Find The Best Non Toxic Face Cleanser for Your Skin Type

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Best Natural Face Cleansers by Type

Depending on your preferences and skincare routine, there are so many great options for natural and non-toxic face cleansers including foaming cleansers, creamy cleansers, oil-based cleansers, cleansing balms, zero waste facial bar soaps and even DIY facial cleanser options.

Within the mix, there are cleansers for different skin types and stages of life, including dry skin, oily or blemish prone skin and aging/mature skin. 

Even though your needs are different than mine, the products and brands I’m mentioning here are a combination of products I’ve used myself, or that have come highly recommended by others. 

Let’s take a look at some of the best natural face cleansers I’ve found!

Foaming Facial Cleansers 

Just because a product is naturally based, doesn’t mean it can’t foam up a bit! If you’re the type that prefers a bit of lather to feel clean, I’ve got you covered with these excellent non toxic face wash products that will leave you with refreshingly clean skin! 

• Fantastic Face Wash from Ursa Major is great for almost all skin types including combination skin.
• Graydon Face Foam is fragrance free and has a skin-friendly pH level.
• Indie Lee has the best brightening cleanser and I love the light, strawberry scent.
• If you’re looking for a certified organic cleanser, then check out the Juice Beauty facial wash.
• The MyChelle cleanser is the best enzyme cleanser I’ve found – it contains fruit enzymes for super gentle exfoliation.
• Earth Tu Face Face Wash is a gentle soap made with palmarosa and aloe for all skin types.

Creamy Facial Cleansers

If you have dry skin, a creamy cleanser may be more your thing. My skin loves these gentle, moisturizing cleansers, especially during the winter months.

• OSEA Ocean Cleanser is my personal favorite is the because it is a creamy gel cleanser that goes on smooth and smells divine!
• Annmarie Aloe Herb Cleanser is pH-balanced and is infused with herbs and natural oils to keep skin naturally hydrated.
• Juice Beauty is a classic cleansing milk with a light fragrance.
• Mad Hippie Cream Cleanser is non-foaming and moisturizes skin with organic jojoba and other nourishing oils.
• Nourish Organic Cleanser has a creamy texture and a light foaming action.
• Acure Cleansing Cream is a great budget option for a gentle cream cleanser. 

More Creamy Cleansers and Cleansing Milks

Natural Cleansing Oils

Lately, I’ve been pretty obsessed with cleansing oils! Not only are they a great way to remove makeup and grime, but they leave your skin incredibly moisturized – even before you use your moisture cream. Cleansing oils are rubbed into dry skin and then rinsed off lightly with warm water. It’s hard not to love the oil cleansing method!

• One Love Organics Enzyme Cleansing Oil contains fruit enzymes that provide a mild exfoliation to remove dead skin cells and can even be used as a facial mask.
• Beautycounter Cleansing Oil is made with a plant-derived Retinatural Complex that is comparable to retinol — but without the harmful side effects.
• Province Apothecary Oil Cleanser is made with nourishing avocado and raspberry seed oil and has a soothing lavender scent.

Cleansing Balms

If you haven’t tried a cleansing balm yet, I highly recommend you start! A cleansing balm is an oil based product that comes in a solid state (as opposed to liquid) and is used for cleansing and as a makeup remover. The beauty of a cleansing balm is that it works for any skin type – dry skin, oily or acne-prone skin, sensitive skin, young skin or mature skin.

Similar to a cleansing oil, you rub the balm into dry skin and then use warm water and a muslin cloth to gently wipe away excess oil from skin.

• True Botanicals Ginger Turmeric cleansing balm is my current fav because it melts so nicely
• Beautycounter Lotus Glow cleansing balm is a long time fav and smells heavenly! 
• The 100% Pure cleansing balm has olive leaf and blood orange to help banish acne-causing bacteria.
• If you’re into DIY we’ve got a recipe for a homemade cleansing balm too.

Face Soap Bars

Into minimizing waste as much as possible? You’ll appreciate these plastic-free facial bar soaps that provide a simple way to cleanse your face.

• Beautycounter Charcoal Cleansing Bar – This one is a fan favorite (out of stock until early 2025).
• Osmia Rose Clay Facial Soap gives a creamy, gentle lather and a lovely rose scent.
• If you are looking for a budget option, the Seaweed Bath Co facial bar comes highly recommended. 

Cleansers for Acne and Oily Skin

Those of you with oily or blemish-prone skin may benefit from a cleanser specifically formulated for your skin type. Luckily there are quite a few naturally-derived formulas that are far better for your skin than traditional acne cleansers. 

• Beautycounter Clear Pore Cleanser gets rave reviews (out of stock until early 2025)
• Desert Essence Thoroughly Clean Face Wash is an affordable brand that has antiseptic tea tree oil in the formula
• Derma E Acne Deep Pore Cleansing Wash helps to clear acne & blackheads and reduce redness with salicylic acid and tea tree oil.

DIY Face Cleanser Recipes

Whether you want to save money or you just love making your own homemade skin care products, sometimes DIY is the way to go! I’ve included my homemade cleansing balm made with shea butter, cocoa butter and coconut oil as well as a couple other unique DIY cleanser ideas.

If you are specifically looking for cruelty free face cleansers, I’ve got you covered!

Why Switch to a Non-Toxic Face Cleanser?

From the inexpensive facial cleansers found at drugstores, to the higher-end varieties found at beauty counters, there is no shortage of options for ways to wash your face. The problem with most of these products is that they are made with potentially harmful chemicals that could irritate your skin or cause harm to your body in the long run.

Be sure to check the ingredients list for some of these unhealthy ingredients found in facial cleansing products:

• Harsh foaming cleansers like sodium lauryl and laureth sulfate
• PEG compounds and other ethoxylated ingredients, that can become contaminated with 1,4-dioxane
• Formaldehyde-releasing ingredients (quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea)
• Ethanolamines (MEA/DEA/TEA) that can react with other chemicals to form carcinogenic nitrosamines
• Synthetic fragrances – Can be a mix of 100s of undisclosed chemicals including endocrine disrupting phthalates and other ingredients that may cause allergic reactions
• Paraben preservatives (propylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparaben, methylparaben) 
• Petroleum based ingredients that come from non-renewable resources and are not environmentally friendly
• Read more about ingredients to avoid in skin care products here

What to Look for in a Natural Facial Cleanser

A high quality face cleanser should NOT be made with harsh ingredients that strip your face of its beneficial natural oils or any of the harmful ingredients we talked about above. 

Ingredients in a natural face cleanser should clean your skin and remove makeup gently, while adding soothing and moisturizing nutrients to your face as well. 

Look for these things in a natural, non-toxic facial cleanser:

• Minimally processed, plant based ingredients
• Scents from essential oils or other natural ingredients – with ALL fragrance components listed
• High percentage of certified organic ingredients
• Trusted certifications such as EWG Verified, MADE SAFE or USDA Organic

Where to Shop For Natural Face Cleansers 

Luckily, face cleansers made with clean, plant-based ingredients are not hard to find these days. Check out local stores like food co-ops, natural products stores and even places like Target and CVS for popular natural skin care brands. If you can’t find what you want locally, you can find many products online:

• Amazon (Some of my favorite personal care brands are listed in my Amazon store) 
• Credo Beauty
• The Detox Market
• Aillea
• Thrive Market

Do you have a favorite non toxic face cleanser? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!