Cleansing with appropriate face wash is one of the most important parts of a healthy skincare routine, especially if you suffer from PCOS-induced acne and problematic skin. That’s because cleansers help remove excess oil, dirt, bacteria, makeup and other pore-clogging substances that may contribute to acne.
If you’d like to know how to address the root cause of PCOS acne and balance your hormones naturally, I suggest you read my previous article ‘PCOS Acne Explained & How To Treat It Naturally’ where I go into more detail. You can also find a list of my favorite skincare products here: ‘The Best Skincare Products For PCOS & Hormonal Acne‘ .
Since finding an effective face wash for problematic skin that’s also PCOS-friendly can be particularly challenging (especially if you have sensitive skin like me) I’ve decided to share with you tips on my 5 all-time favorite cleansers for PCOS that I always go back to (I used to suffer from hormonal acne for many years).
Here’s a quick summary of things you want to consider when choosing a face wash for PCOS acne:
- Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs-free)
- Ingredients (active/non-comedogenic)
- Sensitivity (minimum irritants/allergens)
- Purpose (suitable for your skin type/skin condition)
- Consistency (gel/foam/balm)
And here’s a list of my favorite face washes and cleansers for PCOS.
Best face washes for PCOS acne:
- Cerave Renewing SA Cleanser
- Dermalogica Ultracalming Cleanser
- The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm
- Simple Water Boost Micellar Gel Wash
- Joesoef Skincare Sulfur Soap
1. Cerave Renewing SA Cleanser
Best for: oily skin – active acne
One of the reasons why Cerave is such a popular skincare brand is because of their simple but very effective product formulations. The Cerave Renewing SA Cleanser is particularly great for acne-prone, oily and sensitive skin as it contains some of the best ingredients to combat these issues (such as salicylic acid, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, ceramides).
At the same time, it is free from unnecessary fragrances, parabens, alcohols, EDCs and other harsh chemicals that might trigger skin irritations and contribute to hormone disruptions. The great thing about this cleanser is that it won’t clog your pores (it’s oil-free and non-comedogenic) but it’s also not overly drying like most acne-prone face washes.
While it’s very gentle and suitable even for sensitive skin, you should keep in mind that it contains salicylic acid which is a type of chemical exfoliant (BHA) that can be poorly tolerated by many individuals. I personally like using this face wash only 1x/per day (in the evening) as it works great as a second cleanser. It has a nice gel consistency that foams once applied (great for face cleansing brushes).
Check out the price on Amazon HERE.
| EDC-free | ✓ |
| Non-comedogenic | ✓ |
| Make-up removing | ✕ |
| Consistency | gel/foaming |
| Skin type | oily/acne-prone |
2. Dermalogica Ultracalming Cleanser
Best for: hypersensitive skin – irritations
If you’re someone with extremely sensitive skin that can hardly tolerate any regular skincare products then my best tip for a high-quality face wash would be the Demalogica Ultracalming Cleanser. All of the ingredients in this cleanser are non-toxic, non-irritable and very soothing which helps calm down your skin, reduce inflammation and minimize redness. It is also oil-free so it won’t clog your pores.
Dermalogica, overall, is one of my favorite skincare brands as they have a wide range of high-quality ‘clean’ products suitable for hypersensitive and acne-prone skin (it’s also very popular amongst dermatologists). If you have particularly reactive or damaged skin (eg. from acne treatments/irritants) then this face wash is definitely worth the buy despite its slightly higher price.
It can also be used as an eye make-up remover as it’s extremely gentle and doesn’t irritate eyes (it is a non-foaming gel). I personally love using it as my first cleanser/make-up remover (in the shower) but I always follow with another one of my face washes.
Check out the price on Amazon HERE.
| EDC-free | ✓ |
| Non-comedogenic | ✓ |
| Make-up removing | ✓ |
| Consistency | gel/non-foaming |
| Skin type | hypersensitive/reactive |
3. The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm
Best for: sensitive/dry skin – removing makeup
The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm is another one of my favorite face washes I like to use as a makeup remover in the shower (or as a first cleaner). It has a thick ‘milky’ consistency that feels very soothing on the skin and doesn’t irritate eyes (it removes eye makeup very well).
The great thing about this cleanser is that it has a nice ‘clean’ PCOS-friendly ingredient list (no parabens, fragrances, EDCs, alcohols or common irritants) but it’s also very affordable which comes in handy if you wear makeup on a regular basis. It is formulated with multiple hydrating substances and antioxidants making it perfect for dry, sensitive and irritated skin.
However, keep in mind that this calming cleansing balm is oil-based which may contribute to clogged pores, malassezia and acne in some individuals. If you have acne-prone skin then I would always use a second non-comedogenic cleanser to prevent any breakouts and bacteria overgrowth. Nonetheless, the oily formula is what makes it so good at removing makeup.
Check out the price on Amazon HERE.
| EDC-free | ✓ |
| Non-comedogenic | ✕ |
| Make-up removing | ✓ |
| Consistency | balm/non-foaming |
| Skin type | sensitive/dry |
4. Simple Water Boost Micellar Gel Wash
Best for: sensitive/acne-prone skin – removing make-up
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly, non-irritating, non-toxic and non-comedogenic cleanser that’s also great for removing makeup (including eye makeup) then I highly recommend getting your hands on the Simple Water Boost Micellar Gel Wash. It has a very simple formula containing no harsh chemicals, irritants or EDCs making it suitable even for very sensitive skin and eyes.
The best thing about this gentle face wash is that it is free from oils and other pore-clogging ingredients but at the same time it’s very hydrating and doesn’t strip your skin from natural oils. If you’re someone with an oily acne-prone skin who wants to stay away from all oil-based cleansers and make-up removers then this might be a good fit for you.
It has a nice gel consistency (that doesn’t foam) and I mostly use it as my first cleanser/makeup remover in the evening. However, it also works great as a gentle morning face wash (or post-workout) as it’s oil-free and you don’t have to follow with another cleanser (which I would still normally do in the evening).
Check out the price on Amazon HERE.
| EDC-free | ✓ |
| Non-comedogenic | ✓ |
| Make-up removing | ✓ |
| Consistency | gel/non-foaming |
| Skin type | sensitive/dry |
5. Joesoef Skincare Sulfur Soap
Best for: oily skin – active acne
One of my best skincare discoveries (when my acne was at its worst) was incorporating sulfur soap into my skincare routine. Sulfur is a powerful ingredient with similar properties to salicylic acid (exfoliating, oil-reducing, anti-bacterial) but it tends to be better tolerated by people with sensitive and reactive skin.
In fact, sulfur is commonly used to treat various skin disorders (eczema, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, acne, malassezia) due to its strong antifungal, antibacterial, and keratolytic activity. While it can be a bit drying to the skin (especially when overused) I personally found some great improvements in my acne and skin texture after using it.
Sulfur soaps are also extremely affordable and will last you a long time. You can use it as a face wash (I would use it as my second after removing makeup) or you can leave it on your skin for a few minutes as a face mask based on your needs (it foams nicely once applied). Just make sure you don’t overuse it and that you always follow with an appropriate moisturizer to prevent dryness.
Check out the price on Amazon HERE.
| EDC-free | ✓ |
| Non-comedogenic | ✓ |
| Make-up removing | ✕ |
| Consistency | solid/foaming |
| Skin type | oily/acne-prone |
Cleansers comparison:
| CeraVe | Dermalogica | The Inkey List | Simple | Joesoef | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EDC-free | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Non-comedogenic | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Make-up removing | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Consistency | gel/foaming | gel/non-foaming | balm/non-foaming | gel/non-foaming | solid/foaming |
| Skin type | oily/acne-prone | hypersensitive/reactive | sensitive/dry | sensitive/dry | oily/acne-prone |
Read more: ‘The Best Makeup Products For PCOS & Hormonal Acne‘
Pro tips:
- Use ingredient checkers – you can check the content of almost any skincare product online to find any potential endocrine disruptors, allergens or other irritating ingredients, I like using INCIDecoder and Sezia for skincare
- Keep it simple – keep your skincare routine simple and don’t use too many layers of products that aren’t completely necessary, try not to overcomplicate it (especially if your skin is sensitive)
- Double cleanse – always double cleanse your skin (especially in the evening) to remove all bits of makeup, dirt, oils and bacteria that could clog your pores and trigger new breakouts
- Use face cleansing brushes – face cleansing brushes are a wonderful tool to clean your face in more depth, increase blood flow and exfoliate your skin at the same time
I love:
Vanity Planet Facial Cleansing Brush - Keep a skin diary – a skin diary is a great tool that can help you identify potential triggers in your skincare so you can better understand your individual needs and choose accordingly
- Be patient – don’t expect any overnight results as it may take several weeks before you start seeing any major changes in your skin
- Prioritize lifestyle – make sure you focus on developing healthy habits in other important areas that can affect your skin health (diet, sleep, stress, exercise, hydration)
Read more: ’How To Treat PCOS Naturally (Science-Based Guidelines)’
Resources:
- Barrett, E. S., & Sobolewski, M. (2014). Polycystic ovary syndrome: do endocrine-disrupting chemicals play a role?. Seminars in reproductive medicine, 32(3), 166–176. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0034-1371088
- Del Rosso, J. Q., Gold, M., Rueda, M. J., Brandt, S., & Winkelman, W. J. (2015). Efficacy, safety, and subject satisfaction of a specified skin care regimen to cleanse, medicate, moisturize, and protect the skin of patients under treatment for acne vulgaris. The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology, 8(1), 22–30. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25610521/
- Diamanti-Kandarakis, E., Papalou, O., & Kandaraki, E. (2022). Endocrine-disrupting chemicals and PCOS: A novel contributor in the etiology of the syndrome. In Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (pp. 227-244). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-823045-9.00015-8
- Gainder, S., & Sharma, B. (2019). Update on Management of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome for Dermatologists. Indian dermatology online journal, 10(2), 97–105. https://doi.org/10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_249_17
- Housman, E., & Reynolds, R. V. (2014). Polycystic ovary syndrome: a review for dermatologists: Part I. Diagnosis and manifestations. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 71(5), 847.e1–858. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2014.05.007
- Ramezani Tehrani, F., Behboudi-Gandevani, S., Bidhendi Yarandi, R., Saei Ghare Naz, M., & Carmina, E. (2021). Prevalence of acne vulgaris among women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systemic review and meta-analysis. Gynecological endocrinology : the official journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology, 37(5), 392–405. https://doi.org/10.1080/09513590.2020.1859474
- Zhao, J., Wang, Y., Jiang, L., & Mu, Y. Z. (2020). The application of skin care product in acne treatment. Dermatologic therapy, 33(6), e14287. https://doi.org/10.1111/dth.14287