Creamy yet light, milk cleansers might be one of the best cleansing choices for those with sensitive or dry skin, although they can also work beautifully for oilier skin types. In this article, we’ve collected the best cleansing milks according to our Glowsly experts, ranging in price and formula. Perfect for gently removing any dirt and build-up from your face, find the best cleansing milks available on the market below!
Our Picks of the Best Milk Cleansers of 2022
- Caudalie Gentle Cleansing Milk
- L’Occtaine Shea Cleansing Milk
- Chanel Lait Confort Creamy Cleansing Milk
- Soap & Glory Peaches and Clean Deep Cleansing Milk
- Fresh Soy Face Cleansing Milk
- Juice Beauty Cleansing Milk
- Clarins Cleansing Milk with Alpine Herbs
- Eminence Organic Skin Care Coconut Milk Cleanser
- Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Milk
- Phytomer Accept Soothing Cleansing Milk
- Dior Hydra Life Micellar Milk No Rinse Cleanser
- The Organic Pharmacy Rose & Chamomile Cleansing Milk
- Mario Badescu Cleansing Milk with Carnation & Rice Oil
- Avene Gentle Milk Cleanser
- Tammy Fender Cleansing Milk
- Edible Beauty No. 1 Belle Frais Cleansing Milk
- Yon-Ka Lait Nettoyant Cleansing Milk
- Cellex-C Betaplex Gentle Cleansing Milk
- Credentials Orange Blossom Cleansing Milk
1. Caudalie Gentle Cleansing Milk
No matter your skin type, this is undeniably one of the best milk cleansers. It is made with a combination of jojoba and almond oils, so it nourishes the skin while removing all traces of makeup and impurities. It is best applied with a cotton pad, and then wiped off, and is perfectly safe to use around the eyes. You can buy a bottle at Sephora.
2. L’Occitane Shea Cleansing Milk
The blend of shea butter and sunflower oil in this cleansing milk makes for a very luxurious product that works for any skin type. There is also a touch of skin-brightening licorice root extract. You can wipe it off or rinse it away, and still be assured that it will do a good job removing your makeup. Order this milk cleanser online from Dermstore!
3. Chanel Lait Confort Creamy Cleansing Milk
This is the most luxurious of milk cleansers, with a silky soft feel that glides over the skin. It is a great gentle cleanser for mornings, while in the evening it does take a bit of work to completely remove all makeup. Buy a bottle from Nordstrom!
4. Soap & Glory Peaches and Clean Deep Cleansing Milk
This silicone-based cleansing milk is an affordable option that works really well. It does an incredible job of removing makeup when applied to the skin dry, and it leaves the skin feeling very soft and healthy. It is a great choice for all skin types, but especially those with sensitive or dry skin. Pick up this cleanser from Ulta!
5. Fresh Soy Face Cleansing Milk
This non-foaming formula from Fresh is one of the best cleansing milks for those with sensitive and dehydrated skin. It includes soothing cornflower and hydrating soy proteins, as well as a respectable amount of glycerin. It removes light makeup with ease, and is safe to use around the eyes. You can find it at Sephora.
6. Juice Beauty Cleansing Milk
This is one of the best milk cleansers with an all-natural formula. It is a super nourishing formula that is fantastic for dry and dehydrated skin thanks to safflower oil, glycerin, and calendula, although a collection of essential oils in it means it should be avoided by those sensitive to scents. Since it contains very few surfactants, it is best as a first cleanser for those with oilier skin. It can be ordered online from Dermstore.
7. Clarins Cleansing Milk with Alpine Herbs
This super popular cleansing milk from Clarins has been around for ages, and for a reason. It is one of the best cleansing milks for sensitive skin, with a gentle formula and lovely scent. It isn’t the most powerful when it comes to removing makeup, so it might work better as a second cleanser or in the mornings. This cleanser is available for sale at Sephora.
8. Eminence Organic Skin Care Coconut Milk Cleanser
This is another natural take on milk cleansers with a very moisturizing formula that works beautifully to remove makeup, and it happens to smell like delicious coconuts. It is a cleansing milk that is almost reminiscent of a balm cleanser, so you might want to follow it up with a stronger cleanser. Grab yourself a bottle from Dermstore!
9. Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Milk
This cleansing milk from Clinique is really advertised as more of a gentle makeup remover than cleanser. It contains a few different moisturizing oils, including jojoba, to keep the skin soft and moisturized. It is best applied when the skin is dry, and then wiped off. It can be purchased through Sephora.
10. Phytomer Accept Soothing Cleansing Milk
This is a slightly heavier cleansing milk that plays nicely with water. It rinses away cleanly, removing makeup but keeps the skin feeling very soft. It is an especially great choice for those with sensitive skin. Order yourself a bottle from Dermstore!
11. Dior Hydra Life Micellar Milk No Rinse Cleanser
This is another one of the best milk cleansers for makeup removal. It should be dispensed on to a cotton pad first, and then used to wipe the skin of all impurities – no rinsing required. It is also excellent for removing eye makeup, and works for all skin types. Get this cleanser at Sephora!
12. The Organic Pharmacy Rose & Chamomile Cleansing Milk
This coconut oil-based cleansing milk is super soothing to the skin, thanks to rose and chamomile. It has a very creamy, surfactant-free formula that is best used as a makeup remover for those with very dry or sensitive skin. It is available at Nordstrom.
13. Mario Badescu Cleansing Milk With Carnation & Rice Oil
This is a heavier take on cleansing milks with a blend of vitamin E-rich rice bran oil as well as mineral oil. It is a fabulous formula for breaking down makeup completely, and would likely work best as a first cleanser or makeup remover. You can buy it from Ulta.
14. Avene Gentle Milk Cleanser
If you have ultra sensitive skin, and everything seems to give you issues, then this is the best cleansing milk for you. It is fragrance-free and totally hypoallergenic, not to mention extremely hydrating and fortifying. It is best used dry, and then rinsed or wiped away. It is sold online through Dermstore.
15. Tammy Fender Cleansing Milk
This all-natural cleansing milk is a lavender dream, with a gorgeous fragrance and lots of soothing botanicals like green tea and chamomile. Because it contains some very gentle surfactants, it rinses away in water easily, and can work really well as a second cleanser for all skin types. Buy it online from Goop!
16. Edible Beauty No. 1 Belle Frais Cleansing Milk
This is by far the best cleansing milk for those with acne-prone skin, as this nourishing formula contains a dose of clarifying salicylic acid. It removes makeup completely with the aid of coconut oil, and can be rinsed away with water. It is sold at Sephora.
17. Yon-Ka Lait Nettoyant Cleansing Milk
This is another mineral oil-based take on cleansing milks that ends up being a little heavier, for better moisturizing effects. It also contains a touch of lactic acid to help hydrate and lightly exfoliate the skin. It removes all makeup, and can work well as a first cleanser. Pick up a bottle through Dermstore!
18. Cellex-C Betaplex Gentle Cleansing Milk
This cleansing milk is firmly in the cleanser category, since it rinses away completely, but it still works well to soothe the skin and remove makeup. It contains a lot of exfoliating lactic acid, as well as anti-inflammatory willow bark extract, making it one of the best milk cleansers even for those with oily and acne-prone skin. It is available for sale at Dermstore.
19. Credentials Orange Blossom Cleansing Milk
This is another take on cleansing milk that acts more like a traditional cleanser. While it does have a creamy texture, it is best mixed with water to effectively cleanse the skin. It still has all the nourishing properties of a milk cleanser, and works best for the morning or as a second cleanse. You can purchase it from Dermstore.
Photos via Sephora, Nordstrom, Ulta