10 Best Face Washes for Dry Skin in India 2021 - Buying Guide Reviewed By Dermatologist

Our Top 10 list consists of a variety of face washes from renowned brands like Simple, Clinique, Nivea, and more, that can make a big difference into your everyday skincare routine, especially, if you deal with dry skin concerns.

Dr. Hitaishi Kaushik is working as a research associate in the dermatology lab at PGIMER, and she pursued her Ph.D. in the field of dermatology. You can also reach out to her on Instagram or Facebook.

First things first, how to go about choosing the right kind of cleanser or face wash. Some important factors to consider while buying face washes are - the ingredients used, its texture, and if you want to stick to a certain budget, then the price too.

Despite the popular belief that one product can work for many people, it is best to determine your skin type before making sound purchases of cleansers. There are broadly five skin types - dry, sensitive, normal, oily, and combination. And in these categories lie other concerns like blocked pores, black and whiteheads, and acne.

To identify your skin type, you need to wash your face with an existing cleanser and wait for an hour. If after 60 minutes, you feel an oily surface on the entire face or parts of it, you have oily or combination skin, whereas, if the skin remains soft then, it's normal, and if it becomes stretchy or itchy, then it is dry. So, make sure you take a skin test before buying a desirable face wash.

After determining your skin type, the next step is to focus on the list of ingredients used in the face wash. Certain chemicals and elements are a big no-no for all skin types, such as - sulfates in your face washes or shampoos are too harsh that strip off the natural oils from your skin and scalp. 

Parabens like - methylparaben, propylparaben, isopropylparaben are preservatives used in beauty products. Although they are not considered to be a major point of concern, it is believed that they can cause harm in the long run, as it stimulates hormone activities like estrogen in the body.

Further alcohols are used to make other ingredients like retinol that penetrate deep in the skin, but it can be drying and damaging for dry skin. And, petroleum jelly or certain oils in your face wash can also have negative effects; instead of providing moisture, they clog your pores that can lead to breakouts.

Additionally, there are some other like - sodium lauryl sulfate, strong AHAs, salicylic acid and more that are best avoided for dry skin as they further suck out moisture from your skin. Strong and artificial fragrances can be allergic or irritating, so look for that as well.

Now that we have covered the ingredients to budge, it is time to talk about the ones that are essential to fix your patchy and flaky skin. There is a list of the active and overall ingredients on every bottle or tube of the cleanser. It is best to look at the top five to seven as they are the main components used to make the formula. 

You should also find products that contain hyaluronic acid which boosts a natural substance found in the skin tissues called hyaluronan and keeps it moist. With products containing the said acid, your skin absorbs moisture and becomes supple.

Another great component is glycerin and essential oils provide moisture and seal everything. Many oils can also work on improving your skin texture, scars, acne, and aging concerns. Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B that helps in flushing out the skin and gives relief in acne and its scars and pigmentation.

And ceramides create a protective layer and keep the skin firm. Besides, it is definitely worth investing in, for all you dry skin folks because of its moisture-retaining and hydrating properties.

You do not necessarily need to burn a hole in your pocket to get good and healthy skin. There are plenty of affordable face wash brands and variants that are available in India. You can choose to look at brands like Nivea, Dove, Lakme etc. that make gentle and effective products. Their range of foamy, gel and cream based cleansers cost anywhere between INR 100 to 500.

On the contrary, if you can and want to splurge on high-end and luxury brands for what their products promise to do, there are plenty of options available for that as well.  brands like Simple, Dermalogica, Clinique, and more have dedicated ranges that target specific skin concerns and are priced at around INR 1000 and above.

The skincare industry is booming and getting competitive by the day resulting in numerous brands releasing different types of face washes in a variety of textures and consistencies. In the following topic, we will uncover some of the widely used cleansers and the ones that are compatible with dry skin.

Foamy Face washes tend to be harsh on dry skin and are not recommended for everyday use. Their formulation can be the primary cause, as they are made with ingredients and chemicals that give you a sense of cleaning with all the bubbling and foam build-up. 

But they only end up drying out the skin too much. And although many cleansers come with oils and emollients, people with acne-prone and oily skin should buy these to rid themselves of the excessive layer of sebum and clogging.

These are cream-like textured cleansers that are super gentle, moisturizing, and less foamy when applied. Perfect for sensitive and dry skin, most of these are formulated with aqua, beeswax, essential and mineral oils. They glide on your skin and take out all the gunk, leaving you feeling misty and dewy.

Oil or balm cleansers have a thick consistency then your regular face wash. This formula works on the ‘oil attracts oil’ basis and is perfect for a double cleanse method. These cleansers are ideal if you have dry, normal, and combination skin or you apply make-up frequently.

Much like foam, gel face washes do little to nothing for dry skin. But they are a great option for people dealing with acne and constant breakouts. Unlike foam, gels act more tenderly and do not make it feel too dry.

With that said, newer formulas of gel cleansers induced with oils are coming out in the market for you to try. They claim to be gentler and non-drying on the skin, during, and after use.

These are double-action cleansers that have a consistency of either gel or cream, and as you start to lather it on, the tiny beads or granules start to exfoliate or scrub your skin to get rid of the dead cells and other deeper grim. 

Although effective, their use should be limited to twice in a week, or else your skin can get irritated, overexposed to bacteria, and more leading to more breakouts and excessive sebum production.

Do a Patch Test for Safety and any Allergic Reactions: No matter how gentle or safe the product might seem. It is a must to do a patch test. Usually, it is done on the back of your palm or neck to see if you get any allergic reactions or any other skin concerns from the product.

The procedure is simple -

• You take a small pump of the cleanser and apply it on the patch,

• Wash it and wait for some time to see any redness or irritation,

• If there is nothing, then it is safe for use.

And this applies to all other skincare products, be it scrubs, serums. 

To know more about it check out this link.

This is all the rage nowadays. Double cleansing is a process in which you first use a heavy balm or oil-based cleanser to clean off makeup or pollutants. This is followed by a lightweight gel or any other cleanser to get rid of every minimal impurity. 

Proven to improve skin texture and leaving it with a soft feeling, you can try this out if you have dry skin type, and even otherwise.

Overdoing anything is bad for you, that we all are told from a very young age. And the same principle applies to cleaning your face. It is best to have a skincare routine - in the morning and at night time and limit using cleansers to these only. 

Over-washing your face can cause dryness and strip off your pores of its natural oils that make a barrier against bacteria and other foreign elements.

To know more about it check out this link.

You can also check out our related list of the best face washes from 2020, cleansers specifically for men, and foaming face washes available in India.

We hope that our guide and recommendation proves helpful to all the newbies and everyone else stepping into the world of skincare. It is important to invest in good products and mainly time to pamper and take care of your skin, especially your face, as it is exposed to the heat, UV rays, pollution and much more every day.

you don’t need to spend hours or have an elaborate collection of products to take-care, just a basic cleanser and a few other products can make a big difference in making your skin, mainly dry skin feel healthy and appear youthful.

Author: Ujjwala