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You can ditch the double cleansing thanks to these 8 cream cleansers

Adios makeup!

By Briar Clark

BEAUTYcrew Beauty Editor / October 25 2023

Cream cleansers are a nifty little invention.

They’re super gentle on skin, but thanks to their emollient formulation they’re also ace at disintegrating a day’s worth of makeup.

You might be mistaken in thinking they’re lost on oilier skin types who need a more purified cleanse than most, but that’s just not the case. In fact, cream cleansers are a great pick for the acne-prone thanks to their gentle approach to tackling any dryness you might be experiencing from the harsh anti-zit formulas you’ve been working into your routine. But on the flip side, they’re also just as effective at cleansing sensitive, dry skin that’s in need of a bit of moisture replenishment.

So, come one, come all because these eight cream cleansers are an inevitable crowd favourite, no matter your skin type.

Vanessa Megan Petitgrain pH Balancing Cream Cleanser

Discover Vanessa Megan's Petitgrain pH Balancing Cream Cleanser, an elegant balancing cream that gently cleanses and nurtures skin. Enriched with nourishing ingredients, this luxurious formula hydrates and soothes while maintaining skin's natural pH, creating a radiant and refined complexion. It's an ideal accompaniment for a refined skincare ritual.

$64.95 at a-beauty

Ella Baché Creamy-Rich Cleansing Milk

Cleansing milk has long been a mainstay in the routines of chic French women for good reason. Ideal for drier skin types in need of a moisture hit, this rich and creamy offering from Ella Baché includes vitamin-rich peanut oil that effortlessly cuts through makeup like nobody's business, so you can spend less time washing your face and dedicate your time to more important things. Like being chic.

$72 at Adore Beauty

CeraVe Hydrating Cream To Foam Cleanser

Ditch your regular double-cleansing methods, kids, because once you’ve added this cream-to-foam cleanser to your skin care routine, your eyes will be opened to a whole new way of life. Gentle enough for sensitive skin, this hydrating, creamy pick clings to dirt, impurities and makeup, while utilising amino acids that hold moisture – as well as hyaluronic acid and CeraVe’s iconic triple ceramide cocktail – for an effective cleanse without worrying about dry, tight and uncomfortable skin.

$21.49 (down from $23.99) at Chemist Warehouse

ULTRACEUTICALS Ultra Hydrating Milk Cleanser

This paraben-free, cosmeceutical cleanser is no-nonsense. You can comfortably enjoy the kind of cleansing action that cuts through makeup and impurities, as well as replenishing the lipid barrier. So, not only are you going to be looking at a fresh and clean visage, your skin will be feeling soft, soothed and supple post-cleanse. What a time to be alive.

$73 at Ultraceuticals

Avène Antirougeurs CLEAN Soothing Cleansing Lotion

This one goes out to all the sensitive-skinned folks out there. Avène’s famous thermal spring water is the star of the show here, soothing skin as you cleanse for supple, soft and soothed results. Add this cleanser to your routine and enjoy relief from the daily redness and irritation that plagues you. We also recommend keeping this gentle guy on hand after any dermatological treatments.

$36.99 at Adore Beauty

Pai Middlemist Seven Gentle Hydrating Cleanser

As if the no-nasties list on this little guy wasn’t impressive enough – we’re talking certified organic, cruelty-free, artificial fragrance free, sulphate free, vegan, mineral oil free, paraben free, AND alcohol free here, people. This hydrating pick is infused with antioxidant-rich camellia oil to help cleanse and condition, and damask rose otto oil to soothe and hydrate skin that’s in need of some well-deserved rest. Enjoy a purified complexion without that horrible stripped, dry feeling that is custom with traditional cleansers.

$59 at Adore Beauty

La Roche-Posay Effaclar H Cleansing Cream

If your skin’s taken an absolute thrashing from acne-banishing formulas, then this gentle pick is for you. Formulated for sensitive and sensitised skin that also airs on the oily side, you can count on this cleansing cream to effectively wash away the day’s impurities, while also replenishing skin with some much-needed moisture. Say hello to improved barrier function and strong, resilient skin that can take whatever you throw at it.

$29.95 at Adore Beauty

Clarins Velvet Cleansing Milk

You can thank the organic plant extracts in this velvety-soft cleansing milk for the targeted anti-pollution deep cleanse you’re going to get once you introduce this pick into your routine. The ultra-nourishing, organic yellow gentian and lemon balm-infused formula won’t dry out your skin either, keeping that all-important skin microbiota intact.

$49 at Adore Beauty

Main image credit: @discodaydream

Skin as dry as a bone? These moisturising cleansers won’t dry out dehydrated skin.

Briar Clark

Briar Clark got her start in the media industry in 2017, as an intern for Marie Claire and InStyle. Since then, her keen interest in fashion and beauty has landed her gigs as a Digital Content Producer and Beauty Editor with titles like Girlfriend, Refinery29, BEAUTYcrew and beautyheaven. She loves the way seemingly innocuous topics like skin care and style have the ability to put a smile on people’s faces or make them think about themselves a little differently. A big believer in self love and experimentation, Briar has made a point of becoming the Australian beauty industry’s unofficial guinea pig for unusual treatments and daring hair trends. When she’s not testing out the latest beauty launches, Briar is big on broadening her horizons, mostly in the form of food but she’s also partial to travelling to new destinations both near and far (and of course, allocating an extra bag to bring their best beauty offerings home with her).