Washing our face is one of many important steps to keeping your skin clear. No matter how old you are, getting rid of residual makeup, dirt, grime, oils, etc. is essential to keeping our skin looking and feeling healthy, and having quality products is equally important. It used to be tough to find facial cleansers that didn't have harmful ingredients in them, but more and more of them have popped up in the market, making it easier to limit exposure to toxic chemicals; the hardest thing now is making a choice. Whether you prefer a gel, cream, oil, or foam, there's a natural face cleanser out there for you!

Here's 12 of the best natural face cleansers:

Mad Hippie

The Mad Hippie Cream Cleanser is their best seller for a reason. It's perfect for dry, sensitive skin, as the addition of jojoba and macadamia oil, algae extract, and shea butter help moisturize the skin without stripping the skin of its natural lipid layer. This cream formula doesn't lather, but it is still great at washing away dirt and grime from the face. If cream-based cleansers aren't your thing, they have an excellent Jelly Cleanser that melts into a milky texture, and it is equally nourishing and also has some anti-aging properties as well! Lastly, if you like to double-cleanse, or have acne-prone skin, they have a Cleansing Oil made with ginger, rosehip seed oil, and pumpkin seed oil that will help even out skin tone and reduce the occurrence of blemishes; it's also acts as a makeup remover. As always, Mad Hippie's products are free from phthalates, parabens, petroleum, fragrance, PEGs, dyes, and SLS, and are also budget-friendly.

Cocokind

This Oil to Milk Cleanser by Cocokind does exactly what it says; it goes from an oil texture to a milky texture once water is mixed in. This gives the skin the ultimate hydration it needs and leaves it soft and supple after washing. It works for all skin types, and is a great option for those with sensitive skin, as it doesn't contain fragrance. It contains organic oats and an oil complex that supports the skin's natural microbiome and locks in hydration within the skin barrier. At only $13, this cleanser won't break the wallet!

Honest Beauty

Honest Beauty is another affordable, clean brand, and their cleansers are top notch. Their Gentle Gel Cleanser is a popular choice, and it's only $14.99 for 5 oz, which isn't a bad deal. It's free from SLS/SLES, parabens, phthalates, fragrances, and PEGs, so you should feel safe using this product (I know I do). The addition of chamomile and calendula extracts help refresh and calm the skin, all while gently washing any impurities away and keeping the skin hydrated. It's also EWG-certified, so that's a big win as well! Give it a try here.

Hero Cosmetics

If you have acne-prone skin or want a brighter, more even complexion, the Hero Cosmetics Exfoliating Jelly Cleanser is the perfect option, and affordable, too at only $12.99! It's free from silicones, sulfates, phthalates, alcohols, and fragrance. It contains AHAs, BHAs, and PHAs, which help exfoliate and break down dead skin cells and oils, and leaves behind a more even skin tone and complexion. It starts out with a jelly texture and turns into a foam, which in my opinion makes my skin feel cleaner afterward. For not containing any junk ingredients and costing a cheaper price than most, this jelly cleanser is a must!

Aromatica

If you're a fan of Korean skincare brands, Aromatica is the perfect choice. It's the only Korean beauty brand to meet EWG standards, so you know it's formulated with safer, non-toxic ingredients. Their Tea Tree Foaming Cleanser won the Peach & Lily Best of K-Beauty Award in 2023, and for good reason. This cleanser is great for acne-prone and oily skin-types, and the addition of aloe vera and tea tree oil help to soothe the skin, fight against acne-causing bacteria, and decrease inflammation. It's also only $15, so it won't break the bank!

Ilia

I'm a huge fan of Ilia's makeup, especially their skin tint and mascara, and their Foaming Cleanser is no exception. It's fragrance-free, uses only plant-based surfactants as an alternative to sulfates (which come from petroleum), and is suitable for all skin types. The addition of pentavitin helps hydrate and plump the skin by drawing moisture into the skin. As well, this cleanser helps maintain the natural pH of the skin while effectively removing makeup and other pollutants. This cleanser is on the pricier side, at $32 dollars, but Ilia is a reputable, clean brand, so I think it's worth a try.

Dime Beauty

Dime Beauty is another EWG-verified brand on this list, so it's held to a high standard of what ingredients are included in their formulas. Their Gentle Jelly Cleanser is perfect for combination skin, and includes coconut oil and vitamin E to soothe and hydrate the skin, lycopene to fight against free radicals from the environment that damage skin cells, and strawberry oil for refreshing scent. This cleanser is super soothing, doesn't dry out your skin, and thoroughly removes makeup. At $21, it's a little heftier in price, but it's still a great option, especially if you have sensitive skin. It also comes in a glass bottle, so you won't come into contact with any plastics if that's something you're trying to avoid.

Osea

Osea has been producing non toxic skincare products since 1996, and they've built quite the reputation. Their Ocean Cleanser is one of their best sellers, and is perfect for normal and combination skin types. It contains seaweed and lactic acid, which helps to deliver minerals to the skin and exfoliate to unclog pores, leaving behind more clear and radiant complexion. It'll cost you a pretty penny, as it runs around $48, but considering it has been around for almost 30 years, Osea must be doing something right with this cleanser.

Biossance

Another one of my favorite brands is Biossance. It's EWG-verified, and I love that most of their products contain squalane, which helps lock-in moisture deep into the skin. Their Squalane and Antioxidant Cleansing Oil works for all skin types, and can be used as a part of a double-cleanse as well (which helps get a deeper clean and remove oily buildup/makeup). The antioxidants help fight free radical and UV damage, so you'll be both protecting your skin cells and hydrating at the same time. A little goes a long way with this bottle, so even though it costs $32 for 6 oz, I think it's well worth it since it will last a long time.

Primally Pure

Made with natural and organic ingredients, Primally Pure's cleansing oils are perfect for every skin type, since they have a different oil for every skin type: normal, dry, and oily/acne-prone. Contrary to what you may think, cleansing oils help break down buildup within the pores. They also help to nourish and hydrate the skin at a deeper level, leaving a soft and balanced complexion. It comes in a 2-oz and 4-oz bottle, so if you're hesitant to try the full-size, the mini version is a good start!

Bambu Earth

Bambu Earth's Rosewater Cleanser only contains 3 ingredients: Rosewater hydrosol, vegetable glycerin, and tea tree oil. That's it! Since it is a non-foaming formula, that means it won't strip away any extra moisture from your face, and will only hydrate the skin while it cleanses. The tea tree oil will also help fight acne, since it's anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial, but it's still great for all skin types, not just acne-prone. This gentle cleanser is $21 for 4 oz, which is a little pricey for the amount you get, but it's highly-rated for a reason. Plus, since there's only 3 ingredients, you know it's a safe option.

True Botanicals

Last but not least is True Botanicals, which is another EWG-verified brand. Their Renew Nourishing Cleanser is great for normal to dry skin, and is made with green and white tea, aloe vera, and green tea seed oil; these ingredients help fight signs of aging, prevent moisture loss, and soothe the skin with the nutrient-dense formula. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, their Clear Nourishing Cleaner is perfect! It contains helichrysum, black willow bark extract, algae extract, and astaxanthin; these ingredients have anti-inflammatory properties, exfoliate dead skin cells, and also help reduce the signs of aging. Both of these cleansers are about $48, so it's an expensive option, but if you do decide to try them, you won't be disappointed.

*Disclosure: Some of the links in the article above are affiliate links, so if you are inclined to make a purchase based on the recommendations, the author will make a small commission. Thank you for your support if you so choose.*