11 Best Drugstore Foaming Cleansers

I avoided foaming facial cleansers for a while, since I had used a lot in the past that left my skin tight and dry due to excess sulfates and detergents in the formula.

However, I love using foaming cleanser to bust through dirt and oil, especially in the hot summer months or after a double cleanse, and there’s nothing wrong in using one, as long as it doesn’t leave your skin tight or dry after rinsing. All skin types, including oily skin, need a bit of oils left behind to maintain the skin’s natural moisture barrier. Overly stripped skin will also get easily irritated, red and flaky which is never a good look.

So today I’m sharing some of the best foaming cleansers from the drugstore (or with drugstore pricing) that clean everything that you don’t want left behind on your skin without damaging your moisture barrier. 

Is your skin too sensitive or dry for any foaming cleanser you’ve tried? Consider the oil cleansing method instead.

*this post contains affiliate links and some products were gifted*

11 Best Drugstore Foaming Cleansers

1 . Cerave Foaming Facial Cleanser 

This drugstore foaming cleanser from Cerave is an excellent option for all skin types, but especially oily, acne and blackhead prone skin, because it contains beta hydroxy acid that deep cleans pores. It’s gentle foaming action can be used on the face and body to keep pores clean by removing excess dirt and oil. 

Its formula has three essential ceramides that cleanses without disrupting the natural moisture barrier and doesn’t leave the skin feeling stripped of moisture. 

BUY IT:  WALGREENS| 

2. Cosrx Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser 

First off, I wanted to explain the “low pH” in the title. Our skin runs slightly acidic and using skin care products with a high pH value can ruin our acid mantle and cause bacterial acne, sensitivities, premature aging and dehydration.

COSRX claims that its Good Morning Gel Cleanser has a low pH value (pH of 5) to match your skin’s pH (which runs around 4-5.5pH) for the most effective, gentle cleanse. This cleanser comes in a clear, gel form and gently foams when applied and massaged onto wet skin. It has a soft scent (tea tree oil) and a cooling sensation, which is both refreshing and stimulating for morning-haters like myself.

I find I only need a pea-sized amount to cleanse my face and neck and it leaves my skin clean and soft, without any irritation or tightness.

COSRX says this cleanser can be used to remove makeup, but as I prefer to use a micellar water or an oil-based cleanser for makeup removal, I can’t vouch for this claim. I do feel this cleanser would be perfect as a morning cleanse or second cleanse after makeup.

BUY IT: Urban Outfitters | AMAZON | MACYS

RELATED READING: 4 Great Cream Cleansers

 

3. Vichy’s Pureté Thermale Fresh Cleansing Gel 

I recently ordered a night cream and the Double Glow mask from Vichy and received the Pureté Thermale Fresh Cleansing Gel as a free gift with the purchase. This gel easily removes dirt and oil and is formulated to reduce the drying effects of hard water to give you soft, radiant skin. The gel is safe for sensitive skin and is hypoallergenic, paraben-free and fortified with Vichy’s Thermal Spa Water.

A small amount of this gel is all you need to create some serious foaming action when mixed with water. Similar to the Cosrx cleanser, Vichy’s foaming facial cleanser leaves skin feeling clean without causing tightness or irritation (although the Cosrx cleanser is slightly more hydrating). Pureté Thermale does contain a fragrance; the same fragrance that I found in Vichy’s Idéalia Night Peeling Care Toner, which I loved (the peel, not the fragrance).

I use the Pureté Thermale gel as my night time cleanse and as a second cleanse after removing my makeup. Given the foaming power that I get from such a tiny amount of gel, this 200mL cleanser will last me a looong time.

BUY IT: AMAZON

4. Klairs Gentle Black Facial Cleanser

This is a newly released cleanser for Korean skin care brand Klairs. The Gentle Black Facial Cleanser comes in a squeeze tube with a thick, creamy texture that emulsifies into a luscious, non-scented foam to gently cleanse any skin type. 

The “Black” in the name refers to the black complex in the formula:  Tuber Melanosporum Extract (Truffle), Rubus Fruticosus (Blackberry) Fruit Extract, Nigella Sativa Seed Extract, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract all work together to enhance hydration and healthiness of the skin.

This gifted product has quickly become one of my most favourite drugstore foaming cleansers because of how gentle it feels on the skin. It’s also cruelty free and vegan!

BUY IT: WISHTREND 

 

5. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser for Sensitive Skin

La Roche-Posay has amazing skin care products for sensitive skin and the Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser is a must if you want a foaming cleanser that is extra gentle. It’s fragrance free and made with glycerin and ceramides to soothe and heal skin while reducing the potential for irritation, making it one of the best drugstore foaming cleansers for sensitive skin.

BUY IT: WALGREENS | AMAZON

6. Paula’s Choice Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser

Paula’s Choice is a skin care brand known for having well formulated products that do their job without damaging the skin’s natural moisture barrier. The brand’s Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser works to balance moisture levels while removing dirt and oil from the skin. 

This cream to foam, cruelty-free formula contains glycerin and sodium hyaluronate to keep skin moisturized during the deep cleaning process, while ceramides and aloe soothe and replenish the skin. 

BUY IT: PAULA’S CHOICE | AMAZON

7. Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Cleanser

This gel foaming cleanser from Nip+Fab is one that I would recommend for oily/acne prone skin types or normal skin types for a little extra cleaning. Reviewed in more detail here, it creates a wonderful foam that’s made with glycolic acid to exfoliate dead skin cells on the skin’s surface for smoother, brighter skin.

BUY IT: AMAZON

8. Hada Labo Tokyo Gentle Hydrating Foaming Cleanser

This foaming cleanser found on Amazon has almost 1400 4+ star reviews. It’s packed with hyaluronic acid to help skin maintain moisture and is free from fragrance, alcohol and mineral oil. 

Gentle enough for even sensitive skin types, this cleanser promises to cleanse without over-stripping skin of its much needed natural oils.

BUY IT: AMAZON

9. Bliss Fab Foaming Oil-Free Cleanser

Bliss’ oil free cleanser is best for normal to oily skin types looking to exfoliate skin while they cleanse. This vegan, cruelty free formula combines bamboo buffers for exfoliation and flower extracts to soothe skin.

Avoid this cleanser if you have sensitive skin, as it includes added fragrance that could be irritating. 

BUY IT: WALGREENS

 

10. Embryolisse Foaming Cream Milk

This foaming cream milk is suitable for all skin types and is made with prickly pear extract to moisturize and protect the epidermis, while a bio-lipid complex of vitamin, essential fatty-acids and phytosterol restores and protects the skin barrier. 

BUY IT: REVOLVE

11. Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser

This foaming cleanser from the Inkey List is targeted at oily, combination, acne/blackhead prone skin. Made with 2% salicylic acid to deep clean and minimize pores, as well as zinc to control oil, this combo works to promote clearer, healthy skin.

BUY IT: SEPHORA

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What’s your favourite foaming facial cleanser from the drugstore?