We all want to look and feel our best, but that can be difficult when it comes to skincare. There are so many products out there that promise to make your complexion look great, but do they really work? That’s where foam cleansers come in: these foamy formulas are easy on the pocketbook and offer a wide range of benefits beyond just cleaning your face.
Washing with a foaming cleanser is an excellent approach to removing dirt and oil from the skin. They are subtle but very efficient. Makeup removal is just as simple with these products, and they’re safe to use on even the most sensitive skin. Foam cleansers are great for removing stubborn residues of makeup like face masks and foundation before heading out for the night.
Ahead, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite foam cleansers on the market. There’s something available at every price point with a wide array of skin-caring ingredients for those with sensitive skin.
- Gentle and effective cleansing
- Balances skin
- Contains beneficial ingredients
- Potential Dryness
Makeup, dirt, and oil are easily removed with the aid of Paula’s Choice’s Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser, a gentle daily cleanser. With its skin-replenishing components, you can clean and moisturize your face to counteract the effects of aging.
Makeup is easily removed with this innovative cream-to-foam emulsion, which leaves skin with a lovely afterglow that is neither oily nor stripping. Hyaluronic acid is non-comedogenic and helps retain moisture, so skin looks and feels better immediately after cleaning. Always start your morning and nighttime skincare regimen with this!
“My go-to has always been a gel-to-foam cleanser but many of those often stripped my skin and left it feeling tight afterward. This one has been a dream as it leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth. The texture is super creamy and buttery but still does a great job at removing the dirt, oil, and sunscreen,” says one reviewer.
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Effective cleansing
- Non-drying formula
- Limited skin type suitability
Foaming cleanser with a velvety texture, Clinique’s Extra Gentle Cleansing Foam removes debris and impurities from the skin without the use of harsh surfactants. Algae and gentian root extract are used to replenish moisture while combating acne. You may use this twice a day without worrying about over-cleansing or drying up your skin.
“I have sensitive oily and blemish-prone skin that gets worse when I use too many acne skin products. I absolutely love this cleansing foam! It removes all my oil, dirt, SPF, and makeup with just one wash,” says one buyer. “My skin is less irritated and less red now. I enjoy the lightness of the foam and my face feels clean. Highly recommend it to everyone!”
- Effective cleansing
- Gentle on the skin
- Brightening and clarifying
- Potential dryiness
The white clay in Shiseido’s foamy Clarifying Cleansing Foam removes excess sebum and other pollutants from the skin. Yomogi extract is used as well, which is known to prevent skin from becoming harsh and to boost its overall glow. Makeup, dirt, and dead skin cells are easily removed, and your skin will feel silkier than ever after using this product.
A whopping 94% of participants said that their skin was left feeling smoother and debris was easier to wipe away. In terms of leveling out your skin tone, this is one of your best bets if you have oily or mixed skin.
As one reviewer shared, “I use this twice daily and have for a few years now. Tried others but always come back to this. Clean and refreshing. Great results. Highly recommended.”
- Gentle and effective cleansing
- Non-comedogenic
- Contains beneficial ingredients
- Drying for some skin types
To effectively wipe away grime, oil, and even makeup, try using CeraVe’s Foaming Facial Cleanser. As a gentle formulation, it won’t irritate your skin or do any damage to its protective barrier. Ceramides and hyaluronic acid are included in the cleanser to help hydrate dry or sensitive skin. It also contains niacinamide, which stimulates collagen formation in the dermis and thereby reduces the appearance of fine wrinkles.
Considering its many advantages, this product’s pricing is surprisingly low.
“I love this cleanser so much. I used to have pretty sensitive skin but realized that it was all of the ingredients in all the fancy cleansers I was using. Ever since switching to this, my skin has improved so much,” explained one buyer.
- Effective cleansing
- Suitable for oily skin
- Easy to use
- Potentially drying
To maintain your skin’s youthful glow and clarity over time, use Suki’s Purifying Foamy Cleanser, a powerful foaming cleanser that helps combat breakouts and deep cleans for a more radiant appearance.
This formulation contains apple enzymes, which aid in the deep cleansing of pores by dissolving excess oil, dead skin, sebum, and even makeup. Acne scarring is reduced due to increased cell turnover helped along by the use of acai berry oil, which nourishes the skin without making it seem oily or greasy.
According to one skincare enthusiast, “I used to have to switch my skincare regimen for winter and summer and switch types of skincare every few years. Suki has literally changed my skin, I no longer have dry skin in winter and oily skin in summer, but it stays consistent throughout the year. I love this cleanser and Suki products!”
- Gentle and nourishing
- Natural ingredients
- Effective cleansing
- Fragrance sensitivity
This gentle foaming facial cleanser is made with soothing rosewater that hydrates and rejuvenates. It’s perfect for dry skin since it removes grime and other pollutants without drying out your skin. After each application, your skin will feel peaceful, cool, and soothed because to the cucumber ingredient in the cleanser.
What sets this apart from other foamy face cleansers on the market? Unlike most other creams, this one has a rich, thick texture that feels wonderful on the skin. You can feel certain that no harmful ingredients are present while yet getting a deep clean for your face.
“This foam cleanser is gentle on your skin with a light rose scent and does not make your skin feel dry or tight after use. Perfect if you don’t need to remove heavy makeup,” said one reviewer.
- Effective cleansing
- Gentle on skin
- Refreshing and hydrating
- Over-drying
iNNBEAUTY PROJECT Foam Around Clarifying Daily Cleanser is a great cleanser for those with oily, combo, or blemish-prone skin. Using microfoam technology, it cleans deeply while leaving skin feeling silky smooth, and ready for the day. Glycolic acid, lactic acid, and gluconolactone are just a few of the skin-loving acids included in the mix, and they work together to exfoliate skin and leave it feeling fresh and clean. Not only is this product superb, but it also has a fantastic pricing!
“Coming from someone that has very sensitive, eczema-prone skin: this is a great summer cleanser. It does all that it claims to… smooths, brightens, calms redness, and deep cleans without stripping,” stated one buyer. “I use it every other night followed by an oil while my skin is still wet.”
- Effective for acne-prone skin
- Gentle and non-drying
- Oil-free and hypoallergenic
- Potential sensitivity
In order to restore equilibrium to dry, sensitive skin, try using Aveeno’s Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser, which has a mild composition that helps clear up blemishes. It includes salicylic acid, which helps clear up acne, and soy, which helps skin retain its natural moisture balance. Clinical testing conducted by dermatologists showed that this cleanser was effective in replacing the use of scrubs and other abrasive cleansers.
This foamy cleanser is also great for those with sensitive skin since it removes makeup without leaving the face feeling dry or tight.
“This does an awesome job of making my face feel clean but nit dried out. It feels gentle and effective. Cannot recommend enough,” points out one user.
- Effective for acne-prone skin
- Gentle and soothing
- Natural and ethical brand
- Scent sensitivity
Oily or blemished skin can benefit from The Body Shop’s Tea Tree Skin Clearing Foaming Cleanser. Because it contains no alcohol, it won’t strip your skin of its natural oils or cause your pores to close up as some other cleansers may.
Instantly foaming up, the creamy solution penetrates blocked pores to help remove dirt and oil from the skin’s surface. This product’s use of naturally purifying tea tree oil makes it ideal for oily and blemished skin, but its light formulation means that it won’t aggravate existing outbreaks.
- Gentle cleansing
- Sulfate-free formula
- Lightweight foaming texture
- Fragrance
For a clean, clear complexion, use Kylie Skin Foaming Face Wash. It lathers up well and gets rid of oil, debris, and makeup without drying out your skin. Also, it doesn’t dry up your skin as some other products do.
Coconut-based surfactants are also included, making the product soothing on the skin while producing a rich foaming lather. Glycerin is a potent humectant that locks in moisture on the epidermis’s surface to keep skin supple and healthy.
As one buyer noted, “My fave Kylie Skin product. I use this daily morning and night, no harsh smells or chemicals. I will continue to buy this no matter what and I recommend it to everyone”
Foam cleansers are one of the best ways to get your skin clean and feeling good. They’re gentle on your face, so you can use them every day without worrying about irritating it or making it dry out. And you don’t have to worry about using harsh chemicals either because many of these products will leave behind a softening effect on your skin that makes it feel smoother after using them. Plus, they’re so versatile! You can use them as facial scrubs or simply just wet your hands before applying them onto wet skin if desired.