Don't Waste Your Money is supported by our readers. When you purchase an item through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The Best Foam Cleanser

Last updated on September 20, 2022

We looked at the top 8 Foam Cleansers and dug through the reviews from 18 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Foam Cleansers.

Our Review Process

Don't Waste Your Money is focused on helping you make the best purchasing decision. Our team of experts spends hundreds of hours analyzing, testing, and researching products so you don't have to. Learn more.

Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in a category.

A foam facial cleanser can be great for your skin because it guards your face from drying out as well as abrasion caused by contact. This product can make deep cleaning seem effortless, since there’s no scrubbing required.

So how do you know that you need a foam cleanser in the first place? Long story short: If your skin tends to be oily or you suffer from skin conditions like acne or rosacea, foam will probably be your best option. Cream cleansers have a thicker consistency that’s best absorbed by dry skin, while gel cleansers generally have a milder formula that can work with a wide variety of skin types. But with foam cleansers, those bubbles and lather aren’t just for show. They help to pull excess oil away from the skin, leaving it rejuvenated without harming sensitive pores or removing helpful natural oils.

If you’re using a cleanser at night (and you should), it has to remove makeup, sunscreen and other impurities you’ve collected during the course of the day. That’s best done with oils, which may seem counterintuitive if you’ve already got oily skin. There are beneficial oils that can promote skin health, though, such as coconut or jojoba oil. Look for those and other natural ingredients that can help lift away the bad stuff (dirt, makeup) while leaving in the good.

There are plenty of other good ingredients you can look for, though some may help certain skin types better than others. Glycerin is always a good bet, and you’ll see it in most foam cleansers. This compound is a humectant, which means it works to draw moisture into the pores. It’s a substance that’s already found in healthy skin, so you can’t really go wrong. In cleansers, glycerin is most effective at concentrations around 10%, but any amount helps. Aloe vera is a plant-based topical that soothes damaged skin and can also help moisturize.

You may also see a lot of foam cleansers advertise themselves as “pH balanced” and wonder how that makes a difference. In fact,  maintaining your skin’s pH is crucial. For those who might be allergic to science: The pH scale is used to measure acidity or alkalinity, with the most acidic substances rated zero and the most alkaline at 14. When it’s healthy, your face should measure around a five. Here’s the problem: That pH rating can be thrown out of whack by the wrong makeup, allergens or even cleansers that might otherwise help your face. When they become more alkaline, your pores get dry and itchy. More acid means they may break out. A pH-balanced cleanser is one where all the ingredients are proportioned to keep that pH rating where it should be.

Finally, there are a few things you may not want to find in your cleanser. For example, you may wish to avoid sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), which has been used in the past to help cleansers get their sudsy consistency. SLS can cause irritation for many skin types, but when used in small amounts and rinsed off quickly it has been shown to be safe in cosmetic formulations.

Also use caution around cleansers that use a fragrance. The smell may be nice, but it usually comes from a mix of ingredients (often unlisted) that can be allergens. Even natural ones like geranium oil can cause a reaction.

Our Picks For The Top Foam Cleansers

View All Recommendations
Product Overview
Our Take
Pros
Cons
 Top Pick

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Fragrance-Free Foam Cleanser

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

La Roche-Posay

Toleriane Fragrance-Free Foam Cleanser

Those with sensitive skin should love this pH-balanced cleanser with ceramides, vitamins and antioxidants. The fragrance-free foam works up into an impressive lather, so you can expect to get plenty of uses out of each bottle.

Overall Take

No Harmful IngredientsKeep skin clean and healthy with this lathering foam cleanser.

Pros
" A refreshing and nourishing option to cleanse your skin without an fear of unnecessary scents, oils, or sulfates."
 Runner Up

Aveeno Ultra-Calming Makeup Remover & Foam Cleanser

Aveeno

Ultra-Calming Makeup Remover & Foam Cleanser

With this gentle yet effective cleanser, you can safely remove makeup and moisturize at the same time. The product leaves skin feeling clean and smooth daily. Its natural ingredients can even calm redness and irritation from skin conditions like rosacea.

Overall Take

Pulls Double DutyCleanse your pores and reduce redness with this gentle, effective product.

Pros
" It leaves skin feeling soft—not stripped—after cleansing. Removes makeup, dirt, and excess oil without stripping or irritating skin."
 We Also Like

EltaMD pH Balanced Oil-Free Foam Cleanser

EltaMD

pH Balanced Oil-Free Foam Cleanser

Use this one to take off makeup before applying a bit of moisturizer. The ingredients add amino acids and enzymes that can help clear up damaged skin. The pH-balanced formula removes excess oils and leaves the face feeling rejuvenated. It can be used every day.

Overall Take

Suits Oily SkinThe carefully balanced formula cares for sensitive skin.

Pros
" Dermatologist-recommended. Infuses oxygen into skin. Gentle formula. Hypoallergenic. Sensitivity-free. Oil-free. pH-balanced formula."
Cons
"May be a bit drying on some skin types, especially for those whose skin is prone to dryness. Pump dispenser occasionally clogs."
 Strong Contender

CeraVe Non-Drying Hyaluronic Acid Foam Cleanser

CeraVe

Non-Drying Hyaluronic Acid Foam Cleanser

A solid regimen with this cleanser is just the thing for damaged pores. The ceramide-rich foam carries hyaluronic acid and niacinimide into the skin where it can soothe itching and other acne symptoms. The ingredients are suitable for a range of skin types.

Overall Take

Well Balanced CleanserTreat breakouts with this ceramide-rich gel-to-foam cleanser.

Pros
" One of the best products for normal skin, this cleanser comes in a larger size and offers universal cleansing capabilities."
Cons
"Has not been tested in sensitive eye area. Does not treat acne."
Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
15

Products Considered

We identified the majority of the foam cleansers available to purchase.
8

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

View All Product Rankings

18

Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: Good Housekeeping, Byrdie, BestReviews, Allure, Vanities No Apologies.

340,435

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 8 Foam Cleansers and also dug through the reviews from 18 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Foam Cleansers.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval
Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in their category.

The Best Bang For Your Buck

CeraVe Non-Drying Hyaluronic Acid Foam Cleanser

Our Expert Score

9.0
4 expert reviews

User Summarized Score

9.4
60,113 user reviews

Our Take

A solid regimen with this cleanser is just the thing for damaged pores. The ceramide-rich foam carries hyaluronic acid and niacinimide into the skin where it can soothe itching and other acne symptoms. The ingredients are suitable for a range of skin types.

What other experts liked

One of the best products for normal skin, this cleanser comes in a larger size and offers universal cleansing capabilities.
- BestReviews
Fragrance-free. All-in-one cleanser.
- Verywell Family
Moisturizing formula. Non-greasy. Paraben-free. Fragrance-free. Soap-free. Non-comedogenic. Non-irritating.
- Style Craze
If you’ve struggled to find the right face wash for your oily skin, or you’re just looking for a no-frills face wash that’s effective and non-stripping, do yourself a favor and add CeraVe’s Foaming Face Wash to your cart.
- HelloGiggles

What other experts didn't like

While best for normal to oily skin, this cleanser does not meet all skin needs.
- BestReviews
Has not been tested in sensitive eye area. Does not treat acne.
- Verywell Family
Does not lather.
- Style Craze

What to Look For

So how do you use that foam cleanser? If you’re following a daily skin care routine, it should be the first part of your regimen. Use it to wash away built-up dirt in the morning or makeup at night, then toner or serums if you use them. Eye creams go on next, followed by a moisturizing agent. Then you’re ready to start (or end) the day!

 

Foam Cleanser Rankings

1. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Fragrance-Free Foam Cleanser

Overall Score: 9.8
Reviews Included: 5

2. Aveeno Ultra-Calming Makeup Remover & Foam Cleanser

Overall Score: 9.2
Reviews Included: 5

3. EltaMD pH Balanced Oil-Free Foam Cleanser

Overall Score: 9.1
Reviews Included: 6

4. CeraVe Non-Drying Hyaluronic Acid Foam Cleanser

Overall Score: 9.0
Reviews Included: 6

5. nooni Foam Maker & Daily Foam Cleanser Kit

Overall Score: 8.9
Reviews Included: 3

6. Caudalie Sulfate-Free Vegan Foam Cleanser

Overall Score: 8.8
Reviews Included: 5

7. Neutrogena Alcohol-Free Makeup Remover & Foam Cleanser

Overall Score: 8.8
Reviews Included: 6

More to Explore

Want to break the Guinness World Record for most people receiving skin care at one time? Here’s hoping you know a lot of beauticians: The current record is held by the Guangzhou FAWA Cosmetics Company, whose employees gave facials to 2,988 people in Taiyuan,  Shanxi, China on April 21, 2018. That means around 6,000 people participated in the event, which took a little over a half-hour to complete.

There’s also a record for most people putting on sunscreen at the same time. E. Carolin Praba and Vcare Professionals accomplished the feat, with 2,441 people, in Chennai, India in 2019.

More to explore