Many people tell you that you don’t need to splurge on your cleanser. And they’re right! There are some amazing options at your local drugstore. Today I’m sharing my thoughts on popular cleansers you can find at your local Target, Walgreens, or CVS. I’m a firm believer that you don’t have to break the bank to create a solid skincare routine, so hopefully this drugstore cleanser review can help. There are a lot of cleansers out there on the market, so thought I’d try out some of the most popular. These are commonly recommended by dermatologists as well! Here are my thoughts on some popular cleansers from La Roche-Posay, CeraVe, Vanicream, and Neutrogena.
Review of 4 Popular Drugstore Cleansers:
1. La Roche-Posay Hydrating Cleanser
This La Roche-Posay cleanser has quickly become my go-to morning cleanser. It has a lightweight, creamy-gel texture that’s super gentle on the skin. It’s fragrance and essential-oil free, feels soothing on the skin, and leaves my skin feeling gently cleansed. It feels like you’re applying a soothing gel-cream to the skin. It’d be the perfect cleanser for dry, sensitive skin. Personally, I have more balanced skin, and I love using it in the morning but prefer a deeper clean at night. I wouldn’t say this adds back hydration to the skin, but it doesn’t leave the skin tight or dry at all. It’s also formulated with glycerin, ceramides, and niacinamide to hydrate and strengthen the skin barrier. If you’re looking for a gentle cleanser that won’t irritate or dry out your skin, this is a great option.
Price: $14.99 for 13.52 oz/400 ml
Purchase at: Ulta, Dermstore, Amazon
Ingredients: Aqua / Water / Eau (La Roche-Posay Prebiotic Thermal Water), Glycerin, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Propylene Glycol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Polysorbate 60, Ceramide Np, Niacinamide, Sodium Chloride, Coco-Betaine, Disodium Edta, Caprylyl Glycol, Panthenol, T-Butyl Alcohol, Tocopherol.
2. Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser
Vanicream is truly a no-frills skincare brand, but that’s part of the reason why I love it. This cleanser gives a deeper clean than the La Roche-Posay, but is still gentle and non-stripping. It has a thicker gel texture that emulsifies well with minimal foaming. This would work well for most skin types and if you prefer a deeper clean, this is a great option. It’s also fragrance and essential oil free, but it has a slight plastic-y scent that I overlook because it’s a really solid cleanser. This would be a great option if you have acne-prone skin to use alongside prescription treatments like tretinoin. At $10 a bottle, this is a high quality cleanser that’s truly a bang for your buck. A little goes a long way too, so one bottle will last you at least a few months of daily use.
Price: $8.99 for 8 oz/237 ml
Purchase at: Lovely Skin, Amazon
Ingredients: Purified Water, Glycerin, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Acrylates Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Mica, Sodium Chloride, 1, 2-Hexanediol, Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium Edta
3. CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser
This CeraVe cleanser is probably one of the most popular cleansers out there. I’ve seen it all over Instagram and TikTok… so I’m disappointed that I didn’t really like this one. It has a thin creamy texture that feels lightweight but it left a film on my skin that I couldn’t rinse off. I didn’t really feel like it cleansed my skin, and I got that film every time I used it. I know this is a cult favorite, but I much prefer the La Roche-Posay. This cleanser is also fragrance and essential oil free, and is well loved by lots of people with dry and sensitive skin. My overall drugstore cleanser review is that this one isn’t really worthwhile. The La Roche-Posay hydrating cleanser is a great alternative for dry and/or sensitive skin.
Price: $14.99 for 12 oz/355 ml
Purchase at: Ulta, Dermstore, Amazon
Ingredients: Purified Water, Glycerin, Behentrimonium Methosulfate and Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceramide 3, Ceramide 6-11, Ceramide 1, Hyaluronic Acid, Cholesterol, Polyoxyl 40 Stearate, Glyceryl Monostearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 20, Potassium Phosphate, Dipotassium Phosphate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cetyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Phytosphingosine, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum.
4. Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Foaming Cleanser
This Neutrogena cleanser came recommended by my dermatologist to use alongside my prescription tretinoin and azelaic acid. I personally love a good foaming cleanser, but many of them are very drying and stripping on the skin. This one pleasantly surprised me! It foams up very well but doesn’t leave the skin feeling tight or dry. I personally love using it in the shower because it’s easy and convenient to use. This cleanser would likely work well for most skin types as well, but it does contain a small amount of fragrance. I personally don’t experience any sensitivity or irritation, but just something to note if you have a sensitivity to fragrance. Overall, I think this is a solid, very well-priced foaming cleanser that’s a great option at the drugstore!
Price: $10.99 for 12 oz/354 ml
Purchase at: Ulta
Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Lauryl Glucoside, Potassium Acrylates Copolymer, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Disodium Lauroamphodiacetate, Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Fragrance.
And that’s it! My drugstore cleanser review of some popular options that I’ve seen on Instagram and TikTok. I really enjoy most of them and think they are great cleansers, especially for the price point. While I don’t think I’ll fully give up my slightly higher end cleansers (I love a luxurious cleansing experience), drugstore cleansers can definitely do the job. There are some amazing no-frills options at the drugstore that would work well for all skin types. Let me know your favorite drugstore cleansers down below!
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