Cream Cleansers
What Doctors Say: “Cream cleansers are the best for dry skin,” says New York plastic surgeon B. Aviva Preminger, MD. According to Dr. Sherber, “Cream cleansers are lovely as a stand-alone step for combination skin since they can remove sunscreen or makeup without stripping skin or leaving it feeling tight. For acne-prone skin they can also be a first step for double cleansing that’s lighter than an oil or balm cleanser.” But Dr. Chang and Dr. Schlessinger say this cleansing type is great for those with reactive skin, too. “Cream cleansers are great for the sensitive skin patient, especially those with rosacea-prone skin, as it helps with skin barrier function,” says Dr. Chang. Rockville, MD dermatologist Ronald B. Prussick, MD agrees: “They’re less drying, which makes them good for skin types that are dry, atopic (sensitive) or struggle with rosacea.”
What They Recommend: Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser ($10), Avène Clean-Ac Smoothing Cleansing Cream ($21), Tata Harper Refreshing Cleanser ($84), LovelySkin LUXE Gentle Cream Cleanser ($8), Revision Skincare Papaya Enzyme Cleanser ($33)