Best Cleanser for Sensitive Skin: Fragrance-Free, Soap-Free Picks That Don't Sting

The best cleanser for sensitive skin for most people is Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser. It's free of fragrance, soap, botanical extracts and essential oils, which covers most of what tends to make sensitive faces sting. If your skin is dry as well as sensitive, La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser is creamier, and NBC Select's editorial director calls it her "reset button."

With sensitive skin, the cleanser matters more than almost anything else you use, because it's the one product you put on twice a day and rub around. A good one leaves your face feeling comfortable, not squeaky. We picked these seven from NBC Select's sensitive-skin list, the American Academy of Dermatology's (AAD) advice and each brand's label claims, and checked that every one is sold as fragrance-free.

Quick picks

Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser

Best for: sensitive skin of almost any type, and anyone who isn't sure what they react to.

What we love

• It's built around what it leaves out. Vanicream says it's free of "dyes, fragrance, masking fragrance, lanolin, parabens, formaldehyde," and of "oil, soap, botanical extracts, essential oils and harsh cleansing agents."
• It lathers lightly and removes "makeup and excess skin oils," the brand says.
• Vanicream calls it pH-balanced.

Keep in mind

• It's mild, so it won't feel deep-cleaning. On heavy makeup or water-resistant sunscreen days, take makeup off first with micellar water.
• We didn't find a named editorial review of this exact cleanser.

Key ingredients: a short list of mild cleansing agents, with no fragrance or plant extracts.

How to use: "Apply to wet skin, lather, rinse and pat dry," Vanicream says.

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La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Facial Cleanser

Best for: sensitive skin that's also dry or tight after washing.

What we love

• It's a cream cleanser that doesn't foam. Cleveland Clinic dermatologist Dr. Jane Wu notes that "Cream cleansers are less drying than foaming."
• La Roche-Posay lists it as soap-free, oil-free, fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, for "normal to dry, sensitive skin."
• NBC Select editorial director Lauren Swanson, who calls her skin "incredibly reactive," says it "cleans without foam, doesn't sting and leaves my skin calm, hydrated and quietly relieved."

Keep in mind

• No foam takes getting used to. It can feel like it isn't doing anything. It is.
• It contains niacinamide, which most people tolerate well, but if you already know it bothers you, pick Vanicream.

Key ingredients: ceramide-3, niacinamide, glycerin, La Roche-Posay thermal spring water.

How to use: massage a small amount onto damp skin with your fingertips, then rinse with lukewarm water.

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Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

Best for: days when your skin feels raw and even water feels like too much.

What we love

• Cetaphil says it's hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic and free of fragrances, parabens and sulfates.
• It can be wiped off instead of rinsed, which is handy on nights your skin feels too irritated for much splashing. Cetaphil says wiping it off leaves skin more hydrated than rinsing.
• The newer formula adds glycerin, panthenol and niacinamide, according to the brand.

Keep in mind

• It's very gentle, so it's not much of a makeup remover on its own.
• The large bottle is a lot of product to get through. That's a plus if you use it on your body too.

Key ingredients: glycerin, panthenol (vitamin B5), niacinamide, a mild cleanser (sodium cocoyl isethionate).

How to use: smooth onto skin, then rinse with lukewarm water or wipe off with a soft cloth.

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CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser

Best for: dry, sensitive skin, and people who want one bottle for face and body.

What we love

• CeraVe calls it a non-foaming cleanser "with a lotion-like consistency" that's fragrance-free, non-comedogenic and "non-drying."
• It has three ceramides, hyaluronic acid and glycerin, and it "Removes face makeup, dirt, and excess oil," the brand says.
• It's easy to find almost anywhere, which matters when you've finally found something your skin tolerates.

Keep in mind

• Like La Roche-Posay, it doesn't foam. If you love lather, this will feel strange.
• In our view it's a poor match for a very oily T-zone, which can feel unwashed after a lotion cleanser.

Key ingredients: ceramides 1, 3 and 6-II, hyaluronic acid, glycerin.

How to use: massage onto wet skin and rinse. CeraVe says it's for morning and night, on face or body.

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Bioderma Sensibio Foaming Gel

Best for: sensitive skin that still wants a little foam, including sensitive skin that's on the oily side.

What we love

• It's a gel that turns into a soft foam. Bioderma says it removes makeup and dirt "without stripping, leaving the skin feeling comfortable."
• The listing calls it fragrance-free and suitable for all skin types, including acne-prone skin.
• It's the foaming partner of Bioderma's Sensibio H2O micellar water, which NBC Select's reviewers say "feels super light, clean and gentle."

Keep in mind

• That NBC Select quote is about the micellar water, not this gel. We found no editorial review of the gel itself.
• The Amazon title says "Unscented." The AAD warns that "unscented" isn't the same as fragrance-free, so we went by the listing's fragrance-free line.

Key ingredients: coco-glucoside (a gentle, sugar-based cleanser).

How to use: "Apply on wet skin morning and evening, work into a foam, then rinse well with water," then pat dry, Bioderma says.

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Avène Tolerance Foaming Facial Cleanser

Best for: combination skin that's sensitive, where a cream cleanser feels too heavy on the T-zone.

What we love

• Avène lists it as fragrance-free, soap-free, sulfate-free and alcohol-free, and suitable "for all skin types including sensitive, reactive & post-procedure skin," on Ulta's listing.
• The brand says it was "Developed with only 15 ingredients," which is short for a foaming cleanser.
• It's a light foam. On a shiny T-zone, that tends to feel cleaner than a cream cleanser, which is why we gave it the combination badge.

Keep in mind

• It contains sunflower seed oil, so skip it if you already know you react to that.
• We found no editorial review of this formula.

Key ingredients: Avène thermal spring water, glycerin, coco-glucoside, sodium cocoyl glutamate, niacinamide.

How to use: "Apply once or twice a day to wet skin. Lather and rinse off. Gently dry."

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ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, Fragrance-Free

Best for: dry, sensitive skin that likes a slow evening cleanse and wears makeup or sunscreen most days. Splurge.

It's worth it if you enjoy a cleansing balm and want the luxury version without fragrance. Skip it if your skin breaks out easily or reacts to plant oils, or if you just want a quick wash: Vanicream does that job with far fewer ingredients.

What we love

• On its Amazon listing, which ELEMIS sells itself, the brand says it's "designed for sensitive skin" and "gently removes makeup and impurities without irritation."
• It changes from a balm to an oil to a milk when you add water, and ELEMIS says it leaves skin "soft, smooth and hydrated — with no residue or dryness."
• This is the fragrance-free version of ELEMIS's best-known balm (it used to be called Naked). Pick "Fragrance-Free" or "Unscented" on the listing, not the original.

Keep in mind

• It's made with plant oils and waxes (starflower and elderberry oils, mimosa wax), which aren't right for every sensitive face.
• Skincare writer Caroline Hirons, reviewing the original scented balm, said she uses it as a second cleanse and that it's "not great for eye makeup removal." She also noted its shea butter may not suit breakout-prone skin.
• We found no independent review of the fragrance-free version itself.

Key ingredients: padina pavonica (a seaweed), starflower oil, elderberry oil, mimosa wax.

How to use: ELEMIS says to massage an almond-sized scoop onto dry face and neck, then add warm water to turn it milky and rinse, or remove it with a damp cloth. If your skin still feels coated, follow with one of the gentle cleansers above.

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How to choose a cleanser for sensitive skin

The AAD's description of a good facial cleanser is short: "Use a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser that does not contain alcohol." Here's how to apply that in the aisle.

Fragrance free cleanser vs. unscented

Look for the words fragrance-free. The AAD says dermatologists recommend products labeled that way and warns that "unscented" products can still contain chemicals that irritate dry, sensitive skin. Essential oils are worth avoiding too. Cleveland Clinic dermatologist Dr. Amy Kassouf says strong fragranced oils like lavender or tea tree "can be irritating or even potential allergens." Vanicream leaves out fragrance and essential oils.

Soap free cleanser and sulfate free face wash

Dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman told TODAY to avoid sodium lauryl sulfate and soap when your skin barrier is struggling. "Soap-free" on a label means the brand uses other cleansing agents instead. Vanicream, La Roche-Posay and Avène all say soap-free. For a sulfate free face wash, Cetaphil and Avène state it on the label, and Vanicream says it's free of "harsh cleansing agents."

Cream, lotion or foam?

• Cream or lotion (La Roche-Posay, CeraVe, Cetaphil): best for dry and sensitive skin. They don't foam and leave a soft feel.
• Low-lather (Vanicream): the middle ground, fine for most people.
• Foam (Bioderma, Avène): better for oily or combination sensitive skin.

Our take: if your face feels tight 10 minutes after washing, go creamier. If it feels filmy, go lighter.

What to skip

Scrubs, cleansing brushes and acid washes are the usual troublemakers. Exfoliating cleansers like the ones in our glycolic acid face wash roundup have their place, but not as the daily wash for reactive skin. If your skin is already stinging, our skin barrier repair guide is the better place to start.

How to use a cleanser on sensitive skin

1. Splash your face with lukewarm water, as the AAD advises. Not hot, however good it feels in winter.
2. Use about a nickel-sized amount and spread it with your fingertips. The AAD says washcloths and mesh sponges can irritate.
3. Massage gently, without scrubbing, then rinse until it feels clean, not squeaky.
4. Pat dry with a soft towel, and moisturize while your skin is still a little damp.

That's the short version. Our full guide to how to wash your face covers morning washing, makeup and double cleansing. If you're oily in the middle and dry on the cheeks, the combination skin routine shows how to split the difference, and our fragrance-free moisturizers pair well with any of these.

Comparison table

FAQs

What is a good face wash for sensitive skin?

One that's fragrance-free, non-abrasive and leaves your skin comfortable after you dry it. Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser and La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating are good starting points. If you like foam, try Bioderma Sensibio or Avène Tolerance.

What's the difference between fragrance-free and unscented?

Fragrance-free means no fragrance was added. "Unscented" only describes the smell, and the AAD warns unscented products may still contain chemicals that irritate sensitive skin. Vanicream, for example, lists "masking fragrance" among the things it leaves out. The AAD says to choose products labeled fragrance-free.

Is a soap free facial cleanser better for sensitive skin?

Usually, yes. Dr. Jaliman's advice to TODAY was to avoid soap when your skin barrier is struggling. Vanicream, La Roche-Posay and Avène all say they're soap-free.

Should sensitive skin use a cleanser in the morning?

Not always. Cleveland Clinic dermatologist Dr. Kathryn Anderson suggests that if your skin is dry or irritated, you can rinse with water in the morning and use cleanser only at night. Our face-washing guide goes into that.

Why does my face sting when I wash it?

Common reasons are fragrance, hot water, scrubbing, or a barrier that's already irritated from acids or retinoids. Switch to a fragrance-free cleanser and lukewarm water. We'd also pause exfoliants for a couple of weeks. If it keeps stinging, see a dermatologist.

Fragrance-free, lukewarm water, fingertips, pat dry. Get those four right and most sensitive skin calms down.