I’ve been a huge fan of facial cleansers with gel-like textures. Gel cleansers are great for oily, sensitive, and acne-prone skin because they thoroughly cleanse pores with mild formulas that don’t strip the skin. 

Gel cleansers I’ve used haven’t caused irritation and have kept the balance of my skin’s PH level. I use a gel cleanser daily after wiping away makeup first with micellar water or an oil cleanser.  

After years of purchasing many gel cleansers, here are my top five picks:

Avalon Organics Intense Defense Vitamin C Cleansing Gel

I love how this cleanser has brightening properties like Vitamin C, while also making my skin feel refreshingly clean without making it feel too-squeaky clean.  It gently removes daily toxins and impurities while helping to prevent premature signs of aging. I also love how it’s a certified organic product at a great price to boot! One bottle can last awhile. 

Andalou Naturals Citrus Kombucha Cleansing Gel

I discovered this beauty recently and it’s now one of my go-to favorites. I could see my skin softly glowing after each cleanse! It’s super gentle yet feels very effective at getting rid of the daily grime. I love how it’s formulated with a fruit stem cell complex, argon stem cells, and kombucha probiotics (the good kind of bacteria we need to combat breakouts). What a great antioxidant system right in your cleanser.

iS Clinical Cleansing Complex

This is the priciest but it has also been the longest lasting, because you really only need a small squeeze. It feels like a luxury cleanser right from the spa, and I absolutely love how it makes my skin feel immediately afterwards. It gently exfoliates the skin with white willow bark and it has antioxidants derived from chamomile and centella asiatica to combat free radicals. It did a great job deep cleansing my face while not stripping it down and keeping it soft to the touch. 

Hyaluronic Acid Facial Cleanser with Bentonite Clay by Hyalogic

This is THE first product I’ve found with hyaluronic acid and bentonite clay in a cleanser! It’s simply a class act for acne-prone skin. I remember discovering this cleanser while I was shopping at a local farmers market. It’s definitely one of my favorite duo gel/clay based cleansers because the clay absorbs impurities while the hyaluronic acid plumps and moisturizes the skin. It deeply cleaned my skin while leaving it feeling soft and refreshed.  

Acure Brightening Cleansing Gel

I’ve lost count to how many bottles I’ve gone through with this amazing cleanser! It’s naturally brightening and packed with powerful antioxidants like pomegranate, blackberry and acai to help protect the skin from environmental damage. It’s been gentle yet it leaves my skin feeling thoroughly cleansed, and a little goes a long way.

So many cleansers, so little time…

Needless to say, I’m always on the hunt for the next best cleanser! These top five picks have been personally vetted, tried, and have proven to effectively remove impurities from my skin while keeping it soft. As someone who has acne-prone skin, it’s been incredibly important to find cleansers that deep clean but also maintain my skin barrier by providing a gentle cleanse.

Photo by Birgith Roosipuu on Unsplash