A cleanser does so much more than just remove makeup and clean our face. It can also influence the skin's pH and either support or disrupt the skin's natural barrier. Finding the perfect face wash starts with understanding your skin type. But what makes it tricky is that our skin type keeps changing, due to age, hormones, weather and the environment. The cleanser that was perfect a few years ago, or even last season, may not be the right one now. Mine has changed completely over the last 20 years. In my 30s I needed a foaming cleanser for hormonal breakouts. Then my cheeks started to get dry and I was left with just an oily t-zone, so I switched to balancing gels for combination skin. By my 40s my skin had shifted to dry and I moved to milk cleansers. Now in my 50s I use the richest, creamiest formulas I can find.

Understanding your skin type

According to the Baumann Skin Typing System, developed by dermatologist Dr Leslie Baumann and published in her book The Skin Type Solution (2006), we all have a unique combination of four skin characteristics: how oily or dry our skin is, how sensitive or resilient it is, how prone it is to pigmentation and uneven tone, and how it ages. When you put those four together, you get 16 possible skin type combinations, which helps explain why one cleanser does not work for everyone.

Once you recognise your skin characteristics, it makes identifying your skin type easy and choosing the right cleanser a lot easier. Here are some great natural cleansers for each skin type.

Dry skin

Dry skin has a naturally lower level of sebum production, which means the lipid barrier needs more support from the products we use, starting with the cleanser. Rich cream cleansers are the best format here, formulated with plant oils and butters that help maintain the skin's natural moisture as they cleanse, leaving the skin soft and comfortable rather than tight after washing.

Vanessa Megan Petitgrain pH Balancing Cream Cleanser

This is the one I use personally. The Vanessa Megan Petitgrain pH Balancing Cream Cleanser is a multi-award winning daily cleanser enriched with shea butter, petitgrain and may chang to tone, clarify and help support the skin's natural pH while it cleanses. Petitgrain is a beautifully balancing botanical oil distilled from the leaves and twigs of the bitter orange tree, so this is also a great option for dry skin that also has some congestion.

Juniper Nourishing Cream Cleanser

The Juniper Nourishing Cream Cleanser is a practitioner-grade formula enriched with certified organic vitamins A, E and C, plus omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids to deeply nourish as it cleanses. It leaves the complexion perfectly clean and comfortable without any tightness.

LAMAV Hydra-Calm Cream Cleanser

Fragrance-free and certified organic, the LAMAV Hydra-Calm Cream Cleanser is an ultra-rich formula made with aloe vera, avocado and camellia oil to remove impurities and makeup while deeply hydrating the skin. Chamomile helps condition and calm, and the addition of kakadu plum, mountain pepper leaf and acai oil provide extra antioxidant support from natural vitamin C.

Oily skin

Oily skin produces a higher level of sebum, which can lead to shine, enlarged pores and a tendency toward congestion if that sebum gets trapped. The goal is to cleanse without causing rebound oil production. Foaming and gel cleansers with salicylic acid or clarifying botanicals are ideal, as they help dissolve excess oil and keep pores clear while maintaining the skin's natural pH.

MooGoo Gentle Foaming Face Cleanser

Formulated to help clear congestion, tackle breakouts and leave skin clean and comfortable without dryness, the MooGoo Gentle Foaming Face Cleanser uses natural AHAs from papaya extract for gentle enzymatic exfoliation, niacinamide to help reduce the appearance of pores, and calendula to calm redness and irritation.

Weleda Deep Cleansing Gel

Made with natural salicylic acid from willow bark, plus witch hazel and aloe vera, the Weleda Deep Cleansing Gel is a certified natural clarifying gel that provides a deep pore clean to dissolve the buildup that causes congestion, leaving the skin feeling fresh and clear.

Botani Rescue Acne Foaming Cleanser

For oily skin that is also prone to breakouts, the Botani Rescue Acne Foaming Cleanser is a foaming cleanser made with salicylic acid and neem leaf extract, plus aloe vera and calendula to soothe and calm the skin while it helps clear congestion.

Sensitive skin

Sensitive skin is naturally more reactive to ingredients, temperature changes and environmental triggers. The barrier is thinner and more easily disrupted, which is why the cleanser matters so much. Fragrance-free formulas are often the safest choice, as essential oils, even natural ones, can sometimes be too stimulating for reactive skin.

Juniper Calming Face and Body Wash

Gentle enough for the whole family, including babies and the elderly, this Juniper Calming Face and Body Wash is a non-allergenic, soap-free formula with certified organic aloe vera, jojoba, shea butter and camellia oil. Specifically formulated to preserve the skin's natural moisture barrier without causing irritation, and I love that it works for the face and body, which makes it a really practical option.

MooGoo Creamy Hydrating Face Cleanser

A gentle, non-foaming cleanser formulated to cleanse while supporting hydration and comfort, the MooGoo Creamy Hydrating Face Cleanser is made with hyaluronic acid to help attract and retain moisture during cleansing, and milk protein to support skin elasticity and moisture balance. It uses coconut and glucose-based cleansers to gently lift away dirt, makeup and daily impurities without stripping the skin's natural oils, leaving skin soft and comfortable rather than tight.

Weleda Sensitive Gentle Milk Cleanser

Dermatologically tested, certified natural and fragrance-free, the Weleda Sensitive Gentle Milk Cleanser is formulated specifically for sensitive and allergy-prone skin. Clinical testing showed 90% of users agreed it is comfortable on skin and 82% agreed it has good cleansing properties. Made with certified organic sweet almond oil, rich in essential fatty acids and vitamin E, combined with mild plum kernel oil to nourish and calm the skin without irritation or redness.

Pigmented and uneven skin tone

Skin that is prone to pigmentation, dark spots and uneven tone benefits from cleansers that incorporate brightening ingredients and gentle exfoliation. The goal is to help support surface renewal and introduce antioxidants at the beginning of the skincare routine. Cleansers in this category often feature vitamin C, fruit enzymes or natural AHAs to help refine the skin's texture and improve radiance.

Antipodes Gospel Vitamin C Skin-Glow Gel Cleanser

Formulated with kakadu plum, one of the richest natural sources of vitamin C, the Antipodes Gospel Vitamin C Skin-Glow Gel Cleanser also contains lotus flower and meadowfoam to help brighten the complexion. A fresh, uplifting gel that leaves the skin looking clear and radiant.

100% Pure Blood Orange Cleansing Balm

The 100% Pure Blood Orange Cleansing Balm is a rich balm cleanser made with organic blood orange essential oil, which is naturally high in antioxidants and vitamin C. It melts away makeup beautifully and leaves the skin glowing and deeply nourished. It is also a great first-cleanse option if you are double cleansing.

Andalou Brightening Meyer Lemon + Vitamin C Creamy Cleanser

A velvety cleansing milk that diffuses into a creamy lather, the Andalou Brightening Meyer Lemon + Vitamin C Creamy Cleanser combines vitamins C and E with antioxidant-rich green tea, jojoba oil and sea buckthorn oil to help support skin's vitality. The brightening formula targets sun-damaged, dull and over-exposed surface cells for a tighter and brighter appearance, making it a great option for dry skin with uneven tone.

Wrinkle-prone and mature skin

As skin ages, its ability to retain moisture and maintain the lipid barrier naturally declines. Mature skin needs cleansers that help support the skin's lipid barrier and overall resilience rather than just removing surface dirt. Oil cleansers, rich balms and deeply hydrating creams are the best formats, as they cleanse while conditioning the skin.

LAMAV Marula Oil Cleanser

The LAMAV Marula Oil Cleanser is an antioxidant-rich formula made with marula oil, which is high in essential fatty acids and antioxidants, making it ideal for mature skin that needs deep nourishment. It dissolves makeup and sunscreen without any residue and leaves the skin soft, supple and conditioned.

Metamorphosis Recovery Hydrating Cream Cleanser

The Metamorphosis Recovery Hydrating Cream Cleanser is specifically formulated for peri and menopausal skin. Made in Australia with shea butter, natural vitamin E, elderberry and petitgrain, it gently removes all traces of makeup, sunscreen and impurities, leaving the skin soft and hydrated.

And of course, all of the cleansers in this guide meet my very strict ingredient ban list which means no sulfates, no mineral oil, no petrochemicals, and no synthetic preservatives like phenoxyethanol.