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You can use the fanciest serums in the world, but they won’t do much if you’re not starting with one of the best face washes to give your skin a truly clean slate. Layer on collagen creams, swipe on growth factors, splurge on that $200 moisturizer—none of it works the way it should if you’re applying it over leftover makeup, sunscreen, oil, and pollution. Cleansing isn’t just step one; it’s the step that makes every other step better.
The right formula does more than remove the day. It helps balance oil, support your skin barrier, and prep your complexion so treatments can actually penetrate. And while we might’ve once believed that tight, squeaky feeling meant our skin was really clean, we know better now. True cleansing shouldn’t leave your face stripped or parched—it should feel balanced, comfortable, and perfectly prepped for whatever comes next.
Our Top Face Washes
- Best Makeup Remover: Farmacy Green Clean Cleansing Balm, $39
- Best for Oily Skin: Isdin Isdinceutics Essential Scrub Exfoliating Cleansing Gel, $40
- Best for Redness: The Inkey List Oat Balm Cleanser, $17
- Best for Dry Skin: Man:yo Pure Cleansing Oil, $23
Frequently Asked QuestionsLargeChevron
- Why is it important to cleanse your face?
- How should I choose a facial cleanser?
- What should I know about double cleansing?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
From creamy washes that cushion dry or mature skin to clarifying gels that help keep excess oil and breakouts in check, finding the right formula for your skin type makes all the difference. The wrong cleanser can leave dry skin feeling tighter or oily skin overcompensating with even more shine, while the right one supports your barrier and targets your top concerns from the very first step. Ahead, our editor-tested, dermatologist-approved picks to help your routine start strong.
Best Makeup Remover: Farmacy Green Clean Cleansing Balm
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Farmacy
Green Clean Cleansing Balm
Amazon
Allure commerce market editor Sarah Hoffmann applying the Farmacy Green Clean Cleansing Balm
Sarah Hoffmann
Allure beauty director Sarah Kinonen applying the Farmacy Green Clean Cleansing Balm
Sarah Kinonen
Why it’s worth it: There's no bigger buzzkill at the end of a long night than remembering you still have to take off your makeup before bed. Luckily, Farmacy's Green Clean Cleansing Balm, a 2026 Best of Beauty Award winner, “has a really satisfying balm-to-oil texture that makes taking your makeup off feel so easy and luxurious,” says Morgana Colombo, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Reston, Virginia. As you massage it onto dry skin, it breaks down everything from foundation and waterproof mascara to sunscreen. “You're never tugging or scrubbing at your skin with this cleanser," she says.
Sunflower seed oil does much of the makeup-dissolving work while helping skin feel soft, and papaya extract helps lift away impurities. There's also an antioxidant-rich blend of greens, including moringa and holy basil extracts. Add water, and the oil turns milky so you can rinse everything away without leaving a greasy film. One thing to keep in mind: This formula contains fragrant essential oils, so if your skin is easily irritated, Dr. Colombo recommends the fragrance-free version instead.
Hoffmann before applying the Farmacy Green Clean Cleansing Balm
Sarah Hoffmann
Hoffmann after applying the Farmacy Green Clean Cleansing Balm
Sarah Hoffmann
Tester feedback from commerce market editor Sarah Hoffmann
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“Few products completely remove every trace of makeup quite like Farmacy's Green Clean Cleansing Balm. My skin is generally pretty clear, but when I'm not washing my face properly, my skin is quick to let me know that it's angry with me. This balm provides such a thorough, gentle cleanse that it's never made my skin unhappy.” —Sarah Hoffmann, commerce market editor
Tester feedback from beauty director Sarah Kinonen
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“Waterproof mascara? No problem. Casty, mineral sunscreen? Easy, peasy! Summertime grime? You bet Farmacy's cleansing balm can remove it—and remove it quickly with ease. Trust me, as someone who has tried to smear off all of the above (and more!), there's nothing this buttery, melt-in-your-hands cleanser—made with sunflower and moringa oils and papaya extract—can't handle. I love it after a long day at the office where a full face beat is the norm, or after an incredibly stinky, sweaty workout. It removes everything in seconds, leaves skin with a smooth (not tacky) finish, and makes for the perfect first step in my double-cleansing routine.” —Sarah Kinonen, beauty director
More to know
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- Key ingredients: sunflower seed oil, papaya extract, moringa seed oil, holy basil extract
- Fragrance-free: no
Best Exfoliating: Isdin Isdinceutics Essential Scrub Exfoliating Cleansing Gel
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Isdin
Isdinceutics Essential Scrub Exfoliating Cleansing Gel
Amazon
Why it’s worth it: If you haven't touched a face scrub since your teen years, we don't blame you. Unlike some physical cleansers that leave your face feeling squeaky-clean (and not in a good way), Isdin's Isdinceutics Essential Scrub Exfoliating Cleansing Gel helps get rid of excess oil, dead skin cells, and buildup without being harsh on your skin. The 2026 Best of Beauty winner contains fine particles of olive seed powder that gently buff away rough skin; silica absorbs excess oil, while coconut-derived cleansing ingredients wash away dirt and grime. And because drying out skin is never the goal, the formula also contains glycerin and saccharide isomerate, two ingredients that help skin hold onto water so it doesn't feel tight or dry after rinsing.
Allure commerce editor Sarah Han applying the Isdin Isdinceutics Essential Scrub Exfoliating Cleansing Gel
Sarah Han
Han after applying the Isdin Isdinceutics Essential Scrub Exfoliating Cleansing Gel
Sarah Han
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
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“I'm not typically a fan of physical exfoliators/scrubs—I proudly never used St. Ives growing up, but then again, I didn't have a skin-care routine at all—but I'm always open to being proven wrong. Isdin's Best of Beauty-winning Essential Scrub is surprisingly gentle, thanks to teensy Mediterranean olive seed particles, and I love how it creates a subtle foaming effect. (I couldn't capture it to the fullest in my demo since I couldn't film at my usual bathroom sink!) It also smells so lovely—fresh, floral, and uplifting—which is the perfect way to kick off my nighttime routine. After I rinse everything away, my T-zone looks calmer and a lot less shiny, and my skin feels soft to the touch—not stripped! (Note: I do double-cleanse with an oil or balm first, so I don't depend on this to get rid of makeup.) I'm obsessed and already stashed away a backup, which is very rare for me with cleansers!” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
Tester feedback from senior news editor James Manso
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"I'm always hyper-concerned about using anything too scrubby on my face (I usually fall firmly in the chemical exfoliant camp), and hadn't used a scrub in years before trying this one. The gentleness is what keeps Isdin Essential Scrub on my sink. What starts as a primer-like consistency emulsifies into a foam, which is why I've also been shaving my face with it. It never leaves me feeling red, tight, tingly, irritated, or any of the other side effects that traumatized me into swearing off scrubs in my teen years." —James Manso, senior news editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: olive seed powder, silica, glycerin, saccharide isomerate, coconut-derived surfactants
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Mature Skin: Chanel La Mousse Cleanser
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Chanel
La Mousse Cleanser
Nordstrom
Ulta Beauty
Why it’s worth it: When our tester told us this was the cleanser that officially made washing her face the favorite part of her routine, we were intrigued. The moment it hits skin, the Chanel La Mousse Cleanser foams into an airy, cushiony lather that feels instantly comforting, especially for those with dry or mature skin. The mousse-like lather tackles dirt with ease, immediately whisking away sunscreen, makeup, and everyday grime, while glycerin and ceramides reinforce the skin barrier and deliver a hit of hydration. At the heart of the formula is camellia (Chanel’s signature flower), which is rich in antioxidants that help support the skin barrier and defend against environmental stressors, an elevated touch you won’t find in every foaming cleanser. It leaves skin feeling clean, plump, and refreshed—and never tight or stripped. The subtle, elegant fragrance gives it that unmistakable Chanel touch, turning a quick face wash into a self-care moment. Plus, a little goes a long way, so it’ll last a while.
Allure senior commerce director Shanna Shipin using the Chanel La Mousse Cleanser
Shanna Shipin
Shipin after using the Chanel La Mousse Cleanser
Shanna Shipin
Tester feedback from senior commerce director Shanna Shipin
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“A cleanser is a necessary, but uneventful part of a skin-care routine—or so I thought, until I started using Chanel Mousse. Oh my goodness, the texture on this product. Creamy, foamy, luscious, and effective without remotely stripping your skin down. It's an expensive purchase, for sure, but just a dab is all you need, and it'll easily cover your entire face and neck once it hits the water. Plus, I used to despise washing my face at night and often skipped it (shh!) before the Mousse entered my life. Now cleansing is a favorite part of my routine. The cream foams up and gently lifts the day away, leaving me with soft, supple, clean skin that doesn't need to be washed twice.” —Shanna Shipin, senior commerce director
More to know
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- Key ingredients: glycerin, camellia flower, ceramides
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Redness: The Inkey List Oat Balm Cleanser
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The Inkey List
Oat Balm Cleanser
Amazon
Shop
Ulta Beauty
Kinonen applying The Inkey List Oat Balm Cleanser
Sarah Kinonen
Allure contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee applying the Inkey List Oat Balm Cleanser
Christa Joanna Lee
Why it’s worth it: The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm isn't your typical thick, scoop-it-out-of-a-jar cleansing balm. It has a lighter, almost milky texture that spreads easily over dry skin and dissolves makeup as you massage it in. Add a little water, and it emulsifies so you can rinse everything away. But removing makeup is only half the appeal, especially if your complexion is prone to dryness, irritation, or redness. The formula contains 5% oat kernel oil, which is rich in fatty acids that soothe inflammation and reduce the appearance of redness. A blend of sweet almond oil and natural waxes, including sunflower seed wax and jojoba esters, conditions skin and leaves it feeling nourished. It also includes antioxidant-rich sea buckthorn oil, which helps protect against environmental stressors that can contribute to redness. A Best of Beauty winner in 2020, this cleanser earned another win in 2026 thanks to a reformulation that makes it thinner and easier to squeeze out of the tube without sacrificing what we loved in the first place.
Lee before applying The Inkey List Oat Balm Cleanser
Christa Joanna Lee
Lee after applying The Inkey List Oat Balm Cleanser
Christa Joanna Lee
Tester feedback from contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee
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“My skin is naturally prone to redness, but it's been even more reactive lately now that I've been using tretinoin more often. I was genuinely surprised by how well The Inkey List’s Oat Cleansing Balm removed my stubborn eye makeup, which usually takes a little extra effort to get off. It even passed my white towel test with flying colors—not a trace of makeup left behind. I almost felt like I could skip my second cleanse, but I still follow up with a gentle cleanser for a little extra TLC. The texture is definitely milkier than your typical cleansing balm. My only small complaint is the packaging: The oils tend to separate and settle toward the cap, so sometimes the product leaks out in storage. I've learned to store the tube on its side, and if you're using it for the first time, I'd recommend giving the tube a little massage to mix everything back together before squeezing it out.” —Christa Lee, contributing commerce writer
Tester feedback from Kinonen
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"I remember when The Inkey List's Oat Balm Cleanser first came out in 2020. It defied the category with its tube packaging, $10 price tag, and ability to smear off a face full of makeup in seconds. I loved it! But after the brand reformulated its star earlier this year, I fear I love it even more! It's lighter—now with a touch more oil—for an easier bottle squeeze. It still removes everything (makeup, sunscreen, and New York City grime) in seconds, sits nicely on my shower shelf with ease, and is priced under $20 (now $17, thanks, inflation). It's the same…but better." —Sarah Kinonen, beauty director
More to know
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- Key ingredients: 5% oat kernel oil, sweet almond oil, sunflower seed wax, jojoba esters, sea buckthorn oil
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Oily Skin: The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Foaming Cleanser
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The Face Shop
Rice Water Bright Foaming Cleanser
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Allure commerce editor Sarah Han applying the Face Shop Rice Water Bright Foaming Cleanser
Sarah Han
Why it’s worth it: Long before rice water became a K-beauty staple, Korean women were using the starchy water left over from rinsing rice to cleanse their skin. The Face Shop's Rice Water Bright Foaming Cleanser, a 2026 Best of Beauty Award winner, puts a modern spin on that tradition, with a creamy formula that turns into a rich lather and washes away excess oil, dirt, and leftover makeup with minimal effort. Rice extract and fermented rice filtrate bring antioxidants to the mix, which can protect against environmental damage that contributes to dullness and uneven skin tone. Meanwhile, glycerin attracts moisture to keep skin from feeling tight after washing. Safflower flower extract adds another dose of antioxidants. Keep in mind that this cleanser contains fragrance, and its foaming formula may be too intense for very dry or sensitive skin.
Tester feedback from Han
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“This is one of those classic K-beauty cleansers I've known from the very start of my long K-beauty journey—I recently ‘rediscovered’ it and I'm wondering why I hadn't sooner. It's the perfect deep cleanse for my combination skin and leaves my skin looking more radiant and less congested, but most importantly, not super tight. The ingredients are super appealing to me too—natural rice water, rice bran oil, and soapwort extract (a surfactant). On days I don't wear makeup, I find that just this cleanser is enough. (And I normally always double-cleanse.) And it's $13 for a huge tube that'll probably last me six months? Yup, no notes.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: rice extract, fermented rice filtrate, glycerin, safflower flower extract
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Tata Harper Clarifying Cleanser
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Tata Harper
Clarifying Cleanser
Amazon
Nordstrom
Shop
Why it’s worth it: Acne-prone skin is often already compromised, so it requires a face wash that deeply cleanses without exacerbating inflamed or active breakouts. Tata Harper’s Clarifying Cleanser is here to save the day, offering a skin-renewing clean that lifts dead skin cells and excess oil away. The formula targets breakout triggers with prickly pear enzymes and naturally derived lactic and citric acids to smooth and refine texture, while white willow bark helps decongest pores. And because balance is everything when you’re dealing with breakouts, soothing ingredients like chlorella, mint extract, and raw honey help calm visible redness—so you get that satisfying deep clean without your skin feeling stripped or sensitized.
Allure contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai using the Tata Harper Clarifying Cleanser
Deanna Pai
Pai after using the Tata Harper Clarifying Cleanser
Deanna Pai
Tester feedback from contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai
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“I've had breakouts for years—they're a fact of life (and hormones). But I've found that washing with this cleanser (after removing my makeup with an oil-based formula) really helps dispatch both large cysts and smaller whiteheads more quickly. It smells herbal and fresh, builds to a nice lather, and doesn't leave my skin feeling stripped of moisture. I really concentrate massaging it in around my problem areas, like around my nose, chin, and jawline, and feel like it's made a difference in my acne's lifespan and, as important, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (as in, there's less).” —Deanna Pai, contributing editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: chlorella, honey, mint, lactic acid, citric acid, salicylic acid
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Dry Skin: Ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil
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Manyo
Pure Cleansing Oil
Amazon
Shop
Ulta Beauty
Lee using the Ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil
Christa Joanna Lee
Why it’s worth it: There are cleansing oils—and then there’s Ma:nyo’s Pure Cleansing Oil, a 2025 Best of Beauty Award winner that’s earned a loyal following around the world. The streamlined formula leans on 14 non-comedogenic, plant-derived ingredients, including argan kernel oil, cushioning jojoba seed oil, and antioxidant-rich olive fruit oil. Lightweight grapeseed and sunflower oils help dissolve makeup and excess sebum while supporting the skin barrier, so dry skin is not left feeling stripped. Squalane and jojoba oil mimic skin’s natural lipids for a soft, balanced finish that never feels greasy. Add water, and it emulsifies into a milky rinse that melts everything away, leaving skin supple, calm, and perfectly prepped for step two of your double cleanse.
Lee before using the Ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil
Christa Joanna Lee
Lee after using the Ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil
Christa Joanna Lee
Tester feedback from Lee
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“I love makeup, but I can't be bothered with touch-ups, so I gravitate toward the longest-wearing, most waterproof formulas I can find. Thankfully, Ma:nyo's Pure Cleansing Oil cuts through everything—and I mean everything. Stubborn eyeliner be damned! My skin is naturally prone to redness (even more so these days thanks to my tretinoin use), so I appreciate that this cleansing oil doesn't require a ton of rubbing or tugging to get the job done. It feels incredibly hydrating on my dry skin and rinses away without a greasy film in sight. One thing worth noting: While it's free of synthetic fragrance, it does contain essential oils, so keep that in mind if your skin is particularly reactive.” —Christa Joanna Lee, contributing commerce writer
More to know
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- Key ingredients: argan kernel oil, jojoba seed oil, olive oil
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Fragrance-Free: Youth to the People Adaptogen Supershroom Calm Cleanser
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Youth To The People
Adaptogen Supershroom Calm Cleanser
Amazon
Sephora
Why it’s worth it: You may know Youth to the People for its viral Superfood Cleanser, packed with kale, green tea, and spinach. But if your complexion tends to get dry, red, or irritated, the brand's Adaptogen Supershroom Calm Cleanser might be more your speed. While the Superfood Cleanser is a foaming gel, this cream cleanser has a milky consistency that gently washes away dirt and buildup without leaving your face feeling tight afterward. The formula gets its name from ashwagandha and chaga mushroom extracts, which contain antioxidants that help protect skin from environmental stressors. Snow mushroom, meanwhile, works similarly to hyaluronic acid by attracting water to the skin (and there's actual hyaluronic acid in here, too, for an extra moisture boost). Oat kernel oil helps replenish the skin's natural lipids (the fats that prevent moisture loss), while ceramides and niacinamide strengthen the moisture barrier to keep dryness and sensitivity in check. The 2026 Best of Beauty winner is also fragrance-free, so that's one less potential trigger to worry about.
Tester feedback from designer Briana Rengifo
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"My skin is super-dry and very sensitive around my nose, and this cleanser doesn't unnecessarily strip my skin of moisture. It feels so amazingly soft and sudsy, which is a surprise because I didn’t think this could top Youth to the People's green-bottle cleanser for me!" —Briana Rengifo, designer
More to know
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- Key ingredients: ashwagandha mushroom extract, chaga mushroom extracts, snow mushroom, hyaluronic acid, oat kernel oil, ceramides, niacinamide
- Fragrance-free: yes
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it important to cleanse your face?
Washing your face is the foundation of an effective skin-care regimen—and not just on days when you’re wearing a full face of makeup. “Even if you don't wear makeup, the skin on your face comes into contact with residue from other skin-care products as well as pollutants, microbes, dirt, and other debris, not to mention oils, sweat, and dead skin cells,” Sejal Shah, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, previously told Allure. Only after you sweep away all the breakout-causing dirt, makeup, and excess oil on your face can your skin absorb and benefit from other products.
How should I choose a facial cleanser?
Different face washes address different skin concerns, so keep your skin type in mind when picking out a new cleanser. If you have sensitive skin, reach for a moisturizer that won't irritate your skin barrier. "You want to use gentle, hydrating cleansers that remove impurities without stripping the skin barrier of all its natural moisturizing factors," explains Washington, D.C.-based dermatologist Adam Friedman, MD. He also suggests looking for humectants like hyaluronic acid and ceramides, as they "help keep water in the skin," which is essential, especially for people with sensitive skin.
According to New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Brandith Irwin, MD, people with sensitive skin should seek out “products free of artificial fragrances, parabens, and phthalates.”
If you deal with acne, choose a cleanser with active ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid to tackle blemishes (like whiteheads and blackheads). Claire Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, always recommends gentle cleansers over harsh soaps with physical exfoliants to clear dirt and excess oil. She also backs soothing, acne-fighting, and inflammation-reducing tea tree oil and green tea.
Meanwhile, oily skin benefits from a face cleanser that removes excess sebum (the natural oil your skin produces) without leaving your face feeling stripped or tight. Gel and foaming formulas are especially popular for this skin type because they can cut through oil, sweat, and buildup that accumulate throughout the day. Look for ingredients like niacinamide, which can regulate oil production over time, or salicylic acid, which works its way into pores to dissolve the buildup of oil and dead skin cells.
What should I know about double cleansing?
There's more to double-cleansing than just washing your face twice. "I define double-cleansing as using two separate types of cleansers to wash your face," Rita V. Linkner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, told Allure.
We have an entire dermatologist-approved guide to double-cleansing if you want to perfect the art, but here's the gist: Start your cleansing routine with an oil-based cleanser or micellar water to break down and remove makeup and sunscreen. The type of your second cleanser is up to you, as long as it's gentle and washes away pollutants and acne-causing bacteria.
Meet the experts
- Claire Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City
- Morgana Colombo, MD, a board-certified dermatologist of Intergrated Dermatology of Reston based in Reston, Virginia.
- Adam Friedman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Washington, D.C.
- Brandith Irwin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Rita V. Linkner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Sejal Shah, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best face washes, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
