# Face wash that removes makeup

Source: HiveTried, https://hivetried.com/beauty/face-wash/removes-makeup/
Category: Beauty > Face wash. Updated 2026-10-08. Based on 168 counted first-hand reports from Target shopper reviews, Nov 2019 to Sep 2026.

**Question:** Which face wash takes makeup off?

**Short answer:** La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser has the best record for taking makeup off: 12 of 12 reviewers said it cleaned off their makeup without a separate remover, though that is a small group. CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser follows at 24 of 28, and more reviewers weighed in on it than on any other wash here. At the bottom, CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser and La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Wash sit at 6 of 19 and 4 of 14, with reviewers saying makeup was left behind.

**What stands out:** The two Hydrating washes at the bottom share one complaint: 52% of the CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser reviews and 45% of the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Wash reviews say makeup was left behind. Reviews copied from the brands' own sites read much kinder, at 4 of 5 and 5 of 5, and we show those but don't count them.

## Ranking (buyers who said whether it worked)

| Rank | Product | Removes makeup | Share | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser | 12 of 12 | 100% | yes |
| 2 | CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser | 24 of 28 | 86% | yes |
| 3 | Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Foaming Facial Cleanser | 9 of 10 | 90% | yes |
| 4 | Cetaphil Gentle Foaming Facial Cleanser | 11 of 16 | 69% | yes |
| 5 | CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser | 6 of 19 | 32% | no |
| 6 | La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Wash | 4 of 14 | 29% | no |

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. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser

12 of 12 said it took their makeup off and none needed a separate remover, which is a small group to go on. 32% call it gentle and 11% say it costs too much.

- Praised for: Gentle (32%), Skin doesn't feel tight (16%), Leaves skin fresh (16%)
- Complaints: Too expensive (11%), Irritates or stings (11%), Drying (11%)
- Reports counted: 19

### 2. CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser

More reviewers weighed in on this one than on any other wash here, and 24 of 28 said it took their makeup off. 20% call it gentle and 20% say skin didn't feel tight, while 10% say it left makeup behind.

- Praised for: Gentle (20%), Skin doesn't feel tight (20%), Good value (5%)
- Complaints: Drying (10%)
- Reports counted: 40

### 3. Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Foaming Facial Cleanser

9 of 10 said it took their makeup off, which is a small group to go on. 18% say it leaves skin fresh and 18% call it good value, but 18% say it dries skin out.

- Praised for: Leaves skin fresh (18%), Good value (18%), Gentle (12%)
- Complaints: Drying (18%), Breaks skin out (12%)
- Reports counted: 17

### 4. Cetaphil Gentle Foaming Facial Cleanser

Reviewers split: 11 of 16 said it took their makeup off, and 5 said makeup was left behind and they needed a separate remover. 23% call it gentle and 15% say it leaves skin fresh.

- Praised for: Gentle (23%), Skin doesn't feel tight (19%), Leaves skin fresh (15%)
- Complaints: Stripping or tight (8%), Irritates or stings (8%)
- Reports counted: 26

### 5. CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser

Makeup left behind is the main complaint, in 52% of its reviews, and 13 of 19 reviewers said they needed a separate remover. 6 of 19 said it took their makeup off, and 20% call it gentle.

- Praised for: Gentle (20%), Controls oil (8%)
- Complaints: Drying (8%), Irritates or stings (8%)
- Reports counted: 25

### 6. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Wash

This one has the weakest record here at 4 of 14, with 45% of its reviews saying makeup was left behind. 23% call it gentle, but 18% say it irritates or stings.

- Praised for: Gentle (23%)
- Complaints: Irritates or stings (18%), Drying (9%)
- Reports counted: 22

## Questions

**Which face wash takes makeup off?**

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser has the best record (12 of 12), followed by CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser (24 of 28) and Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Foaming Facial Cleanser (9 of 10). More reviewers weighed in on CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser (28) than on any other wash here, so its record rests on more reviews.

**Does CeraVe face wash remove makeup?**

It depends on the wash. 24 of 28 reviewers of CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser said it took their makeup off. For CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser it was 6 of 19, and 52% of its reviews say makeup was left behind.

**Does La Roche-Posay Toleriane face wash remove makeup?**

Check which one you are buying. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser has 12 of 12, while La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Wash has 4 of 14, with 45% of its reviews saying makeup was left behind.

**Can a face wash replace a makeup remover?**

Sometimes. Reviewers of La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser (12 of 12) and CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser (24 of 28) said they didn't need a separate remover. But 13 of 19 reviewers of CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser and 10 of 14 reviewers of La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Wash said makeup was left behind and they needed a separate one. The reviews don't say which makeup was involved, so we can't tell you how any of these handle waterproof or heavy makeup. The pages linked below cover wipes, oils and micellar water that are sold for removing makeup.

## 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/