Best Hyaluronic Acid Cleansers (2026)
Eight Hyaluronic Acid cleansers arranged as double-cleanse pairs: balms, oils, and micellar water to take off makeup and sunscreen first, then gels, creams, milks, and foams to finish, plus when one cleanse is enough.
Key Takeaways
A double cleanse is two steps: an oil-based cleanser or balm that dissolves makeup and sunscreen, then a water-based cleanser. Cleveland Clinic’s dermatologist says it’s most useful on days you wear makeup, especially waterproof makeup or water-resistant sunscreen.
On other days, one gentle cleanse is usually enough. All eight picks below carry a Hyaluronic Acid form, and several work alone.
Our top pick is CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser, a non-foaming cream with Ceramides and Sodium Hyaluronate that CeraVe says removes makeup.
At #3, U Beauty’s The MANTLE Cleansing Balm is our first-cleanse balm. U Beauty calls it a “Double Cleanse in One Step,” and it lists two Hyaluronic Acid forms.
Hyaluronic Acid cleansers are usually sold one at a time, but most people who look for them are trying to solve a pair of problems: getting sunscreen and makeup off, and not leaving skin tight afterward. So we’ve arranged this list as a set of building blocks. Some picks are first cleansers that melt makeup; others are second cleansers that finish the job gently. A few can do both on light days.
When a Double Cleanse Makes Sense, and When One Cleanse Is Enough
Cleveland Clinic’s explainer on double cleansing describes it as “cleansing your face twice, first with an oil-based product and then followed by a water-based cleanser.” Dermatologist Jane Wu, MD, says the oil-based first step “is helpful when it comes to removing waterproof makeup and sunscreen.”
She’s just as clear about the limits. “Double cleansing is usually not necessary,” she says, and “For most people, washing your face once thoroughly with a gentle cleanser is more than adequate.” Her concern is overwashing, which can leave skin dry and irritated. She also suggests micellar water before a water-based cleanser as “a great alternative to double cleansing.”
So a sensible rule: double cleanse on makeup and water-resistant sunscreen days, and use one gentle cleanser the rest of the time. The AAD’s face-washing advice fills in the basics: pick a gentle cleanser without alcohol that isn’t abrasive, use lukewarm water and your fingertips, and wash no more than twice a day, plus after sweating.
Where does Hyaluronic Acid fit? A rinse-off cleanser is on your skin only briefly, so its humectants have less time to work than in a serum. High-molecular-weight Hyaluronic Acid “primarily stays on the skin’s surface, forming a thin protective hydration layer,” per a 2022 *Dermatologic Therapy* paper on Hyaluronic Acid (PMC10078143). In a cleanser, think of it as one reason a formula may feel less tight after rinsing, alongside Glycerin and gentle surfactants.
At a Glance
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser: best second cleanse for dry-feeling skin
Garnier SkinActive Erase It All Hyaluronic Acid Makeup Cleansing Balm: best budget first-cleanse balm
U Beauty The MANTLE Cleansing Balm: a balm that can cover both steps
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Soothing Milk Cleanser Fragrance Free: a milk for either step
Torriden DIVE IN Cleansing Foam: best second-cleanse foam with several Hyaluronic Acid forms
Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water with Hyaluronic Acid + Aloe: best no-rinse first step
CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser: best oil-to-foam cleanser for very dry skin
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser: best second cleanse for oily skin
How We Compared These Products
We haven’t tested anything here on skin. In October 2026 we read each brand page and INCI and compared:
Which step it fits: first cleanse (balm, oil, micellar water), second cleanse (gel, cream, milk, foam), or both.
What it removes, in the brand’s words: makeup, waterproof makeup, sunscreen.
Hyaluronic Acid forms on the INCI.
Fragrance, from the INCI or the brand’s statement.
Price and size, as listed.
Hyaluronic Acid Cleansers Compared
Product | Step | Format | Hyaluronic Acid on the INCI | Removes (per brand) | Size and price | Fragrance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser | Second, or alone | Non-foaming cream | Sodium Hyaluronate | Makeup | $15.99 | No added fragrance |
Garnier Erase It All HA Balm | First | Solid balm | Sodium Hyaluronate | Makeup incl. waterproof, sunscreen | 4.2 oz, $14.99 | No (brand states) |
U Beauty The MANTLE Cleansing Balm | First, or both | Balm that turns milky | Two forms | Makeup, sunscreen, waterproof makeup | 150 ml, $78 | Yes |
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Soothing Milk FF | Either | Milk | Sodium Hyaluronate | Makeup | 7.8 fl oz, varies | No |
Torriden DIVE IN Cleansing Foam | Second | Foam | Seven HA-family names | Not stated | 150 ml, $17 | No |
Garnier Micellar Water with HA + Aloe | First (no rinse) | Micellar water | Sodium Hyaluronate | Daily makeup, eye makeup (not waterproof) | Varies | No (brand states) |
CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser | Alone | Oil to foam | Sodium Hyaluronate | Not stated | $15.99 | No |
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser | Second | Gel | Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid | Not stated | $15.99 | No |
1. CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser: Best Second Cleanse for Dry-Feeling Skin
It’s a non-foaming cream with Glycerin, three Ceramides (NP, AP, and EOP), and Sodium Hyaluronate, made for normal to dry skin and free of added fragrance. Cleveland Clinic’s dermatologist notes that cream cleansers are less drying than foaming ones, which makes this a natural second step after a balm.
Key features:
Ceramides and Sodium Hyaluronate in a cream that doesn’t foam.
Removes makeup, CeraVe says, so it can stand alone on lighter days.
Widely available at drugstores.
Best for: the second cleanse for dry-feeling skin, or a single cleanse on no-makeup days.
Tradeoff: with almost no lather, it can feel like it isn’t doing much, so you may prefer a balm first on heavy-makeup days.
Price: $15.99.
2. Garnier SkinActive Erase It All Hyaluronic Acid Makeup Cleansing Balm: Best Budget First-Cleanse Balm
Garnier calls this a “3-in-1 solid balm that melts makeup (including waterproof),” and it lifts sunscreen too, per the brand. It turns from balm to oil, then emulsifies into a milky lather. The INCI is oil-led (Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Shea Butter, Jojoba Seed Oil), with Sodium Hyaluronate near the end.
Key features:
Waterproof makeup and sunscreen are what Garnier says it’s for.
Fragrance-free, sulfate-free, silicone-free, per Garnier.
Dermatologist- and ophthalmologist-tested, and Garnier suggests following it with a water-based cleanser.
Best for: the first cleanse on makeup days, at a drugstore price.
Tradeoff: Sodium Hyaluronate sits near the end of the list, so the cleansing oils do most of the work here.
Price: $14.99 for 4.2 oz.
3. U Beauty The MANTLE Cleansing Balm: Best Balm That Can Cover Both Steps
U Beauty calls The MANTLE Cleansing Balm a “Double Cleanse in One Step,” and its directions explain why: massage it onto dry skin for 30 to 60 seconds, add water, and it emulsifies into a cleansing milk that rinses away. U Beauty says it removes makeup, sunscreen, and pollutants. In a 30-volunteer consumer perception study over seven days of daily use with a cloth, U Beauty reports that 90% agreed waterproof makeup was effectively removed.
Glycerin’s fourth on the INCI, then Sucrose Polystearate and Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate as the cleansing system, with Sodium Hyaluronate (26th) and Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid (28th) further down.
Key features:
Two steps in one product: it starts as a balm and rinses off as a milk.
Two Hyaluronic Acid forms, plus Glycerin fourth.
No sulfate surfactant; a sugar-based emulsifier and an amino-acid-based cleanser instead.
Best for: makeup and sunscreen days, when you’d rather one product cover both steps; pair it with picks 1 or 5 if you still like a second cleanse.
Tradeoff: Methyldihydrojasmonate, a fragrance ingredient, is on the INCI, and the fruit extracts U Beauty calls Fruit Alpha Hydroxy Acids are on the list too.
Price: $78 for 150 ml (50 ml also offered).
4. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Soothing Milk Cleanser Fragrance Free: Best Milk Cleanser for Either Step
Neutrogena labels this a “Soothing Milky Cleanser & Makeup Remover.” The INCI opens with Water and Sunflower Seed Oil; Glycerin is third, and Sodium Hyaluronate appears 19th, after Avocado Oil. There’s no fragrance term on the INCI.
Key features:
Oils plus Glycerin in a milk that lathers with water.
A makeup remover, in Neutrogena’s own name for it.
Fragrance-free version, confirmed by the INCI.
Best for: a single cleanse on light-makeup days, or the second step after micellar water.
Tradeoff: Neutrogena doesn’t show a price on its page.
Price: varies by retailer; 7.8 fl oz.
5. Torriden DIVE IN Cleansing Foam: Best Second-Cleanse Foam With Several Hyaluronic Acid Forms
For Hyaluronic Acid that isn’t buried at the end of the list, this foam lists seven HA-family names in positions five through 12, right after Glycerin and two amino-acid-based cleansers (Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate and Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate). Next on the list: Panthenol, then Trehalose two places later.
Key features:
Seven Hyaluronic Acid forms high on the INCI.
Amino-acid-based surfactants rather than sulfates.
Fragrance-free by its INCI.
Best for: a water-based second cleanse after a balm or oil.
Tradeoff: Torriden doesn’t say it removes makeup, so on makeup days it belongs after a first cleanse.
Price: $17 for 150 ml.
6. Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water with Hyaluronic Acid + Aloe: Best No-Rinse First Step
This is the option Cleveland Clinic’s dermatologist singles out as an alternative to double cleansing: micellar water, followed by a water-based cleanser. Garnier’s version lists Glycerin third and Sodium Hyaluronate fifth, with Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder later.
Key features:
No rinse needed, per Garnier.
Free from fragrance, oil, alcohol, parabens, and sulfates, per Garnier.
Face, lips, and eyes, on a saturated pad, for daily makeup; Garnier lists it for non-waterproof makeup.
Best for: removing makeup before picks 1, 4, 5, or 8, without an oil step.
Tradeoff: Garnier doesn’t list a price on its page, and as a no-rinse step it works best followed by a water-based cleanser, as Cleveland Clinic describes.
Price: varies by retailer; 3.4, 13.5, and 23.7 fl oz sizes.
7. CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser: Best Oil-to-Foam Cleanser for Very Dry Skin
CeraVe’s page says it’s made for dry to very dry skin, including sensitive skin. It starts as an oil on wet skin and turns into a light foam. Glycerin sits second, Squalane ninth, three Ceramides 10th to 12th, and Sodium Hyaluronate 20th.
Key features:
Oil texture, foaming finish, so one product covers the feel of both steps.
Squalane and three Ceramides.
No fragrance ingredient listed.
Best for: very dry skin on no-makeup or light-makeup days, as a single cleanse.
Tradeoff: CeraVe doesn’t say it removes makeup, so for heavy makeup, start with a balm or micellar water.
Price: $15.99.
8. CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser: Best Second Cleanse for Oily Skin
For combination skin, Cleveland Clinic’s dermatologist suggests a water-based foaming cleanser. CeraVe’s gel is made for normal to oily skin, with Glycerin third, Niacinamide sixth, three Ceramides, and Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid.
Key features:
Gel that foams, for skin that gets oily.
Niacinamide and Ceramides in the same wash.
Simple directions: lukewarm water, massage, rinse.
Best for: the second step after a balm or micellar water on oily or combination skin.
Tradeoff: a foaming gel can feel drying on dry-feeling skin, where pick 1 suits better.
Price: $15.99.
What to Look For in Each Step
In the first cleanse: oils or a balm that the brand says removes makeup, and waterproof makeup if you wear it. Cleveland Clinic’s dermatologist says oil-based cleansers “help to remove oil-based impurities and excess sebum.”
In the second cleanse: a gentle, alcohol-free formula, as the AAD suggests, without fragrance, as Dr. Wu suggests. Cream cleansers are less drying than foaming ones, she says, and water-based foaming cleansers suit combination skin. Look at the surfactants as well as the Hyaluronic Acid: amino-acid-based cleansers, like the ones in pick 5, are an option for people who avoid sulfates.
Water temperature: Dr. Wu warns that water that’s too hot can dry out your skin, and the AAD recommends lukewarm.
Five Double-Cleanse Pairings to Try
Heavy or waterproof makeup, dry-feeling skin: Garnier balm (pick 2), then CeraVe Hydrating (pick 1).
Waterproof makeup, one product: The MANTLE (pick 3), with a second cleanse optional.
Everyday makeup, oily skin: Garnier micellar water (pick 6), then CeraVe Foaming (pick 8). Dr. Wu notes oil-based cleansers can cause breakouts in acne-prone skin, especially used alone, so micellar water is a good first step here.
Light makeup, sensitive skin: Garnier micellar water (pick 6), then the Neutrogena milk (pick 4).
No makeup: one cleanse with pick 1, 4, 7, or 8.
Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry. Then apply your serum and moisturizer while skin is still slightly damp.
When to See a Dermatologist
If your skin stings or turns red with every cleanser you try, or cleansing leads to breakouts that don’t settle, a dermatologist can help work out whether something else is the cause.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Hyaluronic Acid cleanser?
Our top pick is CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser, a cream with Ceramides and Sodium Hyaluronate. For a first-cleanse balm, U Beauty’s The MANTLE Cleansing Balm lists two Hyaluronic Acid forms, and U Beauty calls it a “Double Cleanse in One Step.”
Do I need to double cleanse if I wear sunscreen every day?
Not necessarily. Cleveland Clinic’s dermatologist says double cleansing helps most with waterproof makeup or water-resistant sunscreen. Otherwise, she says, one thorough wash with a gentle cleanser is enough for most people.
Can micellar water replace the first cleanse?
Yes. Cleveland Clinic’s dermatologist calls micellar water before a water-based cleanser “a great alternative to double cleansing.”
Should my second cleanser foam?
It depends on your skin. Water-based foaming cleansers suit oily or combination skin, and cream cleansers are less drying, per Cleveland Clinic.
Is a cleansing balm a good idea for acne-prone skin?
Use it with care. Cleveland Clinic notes that oil-based cleansers can cause breakouts in acne-prone skin, especially if used alone, so follow a balm with a water-based cleanser or try micellar water instead.
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