Natural Creamy Facial Cleansers that Clean + Moisturize for Nourished Skin

A guide to my favorite creamy facial cleansers and cleansing milks made with natural, non-toxic ingredients.

That’s why I create my Non-Toxic Product Guides! My product guides cover healthy, natural products that I’ve personally tried – or in some cases that have come highly recommended by others. You’ll also find information on ingredients and why it is important to make the switch to safer products. I hope they help you!

What’s in Most Creamy Cleansers?

If you look at the ingredients for creamy facial cleansers you find at the drug or department store, you’ll see a long list of chemical names that are hard to pronounce. The list will probably include preservatives, artificial fragrances and petroleum-based ingredients that are often associated with hormone disruption and allergic reactions.

Look at the ingredient lists of a naturally-based creamy cleanser, and you may still see some hard-to-pronounce names, but they are most likely associated with plants instead of chemicals. For example Butyrospermum Parkii is the scientific name for shea butter and Lavandula Angustifolia is the scientific name for lavender. It can be a bit tricky at first, but over time you will begin to recognize many of the natural ingredients in the products you buy.

Creamy Facial Cleansers & Cleansing Milks

First of all, if you’ve never used a creamy facial cleanser, I highly recommend you try one! In my opinion, they are so much better for your skin than harsher cleansers that may strip the skin of its natural oils. I am a super-fan of these multi-tasking cleansers that moisturize like crazy, while still managing to deep clean and even remove makeup.

Creamy cleansers (also commonly called cleansing milks) tend to be non-sudsing which may seem unusual for some of you. Even though they don’t foam, creamy cleansers work to cleanse pores of dirt and impurities. They do it in a very gentle way – using plant-based oils and butters – which may actually be better for helping skin to retain moisture.

Most formulas also have active ingredients to hydrate and rejuvenate skin – helping it to look its best. Creamy cleansers are often geared toward people with normal to dry/mature skin but they can be fantastic for those with sensitive skin and sometimes even oily skin – since ingredients can help balance out skin.

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Here are some creamy cleansers I recommend:

Juice Beauty Cleansing Milk

Of all the facial cleansers I have tried, this is the one I have purchased most often. It is just the right consistency – not too thick, not too thin and I love the subtle, fresh scent with a hint of orange. Made with organic grapeseed and sunflower oils, as well as Juice Beauty’s anti-oxidant rich juice base and soothing chamomile and calendula. Doubles as a makeup remover and a shaving cream.

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Mad Hippie Cream Cleanser

This cleanser is newer to my repertoire but it’s a great one! Made with a base of sesame and jojoba oils, plus shea butter, along with active ingredients like orchid extract for its protective and reparative effects, and algae extract for its water binding properties. The glass pump bottle is a nice bonus.

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Beautycounter Nourishing Cream Cleanser

One of Beautycounter’s top-selling products, this cream cleanser is deeply moisturizing yet super gentle. The plastic tube makes it a great one to keep in the shower – plus it’s easy to throw in a bag for travel too. Made with hydrating coconut oil, rejuvenating witch hazel and soothing aloe vera. Great for all skin types and gentle enough for daily use.

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Weleda Gentle Cleansing Milk

This award-winning product from Weleda cleans gently without stripping skin, while adding moisture at the same time. Made with organic jojoba oil, anti-oxidant rich sesame seed oil and witch hazel for light astringent properties. The beautifully designed blue glass bottle is easy to grip too.

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Evan Healy Rose Cleansing Milk

Definitely the most luxurious creamy cleanser I’ve use, this one is formulated with coconut oil, shea butter and lots of nourishing flower extracts. The skin-balancing formula draws out impurities while restoring hydration. Meant for all skin types and the rose scent is to die for!

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EO Coconut Cleansing Milk

I’ve only tried a small sample of this cleansing milk but I thought it was top notch. The coconut oil helps remove makeup and unclog pores. Mango seed butter, argan and pumpkin seed oils add tons of moisture. Essential oils of rose, ylang-ylang and vetiver give it a lovely scent.

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Do you have a favorite creamy facial cleanser?

What other products would you like me to cover in my Non-Toxic Product Guides?