Best Natural Cleansers for Dry Skin

One of the most common issues we often see people complain about is dry or irritated skin but what many do not realize is the ingredients in their cleansers and toners may be the reason their skin is feeling oh-so-dry and fussy! In efforts to really help you ladies get the skin of your dreams, Alexandra the official Organic Bunny Esthetician, and I have been having so much fun making you these informative posts to hopefully leave you inspired to make some beneficial changes.

To help you possibly determine what steps are drying you out or bothering you, today we want to focus on facial cleansers and the worst skin-drying, irritating ingredients often found in them! At the end, we will also suggest the best natural cleansers for dry skin so keep scrolling!

Ingredients to Avoid With Dry or Sensitive Skin-

1. Castile or Conventional Bar Soaps- So many of you ladies mention using popular Castile or bar soaps for your face and body but the problem is they can be drying on those with already dry skin. This is a very controversial topic so if you find your skin is not dry from using Castile Soap, that is great! But, if you currently use a Castile or bar soap and are suffering from dryness, we would suggest reducing eliminating this to see if things balance back out. Many conventional soaps also sneak other skin-drying ingredients in them that strip our natural oils and leave us running for a moisturizer. After cleansing, if your skin feels like you need a moisturizer asap, this is usually a red flag that your cleanser is too harsh. Castille soaps also can often have a higher pH level which is far too harsh on the delicate facial skin.
2. Baking Soda- Nowadays, many ladies love DIY skincare to know exactly what they are using on their skin but the problem with DIY skincare is, it’s not professionally made and is often lacking the proper dilutions, ratios, and formulations that can actually damage your skin. Baking Soda is an ingredient many think is “good” for their skin but in reality, this can be very risky when applied directly to the skin! When it’s mixed with water, Baking Soda’s PH level can rise to cause it to be more alkaline. Using skincare with a high pH level can very easily damage your skin’s protective barrier. Damage can include- Stripping the skin’s natural oils, itching, acne-prone, dermatitis, and burning. Skip exfoliating with baking soda and opt for a professionally made exfoliating cleanser instead.
3. Sulfates- When I asked clean beauty founders what ingredients they most often avoid in cleansers, one of the worst offenders was Sulfates! Sadly, so many cleansers these days contain sulfates which is a dry skin disaster just waiting to happen as their entire job is to strip the skin of its natural oils. If you see the word Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or Sodium Laureth Sulfate, run. These ingredients are not only drying but known to be some of the most skin irritating ingredients found in cleansers today.
4. Phenoxyethanol- Still super popular in the green beauty community, the Phenoxyethanol preservative can be found far too often in cleaner skincare but, it’s not as clean as many want you to believe! While some think it’s an ok preservative, many studies have shown that it has a toxic effect on the body in moderate concentrations with links to developmental issues, skin irritations, eczema, dermatitis, and more. This ingredient is actually banned by ECOCERT and COSMOS and when tested on animals, caused irritation to the animal’s skin.
5. PEGs- If you grab your favorite face cleanser, you may see the letters PEG followed by a # like PEG-100 Stearate. Besides being very drying on the skin, PEGs are often contaminated with, plastics, Ethylene Oxide or 1,4-Dioxane which are either highly toxic, irritating, drying, or carcinogenic. I personally think all skin types should avoid these risky ingredients but anyone with reactive or dry skin especially. PEGs are Petroleum-based, oil-stripping ingredients that have no business being in skin care.
6. Alcohol- Not all alcohols are drying or damaging to the skin but many are! Keep an eye out for ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, SD alcohol, alcohol denat, ethanol and methanol as these are often linked to dry or irritated skin.

Top 5 Natural Cleansers For Dry Skin-

If you have dry or sensitive skin, choosing a more gentle cleanser will be a game-changer for your skin. Because there are so many out there, I wanted to highlight three of my current favorites for anyone looking to make the switch!

• Agent Nateur Holi Cleansing Oil– This gentle formula contains a nutrient-dense base of luxury oils that emulsify dirt, oil, and makeup while calming plant extracts alleviate sensitivity, ease redness, and reveal your complexion’s natural luminance plus, it smells amazing!
• Earth Harbor Ahoy Love Cream Cleanser– Made with replenishing seaweed vitamins, antioxidant-rich green tea, and smoothing hibiscus extract. This creamy cleanser offers lasting hydration with aloe leaf juice and plant oils of olive and coconut while invoking self-love as an effective, non-foaming cleanser that softens, renews, and brightens skin. I personally love this cleanser because it cleanses without stripping the skin’s natural oils all while it also hydrates and nourishes the skin!
• Shiva Rose Pearl Milk Cleanser– The combination of organic coconut oil, calendula, avocado oil, grapeseed oil, and witch hazel mixed with pearl powder & hyaluronic acid make this a luminizing elixir for the skin. Hyaluronic acid, which is naturally found in the body, will add plumpness back to the face and the pearl powder will gently take away impurities while adding beautifying minerals.
• Sahara Rose Luminous Cleanser– This gentle PH-balanced cleanser is made of a beautifying blend of enzymes, soothing rose, and natural oils to gently yet deeply cleanse the skin without over-drying. This creamy cleanser also effectively removes makeup and impurities, leaving the skin nourished, soft, and radiant!
• KYPRIS Cleanser Concentrate– This cleanser is the most high-end and luxurious option I carry, ideal for those that seek the best in skincare! Without ever leaving your skin feeling stripped or dry, this creamy cleanser is great for AM and PM use, best for removing impurities that cling to the skin’s surface, dissolving congestion, and leaving the skin glowing, all while removing superficial free radicals. Made with co-op grown Moringa, wildcrafted Prickly Pear, and Probiotics, this non-foaming cleanser is best for all skin types, but extra amazing for those with dry, sensitive, or reactive skin. This also comes in glass packaging to ensure no skin irritating, hormone-disrupting plastics contaminate the product.

These are just a few of our favorite, skin-soothing cleansers but be sure to check them all out here! Not sure which would be best for you? Email Alexandra the Organic Bunny Esthetician for your custom skincare consultation today ➳ [email protected]. Love this blog? Be sure to read last week’s episode on Witch Hazel toners here!