Cleansing is the first step to the daily skincare routine. It is the foundation of a healthy, radiant complexion.
The best gentle cleansers remove dirt, grime and make-up without stripping away natural oils. They use the innate elements of botanicals to revive, replenish and restore skin cells, as they clean.
The key to selecting a suitable cleanser depends on three factors – age, skin type and issues that need to be resolved.
To help you make an informed choice, we’ve tested dozens of options and ranked the best face skin cleanser overall, plus products formulated for specific skin types and concerns.
Here’s our selection of the best gentle skin cleansers for sale in South Africa based on efficacy, ingredients and cost.
The best gentle face & skin cleanser overall
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Arcaya Cleansing Miracle Daily Soft Foaming Cleanser, 200mlR575.55 incl. VAT
Made in Germany, this pore-deep cleansing solution easily removes make-up and impurities without leaving the skin tight and dry. It is luxuriously foamy, easy to apply and rinses off in seconds.
Core ingredients are botanical extracts that may help reduce the signs of aging – wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, puffiness and inflammation.
Gingko has anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties. Ginseng promotes collagen production. Green tea exfoliates, repairs and calms the skin. Tiger grass locks-in moisture.
With day to day use, arcaya’s gentle exfoliating cleanser can make the skin look and feel softer and younger. It is, by all measures, the best gentle face cleanser currently available for sale in South Africa.
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The runner-up best gentle face & skin cleanser
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Pharmagel Hydra Cleanse Facial CleanserR16.00 – R309.15 incl. VAT
When it comes to value for money, this gentle cream cleanser gets full marks. It is extraordinarily mild, yet highly effective at removing the most deep-seated grime and build-up.
It too relies on the vitamins, flavonoids and antioxidants in botanicals to smooth, soften and clean the skin.
Aloe vera is a natural astringent that flushes out excess sebum, while nourishing and moisturising. Omega-rich oat extract strengthens the lipid barrier. Panthenol cleans and hydrates.
In addition to eradicating impurities, the cleanser restores the skin’s pH balance, leading to a softer, brighter and younger looking you!
Pharmagel Hydra is a gentle fragrance-free cleanser that everyone can afford. It is available in three package sizes – 5ml, 89ml and 230ml.
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The best gentle hydrating cleanser for dry skin
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Skintruth Nourishing Cleansing MilkR214.79 – R287.92 incl. VAT
If you have dry, flaky and easily irritated skin, this gentle skin cleanser can be a game changer. It is specifically formulated to protect, hydrate and nourish the skin.
The hero ingredient is orchid extract, an exotic botanical rich in moisturising compounds. The built-in humectant properties of orchid draw in moisture, leaving the skin plump, firm and hydrated – all day long.
Another ingredient effective in combatting dryness is grape seed oil. It has high levels of omega fatty acids and vitamin E, both of which help lock-in and maintain moisture levels.
Witch hazel tightens pores and controls excess oil production. Ginseng reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and balances skin tone. The end result? A smooth, supple and rejuvenated complexion.
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The best gentle face cleanser for tweens
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Dalon Micellar Foam Face Cleanser, 150mlR167.00 incl. VAT
Teenage skin is characterised by excess oil production. Pores can clog up, leading to a red blotchy complexion and potential acne breakouts.
Tweens need unique skincare products that penetrate deep into the pores – and this gentle face cleanser does that, and more.
One of its deep-seated dirt busters is ‘micelles’, cleansing agents that are both water- and oil-friendly. It is these compounds that help the molecules in the foam to attach to dirt and oil particles, flushing them away with each wash.
Aiding the micelle technology is daisy flower and helichrysum extracts. Daisy flower has antiseptic and healing properties. It can also lighten and brighten the appearance of the skin.
Helichrysum has natural anti-bacterial qualities. It reduces acne breakouts, helps repair scars and blemishes, and soothes and calms angry red skin.
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The best gentle cream cleanser for sensitive skin
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Kaeso Beauty Calming Cleanser – Sensitive Skin, 495mlR368.62 incl. VAT
This calming face cleanser is the go-to product for sensitive skin. It contains ingredients to alleviate the discomfort associated with red, scaly and itchy skin; skin that is prone to bumps, rashes, swelling and burning.
The principal ingredients are:
- Mulberry extract – high levels of vitamins and carotenoids keep the skin smooth and reduce the appearance of scars, wrinkles and uneven skin tone
- Pomegranate – a free radical neutraliser that protects the skin and lightens, brightens, hydrates and heals
- Vitamin E – moisturises, reduces itchiness and accelerates healing.
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The best gentle cleanser for acne
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Pharmagel Nourish Cleanse, 110mlR328.00 incl. VAT
Formulated with eight botanical oils, this gentle cleanser softens, nourishes and restores red, irritated and blemished skin.
It is mild enough to use morning and evening, and the perfect starting point for a more comprehensive acne treatment regime.
The combination of oils protect, hydrate and heal the skin. Argan oil regulates the amount of sebum on the skin. Marula oil is an antioxidant that is particularly helpful in treating acne.
Rosemary leaf oil has powerful antibacterial qualities that prevent the acne bacteria from penetrating the pores. Cranberry seed reduces inflammation and calms the skin. Moringa seed is an effective cleansing agent, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.
Geranium has antibacterial, antimicrobial and antiseptic properties. Sunflower protects the skin against germs and bacteria. Safflower eliminates blackheads and reduces the appearance of scarring and blemishes
Together, the oils moisturise, rejuvenate and restore the skin, while helping to prevent future breakouts.
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The best gentle face and skin cleanser for oily skin
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Hannon Gentle Cleansing Facial Bar, 100gR185.00 incl. VAT
This solid bar gentle cleanser helps to alleviate the signs of oily skin – large, visible pores, a greasy complexion and the frequent appearance of blackheads and whiteheads.
The formulation consists of natural ingredients like tea tree oil, chamomile extract and shea butter.
Tea tree oil has antiseptic properties. It also helps tighten pores and strip out excess sebum.
Chamomile extract calms sensitive skin. Shea butter promotes the regeneration of healthy new cells. The glycerine in the cleanser acts as a humectant that boosts moisture retention, leaving the skin clear, soft and supple.
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The best gentle cleanser for all combination skin
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Skintruth Optimise Rejuvenating Hot Cloth Cleanser with Cloth, 200mlR281.92 incl. VAT
Combination skin has both dry and oily patches. It requires a mild cleanser that removes oil without dehydrating the scaly, desiccated bits.
This salon-quality rejuvenating cleanser achieves exactly that. Eucalyptus oil deep-cleans, strips off excess sebum and eradicates blackheads. Witch hazel constricts pores and controls sebum production.
Cocoa butter, aloe vera and grape seed oil hydrate and moisturise, promote softness and elasticity, and even out skin tone. When used on a day to day basis, this gentle skin cleansing product balances the look, feel and texture of combination skin.
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