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I’ve personally tested and researched these natural, nontoxic, and organic face washes and cleansers on my sensitive skin. These are my notes and rankings.
At the end of the day, nothing feels more relaxing than indulging in a luxurious skincare routine that leaves us feeling soft, clean, and moisturized. I personally like to take this time to practice a few moments of mindfulness — noticing the aroma of the wash, pressing my fingers against my skin with intention, and feeling it melt away, the day helps me get present in my body and wind down (or wake up).
We’ve rounded up a list of natural and organic face washes that will leave you feeling refreshed, relaxed, and ready for whatever comes your way. Browse our list to find the best natural and/or organic face wash for you. Many of these face washes are also available on our favorite clean beauty marketplace, Credo!
Why consider natural and organic face wash?
Natural and organic face wash is ideal if you’re looking to boost your skin’s health with fewer artificial ingredients, chemicals, and fragrances. Since many skincare products include harmful chemicals, we prefer brands that formulate face cleansers with clean ingredients, like plant extracts and oils. These ingredients also tend to be less irritating on our faces and richer in absorbable vitamins and nutrients that help support our skin barrier.
Natural skincare brands also prioritize sustainable sourcing for ingredients, which minimizes their impact on the environment through organic farming and eco-friendly packaging. If you’re looking to lessen your exposure to synthetics, opting for clean skincare can expose you to fewer potentially harmful ingredients while helping to better our planet!
Which type of cleanser should I use for my skin?
Choosing the right cleanser starts with understanding your skin’s unique needs. A cream or milk cleanser is usually best for someone with dry or sensitive skin, as these formulas gently remove dirt, oil, and makeup without stripping away essential moisture. For oily or acne-prone skin, foaming and gel cleansers are a good choice, helping to remove excess oil and impurities while leaving skin feeling fresh and balanced. (Though oil-based cleaners have been becoming increasingly popular, as some note on Reddit that the oil in the cleanser helps break down oil on the skin better, especially if you’re double-cleansing.) If combination skin is the concern — i.e. an oily T-zone paired with drier cheeks — a gentle gel cleanser can provide effective cleansing without over-drying certain areas.
For anyone who regularly wears makeup or sunscreen, a cleansing balm or cleansing oil can effectively dissolve these products from the skin – just be sure to follow it up with a second cleanser that suits your skin type as part of a double-cleansing routine. Mature or aging skin will likely prefer hydrating cream cleansers or nourishing balm cleansers that support the skin barrier while cleansing. If choosing a cleanser has been challenging for you, just know the best cleanser is likely the one that leaves skin feeling clean, comfortable, and balanced, and never tight, dry, or stripped!
Here are the ingredients we look for (and what we avoid):
For hydration and barrier support, ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, squalane, aloe vera, and nourishing plant oils can help cleanse the skin without stripping away essential moisture. Those with oily or acne-prone skin may benefit from ingredients such as salicylic acid, niacinamide, or tea tree oil, which can help manage excess oil and congestion. At the same time, it’s often best to avoid harsh sulfates, high concentrations of drying alcohols, and heavily fragranced formulas, especially for sensitive or dry skin types, as these ingredients can cause irritation or leave skin feeling tight and uncomfortable.
Our criteria and methodology:
Our editors have tested, researched, and scoured thousands of customer reviews to determine the very best organic and nontoxic face washes and cleansers at a variety of prices. I tested each of these on my sensitive skin, using each one 2-3 times and implementing it into my full skincare routine (double cleanse, serum, moisturizer) and made notes on feel, function, aroma, and more.
We update this list regularly with emerging favorites that meet the criteria below.
- NATURAL/ORGANIC | These face washes are made with clean, natural, and organic ingredients that are safe and nourishing for your skin.
- EFFICACY | We’ve tested and researched these cleansers to ensure their formulas are effective and will support your skin’s needs with consistent use.
- AFFORDABILITY | Natural beauty can be expensive! We’ve included brands that are easy on the wallet so we can all benefit from incorporating a little more clean skincare into our routines.
Top your skincare routine off with one of our favorite organic moisturizers for rejuvenated skin and an eye cream with natural ingredients. ✨
1. Ursa Major
Best For | All skin types
Our Pick | Fantastic Face Wash ($46)
Natural Ingredients | Aloe, lemon, white tea, sugarcane, rice seed, coconut-derived surfactants
EWG Rating | Not yet available
Fragrance Free | No; fragrance from real plant extracts
The Fantastic Face Wash from Ursa Major does it all. Good for normal, combination, and oily skin, the foaming gel cleanser removes grime, hydrates, and soothes. It brightens too, thanks to its hit of AHA exfoliation, and won’t strip your skin of moisture or alter its pH balance. Free from sulfates and synthetic fragrances, the cleanser’s aroma smells of cedar, lime, and spearmint. I’ll admit — I reached for this one repeatedly. After cleansing, I felt squeaky clean in the most satisfying way. It’s also worth noting that the bottle is a whopping 8 oz, and includes daily chemical AHA exfoliation, which are all factors to consider when finding a skincare routine that works for one’s budget!
Also available at:
Credo
The Detox Market
2. OSEA
Best For | Normal/combination skin
Our Pick | Ocean Cleanser ($48)
Natural Ingredients | Algae extract, jojoba oil, vitamin E, jasmine, and juniper fruit oil
EWG Rating | 3
Fragrance Free | No; fragrance from aromatic compounds & essential oils; fragrance-free option available
The California girl in me loves the OSEA Ocean Cleanser. Made with algae extract, sesame & jojoba seed oils, and vitamin E, this seaweed-infused gel cleanser delivers mineral-rich hydration, gently exfoliates and unclogs pores. It’s made with normal and combination skin types in mind, but even those with dry, mature, and oily skin types have benefited and praised their experience (I scoured the comments, and other editors testify to this, too!). Many customers notice a difference even in just one week’s time. It’s fresh, invigorating, and an overall delightful sensory experience. While I don’t have an ocean view from our bathroom, if I close my eyes when using this, I like to pretend I do! [Read our full OSEA review here.]
Also available at:
Credo
The Detox Market
3. cocokind
Best For | Makeup removal
Our Pick | Organic facial cleansing oil ($15)
Natural Ingredients | Organic avocado oil, organic tea tree oil
EWG Rating | 1
Fragrance Free | No; fragrance from essential oils
Fun fact: I used to use this as a moisturizer before I learned about (and became obsessed with) oil cleansers. This organic facial cleansing oil from TGT fave cocokind is just what you need if you’re looking for a gentle way to remove makeup and wash your face in one go without drying out your skin. This soothing cleansing oil clings to and removes makeup, dirt, and other impurities without disturbing your skin’s pH with harmful stripping ingredients. I love to use this one as the first step when I double cleanse, and it’s a great, budget-friendly option, especially if you are using both an oil cleanser and a water-based cleanser. When you’re done, simply rinse the bottle and peel off the labels before tossing it into the recycling bin! [Read our full cocokind review here.]
Also available at:
Thrive Market
4. Tata Harper
Best For | Daily exfoliation
Our Pick | Regenerating Cleanser ($88)
Natural Ingredients | Pomegranate enzymes, sunflower seed oil, white clay, arnica extract, alfalfa extract
EWG Rating | 3
Fragrance Free | No; fragrance from plant & fruit extracts
If you’re looking for an exfoliator that’s gentle enough to use every day, Tata Harper’s Regenerating Cleanser is it. Best for dull, uneven, or congested skin, it’s equipped with 16 high-performance botanical ingredients, including olive oil and calendula extract. Apricot microspheres provide exfoliation while BHA from white willow bark gives you a glow. Plus, all of Tata Harper’s products are 100 percent free from GMOs, toxins, fillers, artificial colors and fragrances, and synthetic chemicals.
Also available at:
Credo
5. True Botanicals
Best For | Oily & breakout-prone skin
Our Pick | Nourishing Cleanser ($48)
Natural Ingredients | Green & white tea, aloe vera, green tea seed oil
EWG Rating | Best (EWG-verified)
Fragrance Free | No; fragrance from essential oils
Clean, don’t strip: That’s the ethos of True Botanicals’ Nourishing Cleanser and we can vouch for it. It’s specifically meant to balance oily and breakout-prone skin, but is gentle enough to suit other skin types, too. Get rid of dead skin without feeling dried out, with this mixture of green & white tea, aloe vera, and oils that are natural, organic, and MADE SAFE Certified. This cleanser is packaged in glass and it has an alluring, clean scent. If you want to add a touch of luxury to your routine, this might be the one. I found one pump to be plenty; its texture is thinner than most cleansers I’ve tried, and feels milky when massaging into skin. I’ll note too, that it melted my makeup off with ease, which is one of my personal non-negotiables when committing to a cleanser. [Read our full True Botanicals review here.]
Also available at:
Credo
The Detox Market
6. 100% PURE
Best For | Mild scent
Our Pick | Fermented Rice Water Cleanser ($34)
Natural Ingredients | Licorice, sake, pineapple, papaya, white mulberry
EWG Rating | 3
Fragrance Free | No; fragrance from fruit & plant oils
Looking for a brightening and exfoliating cleanser that doesn’t strip or dehydrate your skin? You’ve met your match with 100% PURE’s Fermented Rice Water Cleanser. Plus, it’s friendly to normal, oily, dry, and combination skin types! This cleanser has a pleasant, mild scent owing to its ingredients and gently brightens and exfoliates with enzyme-rich sake, vitamins, and amino acids (rather than a physical exfoliant that feels gritty between your fingers). Its consistency is thin and watery, and comes out of the bottle quickly, so keep that in mind when dispensing into your hands for use! After use, my face felt gently cleansed, fresh, and awake. The sensation was less intense than other cleansers, which is perfect for those looking for a mild, gentle experience (and something to consider if you prefer something more invigorating).
7. Pai
Best For | Dry skin
Our Pick | Middlemist Seven ($69)
Natural Ingredients | Camellia oil, rose oil, shea butter, vitamin E
EWG Rating | Not available yet
Fragrance Free | No; fragrance from essential oils
The Middlemist Seven from Pai is a gentle cream cleanser that is perfect for sensitive skin. It removes makeup without stripping the face of its protective oils and pH balance, and its two premiere ingredients pack a punch, too: Camellia is rich in Omega 6 and antioxidants while rose helps soothe and improve irritated and dull skin. With a mild, pleasant floral scent, it’s thicker than most cream cleansers — almost like a high-quality lotion or body butter — truly adding to the feeling of luxe moisturization. With your order, Pai also includes a twin flyer cloth that has one muslin and one terry side for gentle exfoliation and wiping away the remainder of product when you’ve finished your cleanse.
Also available at:
Credo
The Detox Market
Kate Arceo is a writer based in Southern California and the Community Manager at The Good Trade. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies and has been reviewing sustainable home and lifestyle brands, as well as organic kids’ apparel and nontoxic cosmetics for the last ten years. In her free time you can find her hosting dinners on the back patio, reading a novel on the sofa, or sipping a latte at the local café. Say hello on Substack and Instagram!
The Good Trade editors are a diverse team of writers, researchers, and sustainable product enthusiasts. Every recommendation is informed by hands-on testing, rigorous vetting, and years of reporting on the products and practices that shape our daily lives. We are not a marketplace, and we are not owned by a brand. Our editorial team maintains independent standards across every review and recommendation.
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