At night, always cleanse. You need to remove sunscreen, pollution, sweat and oil from the day. If you wear water-resistant sunscreen or makeup, consider double cleansing.
In the morning, it depends on your skin. Oily or acne-prone skin usually benefits from a gentle wash. Dry or sensitive skin can often just rinse with water, or use a very mild cleanser, to avoid stripping.
Choose your cleanser by skin type rather than time of day. These are the cleansers on Amazon India we rate most highly for each.
Quick Comparison
| Product | Key Actives | Best For | Price | OraeSkin Score | Amazon Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser | 3 Essential Ceramides (1, 3, 6-II) + Niacinamide | Oiliness, City Pollution | ₹1,054 (236ml) | 8.8/10 | Check Price on Amazon.in |
| Cetaphil Gentle Skin Hydrating Cleanser | Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) + Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5) | Dryness, Burning / Stinging | ₹370 (118ml) | 8.5/10 | Check Price on Amazon.in |
| Minimalist 2% Salicylic Acid Face Wash | 2% Salicylic Acid (BHA) + Capryloyl Salicylic Acid (LHA) | Blackheads, Whiteheads | ₹269 (100ml) | 8.7/10 | Check Price on Amazon.in |
| Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water (Hydrating & Soothing) | Micelles (Mild Surfactants) + Glycerin | Makeup Removal, Lazy Cleansing | ₹280 (400ml) | 8.6/10 | Check Price on Amazon.in |
Prices and ratings were checked on Amazon.in in November 2026 and change often. Scores come from our formulation-based scoring method.
1. CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser — Oily & Combination Skin (AM + PM)
A fragrance-free foam with ceramides and niacinamide.
- Key actives: 3 Essential Ceramides (1, 3, 6-II), Niacinamide, Hyaluronic Acid
- Texture & finish: Clear Foaming Gel — fresh & clean without tightness
- Fragrance: Fragrance-Free
- Price: ₹1,054 for 236ml (₹4.5/ml) · 4.4★ from 38,000+ Amazon India ratings
- Skip it if: you have extremely dry, parched skin that does not tolerate any foam.
Pros: Contains 3 skin-identical ceramides that prevent moisture loss during washing. Cons: Larger bottle size has a higher upfront price, though cost-per-ml is excellent.
📖 Read our full CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser review · 👉 Check live price on Amazon.in
2. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Hydrating Cleanser — Dry & Sensitive Skin (AM)
A soap-free, hydrating cleanser gentle enough for mornings.
- Key actives: Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5), Glycerin
- Texture & finish: Non-Foaming Cream Lotion — ultra soft & calmed
- Fragrance: Fragrance-Free
- Price: ₹370 for 118ml (₹3.1/ml) · 4.3★ from 71,000+ Amazon India ratings
- Skip it if: you want a squeaky clean foaming feeling to remove heavy grease.
Pros: Sulphate-free, low-foaming and non-stripping. Cons: Cannot remove heavy waterproof silicone sunscreens on its own.
📖 Read our full Cetaphil Gentle Skin Hydrating Cleanser review · 👉 Check live price on Amazon.in
3. Minimalist 2% Salicylic Acid Face Wash — Acne-Prone Skin (PM)
A 2% salicylic acid wash to use at night.
- Key actives: 2% Salicylic Acid (BHA), Capryloyl Salicylic Acid (LHA), Zinc PCA
- Texture & finish: Lightweight Gel — deeply clarified & matte
- Fragrance: Fragrance-Free
- Price: ₹269 for 100ml (₹2.7/ml) · 4.2★ from 29,000+ Amazon India ratings
- Skip it if: you have dry, wind-chapped skin or an actively compromised stinging barrier.
Pros: 2% Salicylic Acid dissolves stubborn oxidized sebum and dead keratin plugs. Cons: Daily 2x usage can be drying for combination skin; best used once daily at night.
📖 Read our full Minimalist 2% Salicylic Acid Face Wash review · 👉 Check live price on Amazon.in
4. Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water (Hydrating & Soothing) — Lazy Nights
No-rinse micellar water when you can’t manage a full cleanse.
- Key actives: Micelles (Mild Surfactants), Glycerin
- Texture & finish: Water — no residue
- Fragrance: Fragrance-Free
- Price: ₹280 for 400ml (₹0.7/ml) · 4.4★ from 33,000+ Amazon India ratings
- Skip it if: you wear heavy waterproof makeup — use a balm or the waterproof version instead.
Pros: Exceptional value — 400ml under ₹300. Cons: Struggles with waterproof makeup.
📖 Read our full Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water (Hydrating & Soothing) review · 👉 Check live price on Amazon.in
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best value?
Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water (Hydrating & Soothing) works out cheapest at about ₹0.7 per ml (₹280 for 400ml). Minimalist 2% Salicylic Acid Face Wash is next at about ₹2.7 per ml. Prices were checked on Amazon.in in November 2026 and change often.
Are any of these fragrance-free?
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser, Cetaphil Gentle Skin Hydrating Cleanser, Minimalist 2% Salicylic Acid Face Wash and Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water (Hydrating & Soothing) are fragrance-free. Fragrance is a common cause of irritation, so choose a fragrance-free option if your skin is sensitive or broken.
Which is best for sensitive skin?
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser, Cetaphil Gentle Skin Hydrating Cleanser and Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water (Hydrating & Soothing) are the picks here that suit sensitive skin, going by each formula and its listing. Even gentle formulas can irritate, so patch-test a new product on your jaw for a few days first.
Which suits oily or acne-prone skin?
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser and Minimalist 2% Salicylic Acid Face Wash are the picks here that suit oily or acne-prone skin, going by each formula and its listing. Introduce one new product at a time so you can tell what helps and what causes breakouts.
Which is the most popular on Amazon India?
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Hydrating Cleanser has the most ratings of these picks, with 71,000+ at 4.3★. Ratings show popularity, not whether a product suits your skin, so check the “Skip it if” note for each pick above.