The Best Face Washes Ever

Andrea Lavinthal, Style & Beauty Director: I used to think cleansing waters were a made-up beauty thing, but this one convinced me otherwise. You apply it with a cotton ball and it removes makeup (including mascara and liner), dirt and oil, no rinsing required. It contains moisturizing sodium hyaluronate and soothing cornflower water, so it’s great for sensitive skin types. I use it in the morning when my skin isn’t necessarily dirty, it just needs a wake-up call.
Buy It! Mist of Serenity Gentle Cleansing Water, beautyhabit.com, $43

Brittany Talarico, Associate Style Editor: If my Clarisonic had the magic ability to talk, I swear it would thank me for using this gentle wash. The gel formula is nice and light, plus, it contains a licorice root extract, which helps smooth skin and balance redness (something my acne-prone complexion needs).
Buy It! Redness Relief Soothing Skin Cleanser Gel, walgreens.com, $10.49

Catherine Kast, Writer-Reporter: A lot of experts say you should stick with a skin care routine, but I can’t help but alternate between these two cleansers from SkinCeuticals. The LHA is designed for aging skin prone to breakouts, making it perfect for straddling those times when you are troubleshooting unforeseen blemishes but don’t want to dry out your complexion. Then on days when I go light on the makeup and don’t need a major deep clean, I switch to Simply Clean – it’s calming and refreshing, sort of like a little break for my skin.
Buy It! Simply Clean, skinceuticals.com, $34; LHA Cleansing Gel, skinceuticals.com, $38

Zoë Ruderman, Deputy Style & Beauty Director: No, this isn’t the wrong photo and product name. I actually wash my face with lotion. It’s way less drying (duh), but more surprisingly, I’ve found that it does just as good a job at getting rid of makeup and grime and oil. Sometimes I don’t even rinse it all off, I just rub it in then towel dry. Yep, I’m wild, I know.
Buy It! Moisturizing Lotion, walgreens.com, $10.79

Alex Apatoff, Style News Editor: No matter how many times I ve been working on a story and typed the phrase “I never go to sleep without washing my face” (thanks, every actress ever!), I still have a hard time following this rule in my own life (which is probably the one reason I’m not an actress). What can I say, I’m lazy! So facial wipes are a must to keep my pillowcases clean and my skin clear – and I m partial to these affordable ones, which work well and have a fresh scent but don t leave sticky residue like many others.
Buy It! Facial Wipes, yestocarrots.com, $4.99

Jackie Fields, Writer-Reporter: If no one else will admit it, I will: I’m a beauty writer with acne. Oh, the irony. In my constant battle with clogged pores, I’ve stocked up on enough anti-acne this-and-that to make gift baskets for the entire cast of Glee. But about a year ago, Hollywood skin care guru Sonya Dakar launched this gem, which has become my new favorite face wash. I credit the natural formula with how effective it is. How effective? I’ve been Snapchatting makeup-free selfies to friends.
Buy It! Detox Face Wash, sonyadakar.com, $59

Andrea: I initially started using this stuff based on the incredible coconut scent alone, but it also happens to be a pretty awesome face wash. The sulfate-free gel formula foams up into a creamy lather and really gets the job done. And I can use it in combination with my beloved Clarisonic without worrying about dryness or irritation.
Buy It! Sea Foam Complete Face Wash, target.com, $10.99