Best Cleanser for Combination Skin (one is just $8!)

Fact: many women who think they have oily skin actually have combination skin. We obsess over the T-zone, where we get pimples and grease up by the middle of the day, but our U-zone – cheeks and chin — gets dried out by most oil-stripping products. The challenge: to find a cleanser for combination skin that clears out our oily areas without drying out the rest of our face.

Signs you have combination skin

You know you have combination skin, if this usually happens to you:

• Your T-zone get oily just 30 minutes after you wash your face. However, the rest of your skin is fine!
• Your moisturizer is quickly absorbed on your cheeks, but sits on your forehead, nose and chin.
• The pores on your nose are much larger than the pores on your jawline and cheeks.
• Your nose and chin may appear dull and rough because of a buildup of dead skin cells
• Your cheeks and the skin around your eyes are drier than the rest of your face.
• You get both pimples and dry patches.
• Your flakes look a bit yellow, and the skin underneath is red. “I call it facial dandruff,” says dermatologist Francesca Fusco. “This condition, medically called seborrheic dermatitis, is often confused with dry skin, but it is an overgrowth of yeast that normally grows on the scalp. People often have dandruff along with it.”

SAVE: Best Cleanser for Combination Skin Singapore under $20

1. Aromatic Global Baobab Facial Soap

Buy now: $9.50

On top of the list is the Aromatic Global Baobab Facial Soap which is the go-to face cleanser for those that experience combination skin. Enhanced with African baobab fruit extracts, it easily absorbs by the skin cells and is known for its antioxidant properties. This fragrance-free cleanser helps to improve the overall complexion and ensures that the skin is thoroughly cleansed, leaving your skin softer and plumper. Besides, nothing can beat an organic facial cleanser. If you’re looking for the best facial cleanser for your skin type, this is the one!

2. Biore Agave Balancing Pore Cleanser for Combination Skin

Buy now: $8.44, Amazon SG

This facial wash is especially formulated for you! It has baking soda for deep cleaning and exfoliation, and blue agave to soothe and condition your dry skin. We also like how it has a tingly, minty sensation – totally refreshing after a hot day! It’s paraben-free and dermatologist-tested. For less than $10, it’s definitely worth a try.  You may also want to try their Biore Agave makeup remover cloths for instant, convenient cleansing!

3. The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Cleansing Foam

Buy now: $17, The Face Shop

For centuries, the Japanese and Koreans have saved their rice water to wash their faces. It was even one of the beauty secrets of the women of the royal court in the Joseon dynasty! It’s full of antioxidants  and Vitamin B that helps soften and brighten the skin. But we have to admit, it’s more convenient to just get this cleanser. Along with rice water, it contains moringa and soapwort extracts to hydrate and strengthen your skin. Amazon reviews gave it 4.3 stars!

4. CHOBS Organic Apple Bubble Cleanser

Buy now: $30, currently on sale for only $18 on Insider Mall

Infused with Apple Juice to keep the skin smooth and elastic, Tea Tree leaves to hydrate and remove excess sebum, and Organic Geranium Extract that softens and removes skin irritation, this instant-foam pumping cleanser from CHOBS is one of our must-haves for combination skin! It removes excess sebum especially around the T-Zone area without drying out the flaky parts of the face. It leaves the skin feeling revitalized and fresh.

5. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Cleanser

Buy now: $15.90, Guardian

People swear that it’s the best drugstore cleanser for combination skin! Despite being less than $15, it uses a patented (and powerful) cleansing technology that is able to wash off oil and dirt on your T-zone, while simultaneously hydrating your drier U-zone.  

We recommend using this in the morning, to rebalance your skin. In the evening, use cleansing balm or a cleanser for waterproof makeup and then rinse off with this gentle facial wash.  

6. Caudalie Fleur de Vigne Instant Foaming Cleanser

Buy now:  $16, Sephora

Looking for a natural cleanser for combination skin? This contains grape, sage and chamomile extracts to restore your skin balance. It is soap-free so it won’t dry out your skin, and the foamy formula feels fresh on your oily T-zone.

It has a delicate fragrance that many women find relaxing, but if you’re allergic to fragrances you may want to stay away from this one.

7. Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash

Buy now: $16.50, Sokoglam

If you tend to get a lot of pimples, Neutrogena acne facial wash can keep those bumps at bay. It eliminates the oil and dirt that clogs pores, and even has medicinal properties to help dry out any inflamed pimples. But unlike many acne products, it won’t dry out or irritate your skin. Tip: start applying on your T-zone and any where pimples tend to appear, and work up a generous lather. Leave it on for about 1 minute, and rinse off.

8. Neogen Green Tea Real Fresh Foam Cleanser

Buy now: $16.50, Althea

This popular Korean cleanser for combination skin won an award (and a 4.3 star rating) on Sokoglam! Green tea extract (you see actual leaves in the bottle!) brightens dull and dry patches, while calming any breakouts on your T-zone. The foamy formula also breaks down dirt and oil without irritating your skin.

9. La Roche-Posay’s Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Cleanser

Buy now: $16.95, La Roche-Posay Online Store

If your T-zone gets really oily, reach for this crowd favorite. It has over 1,000 Amazon reviews and an average 4.6 star rating. It’s oil-free (so it won’t clog your pores) and soap-free (so it won’t dry out your U-zone). It also contains zinc pidolate, which can help clear out pores and prevent acne.

10. Innisfree Green Barley Bubble Cleanser

Buy now: $17, Innisfree Online Store

This gentle facial wash contains green barley extract, which hydrates your skin without leaving any heavy cream residue that can clog your pores or make your oily T-zone feel even greasier. It also has three different kinds of naturally-derived AHAs, which can help slough off dead skin cells and brighten your complexion. Over time, this will help re-balance your skin PH and keep combination skin fresh and radiant.

11. First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser

Buy now: $17, Sephora

Amazon reviews call it “the Holy Grail cleanser for sensitive combination skin!” It has a special botanical antioxidant blend that washes dirt and protects your skin from environmental hazards like pollution. It’s PH-balanced and free of irritating ingredients like alcohol, parabens, phthalates, sulfates, mineral oil, tar, and more. It’s even safe for sensitive skin.

We also like how the whipped texture turns into a rich cream once you add water. It’s a great cleanser to use with your Foreo or Clarisonic.

12. CosRX Low PH Cleansing Milk

Buy now: $9.90, SHOPEE

One of the most gentle cleanser for combination skin! It has a PH of 5.5, which is almost like your skin’s natural PH. This means that it won’t dry out or irritate your skin. It also contains witch hazel to fight inflammation, papaya fruit extract to whiten and soften the skin, and allantoin to heal and moisturize dry patches.

It can’t really remove heavy makeup or thick products like sunscreen, so either use this in the morning or as part of a double-cleansing routine.

SPLURGE: Best Cleanser for Combination Skin in Singapore for $20 above

13. Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser

Buy now: $27, Sephora

This cleanser for combination skin cleans, brightens and gently exfoliates! The glycolic acid helps dissolve dirt and dead skin cells, and fades minor discoloration like small acne marks. It also has chamomile and St. John’s wort extracts to relieve redness, and yarrow extract to promote healthy, youthful skin.

14. Chai SKIN LAUNDRY III Refresh Sapphire Cleanser

Buy now: $64.20, Insider Mall

Your pores can get clogged too that’s why this Skin Laundry Refresh Sapphire Cleanser will help those woes! As you cleanse your skin, it deeply detoxes and cleanses the skin, leaving your skin conditioned and clear. Without drying out the skin, it also prevents acne formation. It’s also an effective makeup remover that’s infused with blue gold extracts and sebum-controlling fruit enzymes to prevent clogging and keeping your skin clean and smooth.

15. Philosophy Purity One-Step Facial Cleanser

Buy now: $34, Sephora

Philosophy reviews say this is the best cleanser for combination skin, giving it 4.9 stars (yes, that high!) and calling it “the perfect cleanser for every skin type.” In other words, 98% of the people who bought this cleanser recommend it, and will buy it again.

It’s won numerous beauty awards, including ten Allure Magazine Reader’s Choice awards. We’ve actually lost count of how many beauty editors have included it in their top 10 lists. Yes, this is a cult favorite.

The secret is in its powerful blend of extracts. It has hydrating meadowfoam seed oil so your skin never feels tight, and 12 essential oils (including rosewood, sandalwood and sage) to rejuvenate and soften your skin. So while it melts away dirt and makeup, it also strengthens and refreshes.

16. Dermedics Foaming Cleanser

Buy now: $95, Insider Mall

If you’re more on the combination AND sensitive skin type, this cleanser will be your next holy grail! It’s a modern type of hypoallergenic cleanser that rids of the skin of all sorts of impurities. Other than that, it also calms irritated skin and blemish-prone skin. If you also suffer from itchy, dry skin, this will soothe it while you cleanse.

17. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser

 Buy now: $35, Kiehl’s Online Store

Even oily skin needs hydration, because attacking it with too many mattifying products can dry it out and tell your skin to produce more oil.

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser is one of those best hydrating cleanser for combination skin. It has squalene, apricot kernel oil, vitamin E and avocado oil. Not only do these help hydrate your skin, but they heal your skin’s moisture barrier and help fight free radicals. That can help signs of early ageing and help smoothen out your dry patches on the U-zone. Influenster reviews gave it 4.6 stars!

18. Boscia Purifying Cleansing Gel

Buy now: $42, Sephora

Looking for the best cleanser for combination skin that can also take off makeup? Try Boscia’s popular facial wash. It can break down most regular foundations and cream products (though you may want to use makeup remover for waterproof eyeliner and mascara). It also treats your skin to green tea, which is packed with antioxidants, calms inflammation and redness, and has mild anti-bacterial properties to prevent breakouts.

19. Kora Gentle Cleanser

Buy now: $43, Sephora

“I have quite problematic skin but this cleanser is one of the very few I have zero reaction too. It’s super gentle and leaves your skin feeling so soft. 10/10!” says a Sephora review.

A natural cleanser for combination skin, it gently breaks down dirt, oil and makeup without irritation or dryness. At the same time noni fruit, chamomile and calendula extracts, combined with avocado oil, hydrate your skin and fight free radical damage.

Find other products for combination skin!

• Best Toners for Combination Skin
• Best Foundations for Combination Skin
• Best Makeup Primers for Combination Skin