8 gentle and fragrance-free gel cleansers for sensitive skin

If you love gel cleansers and are looking for ones that are gentle, fragrance-free (free from both perfume and essential oils), and effective, this blog post covers some of the best options.

Cleansing every day is important to keep your skin fresh and clean. If you have drier skin and find cleansing twice a day makes your skin feel parched, you’re fine to only cleanse once a day. In this instance, double cleansing in the evening is the best option, as it means you can remove any lingering dirt, oil, skincare, or makeup on your skin. Go in with a cleansing balm or oil to melt away grease and dirt and follow with a gentle cleanser to ensure all traces of product are removed.

But if you’ve had bad experiences with gel cleansers making your skin feel stripped, dry, or irritated and are cautious about the right ones to choose, then don’t worry. The cleansers in this blog post will leave your skin feeling soft, non-irritated, hydrated, and clean. And there’s a cleanser for every budget!

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1. Jordan Samuel Skin The After Show Treatment Cleanser For Sensitive Skin

£13 for 30ml, £24 for 94ml, or £46 for 240ml

The Jordan Samuel Skin The After Show Treatment Cleanser For Sensitive Skin is a brilliant option. This is a unique gel-to-oil consistency, which starts as a lightweight gel and finishes as a creamy oil. It works equally as well as a morning/second cleanse, as it’s not overly rich or oily, or as a first cleanse, because it dissolves makeup, dirt, grease, and skincare effortlessly. It’s truly multipurpose.

After using this, expect your skin to feel hydrated, soft, fresh, and calm. It’s vegan, cruelty-free, luxurious, and a must-try for sensitive skin.

2. Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture 5.5 Soft Cleansing Gel

£15.81 for 100ml + up to 5% off at YesStyle with code CONFIDENCE10 

The Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture 5.5 Soft Cleansing Gel is fantastic for an effortless daily cleanser that simply works.

On contact with water, this K-beauty vegan and cruelty-free gel cleanser works into a soft, non-stripping foam that feels moisturising and calming. Black rice extract helps soften and condition the skin so that you’re left feeling nourished after use. It’s ideal as a morning or second cleanse, because it’s incredibly lightweight and doesn’t clog pores. In fact, it feels almost weightless. The texture is super satisfying.

3. Byoma Creamy Jelly Cleanser

£9.99 for 175ml + 15% off at Sephora with code SARAHSSPH

The Byoma Jelly Cleanser offers excellent value for money. It’s vegan, cruelty-free, and enriched with ceramides to strengthen your skin’s barrier.

This affordable cleanser is one of the most nourishing on this list. After working into a rich creamy lather, it leaves your skin feeling moisturised, comfortable, and super soft. Alongside being non-stripping and non-drying, it’s also not greasy at all, meaning it works brilliantly for all skin types.

4. Dermatica Balancing Glycerin Gel Cleanser

£12.95 for 200ml + 10% off with my code SARAHAWC2

And now for the most affordable cleanser on this list – the Dermatica Balancing Glycerin Gel Cleanser. Don’t be fooled by the cheap price; this cleanser doesn’t deliver cheap results. It’s surprisingly effective.

This vegan and cruelty-free cleanser is perfect for combination and oily skin types, as it’s non-greasy and rebalancing. It’s enriched with hydrating glycerin, which is non-comedogenic but still delivers moisture to blemish-prone skin. The cleanser is pH-neutral and free from oil, so your skin won’t feel greasy after use.

5. Krave Beauty Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser

£17 for 120ml

The Krave Beauty Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser is very popular among skinfluencers and with good reason.

This beautiful gel cleanser has an appealing green colour that looks warm and earthy. It’s enriched with nourishing hemp and matcha, which restore hydration and antioxidants to the skin. It’s vegan, cruelty-free, and lightweight. It’s never stripping or drying. The formula works into a gentle lather that won’t leave your skin feeling tight afterwards. This works for all skin types.

6. Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser

£15 for 60ml or £30 for 150ml

Another fantastic cruelty-free choice is the Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser. This lightweight gel formula is suitable for all skin types, as it’s not oily whatsoever but still delivers enough moisture to the skin, thanks to hydrating ingredients like glycerin and jojoba seed oil.

The cleanser works into a non-stripping lather that’s gentle and easygoing. A little bit goes a long way, so despite it initially appearing to be on the pricier side, this cleanser lasts for longer than usual.

7. SKIN 1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule Foam

£14.08 for 125ml + up to 5% off at YesStyle with code CONFIDENCE10 

Korean skincare lovers need to check out the SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule Foam. This gorgeous cleanser works into a creamy lather effortlessly that sweeps over the face, leaving it feeling clean, not tight, and hydrated.

The vegan and cruelty-free cleanser features soothing centella asiatica, which is a fab ingredient for sensitive skin. After using this gentle cleanser, skin feels rejuvenated and refreshed.

8. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser

£13.50 for 75ml or £21 for 150ml

Last but certainly not least is the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser. This gel cleanser works into a non-stripping foam the fastest with water. A little bit of product results in a lot of coverage over your face, so you really don’t need to go in with much at all.

The cleanser is suitable for all skin types, as it’s non-greasy, which is comfortable for oily and combination skin types, but delivers enough nourishment to the skin, which means dry and dehydrated skin won’t feel parched after use. Squalane, apricot kernel oil, and avocado oil easily moisturise skin.

Sarah Sarsby is the owner of A Woman's Confidence. With over 6 years' experience of writing in the fields of beauty and lifestyle, Sarah is passionate about all things content, makeup, skincare, wellness, and lifestyle. She has oily skin, is obsessed with lip gloss, and loves cookie dough.