After pH testing and using tons of water-based cleansers over the past 4 years, I thought I would share some of the cleanser that I enjoy the most. To help keep this list a bit shorter 🙃 I’m focusing on cleansers under $5.00 per ounce and all have a pH between 4.5-5.5 (see the image at the end for why)

When it comes to water-based cleansers, I’m usually using these as my AM cleanser or as a second cleanse at night (i.e., these aren’t what I use to take off makeup, I turn to oil based cleansers for that). My preference for water based cleansers is to have them be gentle, nourishing, and be something I can use every day (though note that 2 of these are ones that I rotate in and don’t use every due to those providing some acid exfoliation).

You can find a large database of cleanser pH here

First up: cleansers under $3 per ounce

CeraVe Foaming Facial cleanser – pH = 5.5; $11.99

La Roche Posay Toleriane Hydrating Cleanser – pH = 5.5; $14.99

Pacifica Sea Foam Complete Face Wash – pH = 5.1; $10

Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser –pH = 5.3; $18

DermaE Hydrating Gentle Cleanser –pH = 4.6; $15.5

SweetChef Oat Milk Latte Cleanser –pH = 4.8; $13

$3-$5 per ounce

{Save} Hydrating Facial Cleanser –pH = 5.2; $20 (5.1oz)

Krave Beauty Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser –pH = 5.3; $16

Jordan Samuel Skin Matinee Gel Cleanser– pH = 5.3; $28 **Top favorite**

Revision Gentle Cleansing lotion –pH = 5.4; $31.50

These next two are not every day cleansers because of the ingredients, but I like rotating them in.

Maelove The Refresher Triple AHA Cleanser– pH = 5.4; $18.95

MyChelle Fruit Enzyme Cleanser –pH = 4.8; $16