What Is A Cream Cleanser

A cream cleanser feels like a return to a simpler skincare time. First hitting shelves at the turn of the century, a cream cleanser—once called the ‘cold cream’—combines the comforting qualities of a face cream with the cleaning qualities of a cleanser. 

It only made sense then for Go-To to take on this skincare icon with our very own cream cleanser, Soft and Creamy. 

Packed with a multi-layered hydration system, we can safely confirm: This isn’t your grandmother’s cream cleanser. 

Sophisticated, luscious, and free from that gargantuan jar, it’s the prime pick for dry and very dry faces who deserve skin that’s clean but still hydrated. 

Wanna know how this creamy textured cleanser works? We got you!

Soft and Creamy

Hydrating Cream Cleanser

Soft and Creamy is a low-lather cleanser for seriously clean skin that stays comfortable, plump, and hydrated even hours after you’ve rinsed.

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What Is A Cream Cleanser?

A cream cleanser is a hydrating cleanser that works to remove impurities while actually restoring moisture to the skin barrier—rather than zapping it away. Unlike a gel or a foam, they have a uniquely cream-like texture that feels similar to a lightweight lotion.

How Do Cream Cleansers Work?

If your face doesn’t feel clean without that tight squeaky clean feel, this cleanser category probably isn’t for you. 

Cream cleanser formulas combine emollients, oils, humectants, and ultra-gentle surfactants to clean the skin. These lipids and oils latch onto the oil-based impurities present on the skin (like sebum and grime), while the surfactants whisk everything away when you rinse.

This differs from a gel or foam cleanser, which relies more heavily on harsh surfactants to do the cleansing. While surfactants are excellent at removing oil, dirt, and debris, stronger formulas can strip away some of your skin's natural lipids—leaving it feeling tight, dry, or dehydrated.

What’s The Difference Between A Gel Cleanser And A Cream Cleanser?

Both of these can be great options for normal, dry, or combo skin types. It just depends on what your skin, specifically, is looking for. 

Here’s how they differ:

1. The Texture: Gel cleansers have that light, refreshing feel. Cream cleansers instead have a rich, creamy consistency.

2. The Cleanse: Gel cleansers rely more heavily on surfactants to lift away daily grime. Cream cleansers combine gentle surfactants with emollients and oils to dissolve impurities to boost moisture levels.

3. The Finish: Gel cleansers leave skin feeling fresh and clean. Cream cleansers leave skin feeling clean, soft, and comfortable, without that tight, stripped feeling.

Cream, Gel, Or Mousse: Which Cleanser Is Right For You?

Lucky for you, we made a quiz to match you with your Go-To cleanser. Answer a few uncomplicated questions and we’ll pair you up with your skin’s perfect pick. 

TLDR; here’s the cheat sheet:

Properly Clean: Oily, acne-prone skin that needs balance.
Juicy Gel: Normal, combo skin that sometimes leans dry.
Soft and Creamy: Dry, very dry skin, mature skin types.

But remember: Your cleanse, your choice. 

Cream Cleanser FAQs

Is a cream cleanser better than a foaming cleanser?

Neither is inherently better, it all just depends on your skin type. 

Cream cleansers are ideal for dry, dehydrated skin because they cleanse and replenish.

Foaming/mousse-y cleansers generally provide a deeper-feeling cleanse that tames oil and clarifies congestion.

Who should use a cream cleanser?

Cream cleansers are best suited to dry, very dry, dehydrated, or mature skin. But! They’re also a great option for when your skin is needing extra hydration, like during winter or when you're using active ingredients like retinal or exfoliating acids that can leave skin feeling a little more delicate.

Can oily skin use a cream cleanser?

We’d definitely recommend reaching for a gel or mousse instead.

Should you use a cream cleanser in the morning or at night?

Both. A cream cleanser is gentle enough to use in the AM and the PM. 

Do cream cleansers hydrate your skin?

Cream cleansers don't replace your moisturiser, but they can help prevent your skin from losing moisture during cleansing. Many formulas contain ingredients like glycerin, squalane, and provitamin B5 to help leave skin feeling soft, comfortable, and hydrated after rinsing.