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We know the ingredients that we put on our skin matter, and this is especially true of the cleansers and moisturizers we use on our face. However, many conventional face washes contain harsh chemicals that ultimately dry out our skin. Luckily, we can opt instead for natural face wash and cleansing gels that offer a ton of skincare benefits through the powers of natural, botanical ingredients.
We’ve collected our favorite natural face cleansers, including several organic face wash options, to help you hydrate and nourish your skin without a side of potentially harmful chemicals. Read on for our top picks.
What are the Benefits of Natural Face Washes?
Natural face washes tend to be gentle and soothing, which is ideal for those of us with sensitive skin who can react poorly to harsh chemicals. With natural ingredients like aloe vera, chamomile, and green tea extracts, the best natural face cleansers reduce redness and inflammation and moisturize our skin, rather than drying it out.
Natural face washes are free from harmful additives, such as sulfates, parabens, and artificial fragrances, which can strip away your skin’s natural oils and disrupt its balance. All-natural face cleansers harness the power of botanical extracts, vitamins, and essential oils to cleanse our skin while maintaining its natural moisture levels.
They also remove impurities and unclog pores to prevent breakouts and keep your skin clear and glowing.
11 Best Natural Face Wash Cleansers
Whether you’re looking for a natural face wash for acne, a natural face cleanser for aging skin, or just an everyday product to add to your skincare routine, we’ve got you covered. Here are the best organic and natural face washes that will get your face refreshingly clean with plant-derived ingredients and no harsh chemicals.
1. True Botanicals Organic Clear Nourishing Cleanser ($48/4 oz)
Best for: Acne prone skin
True Botanicals’ Organic Clear Nourishing Cleanser is a gentle face wash that’s specifically designed for problematic skin that’s prone to acne and inflammation. It clears congestion, removes impurities, and keeps your skin feeling hydrated without drying it out.
With plant-derived ingredients and no harmful chemicals, parabens, or sulfates, this organic face wash works naturally to clean your skin. True Botanicals values organic and sustainable sourcing, and their products are always made safe and cruelty-free.
2. Honest Beauty Gentle Gel Cleanser ($13/5 oz)
Best for: All skin types
This popular and EWG verified cleanser delivers a gentle cleansing experience that leaves your skin feeling refreshed. What I like most is that it removes dirt without leaving my skin feeling dry or tight. It’s suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin, thanks to its gentle formula.
It’s reassuring to know that Honest Beauty prioritizes clean ingredients, so this cleanser is free from harsh chemicals, parabens, and sulfates. If you’re looking for a face wash that treats your skin with kindness while delivering amazing results, I highly recommend giving the Honest Beauty Gentle Gel Cleanser a try. It’s budget friendly, as well!
3. Osea Ocean Cleanser ($45/5 oz)
Best for: Dry and sensitive skin
I personally love Osea’s seaweed-infused gel facial cleanser. The one thing to know about this face wash is that the EWG rates this cleanser a 3, since it uses essential oils that some may people be sensitive to.
This awesome cleanser does not contain any harsh chemicals you’d want to avoid in a natural face wash. It comes in a glass container, which is more eco-friendly than plastic, so do be careful about putting it away safely after use to avoid accidentally knocking it off your counter!
4. Biossance Squalane and Tea Tree Cleansing Gel ($11.80/oz)
Best for: Acne prone skin and oily/combination skin
The Biossance Squalane + Tea Tree Cleansing Gel is one of the best natural face washes for acne. It’s a gentle and effective facial cleanser designed for oily/combination and acne-prone skin. It deeply purifies pores without drying the skin and is sulfate-free.
This cleansing gel uses tea tree oil to target acne and excess surface oil, effectively removing makeup and impurities while leaving the skin clear and soft. It’s is made with sustainably farmed tea tree oil from Australia, squalane, which provides moisture, and soothing aloe juice.
Biossance is a great clean beauty company that follows high standards for the skin and the environment. Their products are vegan, cruelty-free, and free from parabens, synthetic fragrances, and PEG.
5. Beautycounter Foaming Cleanser ($8/oz)
Best for: All skin types
This creamy foaming cleanser has squalane, plum oil, and phytic acid to remove remove makeup and clean your skin gently, yet effectively. Its squalane is derived from olives, the plum oil is high in Vitamin E, and it uses phytic acid derived from rice to exfoliate the skin. This face wash is also EWG verified to be safe and non-toxic.
6. Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Cleansing Oil ($34/4.5 oz)
7. Inna Organic Cleansing Gel ($33/5 oz)
Best for: All skin types
This EWG verified, 2-in-1 multitasking facial cleanser is designed to gently and effectively remove makeup while flushing out dirt and impurities from your skin. It has a natural coconut surfactant that washes away excess oil and pore-clogging impurities without causing harm to your skin.
This organic face wash also contains plant-based glycerin to help keep skin hydrated, along with sunflower seed oil, which is rich in Vitamin E.
8. Meridaskin Foaming Facial Cleanser ($21/3.4 oz)
Best for: Sensitive skin/rosacea
This EWG Verified face wash was originally developed by a nurse practitioner to help people dealing with rosacea, so it’s a great natural face wash for sensitive skin. It contains nourishing botanical extracts and vitamins and leaves your skin feeling clean and hydrated.
This cleanser is suitable for all skin types, and is especially good for people with sensitive skin or rosacea.
9. Be Green Gentle Facial Cleanser ($21/4.2 oz)
Best for: All skin types, sensitive skin
Be Green’s EWG verified formula is 100% natural and plant derived. It has light, moisturizing oils made from kaolin clay, oats, apricot kernel oil, and organic saponified oils that clean skin gently.
What I like most about this facial cleanser is its milky consistency, along with the fact that it doesn’t contain any added scents or dyes. It simply smells like the natural ingredients used. It’s especially gentle on sensitive skin and doesn’t aggravate sensitive skin conditions.
This face wash is free of parabens, phthalates, petrolatum, SLS, fragrances, and dyes, making it a clean and safe option for all skin types.
10. Just the Goods Vegan Face Wash ($3/1 oz)
Best for: Sensitive skin
This gentle cleanser starts with an organic castile soap base and kaolin clay to tackle impurities and leave your skin feeling fresh. It’s also infused with palmarosa essential oil, which is known for its antibacterial properties and ability to hydrate sensitive skin without being too drying.
This face wash is non-toxic, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing, so it’s a great natural face wash for sensitive skin. It’s also wallet friendly, at just $3/oz.
11. Sally B’s Skin Yummies Facial Cleanser ($34/4oz)
Best for: All skin types
Sally B’s is one of my favorite organic companies that makes non-toxic, natural lotions and hand soaps that work really well without harsh chemicals. This natural face wash is no exception. It’s made with over 95% certified organic ingredients (amazing) and works well to clean your face while calming your skin at the same time.
Sally B’s Skin Yummies facial cleanser is totally free of GMOs, artificial ingredients, and parabens. It’s also gluten-free, cruelty-free, and vegan friendly.
Make Way for Natural Face Wash for a Cleaner, Greener Lather
Switching to a natural face wash can be a transformative step in your skincare routine. With their gentle yet effective formulas, natural cleansers offer a whole lot of benefits for your skin and for the environment.
By opting for natural ingredients, you can clean your skin with the goodness of nature while avoiding harsh chemicals that don’t belong on your face.
If you’re looking to do a double face cleanse or remove makeup at the end of the day, check out our top picks for organic micellar water.
