11 Best Facial Cleansers in Singapore | Best of Beauty 2023

After a long day, cleaning your face should be one of your top priorities not only to remove your makeup, excess oil, or sweat, but also to get rid of the unwanted substances that are not visible to the eyes such as bacteria, pollutants, viruses, and even dead skin cells. Cleansing can also help to refresh your face as it allows your skin to breathe by clogging your pores and exfoliating the top skin skills while retaining its natural moisture. However, different people have different skin types; thus, it is very important to find the right cleansers for your own skin. There is a wide variety to choose from such as micellar waters, foaming gels, creams, oils, balms, clay, and more. To help you find the suitable one that you can incorporate into your skincare routine, we have rounded up the best facial cleansers to buy in Singapore. Let’s begin!

This article was last updated on 11 January 2023.

Best Facial Cleanser in Singapore

1. Mama’s Choice Gentle Face Wash

Safe for pregnancy and breastfeeding and suitable for all skin types

When pregnant or breastfeeding, it is essential to use products with safe ingredients which are best for you and your little one. What we appreciate about the Mama’s Choice Gentle Face Wash is that it is free from harmful chemicals like alcohol, paraben, sulfate, and artificial fragrances while being hypoallergenic and dermatologically tested. Furthermore, this face wash works well on all skin types, nourishing the skin and making it healthy and supple.

Meticulous selection of natural ingredients specially for mums

Enriched with rice extract and hydrolyzed collagen extract, the Mama’s Choice Gentle Face Wash specially caters to the demands of modern mums. It effectively removes dust, dirt, and makeup with one wash, and is suitable even on sensitive skin. Moreover, the rice extract brightens your skin for a natural glow, and the hydrolyzed collagen extract nourishes and moisturises the skin, making it supple and maintaining its elasticity. It even contains niacinamide which helps keep the skin firm and healthy.

We especially like how it leaves the skin feeling moisturised, unlike some facial washes which leave your skin feeling stripped of moisture and bare.

Why buy this:

• Designed and lab-tested in Singapore
• Formulated specifically for pregnant and breastfeeding mums
• Removes dust, dirt, and makeup residues efficiently
• Leaves skin soft and glowing and brightens the skin
• Suitable for all skin types
• Gentle on sensitive skin
• Enriched with rice extract and hydrolyzed collagen extract

2. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser

All-time favorite cleanser

Recognized as a rich facial cleaner in Glamour Magazine and Allure, Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser can be one of your best options, especially if you want to relieve your dry skin. This cleanser carefully blended the sugar-derived glycoside with squalane, apricot kernel oil, avocado oil, and vitamin E which moisturizes your skin, keeping it soft and supple.

In addition to its hydration properties, Kiehl’s facial cleanser can also dissolve excess oil and debris without removing the natural oils on your face. It is also gentle and pH-balanced thus it can be used to all skin types, including sensitive skin. Watch Melissa’s review and demonstration of the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser below.

If you are looking for a cleanser specifically for oily skin, you can try the oil-free variant. For deeper pore cleansing, there is also the Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser which is formulated with Amazonian White Clay and Diatomaceous Earth particles for cleansing and purifying your face.

Why buy this cleanser:

• Ideal for dry skin
• Hydrates and moisturizes your face
• Gentle against all skin types
• Leaves your skin soft and supple

3. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Facial Cleanser

Most featured cleanser

When it comes to tried and tested facial cleanser in Singapore, you will find Cetaphil Gentle Skin Facial Cleanser at the top of the list. It is an award-winning facial cleanser that received good praise from reputable magazines such as The Cut, Elle, Glamour Magazine, Allure, Today, Good Housekeeping, and even Forbes!

This well-liked cleanser is known for its gentle yet effective formula. It is soap-free, fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and non-comedogenic so it will help you remove excess oils, dirt, and makeup residue without irritating your skin. In fact, you can use it with or without water but it will not make your skin dry and tight as it promises to soothe and soften your skin as it cleans. Most importantly, it will not clog your pores and it can even help you retain the natural protective oils of your skin! Watch Melissa’s review and demonstration below.

Why buy this cleanser:

• Award-winning
• Non-irritating for all types of skin
• Ideal for damaged skin
• Retains natural moisture in the skin

4. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo Cleanser

Best for sensitive skin

If you have sensitive and allergy-prone skin, La Roche-Posay Toleriane Cleanser Dermo-Cleanser can be your best bet. Trusted ranked lists from Forbes, Total Beauty, Good Housekeeping, Today, and Allure also chose this product as the best cleanser for delicate skin.

Toleriane Cleanser Dermo-Cleanser is popularly known for being a gentle milky cleanser. It is carefully formulated with Glycerin and thermal spring water to help prevent over-drying while removing your waterproof makeup, as well as the dirt and oil from both your face and eyes. It is also free from paraben, fragrance, and preservatives hence it is definitely safe to use. You can apply it by your fingertips or a cotton ball. To learn more, watch Melissa’s video demonstration below.

Toleriane Cleanser Dermo-Cleanser is best paired with La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+. You can also get the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Cleanser Foaming Purifying Gel which is specifically for acne-prone and oily skin.

Why buy this cleanser:

• Ideal for allergic-prone and sensitive skin
• Dermatologist tested
• Moisturizes and hydrates your skin
• Soap, paraben, fragrance, and preservative-free

5. Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel

For a daily facial cleanser in Singapore, Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel is highly recommended as it is a lightweight and mild soap-free cleanser. It does not use mineral oil, coal tar, formaldehydes, phthalates, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, hydroquinone, triclosan, and triclocarban but contains naturally-foaming Quillaja Saponaria instead. It is also perfect for vegans as the ingredients are both cruelty-free and gluten-free!

With its naturally foaming formula, this cleanser can gently remove the toxins and debris away from your face without disturbing your skin’s natural moisture balance. It also comes with a calming bonus effect as it contains balm mint and lavender extracts perfect for pampering your face. Check out the video below to learn how to properly use the Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel.

Why buy this cleanser:

• Soap-free but foaming cleanser
• Moisturizes your skin
• Removes debris without affecting moisture balance
• Ideal for acne-prone and sensitive skin

6. GARNIER SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Gel

A powerful facial cleanser yet gentle to the skin, that is how reviewers describe the GARNIER SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Gel. It is a two-in-one dermatologically and ophthalmologically tested facial cleanser in Singapore that you can use before beautifying your face in the morning, and after you remove your makeup in the evening without making your skin dry. This cleanser also has micelles that can capture dirt and oil like a magnet hence after gently massaging your face, you can skip rubbing it harshly and just proceed to rinse it off.

GARNIER SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Gel also uses naturally-derived ingredients to keep your skin looking fresh and healthy. It is fragrance-free as well thus you can safely use it no matter what your skin type is. No wonder it has been picked as one of the best face cleansers on Elle and Total Beauty. Watch Naomi’s video below to learn more.

If you are looking to purchase Garnier micellar water as Naomi recommended in the above video for your eye makeup, you may check it out here.

Why buy this cleanser:

• It can remove heavy layers of dirt and make-up
• Gentle against the skin
• Prevents over-drying of the skin
• Tested by dermatologists

7. Laneige Cream Skin Milk Oil Cleanser

Best cleanser with low ph

Aiming to remove dead skin skills without emulsification is now doable with this LANEIGE Cream Skin Milk Oil Cleanser. It is a cleanser that combines a mild acidic formula of pH 5.5 that helps to strengthen your skin with milk oil and “Cream Skin” to keep your face moisturized after cleansing.

Apart from gently removing your dead skin cells, this sub-acidic cleanser can also easily remove the sebum and makeup in your pores which can be helpful in avoiding having skin conditions like acne. Laneige Cream Skin Milk Oil Cleanser reduces the oil as well by creating moist skin hence you do not have to worry about hydrating your face.

Why buy this cleanser:

• Has a low ph
• Able to remove dead skin cells and other debris
• It does not require emulsification
• It offers hydration properties

8. Philosophy Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser

The Forbes described Philosophy Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser as the holy grail of face cleaners as it blends twelve essential oils such as rosewood, sage, clary, English chamomile, and more. It also won an Allure award as it can melt away the dirt, oil, and makeup while toning and hydrating your skin in one simple step!

This multi-tasking cleanser is also formulated for all skin types, whether it is normal, dry, oily, or combination skin. You can use Philosophy Purity Facial Cleanser day and night to soothe and rejuvenate your skin. Check out the video below to learn more.Av

Why buy this cleanser:

• Blended with twelve essential oils
• Evens skin texture
• Cleanses and purifies your face
• Cleans out your pores

9. Avene Cleanance Gel Soapless Cleanser

For people who are struggling with blemish-prone and sensitive oily skin, Avene Cleanance Gel Soapless Cleanser is highly recommended as it does not contain harsh salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Instead, this hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic cleanser is made with unique ingredients such as zinc gluconate that soothes irritation and redness, monolaurin that helps to reduce excess oil, and gentle surfactants that cleanses your skin without making it dry and tight. It also has thermal spring water that softens and calms your skin.

When it comes to packaging, we are sure that you will also love it as it is easy to use. It has a small opening on the top of the bottle thus there will be no waste product. If you are looking for an alternative, you may check Avene Gentle Milk Cleanser as well it also does a good job in soothing, moisturizing, and cleansing your skin. Watch Dr. Ray’s video below about the best cleansers from Avene below.

Why buy this cleanser:

• It offers cleansing, mattifying, and soothing benefits
• It gives you clear and refreshing skin
• Ideal for blemish-prone skin
• Gently against the skin

10. SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil

Best cleansing oil

Won the 2018 Prevention Picks Best Cleansing Oils, SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil promises to gently remove the makeup and impurities on your skin. This oil-based cleanser is not only sulfate-free, but also carefully formulated with wild rose extract, apple seed extract, and Pitera™ which is a bio-ingredient that contains over 50 micro-nutrients like vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and organic acids.

In addition to removing makeup, mascara, and sunscreen, SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil will also give you the benefit of having a brighter complexion and smoother skin after gently massaging it to your face for 2-3 minutes. To learn more about how to properly use it, you may check out the video below.

 Why buy this cleanser:

• Ideal for oily skin
• Conditions your skin and brings out the natural glow
• Enhances your complexion
• Melts away makeup, sunscreen, oil, dirt, and grime

11. Hada Labo Face Wash

Hada Labo Face Wash is a luxurious yet practical option. Its natural ingredients blend with the water-binding power of Super Hyaluronic Acid that can preserve the natural moisture of your skin even after washing. This product will also last you long as a small amount would be enough to have a rich foaming lather.

Apart from its hydration and moisturizing properties, this affordable creamy cleanser can also pamper your sensitive skin by making it supple and fresh. If you are looking for a face wash specifically for oily skin, you can give Hada Labo AHA+BHA Oil Control Face Wash a try. Check out the video below.

Why buy this cleanser:

• Affordable
• Made with natural ingredients
• Moisturizes and hydrates as it cleanses
• It leaves you with brighter and refreshed skin

To complete your skincare routine every night, you can decide to use a Lifetrons Ultrasonic Cleanser with Ion & EMS Technology (UI-400) or a blackhead washing brush to clean your face and skin better.

I hope our best facial cleanser list has helped you to find a good pick for your face! Please do share it with your friends and family too.

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