The Best Cleansers For Dry And Sensitive Skin

Cleansing is the number one step in every skincare routine and should gently take off the day without stripping the skin of its natural oils. You want to steer clear from that squeaky clean feeling as this tends to mean you've disrupted the skin barrier. It's especially important for dry and sensitive skins to have a nourishing cleanser that won't irritate or exacerbate the problem further.

The Best Cleansers For Dry Skin At A Glance:

Best budget: Garnier Micellar Cleansing Gel Wash

Best for sensitive: Avène Milk Cleanser

Best for indulgence: Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm

Let us help you regain some balance with our edit of the very best cleansers for dry and sensitive skin. We spoke to skin specialist and Re Skin Studio founder, Katie White, for her product recommendations and top tips to cleanse effectively. She says:

1. Use a nourishing and non-stripping cleanser

'Choose a nourishing cleanser with natural ingredients that work to moisturise and reduce redness. Cleansers should absolutely clean the skin removing dirt and grime, but be careful not to use any that are too harsh for dry/sensitive skin. Remember, powerful ingredients don’t always mean great skin results if your skin is reactive and sensitive; using active ingredients can cause more irritation and redness.'

'Check what ingredients are in your cleanser. Jasmine oil works to increase moisture levels, while blue chamomile is a powerful anti-inflammatory that works to reduce redness and soothe any irritation. If you opt for a cleanser that requires the use of a hot cloth, make sure you regularly wash the cloth to avoid germs being spread to the face which can cause breakouts, and don’t rub too hard.'

2. Don’t over-exfoliate

'We all like our skin to feel squeaky clean and soft but a common mistake is to exfoliate the skin too much which causes dryness. Try to exfoliate a maximum of 2-3 times a week and when washing your cleanser off, use tepid water as hot water can cause a heightened level of skin sensitivity after cleansing. After washing your cleanser off, pat lightly with a towel; abrasive rubbing will cause irritation to the skin.'

3. The 360 approach

'As a holistic and nutritional therapist, I believe in the 360 approach to great skin. What we put into our bodies is just as important as what we put on them. To keep dry, sensitive skin hydrated, drink lots of water to detox the body and eat water-rich foods to keep the body hydrated. When w​e eat more water-rich foods, we absorb water more slowly because it is contained within the structure of these foods. Absorbing the water slowly means that water in food stays in our bodies longer giving added hydration benefits.'

'Leafy greens such as broccoli, spinach and celery gives us healthy doses of vitamins A, C and E and picked fruits like watermelon and strawberries that are around 90% water giving skin optimum hydration. Limit your screen time before bed and make sure you get restful sleep.'

'Lack of sleep affects the pH levels in our skin. When your skin's pH levels drop, they create an imbalance, causing your skin to not be able to produce the moisture it needs, making it drier. It can also create unnecessary redness, leaving your skin uneven and even trigger breakouts. Lifestyle choices really show on our skin, so it’s important to set strictself-care routines to make sure we’re giving our skin the support it needs from the inside out.'

4. Create a weekly mask ritual

'Pick a day of the week to take some time to show your skin a little TLC. I recommend giving yourself a hydrating face mask every Sunday. I love Orgaid Hydrating sheet masks, t​hey have antioxidant-packed ingredients helping with irritation, and dryness. They’re specially formulated with Ecoderma fabric technology to allow the serum to absorb deeper into the skin for optimum hydration.'

'You could create your own mask too. Ingredients like honey which is a humectant, works to draw moisture from deep down up to the surface of the skin revealing that glow. Avocado contains natural fats and minerals that not only hydrate but act as an anti-inflammatory.'

5. Seal the deal

After you’ve cleansed, make sure you seal your newly cleansed skin in with a light moisturiser. Applying a moisturiser after cleansing seals in moisture and helps maintain a healthy skin barrier. ​I love Skin & Tonic Calm Balm made from a blend of natural butters and oils including nourishing Shea butter and calendula, as well as lavender and chamomile, great for calming sensitive skin after a cleanse. For added hydration, finish off with a spray of hydration mist.

SHOP: The Best Cleansers For Dry Skin

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