Contents
- View The Best Face Washes for Combination Skin Below
- 1. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
- 2. OLEHENRIKSEN Find Your Balance Oil Control Cleanser
- 3. Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Face Scrub
- 4. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Cleanser
- 5. First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser
- 6. Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel
- 7. Paula’s Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser
- 8. Garnier SkinActive Micellar Foaming Face Wash
- 9. Sephora Collection Supreme Cleansing Oil
- 10. Mario Badescu Acne Facial Cleanser
- Face Washes for Combination Skin Buyer’s Guide
We all possess different skin types, which is why what works for one person may not be the best choice for another. Especially if you have combination skin, you skirt the lines and need a special product just for yourself.
Your skin can get dry in the winter and extra oily in the summer. While it seems like you got the short end of not one, but two sticks, those with combination skin are blessed in other ways. All you need is a mild and balancing cleanser.
Let’s go over some of the best face washes on the market for your combination skin type.
View The Best Face Washes for Combination Skin Below
1. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

Cetaphil is a well known medicated brand of foaming cleanser for your face. They come in different sizes, which makes them great for a trial option. It’s developed for sensitive skin and is so gentle. The formula can be used without water, and it locks in moisture.
Pros:
+ Gentle and mild
+ For sensitive skin
+ Locks in moisture
+ Can be used without water
Why We Like It – Cetaphil is the number 1 dermatologist-recommended brand, which puts our minds at ease in terms of ingredients.
2. OLEHENRIKSEN Find Your Balance Oil Control Cleanser

This combination skin face cleanser helps you find your balance. The right balance is the most important factor for those with excess oil or dry skin, which are things people with combination skin can suffer from. This product is especially effective for oil control and does wonders on blemishes.
Pros:
+ Balances your skin
+ Controls oil
+ Can shrink pores
+ Acne control
Why We Like It – Not only does this cleanser for the face balance your skin without stripping you of natural oils, but it also prevents acne.
3. Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Face Scrub

A face scrub’s purpose is also to exfoliate your face and remove dead skin, which is exactly what this combination face wash does. It also contains acne medicine that treats and prevents acne at the same time. The Microclear technology will rid your pores of buildup and removes lingering makeup.
Pros:
+ Medicated formula
+ Prevents and treats acne
+ Microclear technology
+ Gently exfoliates
Why We Like It – This face scrub wash also exfoliates and rids your skin of dead cells on the surface.
4. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Cleanser

As a dermatologically tested and developed formula, you can trust this face wash to remove impurities while still keeping the balance. The gentle cleanser will remove excess oil without drying out your skin. It’s the perfect daily foaming cleanser for sensitive skin.
Pros:
+ Removes excess oil
+ Great for sensitive skin
+ Keeps pH balance
+ Removes impurities
Why We Like It – You won’t find ingredients like parabens, sulfates, or alcohol in the formula—just dermatologist-approved and beneficial components.
5. First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser

Infused with allantoin, this facial cleanser will remove all surface dirt and grime, leaving your skin feeling soothed. The added glycerin and an antioxidant booster make this one of the best daily face cleansers for sensitive and combination skin.
Pros:
+ Great face wash for removing dirt
+ Helps dry skin
+ Antioxidant boost
+ Added glycerin
Why We Like It – We love how deep of a clean this skin cleanser offers you without stripping your skin of its natural oil.
6. Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel

As a gel cleanser, this face wash is light and gentle on your skin. It’s not a foaming cleanser and removes makeup, dirt, excess oil, and other things without drying out your skin. Gently exfoliate your skin with this gel cleanser infused with papaya extract.
Pros:
+ Gentle cleanser
+ Non-foaming
+ Exfoliates
+ Removes oil, makeup, and dirt
Why We Like It – Foaming cleansers can dry out your skin more than a gel cleanser. For those with a combination skin type, gel cleansers may lock in moisture better.
7. Paula’s Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser

You’ll find a miracle remedy in this little bottle, which is especially good for unclogging pores and fighting acne. Not only does it balance pH levels, but it also helps to smooth and even out your complexion. Say goodbye to acne, but keep the natural oils of your skin. It’s the perfect blend for combination skin, without irritation.
Pros:
+ Gentle yet effective
+ No irritation
+ Fights acne
+ Balance pH levels
Why We Like It – It’s amazing that the best face wash can also help even out your complexion, giving you a permanently refreshed look.
8. Garnier SkinActive Micellar Foaming Face Wash

Micellar water is great for removing makeup, but now there is a face wash form. Face washes can be heavy on the skin, but this facial cleanser will effectively remove makeup without any residue. It’s gentle and refreshing, making it perfect for those with combination or dry skin.
Pros:
+ Lightweight
+ Removes makeup
+ Gentle and refreshing
+ Great for combination skin type
Why We Like It – The Micellar face wash works very well with the makeup remover to rid your face of any pore-clogging residue.
9. Sephora Collection Supreme Cleansing Oil

Yes, Sephora itself has now come out with their own product line. What makes this face wash special is it’s in oil form. It’s a great face wash for those with dry skin. The oil is actually transformed into a lotion upon contact with water and gently massages and nourishes your skin.
Pros:
+ Oil form facial cleanser
+ Best for dry skin
+ Nourishes
+ Moisturizes
Why We Like It – We love the unique properties of cleansing oil that takes care of dry and combination skin the way other face cleansers cannot.
10. Mario Badescu Acne Facial Cleanser

For those suffering from acne and breakouts, this facial wash is one of the best. It prevents future breakouts and treats existing acne. With ingredients like chamomile and aloe vera, the formula is soothing and refreshing on your combination skin.
Pros:
+ Prevents acne
+ Aloe vera and chamomile
+ Soothing
+ Treats acne
Why We Like It – Not only does it do all the things we mentioned above, but it also prevents your pores from clogging up.
Face Washes for Combination Skin Buyer’s Guide
Washing your face isn’t as simple as lathering soap on your tender skin. What you choose to come in contact with plays a crucial role. Other than making sure the face wash targets your skin type, you also need to consider if there are other uses, such as exfoliation or the prevention of breakouts. Follow our guide below to select the perfect face wash for your skin.
What to Look for When Buying the Best Face Wash for Combination Skin
Skin Type
The first thing to tackle is your skin type. Since we’re talking about the best face cleansers for combination skin, we’re pretty sure you already know the category you fall under. Just in case you don’t, you need to identify if you have dry skin, combination skin, oily skin, normal skin, or sensitive skin. Sometimes you may fall under more than one of these categories.
Form
What form of face wash should you choose? There are gel forms, foaming cleansers, as well as oil face washes. This also ties into your skin type. For example, if you have drier skin, a lightweight gel cleanser or oily face wash could be better than a lathery foaming cleanser.
Ingredients
Next, look at what ingredients are infused in the face wash. Depending on your skin, there are certain things you should steer clear of. For example, those with oily skin may not need as much moisturization as those with other skin types. People with sensitive skin should definitely stay away from harsh cleansers.
What you definitely don’t want, regardless of the type of skin you have, are chemicals and artificial additives. Look for a cleanser that is paraben and sulfate-free, as well as alcohol-free if you can. While it’s nice to have your face smell like roses, you want that fragrance to come from something natural.
Exfoliation
Some face washes have exfoliating properties. These are also known as facial scrubs, and they are excellent at getting rid of dead skin cells on the surface. This makes it easier for your skin to absorb products. Makeup will glide on much smoother.
Acne Prevention
Those with combination skin will know that sometimes we dry out, but other times our faces glisten with natural oils. Oils are what can cause breakouts, but for combo skin, it’s not as easy as finding a deep cleansing wash. That can just exacerbate the other annoying feature of our skin.
This is why a face wash that directly targets combo skin is so important because the properties will balance all aspects.
Balancing
Speaking of balancing, you’ll need to find a facial cleanser that takes care of all potential issues. One that won’t overly moisturize and nourish but won’t dry you out either. pH levels should be maintained, and a lot of the time, the ingredients and functions of the face wash will be clearly labeled.
Removes Residue
Last but not least, you can’t forget about the cleansing part of the face wash! While you’re counting on your facial cleanser to do all of the above, it should also be able to remove residue and not add on to it, unclogging your pores. Some facial washes can even remove makeup, as well!
Conclusion
The right face wash can solve a lot of your skin problems. Having the right one that targets your type of skin will have noticeable differences. Start by identifying your skin and follow our steps above to discover what’s best for you. Remember to pair face washes with a good and useful face cream or night cream to experience the full effects!
Did You Know?
When you clean and wash your face, it’s similar to getting a facial or going to a spa. Make sure that you massage your face in circular motions to really get in your pores and remove all the dirt and grime. Also, remember to take your time!
Expert Tip
Don’t overwash your face or use excessive amounts of cleanser. This could further exacerbate skin problems on the face, and it’ll be harder to fix – even with the right face wash.