Our search for all things cruelty-free has found us on the hunt for the best cruelty-free face wash products. A facewash is one of the first things we reach for in our beauty regiment. Be is a cream, liquid or gel formula, this product works to strip away all that the day has tossed at our skin. By cleansing your face, you take away not only all the dust and pollution of the day but also the makeup and the excess sebum collected on our face. And because we are trusting this product to leave our skin feeling refreshed and clean, we must choose a quality product.
So, what makes a facewash cruelty-free? A cruelty-free product promises that none of its ingredients, or the final product itself, were tested on animals at any stage of production, supply or even retail. This step towards being consciously cruelty-free is actively being taken by companies to ensure that they are practicing and adhering to the highest standards of ethics and sustainability when developing their products.
Therefore, by choosing cruelty-free products over others, we consumers are also committing adhere to these higher standards. So, how do you ensure that your product is cruelty-free? Just look for the Leaping Bunny certification on the packaging. This is a universal mark that declares that no animals ever came into contact with the product in your hand.
Now choosing the best cruelty-free face wash for your skin is something to pay attention to. First, speak with your healthcare professional if you have any skin concerns. If you don’t, the rule of thumb is to select a product designed for your skin type – if you have dry skin, then select the product specifically for dry skin. And to make the choice easier for you, we have listed our top favorite cruelty—free face wash products in no particular order.
The 8 Best Cruelty-Free Face Washes:
1. Pacifica Beauty Sea Foam Face Wash
This foaming face wash is recommended for all skin types. Packed with powerhouse ingredients such as coconut water and marine phytonutrients, this face wash works to remove all traces of makeup and leaves the skin feeling refreshed and healthy. Keep in mind that a little goes a long way so you only need a pea-sized amount to get the job done. It contains no sulfates or parabens, but it does have a scent – it smells like vanilla and coconuts! To us, that smell is delicious and it is not overpowering or sickly. It can be used both morning and night and just remember to always use a cruelty-free face moisturizer before beginning the rest of your skin regiment.
2. Alba Botanica Hawaiian Facial Cleanser
Okay, we need to take a moment and bow down to the greatness that is the pineapple. It smells like summer, tastes like the tropics and is loaded with enzymes that are brilliant in restoring the balance of your skin. So, this pineapple enzyme cleanser had to make our list. Recommended for all skin types, this cleanser has a dense texture and can be used twice a day – all you need to do is watch the benefits unfold. It leaves the skin feeling clean and refreshed, without the awful tightness that comes from over-drying. A must-have for people with acne prone skin, as the enzymes in the face wash, support the clearing up of acne and other clogged pores. We highly recommend it!
3. Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Cruelty-Free Gel Cleanser
One of the fewer known things about this brand is that it has a high-end sister named Rodial – so you know that this company is not playing around when it comes to skincare. Glycolic acid is a wonderful ingredient. Not only does it exfoliate the skin and clear out blocked pores, but it also works to smooth out the texture of your skin to promote a brighter, healthier complexion. It’s also imbued with the properties of olive oil so you can be sure that your skin won’t feel dry and tight after. Sensitive skinned beauties, you can rejoice knowing that this product is free of sulfates and parabens, so no uncomfortable breakouts, just beautiful skin!
4. Pai Organic Gentle Hydrating Camellia & Rose Cleanser
Calling out to all the beauties with sensitive or dry skin – we have found you your new best friend. Firstly, this cleanser comes with its muslin and flannel washcloth, so it gently exfoliates as well as cleanses. Secondly, it is ready to take on all manner of waterproof makeup! What’s more? The texture is creamy and hydrating, making it perfect for dry skin and it is jampacked with powerhouse ingredients such as Omega 3 and Vitamin A, B, C, and E, all of which work to promote healthy skin and reduce the appearance of redness. It smells faintly of roses and leaves the skin feeling clean and refreshed. We highly recommend this cleanser for dry skin.
5. Mad Hippie Advanced Skin Care Cream Cleanser
This is another shout out to those beauties with dry and sensitive skin. Mad Hippie prides itself on selecting plant-based ingredients that work to show off your best skin. With active ingredients such as Jojoba Oil, Orchid extract and green tea, this cleanser hydrates, nourishes and protects your skin from free radical damage. It has shown wonderful results on dry, mature skin, leaving it clean and feeling soft. Mind you, this is a cream-based product, therefore it will not foam up and become sudsy. Rather, it will gently break down makeup and will clear away waterproof eye makeup too! In our books, that is a winner!
Related: Top Cruelty-Free Makeup Brushes
6. Indie Lee Purifying Face Wash – Our Top Pick
If you’re looking for a wonderful face wash for oily skin, look no further! This foaming face wash is also suitable for combination and normal skin, but it has been especially been formulated for oily skin, using only the best that nature has to offer. It smells lightly citrusy because it is made with orange and lavender extracts, which soothe the skin while dissolving excess sebum. Super sudsy, this product goes to work, breaking down makeup and leaving your skin feeling refreshed, clean and soft. No drying or tightness here! Just remember to finish off with a cruelty-free moisturizer so keep the oil at bay.
7. Tatcha The Deep Cleanse
Tatcha is a Japanese brand and all their products are formulated there and are based on the rituals of the Japanese geisha. Which means, you know that this brand will not let you down when it comes to the health of our skin. Recommended for all skin types, this cleanser has a gel formula that suds up into a creamy foam. As you work it into your skin, it gently breaks down makeup and removes excess oil, dirt and other impurities. It boasts natural ingredients such as Japanese Wild Rose and Japanese Leopard Lily. Both of these ingredients work to visibly tighten and reduce the appearance of pores and to curb excess sebum production. Plus, it’s free of all irritants like sulfates and parabens. So, if you’re on the hunt for porcelain skin, this cleanser is a step in the right direction.
8. Nourish Organic Moisturizing Face Cleanser
As the name suggests, this cleanser is not just cruelty-free, it is certified organic as well! The texture is between a thin cream and a gel cleanser and it builds up into a rich foam. This foam is unscented, for anyone who has a sensitivity towards scented products and goes a long way to break down makeup and rid your skin of dirt and impurities. It contains all the benefits of cucumbers, aloe, and watercress, which is why it goes a long way to soothe redness and flareups on sensitive skin and it is gentle enough to be used daily! We this face wash because it is clean, free of irritants and makes our skin feel happy and relieved.
Conclusion
A face wash is the first line of defense we have against what the day throws at us. It is a regular product in our beauty arsenal, therefore we must choose the best. And if in selecting that best product, you make a conscious choice to choose a face wash that is created ethically, is sustainable and is cruelty-free, then you are doing your part in making the world a better place. The above are our top selections for the best cruelty-free face wash products available today, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many more where those came from!
And remember, by consciously choosing a cruelty-free face wash, you walk away knowing that from your one little conscious choice, absolutely no bunnies, or any other fur babies, were tested upon when your favorite product was being developed. Moreover, thanks to the strict guidelines and practices implemented by the Leaping Bunny Program, more than 1,300 companies have subscribed to and have attained their cruelty-free certification, all to ensure that your product is indeed cruelty-free. This transition towards sustainability has pushed major manufacturing companies to become cognizant of their ethical conduct and shift their practices to minimize their ecological footprint. As a result, you can now have your pick of any cruelty-free products and be rest assured your choices will not adversely affect our furry little friends.
See also:
- Top Cruelty-Free Mascaras
- Good Cruelty-Free Deodorants
- Our Favorite Cruelty-Free Foundations
- Top Cruelty-Free Concealers
Joan S. Wilson is a lifelong makeup and skincare enthusiast. She used to work as a makeup artist for 5 years. Joan is always curious and wants to learn more when it comes to makeup and skincare. She tries her best to make other people’s skin health better. This is why Joan is so passionate about writing articles on beauty topics. She always looks for products that are high-quality, dermatologist-tested, and does that it says on the label. In every article, she shares her knowledge to make your life healthier and happier!