How do I choose a facial cleanser for sensitive skin?

Choose the cleanser that leaves your skin calm, not squeaky. The AAD recommends a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser without alcohol, used with lukewarm water and fingertips instead of a scrubby cloth. Its rosacea guidance gets even more specific: go fragrance-free, look for products made for sensitive skin, and avoid astringents and toners.

That means the most expensive face wash is not necessarily the best one. Creamy or milky cleansers are often easier on reactive skin than harsh foaming formulas, especially if your face gets dry or burns easily. If a cleanser leaves you tight, stinging, or red, it is doing too much.

If you are building the rest of the routine, the sunscreen for my face, lip balm for very dry lips, and retinoid guides are the natural siblings. Search for a fragrance-free, alcohol-free sensitive-skin cleanser: sensitive-skin face cleanser. Patch-test any new cleanser for a few days if your skin reacts easily. A mild cleanser that you can use consistently beats a stronger one that makes your face angry.