The best foaming cleansers for every skin type

Because they're fun - and effective.

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by Ruby Barry |
Updated on

Even as an adult, that childlike joy never really goes away when it comes to bubbles - yes, we're talking to you, the person who gets an unhealthy amount of glee when you lather up your foaming cleanser in your hands. It's just fun - we will offer no further explanation. Apart from the unadulterated bliss your mind gets from splooging around soapy foam in your hands, foaming cleaners are some of the best cleansers on the market.

That's right, foaming cleansers work twice as hard as any other regular balm or oil cleanser, so if you're looking for a deep clean, look no further. But what are the best foaming cleansers for your particular skin texture? Sensitive? Dry? Oily? Combo? Here is our ultimate guide to the best foaming cleansers for you.

Credit: Canva

Foaming cleansers work by mixing with water to create a lather, that glides effortlessly across the face. The suds created in the lather penetrate into the pores for that deep clean you're craving. According to skincare brand Sönd, a "foaming cleanser will contain soap or a type of surfactant", and these "attract water-based sweat and pollution and oil-based dirt, grime and makeup" and draw it up from the surface, so you can remove it with a just a splash of water. The microbubbles do all the work for you, without you having to endlessly scrub away. Squeaky clean - every #cleangirlaesthetic follower's dream (poet and didn't even know it...)

Closer's best foaming cleansers, at a glance:

Editor's Choice: Super Healthy Skin™ Foamy Face Wash, £15 on Beauty Pie

Best foaming cleanser for oily skin: CeraVe Foaming Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin, £9.50 on Cult Beauty

Best foaming cleanser for dry skin: Cetaphil Hydrating Foaming Wash, £12.50 on LookFantastic

Unfortunately, foaming cleansers have a bit of a reputation for stripping the skin of its natural oils, which means your face is left feeling a bit tight and dry. But ladies and gentlemen, it's 2023, and hydrating cleansers that foam are now infused with moisturising ingredients such as oils and emollients that keep your skin barrier in tip-top condition. Such as the examples in our list below. Keep scrolling to find the best foaming cleanser for your skin type.

SHOP: The best foaming cleanser for your skin type

Editor's Choice

Beauty Pie Super Healthy Skin™ Foamy Face Wash 390mlbeauty pie
Price: £15 (was £50)

www.beautypie.com

We here at Closer are big fans of Beauty Pie, so, of course, they smash it out of the park with their Super Healthy Skin Foamy Fave Wash - the ultimate foaming cleanser for combination and oily/ acne-prone skin types. Developed in Japan, this cruelty-free gentle, purifying Amino Acid face wash is infused with smoothing Pyrus Malus (Apple) and antioxidant Raspberry Extracts. The large bottle lasts six months or more, according to rave reviews.

Fellow Closer writer Georgia Scott is a big fan of Beauty Pie products, saying: "Move over Netflix - it’s all about a beauty subscription service. Beauty Pie offers you exclusive prices for luxury products without a crazy price tag. Becoming a member allows you to have access to some of the best beauty products in the business without the worry of breaking the bank. Some of my ultimate faves include the Featherlight SPF Primer, Triple Hyaluronic Acid Serum and my most recent fave - the Awesome Bronze Self-Tanning Drops for a dreamy radiant glow. If you love luxury beauty and trying new products, Beauty Pie is the place to shop."

Customer review for the Foamy Face Wash: "This stuff is amazing! I am super busy and removing makeup before bed is a nightmare. I used to cleanse my face with oil and then wash it with another cleanser to remove the oily residue as my skin is prone to spots. This product saves me all the hassle. It's 2 in 1. Perfectly removes all makeup and leaves skin super clean and fresh!!! AMAZING!"

Pros

  • Perfect for combination and oily/ acne-prone skin types
  • High lather, but won’t strip your skin’s surface
  • Smoothing and moisturising Pyrus Malus (Apple)
  • Antioxidant Raspberry Extracts brightens skin

Cons

  • Avoid using this to remove eye makeup, may sting

Best foaming cleanser for oily skin

CeraVe Foaming Cleanser with Niacinamide for Normal to Oily Skin 236mlcult beauty

If you're a TikTok aficionado like us, then you'll know that the influencers can't stop talking about the CeraVe Foaming Cleanser. Simple and basic, but a formula that works. The bubbling cleanser releases three essential ceramides over time to ensure long-lasting hydration, even after banishing oil and bumps. It's the ideal foaming cleanser for oily skin that eliminates grease without stripping the skin.

Customer review: "I love this facewash so much. It leaves my skin cleansed but not dry at all, none of that stretchy feeling. it doesn't have much of a scent and is great at removing makeup. It's one of the first cleansers that I can freely use on my eyelids too as it never irritated me so I can clean my whole face in one go. It's also so economical that I can buy a giant tub at such a great price. Lasts forever even though I use this every day. Love it!"

Pros

  • Perfect for those with oily skin
  • Non-irritating for eye area
  • Three essential ceramides maintain moisture levels long-term

Cons

  • Can be a little drying

Best foaming cleanser for dry skin

Cetaphil Hydrating Foaming Wash 236mllookfantastic

We're here to banish the myth that people with dry skin can't use foaming face washes - the Cetaphil Hydrating Foaming Wash proves otherwise. This gorgeous face wash effectively removes impurities, makeup and excess oil, while defending the skin barrier function. You can still get that deep clean, without irritating your dry skin.

Customer review: "I can't fault this cleanser. Although I haven't used it personally, my husband loves it and he's given it 5 stars. He's always had quite sensitive skin, but recently the sensitivity has gotten worse. I did some research and bought this for him to try as I didn't want to pay through the nose for something that might not work. He says this is gentle but effective and it cleans his face really well without leaving it feeling like it's been stripped. He won't use anything else now."

Pros

  • Perfect for those with dry skin
  • Moisturising glycerin and panthenol help protect against dryness
  • Aloe vera with antioxidants soothes skin
  • Niacinamide evens skin tone

Cons

  • Medical scent

Best foaming cleanser for combination skin

Clarins Gentle Renewing Cleansing Mousse 150mljohn lewis
Price: £22.10
https://redirect.viglink.com?key=c84bfba7fb9057c609599595b4f5e218&prodOvrd=PCR&opt=false&u=C0xAEhVYThgRFU4eU0UCUUJYW1pcW1xBTFcJWEpRXQJKXQwVTxFSFARMXVAYIFpRS1xXShpOWg9RCEZIdlAaE3cDFAdORAVNXF5qYjAZAAkADA8aCgxSBlMN&x=v1
Alternative retailers
Macy's$28.05View offer

If you've got an oily T zone, but dry skin everywhere else on the face, then it's more than likely that you've got combination skin. To tackle this, use the Clarins Gentle Renewing Cleansing Mousse, and thank us later. The tamarind pulp extract exfoliates by breaking the links between the cells to remove dead skin cells, whilst also hydrating your dry areas. This is ideal for those living in hard water areas.

Customer review: "This cleanser heightens the senses from the moment you push down on the plunger, the smell and the feel make you feel relaxed as you spread the foam over your face, you can't help but feel good, I now understand why this cleanser is so popular, it truly is amazing, it also leaves your face feeling clean and refreshed."

Pros

  • Great for combination skin
  • Tamarind pulp extract exfoliates and removes dead skin cells
  • Alpine herb ingredients, gentian and lemon balm, hydrate and protect

Cons

  • Can get used up quickly

Best foaming cleanser for sensitive skin

Finding the best cleanser for sensitive skin can be a right old pain - and often you are too scared to try new products for fear of a skin reaction. However, the E45 Foaming Cleanser is gentler than soft wind on a summer's day (weird metaphor, but it just makes sense). E45’s formula has been tested by dermatologists and is specifically designed for sensitive facial skin - cleansing without affecting the skin’s natural moisture barrier or drying out the skin. 

Our review by Closer Content Editor Jade Moscrop: "Ideal for daily use or for those with dry and sensitive skin, this foaming cleanser is super gentle, leaves skin feeling wonderfully clean and a little goes a long way. E45 has been at the forefront of fighting dry and irritated skin for over 60 years, so it’s no surprise that its skincare range doesn’t dry out the skin or leave it feeling tight."

Pros

  • Perfect for those with sensitive skin types, eczema and dermatitis
  • Removes the dirt, oil, and impurities whilst protecting barrier
  • Dermatologically tested, non-fragranced

Cons

  • Does not effectively remove make-up

Best foaming cleanser for anti-ageing

Paula's Choice Resist Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser 190mlpaula's choice
Price: £20.80 (was £26)

www.paulaschoice.co.uk

Fight back those wrinkles with Paula's Choice Resist Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser. Yes, we know you love the toner (everyone does), but what's so anti-ageing about this formula? Well, it cleanses skin without disrupting its delicate barrier - and the targeted ingredients provide extra nourishment on top of its natural oils to give the skin what it needs to look and act younger.

Customer review: "This cleanser for my dry but oily skin is just perfect, getting rid of oil and debris without stripping my skin. Of all the cleansers I've tried, this one has the perfect amount of moisture without leaving even a slight oily film and is also beneficial for ageing skin, so it's a winner for me."

Pros

  • Perfect for oily to combination skin
  • Tackles fine lines and wrinkles
  • Bisabolol from chamomile soothes skin
  • Lecithin restores skin's barrier, hyaluronic acid boosts moisture

Cons

  • Not as foamy as other options

Best foaming cleanser for brightening skin

BYOMA Creamy Jelly Cleanser 175mlcult beauty

The pH-balanced formula in the BYOMA Creamy Jelly Cleanser is packed with a Tri-Ceramide Complex (ceramides, cholesterol, fatty acids), smells subtle and herby, and leaves the skin squeaky clean. The special ingredient, green tea extract, works to brighten the skin for that long-lasting glow.

Our review by Closer writer Ruby Barry: "I was really impressed when using the Byoma Jelly in my double cleansing routine. After using my first balm to remove impurities from the surface (sometimes I use plain Rosehip Oil from Q+A and it's amazing at removing even waterproof makeup) I follow up with the Byoma formula and it leaves my skin soooo clean and bright. My favourite part is that you only need a tiny pump for your whole face as it foams up so effectively, so the bottle is lasting me for months at this point - with many months of use to come."

Pros

  • Barrier-boosting Tri-Ceramide Complex
  • Antioxidant-rich licorice root
  • Green tea extracts brighten and condition 

Cons

  • May sting eyes so use with caution

Best foaming cleanser for blemishes

Science of Skin Cleanse No. One - Micellar Foaming Face Cleanseramazon
Price: £20.99

Blemishes be gone with the Science of Skin Cleanse No. One - Micellar Foaming Face Cleanser. Jammed packed with green tea, witch hazel and salicylic acid - these ingredients fight against spots and underlying spots that have yet to rear their ugly heads. Working similarly to the Bioderma Miceller Solution, this stuff stays on the skin - no rinse cycle here.

Our review by Closer Content Editor Jade Moscrop: "I come back to this foaming cleanser every time my skin breaks out and it works wonders. Witch hazel and green tea go to work to reduce irritation and soothe skin, while salicylic acid unclogs pores and reduces sebum production. It’s also vegan, paraben-free and cruelty-free."

Pros

  • Perfect for those with spot-prone skin
  • Green Tea, Witch Hazel, and Salicylic Acid prevent breakouts
  • Balances the skin's Microbiome promoting good bacterial skin health
  • Vegan, paraben-free, fragrance-free, cruelty-free

Cons

  • Not a typical cleanser, supposed to be left on instead of washed off

Foaming cleansers FAQs

Are foaming cleansers bad for dry skin?

In times gone by, people with sensitive or dry skin were told to be wary of foaming cleansers, lest they strip away their natural oils and leave their faces tight and stiff. That can still be said for a lot of cleansers targeted at oily or combo skin, but there are plenty of formulas (as seen above) that are suitable for dry skin - dry skin cleansers, if you will. They contain nourishing ingredients that support the skin barrier without destroying it. So no - foaming cleansers aren't the enemy anymore!

Can I use a foaming cleanser every day?

This depends entirely on the directions of each product, but it's about experimenting a little and seeing what works. Plenty of people can use foaming cleansers twice a day with no issues, but if you start to see red patches or your skin feels too dry, we recommend using a gentle balm cleanser in the morning, and a foaming cleanser in the evening to get rid of the day's grime.

How to open the CeraVe foaming facial cleanser?

As much as we love the product, we will admit the packaging is a little tricky. The answer is to: remove the clip and turn the nozzle (the thing that you press down) 1/4 turn to the left until you feel the click. If it's still not working, according to ZGR.net you should "take the pump out of the bottle, rinse off the shaft and dry it. Then firmly grip the shaft just under the collar of the pump and firmly twist to the right. That will pop the pump open, put the pump back in the bottle and you’re ready to use your new product." Ta-dah!

Ruby Barry is a Product Writer for Closer Online, specialising in fashion and beauty. The team has nicknamed her "dupe queen", as there's not a product in the world she can't find a cheaper alternative for.

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