Best Face Wash for Dry Skin: What to Look For and What to Avoid

The short answer

The best face wash for dry skin is gentle and low-foaming, without harsh sulfates like SLS, and it leaves your face soft rather than tight. Creamy, milky, oil-based and gentle bar cleansers are all good options. How you wash matters too: lukewarm water, about 30 to 60 seconds, then moisturizer within a minute or two.

For years I thought a big foamy lather meant my face was getting really clean. In reality, that squeaky, tight feeling was my skin losing the oils it needed. Switching to a gentler way of washing changed my skin more than any serum ever did.

The quick test

Wash your face, pat it dry and wait five minutes without putting anything on. Does it feel tight, itchy or rough? Then your cleanser is too strong for your skin. A good one leaves your face feeling clean but comfortable.

What to look for

Gentle cleansers, not harsh detergents. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is a strong foaming agent that strips oil fast. Gentler cleansers are a better match for dry skin.
Creamy, milky or oil-based textures. These clean without stripping as much oil.
Moisture-friendly ingredients. Glycerin, plant oils and butters, and milk all help skin feel soft after washing.
A short ingredient list. Dry skin is often easily irritated. Fewer ingredients means fewer things to react to.
Little or no added fragrance, if your skin is reactive.

What to avoid

Squeaky-clean foaming washes. Lots of foam usually means strong detergents.
Gritty scrubs every day. Rough particles can irritate dry skin. If you like to exfoliate, keep it to once or twice a week.
Alcohol-heavy toners right after washing. They can dry skin out even more.
Cleansers made for breakouts, unless you need them. Strong breakout washes are often too drying for skin that's already dry.

How to wash a dry face

Use lukewarm water. Hot water strips oil, especially in winter.
At night, start with an oil cleanser if you wear makeup or sunscreen. It melts everything off without scrubbing.
Wash gently for 30 to 60 seconds with your fingertips. No rough washcloths or brushes.
Pat dry with a soft towel and leave your skin a little damp.
Moisturize right away, within a minute or two, to seal in that water.

Do you need to wash in the morning?

If your skin is very dry, maybe not. A splash of lukewarm water in the morning is often plenty, especially if you washed well the night before. Save your full cleanse for the evening, when there's makeup, sunscreen and the day's dirt to take off.

Give a new cleanser about two to four weeks. If your face feels soft after washing and your moisturizer seems to work better, you've found the right one.