10 Best Face Washes for Dry Skin in India 2021 - Buying Guide Reviewed By Dermatologist
We all wish to have smooth, glowing, and supple skin, but our pre-existing skin textures and other external causes can become barriers to our goals. One of the most common and demanding skin types is dry. It is a condition in which your face or the rest of the body does not retain moisture or hydration. It can be caused by many different reasons like travelling, weather, seasonal changes, lack of hydration, medication, etc.
To deal with your skincare woes, there are many different types of face washes and cleansers available in the market. From drugstore brands like Nivea, Dove to more expensive ones like Kama Ayurveda, Clinique, etc. And with so many options available, you can get overwhelmed, that's why to make it all easy, we have created a list and a thorough buying guide for you. This article is medically reviewed by Dr. Hitaishi Kaushik, a researcher in the dermatology lab.
Quick List - Top Face Wash for Dry Skin
Dove Store
Replenish Your Skin With Special Moisture Serums
CLINIQUE'S
The Perfect Oil Cleanser For The Double Cleanse
Lakme Store
Rich in Antioxidants Exfoliant for You
Dr. Hitaishi Kaushik pursued her Ph.D. in the field of dermatology and is currently working as a research associate in the dermatology lab at PGIMER.
mybest editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in India in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
- 10 Best Face Washes For Dry Skin in India
- No. 1Cetaphil | Gentle Skin Cleanser, 250ml
- No. 2Dove Store | Beauty Moisture Conditioning Face Wash Cleanser, 50g
- No. 3CLINIQUE'S | Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm -30ml
- No. 4Lakme Store | Blush & Glow Strawberry Freshness Gel Face Wash With Strawberry Extracts, 100 g
- No. 5SebaMed Store | Clear Face Foam Face Wash (150 ml)
- 5 more products
- The Right Way of Caring for Your Skin
- Add More to the Skin-Care Basket
- Summary
How to Choose the Best Face Wash for Dry Skin in India - Buying Guide
First things first, how to go about choosing the right kind of cleanser or face wash. Some important factors to consider while buying face washes are - the ingredients used, its texture, and if you want to stick to a certain budget, then the price too.
Determine What’s Your Skin Type
Despite the popular belief that one product can work for many people, it is best to determine your skin type before making sound purchases of cleansers. There are broadly five skin types - dry, sensitive, normal, oily, and combination. And in these categories lie other concerns like blocked pores, black and whiteheads, and acne.
To identify your skin type, you need to wash your face with an existing cleanser and wait for an hour. If after 60 minutes, you feel an oily surface on the entire face or parts of it, you have oily or combination skin, whereas, if the skin remains soft then, it's normal, and if it becomes stretchy or itchy, then it is dry. So, make sure you take a skin test before buying a desirable face wash.
Broadly, there are 5 types of skin types. These are – oily, dry, combination (dry skin with oily T-zones), normal and sensitive skin. Based upon these skin types, face washes should be used. People with dry skin should avoid frequently washing their face with facewash and must keep their skin well moisturized.
Ingredients That You Should Avoid
Further alcohols are used to make other ingredients like retinol that penetrate deep in the skin, but it can be drying and damaging for dry skin. And, petroleum jelly or certain oils in your face wash can also have negative effects; instead of providing moisture, they clog your pores that can lead to breakouts.
Additionally, there are some other like - sodium lauryl sulfate, strong AHAs, salicylic acid and more that are best avoided for dry skin as they further suck out moisture from your skin. Strong and artificial fragrances can be allergic or irritating, so look for that as well.
Since people with dry skin already have low sebum production, ingredients that further dehydrate or decrease sebum production should be avoided. They should avoid toners as they contain alcohol, which further dehydrates the skin, and avoid any soap-based products as they have high pH, which can be harsh to the skin and irritate their skin.
Look for these Ingredients
Another great component is glycerin and essential oils provide moisture and seal everything. Many oils can also work on improving your skin texture, scars, acne, and aging concerns. Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B that helps in flushing out the skin and gives relief in acne and its scars and pigmentation.
And ceramides create a protective layer and keep the skin firm. Besides, it is definitely worth investing in, for all you dry skin folks because of its moisture-retaining and hydrating properties.
Face washes containing glycerine, ceramides, mineral oils, or cream-based are usually ideal for dry skin. Again, they should be minimally used rather, and they can rinse their face directly with normal water. People with dry skin must moisturize their skin every time they wash their face with any moisturizer that suits their skin.
Be Thoughtful of Your Spending - Pick the Face Wash in Your Budget
You do not necessarily need to burn a hole in your pocket to get good and healthy skin. There are plenty of affordable face wash brands and variants that are available in India. You can choose to look at brands like Nivea, Dove, Lakme etc. that make gentle and effective products. Their range of foamy, gel and cream based cleansers cost anywhere between INR 100 to 500.
On the contrary, if you can and want to splurge on high-end and luxury brands for what their products promise to do, there are plenty of options available for that as well. brands like Simple, Dermalogica, Clinique, and more have dedicated ranges that target specific skin concerns and are priced at around INR 1000 and above.
Nowadays, there is no limit for any kind of product available in the market. Be it be natural, chemical, organic, pocket-friendly, or high-end products. Similarly, you could find a huge range of face wash products ranging from low to high cost. Products with high costs need not always be beneficial for your skin. After thoroughly going through the ingredients of the face wash, you can go for a pocket-friendly product.
See What Works For You - Different Types of Face Wash Formulas
The skincare industry is booming and getting competitive by the day resulting in numerous brands releasing different types of face washes in a variety of textures and consistencies. In the following topic, we will uncover some of the widely used cleansers and the ones that are compatible with dry skin.
Foamy Face Washes Are Better Suited for Oily and Combination Skin
Foamy Face washes tend to be harsh on dry skin and are not recommended for everyday use. Their formulation can be the primary cause, as they are made with ingredients and chemicals that give you a sense of cleaning with all the bubbling and foam build-up.
But they only end up drying out the skin too much. And although many cleansers come with oils and emollients, people with acne-prone and oily skin should buy these to rid themselves of the excessive layer of sebum and clogging.
Foamy face washes are the mildest and gentlest of all types of face wash, suitable for normal, dry, and sensitive skin. They are usually lightweight, and these face washes contain no sodium lauryl sulphate, soap, paraben, or lanolin; hence, they don’t irritate the skin.
They are good at removing oil from the skin, so they are good for acne-prone skin. Gentle exfoliation is an additional benefit.
Moisturizing Cleansers Are Hydrating and Gentle
These are cream-like textured cleansers that are super gentle, moisturizing, and less foamy when applied. Perfect for sensitive and dry skin, most of these are formulated with aqua, beeswax, essential and mineral oils. They glide on your skin and take out all the gunk, leaving you feeling misty and dewy.
Ingredients like hyaluronic acid, panthenol, propylene glycol, glycerin, ceramides, vitamins B, E, and bisabolol are commonly present in moisturizing cleansers. These ingredients are called a humectant, which attracts water, leaving your skin feeling soft and hydrated. People, especially with psoriasis or eczema, should use such face products as they are gentle to their skin and keep their skin hydrated.
Balm Cleansers Are Great for Double Cleanse
Oil or balm cleansers have a thick consistency then your regular face wash. This formula works on the ‘oil attracts oil’ basis and is perfect for a double cleanse method. These cleansers are ideal if you have dry, normal, and combination skin or you apply make-up frequently.
Double cleansers are based on two types of cleansers: an oil-based cleanser that removes dirt and excess oil from the skin, and second water-based, which tends to exfoliate and hydrate the skin. Balm cleansers offer a good option for double cleansing of the face for people with oily skin.
Gel Formulas Work Wonders for Acne Prone Skin
Much like foam, gel face washes do little to nothing for dry skin. But they are a great option for people dealing with acne and constant breakouts. Unlike foam, gels act more tenderly and do not make it feel too dry.
With that said, newer formulas of gel cleansers induced with oils are coming out in the market for you to try. They claim to be gentler and non-drying on the skin, during, and after use.
Gel-based formulas are perfect for unclogging the skin pores. They minimise excess oil production from the skin. They sometimes have antibacterial ingredients as well, which removes acne-causing bacteria from the surface of the skin. Salicyclic acid-containing formulations make the skin smooth and hydrated. Gel-based formulas also restore the skin pH balance.
Exfoliating Face Washes Work on a Deeper Level
These are double-action cleansers that have a consistency of either gel or cream, and as you start to lather it on, the tiny beads or granules start to exfoliate or scrub your skin to get rid of the dead cells and other deeper grim.
Although effective, their use should be limited to twice in a week, or else your skin can get irritated, overexposed to bacteria, and more leading to more breakouts and excessive sebum production.
Around 50 million skin cells die every day. Effective removal of these dead cells is essential for the skin's natural regeneration, thus making it more radiant and glowing. This can be achieved by exfoliating the skin.
Usually, 2 types of exfoliators are used - mechanical exfoliators, which have a gritty texture that mechanically removes dead skin (scrubs/ brushes/etc.), and chemical exfoliators (Retinol, AHA, glycolic acid, salicylic acid,) which break dead cells interaction and gently remove dead skin.
Glycolic and salicylic acid are beneficial for oily or acne-prone skin as they decrease sebum production, are anti-inflammatory, and reduce whiteheads' formations.
10 Best Face Washes For Dry Skin in India
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, 250ml | | The Mild and Gentle Cleanser | |
2 | Dove Store Beauty Moisture Conditioning Face Wash Cleanser, 50g | | Replenish Your Skin With Special Moisture Serums | |
3 | CLINIQUE'S Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm -30ml | | The Perfect Oil Cleanser For The Double Cleanse | |
4 | Lakme Store Blush & Glow Strawberry Freshness Gel Face Wash With Strawberry Extracts, 100 g | | Rich in Antioxidants Exfoliant for You | |
5 | SebaMed Store Clear Face Foam Face Wash (150 ml) | | The Top Choice From Dermatologists | |
6 | The Simple Store Kind to Skin Moisturising Facial Wash (150ml) | | It Is Kind to Your Skin | |
7 | The Nivea Store Women Face Wash for Dry Skin | | The Benefits of Honey and Milk for Moisturizing | |
8 | Kama Ayurveda Rose Jasmine Face Cleanser, 50ml | | Herbal Ingredients Are Good For Your Skin | |
9 | Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel | | Soap Free Cleansing Foam That Balances Your Skin’s pH Levels | |
10 | Juicy Chemistry Hemp, Tea Tree & Neem Organic Face Wash | | Infused With Natural Ingredients That Gently Cleanses Your Skin |
The Mild and Gentle Cleanser
Cetaphil is a renowned brand that makes a clinically tested, dermatologically-approved, cruelty-free, and non-comedogenic range of skincare. They have moisturizers and cleansers available for sensitive, acne-prone, dry, and oily skin types.
It's hypoallergenic (non-allergic), and the non-soapy formula is perfectly safe for use by all. It is made to treat your dry skin concerns. It can be used with or without water and does not lather like foam. It has a dual action of cleansing and moisturizing your skin.
However, the list of ingredients shared online states that it contains sodium lauryl sulfate, but the percentage is not mentioned. Hence, a patch test and research before buying is suggested.
Dove StoreBeauty Moisture Conditioning Face Wash Cleanser, 50g
Replenish Your Skin With Special Moisture Serums
They claim that the Dove Beauty Moisture Face Wash puts back nutrients, moisture into your skin, and improves its appearance over time. This affordable pick for the best face washes for dry skin in India is worth buying.
Made using a range of hydrating and rejuvenating ingredients like - nutrium moisture, a nourishing beauty serum, glycerin, water, and myristic acid, the face wash cleans off dirt, dead skin cells and fights germs to give an overall benefit.
It contains a mild fragrance of white florals that can be irritating for some, particularly with those with sensitive skin. And to see if your skin gets a reaction, you must do a patch test. But if you like pleasant seamless, this is a good pick to deal with dry skin.
CLINIQUE'SClinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm -30ml
The Perfect Oil Cleanser For The Double Cleanse
Made with only natural or skin-friendly ingredients, the Clinique Cleansing Oil is a lightweight makeup remover that is safe to use around the eyes and the lids. It is nongreasy or comedogenic, and after washing it off, your skin feels smooth and fresh.
It is in a balm form with a silky texture that melts on the skin and turns into an oily consistency. You can use it every day to clean off any stresses from pollution. The product also does not contain any parabens, phthalates, or strong fragrances.
Lakme StoreBlush & Glow Strawberry Freshness Gel Face Wash With Strawberry Extracts, 100 g
Rich in Antioxidants Exfoliant for You
Enriched with strawberry extracts, the Lakme Blush and Glow Face Wash is an amazing everyday exfoliating product that is tender to your skin and does not leave it dry or over scrubbed. Made with real fruit, it is rich in antioxidants and has small beads that give the cleanser a grainy texture.
These beads work on a deeper level to remove any dirt or grime from the pores and keep it clean and clear. Unlike other dedicated physical and acidic exfoliants that should be used a few times a week, this is well-suited for everyday use.
The Top Choice From Dermatologists
Perfect for all genders, the SebaMed Cleanser in their Foam variant is gentle and has antibacterial properties with the presence of elements like montaline C40 and panthenol. The formula also has components that target acne and its scars, and with regular use, you can see visible differences in the texture, the appearance of spots, and glow.
It actively clears out blackheads and protects from bacterias, but does not feel harsh or too strong on the skin. It also maintains the neutral pH level on your face, giving a glowing appearance.
The Simple StoreKind to Skin Moisturising Facial Wash (150ml)
It Is Kind to Your Skin
In our recommendation of the best face washes for dry skin, the one from Simple is on the heftier side of the purchase. Like we earlier said, if you can, you must buy a high-end product. This product has no artificial fragrances or chemicals.
Instead, it is made using Pro-Vitamin B5 which repairs, makes the skin softer, and is anti-inflammatory. It also contains vitamin E, which is an antioxidant, and bisabolol, an oil component derived from German Chamomile plants, having a non-comedogenic formula that will not clog your pores.
The Benefits of Honey and Milk for Moisturizing
This really affordable and effective cleanser is the one you can invest in if you just started your skincare journey. It is great for all year use on dry skin as it maintains pH levels and gives you a nice plump look. The milk extracts in the formula, along with glycerine and honey, are super hydrating.
But we would suggest reading the full list of ingredients as it contains certain chemicals like sodium myreth sulfate, copolymer, and more. These are synthetic components that are used in products, and if you are a clean beauty enthusiast we would suggest further doing some in-depth research.
Herbal Ingredients Are Good For Your Skin
Made with the goodness of nature, the elements used in Kama Ayurveda Rose and Jasmine Face Wash provide instant hydration and a soothing after-feel. Ingredients like aloe vera leaf juice act as antibacterial and fight any bad bacteria on your skin. It also helps clear out any active acne by acting on the infection.
Meanwhile, other ingredients like vetiver root protect from pollutants. The natural and essential oils like jojoba rose, and jasmine moisturizes skin and minimizes fine lines’ appearance. This product is good for anyone in their 30’s as it helps slow down the early aging signs.
Soap Free Cleansing Foam That Balances Your Skin’s pH Levels
If you have dry skin, this extremely tender and soothing cleanser is for you. Made using natural components like soapbark and lavender, Dermalogica is a cruelty-free and vegan brand recommended by dermatologists. It has a foamy texture that lathers quickly onto the skin without drying it or disturbing the natural pH levels.
What is pH? It is a measurable value to see if something is neutral, acidic, or alkaline. The average pH level for skin is between 4.7 and 5.75 anything below is acidic and above is alkaline. These levels can be affected due to external and internal reasons.
Juicy ChemistryHemp, Tea Tree & Neem Organic Face Wash
Infused With Natural Ingredients That Gently Cleanses Your Skin
Juicy Chemistry as a brand is known for its herbal and clean products, without using any preservatives or harsh substances. And in the list of those comes their gentle and organic cleanser made with hemp, olive oil, tea tree, and neem extracts. Ideal for all skin types, it also works wonders for acne.
Furthermore, the antioxidant-rich formula also targets pigmentation, blemishes, and discoloration of the skin, leaving it radiant, soft, and moist. So if you have any of these additional concerns along with dryness, it is a good product to try out.
The Right Way of Caring for Your Skin
Do a Patch Test for Safety and any Allergic Reactions: No matter how gentle or safe the product might seem. It is a must to do a patch test. Usually, it is done on the back of your palm or neck to see if you get any allergic reactions or any other skin concerns from the product.
The procedure is simple -
You take a small pump of the cleanser and apply it on the patch,
Wash it and wait for some time to see any redness or irritation,
If there is nothing, then it is safe for use.
And this applies to all other skincare products, be it scrubs, serums.
To know more about it check out this link.
Double Cleansing With an Oil-based and Regular Cleanser
This is all the rage nowadays. Double cleansing is a process in which you first use a heavy balm or oil-based cleanser to clean off makeup or pollutants. This is followed by a lightweight gel or any other cleanser to get rid of every minimal impurity.
Proven to improve skin texture and leaving it with a soft feeling, you can try this out if you have dry skin type, and even otherwise.
Make a Routine and Limit the Use of Face Washes to Twice in a Day
Overdoing anything is bad for you, that we all are told from a very young age. And the same principle applies to cleaning your face. It is best to have a skincare routine - in the morning and at night time and limit using cleansers to these only.
Over-washing your face can cause dryness and strip off your pores of its natural oils that make a barrier against bacteria and other foreign elements.
To know more about it check out this link.
Add More to the Skin-Care Basket
You can also check out our related list of the best face washes from 2020, cleansers specifically for men, and foaming face washes available in India.
Summary
We hope that our guide and recommendation proves helpful to all the newbies and everyone else stepping into the world of skincare. It is important to invest in good products and mainly time to pamper and take care of your skin, especially your face, as it is exposed to the heat, UV rays, pollution and much more every day.
you don’t need to spend hours or have an elaborate collection of products to take-care, just a basic cleanser and a few other products can make a big difference in making your skin, mainly dry skin feel healthy and appear youthful.
Author: Ujjwala
Top 5 Face Wash for Dry Skin
No. 1: Cetaphil｜Gentle Skin Cleanser, 250ml
No. 2: Dove Store｜Beauty Moisture Conditioning Face Wash Cleanser, 50g
No. 3: CLINIQUE'S｜Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm -30ml
No. 4: Lakme Store｜Blush & Glow Strawberry Freshness Gel Face Wash With Strawberry Extracts, 100 g
No. 5: SebaMed Store｜Clear Face Foam Face Wash (150 ml)
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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