# Face wash that doesn't strip skin

Source: HiveTried, https://hivetried.com/beauty/face-wash/doesnt-strip-skin/
Category: Beauty > Face wash. Updated 2026-10-08. Based on 294 counted first-hand reports from Ulta and Sephora shopper reviews, Feb 2017 to Sep 2026.

**Question:** Which face wash doesn't strip skin?

**Short answer:** Fresh Soy Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser has the best record for not stripping skin: 34 of 34 reviewers who brought it up said it left their skin comfortable, and it is sold at Sephora and Ulta. First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Cream-to-Foam Face Cleanser is the best pick sold on Amazon, at 43 of 45, and the most reviewers weighed in on it. Records stay high across the page, down to 22 of 28 for Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser, the weakest record here.

**What stands out:** Where the leaders draw complaints, it is price more than dryness, at 14% of Fresh reviews and 17% of Tatcha reviews.

## Ranking (buyers who said whether it worked)

| Rank | Product | Doesn't strip | Share | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fresh Soy Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser | 34 of 34 | 100% | no |
| 2 | First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Cream-to-Foam Face Cleanser | 43 of 45 | 96% | yes |
| 3 | Skinfix Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser | 29 of 30 | 97% | yes |
| 4 | Tatcha The Rice Wash | 28 of 30 | 93% | yes |
| 5 | philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanser | 35 of 40 | 88% | yes |
| 6 | Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser | 22 of 28 | 79% | yes |
| 7 | Kiehl's Ultra Facial Barrier-Hydrating Cleanser | 7 of 8 | 88% | yes |

Ranked by the lower bound of a 90% Wilson confidence interval, so a product needs a high share and enough reports to rank high. An Amazon link is shown only when at least 60% say it works.

## Product notes

### 1. Fresh Soy Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser

Not one of the 34 reviewers who weighed in said it left their skin tight. 43% call it gentle, and 14% mention the price.

- Praised for: Gentle (43%), Removes makeup (23%), Leaves skin fresh (20%)
- Complaints: Too expensive (14%)
- Reports counted: 35

### 2. First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Cream-to-Foam Face Cleanser

The most reviewers weighed in on this one (45). 37% call it gentle and 33% say it removes makeup, while 2 said it left their skin tight.

- Praised for: Gentle (37%), Removes makeup (33%), Leaves skin fresh (26%)
- Complaints: Drying (7%), Breaks skin out (4%)
- Reports counted: 46

### 3. Skinfix Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser

Reviewers praise it for removing makeup (37%) and leaving skin fresh (37%). Reviewers with combination skin gave it 14 of 14. Ranked on Sephora reviews.

- Praised for: Removes makeup (37%), Leaves skin fresh (37%), Gentle (27%)
- Reports counted: 30

### 4. Tatcha The Rice Wash

43% call it gentle and 17% say it lasts a long time. Price is the main complaint, at 17%. Ranked on Sephora reviews.

- Praised for: Gentle (43%), Leaves skin fresh (30%), Lasts a long time (17%)
- Complaints: Too expensive (17%), Strong scent (7%)
- Reports counted: 30

### 5. philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanser

Praised for removing makeup (35%) and for value (12%). It scores 9 of 10 at Ulta and 26 of 30 at Sephora, and 5 of 40 said it left their skin tight or dry.

- Praised for: Removes makeup (35%), Leaves skin fresh (28%), Gentle (20%)
- Complaints: Drying (5%), Strong scent (5%)
- Reports counted: 40

### 6. Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser

The weakest record here: 22 of 28, with 20% of reviews saying it stripped their skin. Reviewers with dry skin gave it 7 of 7, against 9 of 13 for combination skin, though both groups are small.

- Praised for: Leaves skin fresh (33%), Gentle (17%), Removes makeup (17%)
- Complaints: Drying (10%)
- Reports counted: 30

### 7. Kiehl's Ultra Facial Barrier-Hydrating Cleanser

A small group of reviewers (7 of 8), so the 88% could move. 33% call it gentle, and 22% mention the price.

- Praised for: Gentle (33%)
- Complaints: Too expensive (22%), Strong scent (22%)
- Reports counted: 9

## Questions

**Which face wash doesn't strip skin?**

Fresh Soy Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser has the best record, at 34 of 34. First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Cream-to-Foam Face Cleanser follows at 43 of 45, and Skinfix Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser at 29 of 30.

**Does Fresh Soy Face Cleanser dry out skin?**

Not by these reviews. 34 of 34 reviewers who mentioned tightness or dryness said it didn't cause it, and the complaint that does come up is price (14% of its reviews).

**Does Drunk Elephant's Beste Jelly Cleanser strip skin?**

For some people it does. It has the weakest record on this page at 22 of 28, and 20% of its reviews say it stripped their skin.

**Does First Aid Beauty's cleanser leave skin tight?**

Rarely. 2 of 45 reviewers said it did, and reviewers with dry skin gave it 6 of 7.

## Method

HiveTried counts first-hand reports only, drops reviews written for free products, shows brand-site reviews without counting them, and never accepts payment for placement. Full method: https://hivetried.com/how-we-count/