17 Best Face Wash and Cleansers For Every Skin Type

You know that scene in “My Best Friend’s Wedding” when Julia Roberts’s character self-identifies as the Jell-O to Cameron Diaz’s crème brulée? It’s simple. Comfortable. Maybe that’s what Michael wants! Well, face wash is the Jell-O of skin care. Fancy face masks and exfoliators are nice, but to be clear: they could never be Jell-O.

To put it simply, face wash is the essential first step in any good skin-care routine (some dermatologists even say that, if you do anything at all, make it that you take off your makeup at night). But much like the aforementioned gelatin snack, there are lots of variations of facial cleansers. Choosing the right one for you depends on your skin type and needs. If you experience dryness, for example, you might lean toward a hydrating or gentle formula; acneic types might benefit by picking one that’s spiked with acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid.

No matter what you’re looking for, we’ve hand-selected the best face washes and facial cleansers on the market to get the job done. In the slides ahead, you can shop editor-approved picks for every budget, from drugstore brands like Cerave and Cetaphil to cult favorites like Glow Recipe and Glossier. Who knows if it’s what Michael would want, but it’s definitely what your skin deserves.