The Best Cleansers for Mature Skin in 2024, According to Dermatologists

As you age, your skin goes through some changes that might require you to build a new starting lineup of go-to products. While each person’s skin will age at a different pace (due to several factors, like your diet, sleep patterns, stress, and sun exposure, to name a few), it’s totally normal to notice a loss of collagen, moisture, and elasticity as early as your 30s, Jenny Liu, MD, FAAD, tells SELF. As your skin starts to become thinner and drier, she explains, it also becomes more sensitive—and that means you might need to find a new cleanser to avoid irritation or dryness.

When you wash your face, the goal is to moisturize and protect while gently scrubbing dirt, makeup, and oils away: “Think of it as both cleaning and treating the skin simultaneously,” Ife Rodney, MD, FAAD, tells SELF. Hydrating ingredients like ceramides, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid work to support your skin’s natural barrier, she says, preventing uncomfortable dryness. Alexis Stephens, DO, FACOD, FAAD, adds that these ingredients can also help reduce irritation, which can pop up more often as we age.

Whether you're in your 30s, 40s, 50s, or beyond, it’s time to rethink what your skin needs. Using the best cleanser for mature skin could make all the difference in maintaining a healthy, glowing complexion for years to come.

Our top picks

• Best Overall: CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser
• Best Exfoliating Cleanser: Good Clean Goop The Daily Juice Cleanser
• Best Cleansing Balm: Byoma Melting Balm Cleanser
• Best Gel Cleanser: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Fragrance-Free Hydrating Cleansing Gel
• Best Gentle Cleanser: Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser
• Best Foaming Cleanser: EltaMD Skin Recovery Amino Acid Foaming Cleanser

FAQs about cleansers for mature skin

Shop the best cleansers for mature skin

Now that you know what to look for in a cleanser, browse our top picks below, including some products we’ve tested firsthand and others that dermatologists recommend to their patients.Discover the perfect formula for your skin type—and remember to pair your cleanser with a rich moisturizer and a great sunscreen to complete your skin care routine.

Best Overall: CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser

• Gentle, hydrating ingredients
• Non-foaming formula is ideal for dry, sensitive skin
• Fragrance-free
• Budget-friendly
• Earned a seal of acceptance from the National Eczema Association

• Not ideal for oily skin

CeraVe’s Hydrating Facial Cleanser is a dermatologist favorite for a reason—it’s gentle, non-foaming, and replenishes your skin with exactly what it needs, making it our top overall pick. Dr. Rodney is a fan of its highly moisturizing formula, which contains three essential ceramides, plus hyaluronic acid. Meanwhile, Dr. Liu says it’s “perfect for restoring and maintaining the skin barrier.”

This cleanser has also earned a seal of acceptance from the National Eczema Association, meaning it’s been tested and vetted by derms, allergists, and eczema experts. Another bonus? It’s pretty budget-friendly, especially considering how large the bottle is.

Runner-up: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser

• Removes makeup effectively
• Won’t irritate or dry out skin
• No fragrance or harsh chemicals

• Some Amazon reviewers wish it left their skin feeling cleaner

Drs. Liu, Rodney, and Stephens all listed this cleanser right behind CeraVe, earning it a spot as our runner-up. “This cleanser contains ceramides and niacinamide, which are excellent for soothing and moisturizing aging skin,” says Dr. Liu. It’s also made with glycerin, which helps pull moisture into the skin, and won’t foam up (to keep your skin barrier intact). Dr. Rodney recommends it in particular for removing makeup, as it keeps your face hydrated while removing impurities.

Best for Dry Skin: Avène XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cleansing Oil

• Restores moisture and replenishes the skin barrier
• Fragrance-free formula is designed for sensitive skin
• Accepted by the National Eczema Association

• May be too heavy for oily or combination skin

“For individuals with extremely dry skin, Avène’s XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cleansing Oil may help restore the lipid barrier during the cleansing process,” Dr. Rodney says. The formula is extremely gentle, according to Amazon shoppers, with lots of moisturizing ingredients and vitamin E to keep skin feeling clean and healthy. It’s also fragrance-free—plus, we love that it earned a seal of acceptance from the National Eczema Association, like our top overall pick from CeraVe.

Best Exfoliating Cleanser: Good Clean Goop The Daily Juice Cleanser

• Hydrates skin with hyaluronic acid
• Fruit enzymes gently exfoliate
• Packed with antioxidants and amino acids

• Doesn’t come with a pump—a little goes a long way

This gel-to-foam cleanser is made with papaya and pineapple enzymes to gently exfoliate and reveal a brighter complexion, plus hyaluronic acid to hydrate skin. It’s also packed with amino acids, which help moisturize and regulate your skin’s pH, and antioxidants that block potentially harmful free radicals in the environment. Vegan and synthetic-fragrance-free, it provides a thorough cleanse while being gentle enough for daily use.

Target shoppers love how refreshing the formula feels: “The texture is smooth and it lathers well,” one wrote.

Best Cleansing Oil: Tatcha The Camellia Cleansing Oil

• Hydrating camellia oil supports the skin barrier
• Rice bran oil helps gently exfoliate and brighten
• Leaves skin feeling soft, according to Tatcha shoppers

• May feel too rich for oily skin types
• Pricey
• Contains added fragrance

Made with antioxidant-filled camellia oil, this Tatcha cleanser is a luxurious yet gentle way to take the day off. It’s also made with rice bran oil, an ingredient known for its high levels of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.

While this cleanser is on the pricier side, Tatcha reviewers say it’s well worth the investment: “I never tried cleansing oil before, and now I will NEVER use anything else,” one wrote. “This is amazing and my skin never felt and/or looked better!”

Best Cleansing Balm: Byoma Melting Balm Cleanser

• Ideal for dry, sensitive skin
• Gently removes makeup and impurities without stripping
• Budget-friendly

• Packaging is bulky, according to Byoma reviewers

This balm-to-oil cleanser from Byoma melts away makeup, leaving dry skin feeling moisturized and soft. It’s made with ceramides and shea butter, which work together to lock in moisture and soothe skin.

Byoma shoppers love the texture, with one calling it “the real deal. Easy to rinse and not greasy at all.” Another shared, “this leaves my skin feeling super soft and never stripped—dry faces will absolutely drink this up!”

Best Gel Cleanser: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Fragrance-Free Hydrating Cleansing Gel

• Lightweight gel formula hydrates without leaving skin feeling greasy
• Fragrance-free
• Budget-friendly

• Doesn’t smell great, according to Amazon shoppers

Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Hydrating Cleansing Gel is an affordable and effective drugstore option. We like that it’s fragrance-, paraben-, and alcohol-free, with a gentle lather that removes dirt and oil without drying skin out in the process. Hyaluronic acid helps lock moisture in, keeping skin soft and smooth.

Users love the clean feel it provides without the tightness that other cleansers sometimes leave behind. One Amazon reviewer noted, “I liked how I could feel it already moisturizing my face as I’m washing it. Even afterwards, my face stays hydrated.”

Best Gentle Cleanser: Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser

• Great for sensitive skin
• Under $10
• Fragrance- and sulfate-free
• Earned a seal of acceptance from the National Eczema Association

• Small bottle

For those with sensitive skin, Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser is our favorite extra-gentle option. The non-foaming formula is specifically designed to clean without irritating or drying, making it ideal for daily use. Free from fragrances, dyes, and harsh surfactants, it helps maintain your skin's natural moisture while offering a soothing, thorough cleanse.

Amazon shoppers rave about its simplicity and effectiveness, noting how it leaves skin feeling clean without over-stripping. One reviewer shared, “I needed a gentle cleanser that won’t aggravate my already barrier-compromised skin. This one is perfect.”

Best Foaming Cleanser: EltaMD Skin Recovery Amino Acid Foaming Cleanser

• Gentle on sensitive skin
• Fragrance- and sulfate-free
• Also helps reduce redness

• May not fully remove heavy or waterproof makeup, according to Amazon shoppers

While the experts we spoke with generally recommended avoiding foaming cleansers, they made an exception for this one from EltaMD. It dissolves dirt and impurities without using harsh cleansing agents. The hero ingredient is sodium cocoyl, which Dr. Rodney calls out for its gentle, non-abrasive properties.

An amino acid blend helps preserve the skin’s natural moisture barrier, leaving your face feeling refreshed, but not tight. It’s also formulated to soothe irritation and reduce redness in as little as 14 days.

Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Dermalogica Skin Resurfacing Lactic Acid Cleanser

• Gently exfoliates while hydrating
• Helps unclog pores and smooth uneven texture
• Paraben-free

• Sephora reviewers say it may be too harsh to use daily, especially if you have sensitive skin
• Pricey

Dermalogica’s exfoliating cleanser is formulated with lactic acid, a gentle alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that can help unclog pores, brighten dull skin, and promote cell turnover, as SELF has previously reported. Dr. Stephens notes that, in low concentrations (think 1% to 3%), AHAs can also keep skin looking radiant and smooth.

The cleanser’s creamy formula balances exfoliation with hydration, making it a solid choice for those managing both breakouts and dryness. Just note that you may not be able to use it every day at first, especially if your face is very sensitive.

Related:

• 17 Night Creams Derms Love for Aging Skin
• Our Favorite Color Correctors for Tackling Redness
• The Best Red Light Therapy Devices for Clearer, Smoother Skin

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