These 11 Budget Cleansers Are Just as Good as Their Expensive Counterparts
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@THATGRACEGIRL
Part cream and part gel, this cleanser has a texture that looks and feels every bit as luxurious as its packaging does. It's simultaneously refreshing and nourishing, so once you remove it, your skin feels clean but comfortable.
With a dense, dessert-like texture that has the weight of a balm but the texture of a gel, this cleanser is quite unlike any I've ever tried before. Above all, it feels a thousand times more luxurious than the £10 price tag dictates, and it leaves my skin with exactly the same soft, comforted sensation as the above.
"I love cleansing balms for removing makeup and sunscreen at night, but using one in the morning is overkill—like cracking an egg with a hammer," says Hughes. "Your morning skin needs cleansing of last night’s skincare, very light dirt from a pillowcase and perhaps a little perspiration, so something light, refreshing and gentle is all you need. I made Clean Sheet to fit the bill exactly, except I packed it with hydrating humectants to combat that horrible tight dryness you get with so many face washes." She recommends massaging Clean Sheet into dry skin, adding some warm water to turn it into milk, then removing with a wet flannel. "That’s it. You can even take it into the shower if you don’t have even one spare minute. Beauty fans of all ages and genders love it."
Sensitive skin types will love Kate Somerville's Delikate collection. In particular, this creamy cleanser, which utilises ingredients like ceramides, cucumber, aloe and omegas to relieve redness, burning and itchiness.
Also formulated with sensitive skin in mind, E.l.f.'s Pure Skin range draws upon the soothing benefits of ingredients such as allantoin, niacinamide, and oat extracts to target signs of skin sensitivity. The gentle milky texture of this face wash means that even the most reactive skin types can cleanse without worrying about causing further irritation.
This refreshing cleanser (which removes impurities while balancing the skin) is one I return to again and again. It's great for all skin types, but thanks to soy proteins, cucumber extracts and rose water, it's especially good for dry and sensitive skin.
If you're a fan of the Fresh cleanser, this is a great dupe. It has the same refreshing gel texture and is formulated with ceramides, licorice and green tea to hydrate and calm skin.
At just a fraction of the price, this affordable balm cleanser is just as effective when it comes to melting away makeup and impurities. Plus, the hero ingredients (chamomile and oat lipids) help to calm and nourish skin.
With salicylic acid, witch hazel, tea tree, and camphor, this acne-targeting face wash helps to decongest pores and remove excess oil while also reducing active breakouts.
While it may not have the added botanical ingredients, salicylic acid also takes centre stage in this budget-friendly formula. The refreshing gel texture makes it perfect for a second cleanse in a double cleansing routine.
No one does luxury skincare quite like Tatcha. This silky cleansing oil is the perfect accompaniment to a good facial massage. Upon removal, expect skin to feel soft, supple and intensely moisturised.
If you're after an affordable oil cleanser, look no further than The Body Shop's offering, which does a great job of breaking down stubborn makeup while also nourishing dry skin.
A cult cleanser—and a true Who What Wear UK favourite—Elemis's most iconic cleanser melts from a balm to an oil then emulsifies into a milk with the addition of water. It's packed with essential oils (lavender, chamomile and eucalyptus), which help to upgrade your cleansing routine to a spa-like experience.
Fans of Elemis's cleansing balm will also love Beauty Pie's affordable version. It doesn't have the same aromatic benefits, but it does have the same silky texture, powered by baobab and rice bran oils, and melts all traces of makeup right off skin.
Oily and breakout-prone skin types in particular will love this SkinCeuticals formula, which uses three different types of exfoliating acid to decongest pores and smooth and brighten skin.
Arguably one of the best face washes for oily and acne-prone skin (and totally affordable), this gel cleanser uses salicylic acid to break down the dead skin cells and sebum that build up in pores and result in breakouts. Use it as a face mask if you want to experiment with short contact therapy, an aesthetician-approved cleansing technique.
Melting from a gel to an oil to a milk, Oskia's cleansing gel offers up one of the most luxurious and spa-like cleansing experiences. Dry skin types especially will benefit from the nourishing ingredients within, which include omegas, chamomile, pumpkin enzymes, and vitamins A, C, and E.
Although it has a much simpler formula, this cleanser has a similar gel-balm texture that melts onto skin for a surprisingly luxurious cleanse. "This makes for a wonderful balmy first cleanse to remove daily grime and makeup whilst retaining moisture," says Perry. "I find squalane agreeable with most of my clients."
If you're in need of a deep cleanse but don't want to strip your skin, Sunday Riley's cleanser is just the ticket. It uses four different cleansing ingredients, including kaolin clay, to remove impurities and reduce the appearance of pore size.
Skin Proud, an affordable skincare brand with super-effective formulas, has also created a kaolin clay–based cleanser. Creamy but clarifying, it can also be used as a leave-on face mask for a deeper cleanse.
A French pharmacy favourite and a staple of both makeup artists and beauty editors, this micellar water is ideal for removing heavy makeup before cleansing. The deceptively water-like formula utilises particles called micelles, which act like magnets to remove impurities—no scrubbing required.
In a blind test, you'd be hard-pressed to find a difference between these two micellar water solutions, but this one costs half the price of the above. Fast and effective, it lifts every trace of mascara, lipstick and foundation off skin.