can be contaminated with amidoamine and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine, both of which are potential skin and eye irritants. This ingredient was named The American Contact Dermatitis Society’s “Allergen of the Year” in 2004. If you’re prone to skin irritation or allergies, you might wish to avoid this ingredient. (source)
Ingredients:
Potential irritants: 4*
Ursa Major
Glyceryl Laurate is a penetration enhancer, making it an ingredient of concern if included with other ingredients that may be unsafe. (source)
Sodium benzoate is a chemical preservative. Reports show that people with sensitive skin should not use products which contain sodium benzoate as it may induce contact allergy. (source)
Ingredients:
Potential irritants: 3*
Drunk Elephant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine can be contaminated with amidoamine and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine, both of which are potential skin and eye irritants. This ingredient was named The American Contact Dermatitis Society’s “Allergen of the Year” in 2004. If you’re prone to skin irritation or allergies, you might wish to avoid this ingredient. (source)
Phenoxyethanol is a common preservative. Typically, this ingredient is considered safe in products not meant for babies. An EU study found skin irritation in animal studies even when exposed to very low amounts. (source)
Sodium benzoate is a chemical preservative. Reports show that people with sensitive skin should not use products which contain sodium benzoate as it may induce contact allergy. (source)
Ingredients:
Potential irritants: 4*
Evolve Organic Beauty
Cocamidopropyl Betaine can be contaminated with amidoamine and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine, both of which are potential skin and eye irritants. This ingredient was named The American Contact Dermatitis Society’s “Allergen of the Year” in 2004. If you’re prone to skin irritation or allergies, you might wish to avoid this ingredient. (source)
We consider “natural fragrance” to be an “Iffy” ingredient simply because it is a blanket term for unknown fragrance ingredients. Because these are natural fragrances, the main concern is skin irritation or allergic reaction, but this shouldn’t be a concern if you aren’t prone to these issues.
Sodium benzoate is a chemical preservative. Reports show that people with sensitive skin should not use products which contain sodium benzoate as it may induce contact allergy. (source)
Ingredients:
Potential irritants: 5*
Pacifica
Cocamidopropyl Betaine can be contaminated with amidoamine and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine, both of which are potential skin and eye irritants. This ingredient was named The American Contact Dermatitis Society’s “Allergen of the Year” in 2004. If you’re prone to skin irritation or allergies, you might wish to avoid this ingredient. (source)
There is some concern that tocopheryl acetate is at risk of being contaminated with hydroquinone, a known human carcinogen. While we believe this risk to be small, we consider tocopheryl acetate an iffy ingredient. (source)
Sodium benzoate is a chemical preservative. Reports show that people with sensitive skin should not use products which contain sodium benzoate as it may induce contact allergy. (source)
Ethylhexylglycerin can be a mild skin and eye irritant. Extra care should be taken when using products with this ingredient around the face. (source)
We consider “natural fragrance” to be an “Iffy” ingredient simply because it is a blanket term for unknown fragrance ingredients. Because these are natural fragrances, the main concern is skin irritation or allergic reaction, but this shouldn’t be a concern if you aren’t prone to these issues.
Ingredients:
Potential irritants: 5*
Andalou Naturals
Organic aloe and water make up the base of this cleanser which is scented with essential oils.
There are a few ingredients to be aware of in this product, none of which make it a product to avoid, however.
Cocamidopropyl Betaine can be contaminated with amidoamine and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine, both of which are potential skin and eye irritants. This ingredient was named The American Contact Dermatitis Society’s “Allergen of the Year” in 2004. If you’re prone to skin irritation or allergies, you might wish to avoid this ingredient. (source)
Sodium benzoate is a chemical preservative. Reports show that people with sensitive skin should not use products which contain sodium benzoate as it may induce contact allergy. (source)
Ethylhexylglycerin can be a mild skin and eye irritant. Extra care should be taken when using products with this ingredient around the face. (source)
Ingredients:
Potential irritants: 7*
Alba Botanica
This salicylic acid cleanser has a mostly-clean list of ingredients, which the exception of a few which some users might wish to avoid.
Coco-Betaine can be contaminated with amidoamine and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine, both of which are potential skin and eye irritants. This ingredient was named The American Contact Dermatitis Society’s “Allergen of the Year” in 2004. If you’re prone to skin irritation or allergies, you might wish to avoid this ingredient. (source)
Cocamidopropyl Betaine can be contaminated with amidoamine and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine, both of which are potential skin and eye irritants. This ingredient was named The American Contact Dermatitis Society’s “Allergen of the Year” in 2004. If you’re prone to skin irritation or allergies, you might wish to avoid this ingredient. (source)
Phenoxyethanol is a common preservative. Typically, this ingredient is considered safe in products not meant for babies. An EU study found skin irritation in animal studies even when exposed to very low amounts. (source)
Sodium benzoate is a chemical preservative. Reports show that people with sensitive skin should not use products which contain sodium benzoate as it may induce contact allergy. (source)
Ingredients:
Potential irritants: 9*
Paula's Choice
Cocamidopropyl Betaine can be contaminated with amidoamine and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine, both of which are potential skin and eye irritants. This ingredient was named The American Contact Dermatitis Society’s “Allergen of the Year” in 2004. If you’re prone to skin irritation or allergies, you might wish to avoid this ingredient. (source)
Pentylene glycol has shown evidence of being an irritant. Studies show that it can cause contact dermatitis, which indicates that Pentylene Glycol is a sensitizing ingredient and can be considered as an allergen. (source)
Phenoxyethanol is a common preservative. Typically, this ingredient is considered safe in products not meant for babies. An EU study found skin irritation in animal studies even when exposed to very low amounts. (source)
Ethylhexylglycerin can be a mild skin and eye irritant. Extra care should be taken when using products with this ingredient around the face. (source)
Sodium benzoate is a chemical preservative. Reports show that people with sensitive skin should not use products which contain sodium benzoate as it may induce contact allergy. (source)
Ingredients:
Potential irritants: 7*
Alpyn Beauty
This natural cleanser has a clean list of ingredients with none that are concerning. Benzyl alcohol is included, which is the only ingredient that might concern you if you have sensitive skin.
Benzyl alcohol is listed by the The European Union’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) as a well-recognized consumer allergen. (source)
Ingredients:
Potential irritants: 5*
Natural Face Washes Rated: Iffy
These cleansers have a few ingredients that we consider iffy, making these products some we wouldn't recommend.
Glow Recipe
The ingredient “fragrance” means that there is a mixture of several essential oils or synthetic or natural chemicals that makeup the scent of the product. According to European and US legislation, the ingredients of the fragrance do not have to be revealed on the product’s ingredients list. Because these ingredients are not disclosed, we always consider this a “bad” ingredient.
Ingredients:
Potential irritants: 2*
Sukin
Cocamidopropyl Betaine can be contaminated with amidoamine and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine, both of which are potential skin and eye irritants. This ingredient was named The American Contact Dermatitis Society’s “Allergen of the Year” in 2004. If you’re prone to skin irritation or allergies, you might wish to avoid this ingredient. (source)
Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate (PEG-150) can be contaminated with ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane, human carcinogens.
Phenoxyethanol is a common preservative. Typically, this ingredient is considered safe in products not meant for babies. An EU study found skin irritation in animal studies even when exposed to very low amounts. (source)
Benzyl alcohol is listed by the The European Union’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) as a well-recognized consumer allergen. (source)
Ingredients:
Potential irritants: 8*
Youth to the People
For the following reasons, we can’t recommend this cleanser.
Polysorbate 20 can be contaminated with ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane, possible human carcinogens.
There is some concern that tocopheryl acetate is at risk of being contaminated with hydroquinone, a known human carcinogen. While we believe this risk to be small, we consider tocopheryl acetate an iffy ingredient. (source)
Ethylhexylglycerin can be a mild skin and eye irritant. Extra care should be taken when using products with this ingredient around the face. (source)
Phenoxyethanol is a common preservative. Typically, this ingredient is considered safe in products not meant for babies. An EU study found skin irritation in animal studies even when exposed to very low amounts. (source)
Sodium benzoate is a chemical preservative. Reports show that people with sensitive skin should not use products which contain sodium benzoate as it may induce contact allergy. (source)
The ingredient “fragrance” means that there is a mixture of several essential oils or synthetic or natural chemicals that makeup the scent of the product. According to European and US legislation, the ingredients of the fragrance do not have to be revealed on the product’s ingredients list. Because these ingredients are not disclosed, we always consider this a “bad” ingredient.
Ingredients:
Potential irritants: 4*
Natural Face Washes Rated: Bad
For the reasons stated in our overview, we don't recommend these face washes.
Juice Beauty
This cleanser has a clean list of ingredients. However, lemon juice is the second ingredient, which may be a concern for a few reasons. (source)
Lemon juice is very low pH, making it extremely sensitizing to skin. Lemon juice applied to the skin can cause photosensitivity. This means that your skin will be much more sensitive to sunlight, even if applying sunscreen. There have been reports of people going into the sun with lemon juice on their hands, resulting is horrible blisters and burns.
Lemon juice has also been linked to chemical leukoderma – uneven lightened patches of skin.
For this reason, we don’t recommend this product.
Sodium benzoate is a chemical preservative. Reports show that people with sensitive skin should not use products which contain sodium benzoate as it may induce contact allergy. (source)
Ingredients:
Potential irritants: 4*
CosRx
Cocamidopropyl Betaine can be contaminated with amidoamine and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine, both of which are potential skin and eye irritants. This ingredient was named The American Contact Dermatitis Society’s “Allergen of the Year” in 2004. If you’re prone to skin irritation or allergies, you might wish to avoid this ingredient. (source)
Polysorbate 20 can be contaminated with ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane, possible human carcinogens.
Tea tree oil can act as a sensitizer, meaning it can enhance effect of other ingredients in a product. This is only an issue if you’re sensitive to any of the other ingredients, or if any of the other ingredients are of concern. (source)
Ethylhexylglycerin can be a mild skin and eye irritant. Extra care should be taken when using products with this ingredient around the face. (source)
Sodium benzoate is a chemical preservative. Reports show that people with sensitive skin should not use products which contain sodium benzoate as it may induce contact allergy. (source)
Ingredients:
Potential irritants: 6*
Cetaphil
Cetaphil’s cleanser is one of the most popular cleansers on the market, but unfortunately, we can’t recommend it.
Propylene glycol acts as a penetration enhancer, increasing skin absorbtion of other ingredients in a product. When none of the other ingredients in a product is potentially dangerous, this isn’t a concern. (source)
This product contains one or more parabens. These are preservative linked to endocrine disruption and is associated with the proliferation of breast cancer cells. (link)
Ingredients:
Potential irritants: 2*
Conclusion
All of the products we looked at are marketed as being clean and natural. Like many other product categories, just because a product claims to be clean, it doesn't mean it actually is.
For a simple choice in a cleanser, look at any of the products we gave a rating of "best"—any of them are a great choice.
