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Our picks at a glance
- 1Best OverallCeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser4.876,832 ratingsSee it on Amazon
- 2Best with Zinc PidolateLa Roche-Posay Effaclar Foaming Gel Cleanser4.756,832 ratingsSee it on Amazon
- 3Best for Oily, Sensitive SkinLa Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Facial Cleanser4.746,645 ratingsSee it on Amazon
These three face washes are all sold for oily skin. CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser is a gel that foams, which CeraVe calls fragrance-free, with ceramides, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. La Roche-Posay Effaclar is a foaming gel with zinc pidolate. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying is a foaming gel its listing describes for normal to oily, sensitive skin. All three are sold by Amazon.com and rated 4.7 or higher. None makes an acne-treatment claim, and we do not judge skin conditions; a dermatologist can.
How we picked
We searched Amazon for face wash for oily skin and set aside sponsored results, micellar waters, acid exfoliants, acne-medication washes and listings rated below 4.3 or on fewer than 200 ratings. We passed over a well-rated day-and-night set because its free-from claims contradicted its own ingredient lists. Then we saved each finalist's title, bullets, ingredients, seller and return terms.
For the rest of the shower, see the best body wash for dry skin and the best bar soaps.
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
The most rated and highest rated of the three, at 4.8 across more than 76,000 ratings. CeraVe describes a clear gel that turns to foam, for normal to oily skin, that removes excess oil, dirt and makeup without leaving skin tight. It lists three ceramides, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, and calls the formula fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, non-drying and non-irritating. The listing says it can also be used on the body and hands. The ingredients include methylparaben and propylparaben.
What the listing says
- Gel that foams; for normal to oily skin
- Ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide
- Fragrance-free, non-comedogenic (per CeraVe)
- Face, body or hands per the listing
- One 16 fl oz bottle
Shipped and sold by Amazon.com, with free 30-day returns, per the listing.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Foaming Gel Cleanser
La Roche-Posay describes a foaming gel for oily skin with zinc pidolate, which it says helps remove excess oil, and says the formula respects skin's pH. Its listing says it is suitable for sensitive skin and calls it oil-free, soap-free, paraben-free, non-comedogenic, allergy tested and dermatologist tested, and it says it was tested on acne-prone skin for non-comedogenicity. The listing publishes no ingredient list and no description, so there is less here to check than for CeraVe.
What the listing says
- Zinc pidolate (per La Roche-Posay)
- Oil-free, soap-free, paraben-free (per La Roche-Posay)
- Suitable for sensitive skin, per the listing
- No ingredient list on the listing
- One 13.52 fl oz bottle
Shipped and sold by Amazon.com, with free 30-day returns, per the listing.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Facial Cleanser
It is the only one of the three whose listing names oily, sensitive skin in the same breath: La Roche-Posay calls it a purifying foaming gel for normal to oily, sensitive skin that removes excess oil and makeup without stripping skin. It lists La Roche-Posay Prebiotic Thermal Water, Ceramide-3 and niacinamide, and calls the formula soap-free, sulfate-free, oil-free, fragrance-free and non-comedogenic. It says 94% of people in a 4-week consumer study reported cleaner, healthier skin. The listing publishes no ingredient list, and its department field says girls while a bullet calls it a cleanser for men and women.
What the listing says
- For normal to oily, sensitive skin (per La Roche-Posay)
- Thermal water, Ceramide-3, niacinamide
- Soap-free, sulfate-free, fragrance-free (per La Roche-Posay)
- 94% reported cleaner skin in a 4-week study (per La Roche-Posay)
- No ingredient list on the listing
Sold by Amazon.com, per the listing.
Side by side
| Cleanser | Format | Key ingredients (as listed) | Fragrance | Size | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser | Gel that foams | Ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide | Fragrance-free (per CeraVe) | 16 fl oz | 4.876,832 ratings |
| La Roche-Posay Effaclar Foaming Gel Cleanser | Foaming gel | Zinc pidolate | Not stated | 13.52 fl oz | 4.756,832 ratings |
| La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Facial Cleanser | Foaming gel | Thermal water, Ceramide-3, niacinamide | Fragrance-free (per La Roche-Posay) | Not stated | 4.746,645 ratings |
What to look for
Fragrance
CeraVe and Toleriane say fragrance-free. Effaclar's listing does not say either way.
Ingredient list
CeraVe publishes a full list. Neither La Roche-Posay listing does, so check the bottle you receive.
Sensitive skin
Toleriane says it is for normal to oily, sensitive skin, and Effaclar's listing says it is suitable for sensitive skin. CeraVe calls its formula non-irritating.
Non-comedogenic
All three listings use the word non-comedogenic.
The bottom line
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying, a foaming gel its listing calls fragrance-free.
Frequently asked questions
What face wash is good for oily skin?
All three listings here are sold for oily skin. CeraVe's Foaming Cleanser is for normal to oily skin, Effaclar is for oily skin, and Toleriane Purifying is for normal to oily, sensitive skin.
Will these clear up acne?
None of these listings makes an acne-treatment claim, and we do not make skin-condition claims. La Roche-Posay says Effaclar was tested on acne-prone skin for non-comedogenicity, which is not a treatment claim. A dermatologist can advise on acne.
Is CeraVe Foaming Cleanser fragrance-free?
Yes, per its listing. Its ingredient list includes methylparaben and propylparaben, and the listing does not claim to be paraben-free.
Which one is for oily, sensitive skin?
La Roche-Posay says Toleriane Purifying is for normal to oily, sensitive skin and was tested on sensitive skin. Effaclar's listing also says it is suitable for sensitive skin. Neither publishes an ingredient list, so check the bottle.
Why are the ratings different from what I see on Amazon?
Ratings change over time. The figures here are what each listing showed on the date at the top of this page.
Ratings and listing details were checked on Amazon on the date shown at the top of this page. We have not used these; everything above is from their Amazon listings.
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