A great cleanser is the foundation everything else in your routine is built on. Use the wrong one and your skin never quite functions the way it should — it's either stripped and reactive, or under-cleansed and congested. This guide breaks down our favorite cleansers brand by brand so you can find the right fit for your skin.
Browse the full cleansers collection to see all options.
Face Reality
Face Reality's cleansers are built around one principle: acne-safe formulation without compromise. Every ingredient is screened for comedogenicity, and nothing makes it in that could clog a pore or feed acne bacteria.
Face Reality Ultra Gentle Cleanser — $33 Gel cleanser for acne-prone and sensitive skin. Fragrance-free, SLS-free, and thoroughly acne-safe. One of the most used products in our practice — particularly with clients who have tried everything and keep breaking out from their cleanser without realizing it. Available in full size and a $14 travel size for easy sampling.
Face Reality Barrier Balance Creamy Cleanser — $37 For acne-prone skin that's also dry or combination. Cleans thoroughly without that tight, stripped feeling. The "creamy" texture makes people nervous when they have oily or acne-prone skin, but this formula is 100% acne-safe — no comedogenic emollients.
Face Reality Acne Face & Body Wash — $36 Dual-purpose wash for clients dealing with both facial and body acne — chest, back, and shoulders. Active formula that works on the whole body without being too harsh for the face when used properly.
Skin Script
Skin Script makes professional-grade cleansers with active ingredients that do double duty — cleansing and treating simultaneously.
Skin Script Raspberry Refining Cleanser — $33 Salicylic acid cleanser for oily and congested skin. Raspberry extract adds antioxidant support. Used twice daily, it noticeably reduces blackhead buildup and keeps pores cleaner between professional treatments.
Skin Script Green Tea Citrus Cleanser — $32 (or $12.50 travel) Gentle gel cleanser with green tea antioxidants and vitamin C. Balanced enough for combination and sensitive skin while still being effective for daily use. The travel size makes it one of the easiest ways to try a new cleanser without committing.
Skin Script Honey Brightening Cleanser — $39 Honey-based cleanser with brightening properties. Works well for normal to dry skin with dullness or post-acne marks. Clients who use this consistently notice their skin looks more radiant between appointments.
Sorella Apothecary
Sorella Apothecary sits at the intersection of professional-grade formulation and sensory experience — their products are esthetician-curated but genuinely enjoyable to use.
Sorella Apothecary Orange You Jelly Cleanser — $44 Vitamin C-rich jelly cleanser that brightens as it cleans. The texture is a crowd favorite — gel-like and satisfying without stripping. Great for clients who want their skincare to feel like something they look forward to, not just a medical protocol.
Eminence Organic Skin Care
Eminence builds professional-grade cleansers with certified organic ingredients — no synthetic fragrance, no harsh sulfates, and botanicals at meaningful concentrations.
Eminence Calm Skin Chamomile Cleanser — $49 Chamomile is one of the most clinically studied botanical calming agents. This cleanser is designed for redness-prone and sensitive skin — soap-free, gentle, and soothing.
Eminence Coconut Milk Cleanser — $51 Rich, nourishing cleanser for dry and dehydrated skin. Cleansing that doesn't strip — hydrating enough that your skin feels comfortable immediately after rinsing.
Eminence Stone Crop Cleansing Oil — $59 First-cleanse oil for removing SPF and makeup. Stone Crop is one of Eminence's flagship botanicals — brightening, soothing, and rich in fatty acids for dry and mature skin.
Eminence Mangosteen Resurfacing Cleanser — $49 Gentle AHA cleanser with lactic acid for oily, congested, and dull skin. Exfoliates at the surface with every wash. Popular with clients who prefer botanical formulas but still want active results.
Eminence Firm Skin Acai Cleanser — $49 Antioxidant-rich cleanser from Eminence's anti-aging line. Acai berry provides a dense antioxidant dose in a formula that's gentle enough for daily use on aging and mature skin.
PCA Skin
PCA Skin's cleansers are the foundational step in one of the most trusted professional skincare lines available.
PCA Skin Creamy Cleanser — $42 A hydrating cream cleanser for dry and normal skin. No stripping, no tightness — just clean, comfortable skin. Works as a standalone daily cleanser or as the second step in a double-cleanse routine.
PCA Skin Daily Cleansing Oil — $48 Oil cleanser for removing SPF, makeup, and daily buildup. Particularly good for dry and mature skin that benefits from the added lipid support an oil cleanser provides. Emulsifies cleanly with water — no greasy residue.
Hydrinity
Hydrinity Prelude Facial Treatment Cleanser — $58 Hydrinity's cleanser is built for sensitive and compromised skin. The Prelude formula primes skin for the rest of the routine without disrupting the barrier — a clinically sophisticated choice for clients managing reactive or post-treatment skin.
Not sure which cleanser fits your skin? Contact our team and we'll point you in the right direction.
— Lisa, Co-Founder, Licensed Esthetician & RN at Cleanse Face & Body Bar