French face cleansers are one of the best solutions for cleaning your face, especially if you have sensitive skin.
French face washes are often made from gentle ingredients so you don’t have to worry too much about them irritating your skin.
French beauty is renowned around the world as one of the best philosophies to follow. A good French beauty tip is to wash your hands before washing your face. This will prevent any dirty hand oils from transferring to your facial pores!
Let’s go over some of the best French face washes you can buy, even if you do not live in France!
Best French Face Washes
When it comes to keeping your skin healthy, finding the right cleanser is essential. While it may not be the most exciting step in your French skincare routine, cleansing is definitely one of the most important if you want to maintain healthy and hydrated skin.
Unfortunately, most face washes nowadays seem to be one of those products that are a total hit or miss when it comes to their effectiveness. They are either a gift from above or a total waste of time (and literally ain’t nobody got time for that).
To save you a bunch of time and a mess of skin irritation, we’ve put together a list of some of the best French face cleansers for normal, dry, sensitive, and oily skin to help you boost your French skincare routine and get you to the soft, clear, and healthy skin of your dreams.
Remember, it’s important to thoroughly remove your makeup before washing your face!
The article is broken down into cleansers for normal, oily, and dry skin.
French Cleansers for Normal Skin
These French face cleansers are best for women with normal skin.
1. Caudalie Vinopure Pore Purifying Gel Cleanser
First on the list of the best French face cleansers is the Caudalie Pore Purifying Gel Cleanser. Powered by natural salicylic acid, this oil-free cleanser gel tightens your pores to keep blemishes and excess oil to a minimum. Because of its powerful ingredients of grape seed water and grape seed oil, this gel cleanser also replenishes your face with antioxidants upon each use.
The flush of these antioxidants also helps to restore your skin’s natural color and texture. This is my personal favorite facial cleanser. I use it almost every day! Snag it on Amazon, too.
2. SkinCeuticals Simply Clean
Next up, we have the powerful SkinCeuticals Simply Clean gel. This unique cleanser has been carefully formulated with botanical extracts to break down excess oil and debris buried deep in your pores. Unlike other French face cleansers on the market, this cleanser gel also has a powerful list of natural ingredients that will keep your skin hydrated without inducing irritation or redness. Overall, if some gentle exfoliation and a little at-home spa treatment is what you’re looking for, SkinCeuticals is for you.
3. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cream Cleanser
Another fantastic option is the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cream Cleanser for normal to slightly oily skin. This cream cleanser has been carefully crafted with glycerin and sorbitol to gently remove pollutants without drying out the skin.
This foaming cleanser has also been enriched with the La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water to give the skin a powerful and soothing treatment. This unique and creamy texture is also paraben and fragrance-free and perfect for even the most sensitive skin.
4. Avène Cleansing Foam
Last on our list of the best French facial cleansers for normal skin is the Avene Cleansing Foam. With an ingredients list full of rejuvenating antioxidants, this foaming cleanser gently removes makeup while simultaneously hydrating your skin for a shine-free finish.
The Avène thermal spring water infused in this face wash also supplies your skin with essential minerals to combat inflammation and also boosts your sebum production (can I get an amen?). Overall, when in doubt, Avène has always got your back.
French Cleansers for Oily Skin
If you have oily skin, these are the best French facial cleansers for you.
5. SkinCeuticals LHA Cleanser Gel
If you’re looking for the best French face cleanser for oily skin, SkinCeuticals is a great option to consider. The LHA Cleanser Gel is excellent for tackling both exfoliations as well as breakouts. This invigorating treatment has a powerful combination of ingredients, including lipo-hydroxy acid, sorbitol, and glycerin, which all work to remove excess oil and deep cleanse the pores. So, if you’re looking for a deep skin treatment backed by real and trustworthy ingredients, SkinCeuticals is for you.
6. Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel
If you struggle with oily, acne-prone skin, look no further than Avène for all your skincare needs. This cleansing gel holds a unique combination of ingredients that work to remove makeup, dirt, and impurities from the skin.
The Avène cleanser also features zinc gluconate, which is a potent ingredient that helps soothe your skin and reduce redness. Comedoclastin, derived from milk thistle, is another prominent ingredient limiting blemishes. If you’re in need of a cleanser that can do it all, Avène is a great choice.
7. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Deep Cleansing Foaming Cream Cleanser
The La Roche-Posay Effaclar Cleanser is a deep cleaning powerhouse for your face. Perfect for those with oily skin, this cleanser helps to minimize the appearance of large pores while providing your skin with the necessary ingredients to tighten itself and create a more youthful appearance. This lightweight cleanser also works to remove excess oil for a soothing and invigorating treatment. The foaming cream is also mild enough to be used as a daily cleanser and is a prime choice if you need a little deep cleaning.
8. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Micellar Cleansing Water for Oily Skin
If you have oily skin but you’re on a budget, the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Micellar Water cleanser is an excellent choice. This micellar water is a no-rinse cleanser that clears out even the smallest of impurities on your face.
On top of being a cleanser and a toner, this micellar water also features dirt-encapsulating micelles, which attract dirt and oil to the surface, making it easy than ever to wipe them away. Cool, right? Truly, there’s no brand quite like La Roche-Posay, and their micellar water for oily skin is definitely worth a look.
French Cleansers for Sensitive Skin
If your skin is easily irritated, then these are the ideal French face washes for sensitive skin.
9. Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water
Now, if you have sensitive skin, the Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water is the perfect cleanser for you. With oil-free ingredients, this facial cleansing mimics the skin’s natural composition while also working to remove impurities for a calming and soothing experience. Perfectly compatible with the skin, this micellar water is enriched for the ultimate luxury treatment for your face and is priced very fairly.
10. Caudalie Micellar Cleansing Water
Next on the list for the best face cleansers for sensitive skin is the Caudalie Micellar Water. This soap-free cleanser naturally brightens your skin and makes it easier than ever to remove makeup, even around your eyes.
A star component of this cleanser is chamomile extract, which, on top of its tender and soothing touch, also reduces redness. It works simultaneously with the hydrating properties of grape water, providing lasting hydration unlike any other.
11. Bioderma Sensibio Cleansing Foaming Gel
I have to mention the wonderful Bioderma Sensibio Cleansing Foaming Gel. Known for its ability to gently cleanse and remove makeup, this foaming gel is hydrating and non-stripping for a deep yet soothing treatment. This rich foaming gel is also enriched with Coco-Glucoside, which is a strong ingredient that mimics the skin structure, leaving it feeling moisturized and refreshed like never before.
This product is also without fragrance and soap-free, making it ideal for those with sensitive skin. I have this cleanser near my bathroom sink for nighttime face washes! I like that it has a push-top which makes for an easy dispenser.
12. Avène Extremely Gentle Cleanser Lotion Face Wash
Last on our list of the best facial cleansers for sensitive skin, we have the Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser. This gentle face wash works to soothe, calm, and cleanse your face without stripping away its protective layers.
It has also been carefully designed with minimal ingredients to preserve the natural texture of the skin and keep moisture intact. This French girl face wash is also gentle enough to be used even around the eyes and, if you ask us, is truly one of a kind.
French Cleansers for Dry Skin
Dry skin needs special attention to prevent parchedness so we recommend you try these French face washes for dry skin.
13. SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser
If you’re searching for the best face cleanser for dry skin, you might consider SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser. This cream cleanser soothes dry skin while simultaneously working to extract impurities and fix oil build-up.
Thanks to its key ingredients of allantoin, glycerin, and orange oil that restore the skin’s surface, this non-foaming cleanser is excellent for relieving dry or damaged skin and will leave your face boosted with hydration in return.
14. Caudalie Gentle Cleansing Milk
If you’re looking for something a little more lavish, the luxurious milk formula in the Caudalie Gentle Cleanser is perfect for you. This face wash not only effortlessly removes makeup but also comforts irritated skin and even protects it from drying out.
This careful combination leaves the skin feeling both hydrated and rejuvenated after each use. This milk cleanser is also scented with notes of sweet bergamot, lavender, lemon leaf, and sandalwood, and is a must in your collection.
15. Bioderma Hydrabio H2O
Lastly, we have the Bioderma Hydrabio H2O for women with dry skin. Best for those on a budget, this 3-in-1 micellar water has been formulated with an Aquagenium patent to improve the skin’s ability to retain moisture. This cleanser gently removes makeup, tackles impurities, and overall improves the quality and texture of the skin unlike any other. So, in other words, we’ll take 10!
Be sure to follow up your daily face wash with a good French toner.
While the question of what the best French face cleansers on the market are can seem endless, we believe that these 15 are some of the absolute best. However, the only true way to know if it’s for you is to try it yourself.
So, live a little dangerously, pick one, and give it a shot! While it may seem scary at first, you may be on your way to finding the product of your dreams. If you ask us, that is something worth taking a risk for.
