Best hydrating cleansers: I’ve tested dozens of cream, oil and gel formulas – these are the ultimate dry skin saviours you NEED to soothe your tight winter skin

With premium packaging and a bergamot rose scent, this balm screams luxury from the minute you open it.

The fragrance made me feel like I was undergoing an aromatherapy treatment as I melted down a thumbnail-sized blob between my palms and massaged it over my face.

The formula feels sumptuous on the skin and quickly gets to work breaking down makeup, even the waterproof kind, within seconds.

For a deeper clean I’d advise pairing this with a muslin cloth or even a classic flannel and some warm water.

I love how even upon removal my skin felt plumped and moisturised – not doubt a result of the Vitamin F blend and ‘master antioxidant’ Acyl-Glutathione​, which has anti-ageing benefits to boot.

If you’re someone who needs a lather to feel clean you may want to chase this with a gel-based cleanser, but the I’d advise against this if you’re chronically dry – lap up the skin-conditioning benefits instead.

Yes at almost £40 this is one of the most expensive products on the list, but after a week of use you could barely see the dent I’d made in this generous tub, since a little goes a long way, so I expect this will last me at least several months.

Oil cleansers don’t get much better than this beauty from Dermalogica. I tested this on a particularly cold day when my face felt extra tight and it managed to remove every scrap of grime and makeup from my face, while simultaneously leaving it moisturised.

In theory this is a first step cleanser, intended to be followed up with a more foamy, gel-based formula. However if you’re chronically dry, it would actually advise skipping the second step if you use this.

Why? Because unlike some other oil-based product this does actually produce a light lather upon contact with water, plus it doesn’t leave your skin feeling coated or clogged, rather bouncy and fresh.

If you have a compromised skin barrier, rosacea or sensitive skin, trade out anything excessively sudsy for this silky treat.

In terms of ingredients, one of the star players here is green tea extract, a soothing antioxidant great for banishing urban pollutants, which as a city-sweller is sorely needed. Meanwhile glycerin sports moisturising properties and sea buckthorn oil is packed with nourishing vitamin e.

Now £55 is a lot to cough up, but this huge bottle is almost twice the size of some of the options listed, and given how little I needed to use I reckon could last up to a year.

This bubbly offering might just be the best cleanser you’ve never heard of.

Mamonde may not be a well-known brand in the UK, but this foaming gel’s performance speaks for itself.

With a mildly acidic pH balance, this cleanser is designed to provide as little disruption to your face as possible while lifting away dirt, sweat and SPF.

The pillowy lather glides over the skin, providing enough slip to ensure you’re not tugging and pulling at your face, which can irritate it.

Containing micellar water smaller than pores, the bubbles are able to penetrate deep into pores and break down makeup with the need for mineral oil, silicone, animal ingredients or harsh sulfates.

Instead amino acids, ceramide and Phytosterol derived from pine tree bark work to protect your skin barrier and moisturise for a comfortable cleanse.

In fact, dermatologists found that even when this product was used TEN times in succession it still didn’t damage the fatty acids in the skin.

This face wash was a pleasure to use and worked well as a standalone product without the need to double-cleanse.

At £16 it’s great value for money too, as I only needed a tiny little blob to cover my whole face in bubbles. I suspect this will last me for several months.

The texture of this product is unlike anything I’ve used before, transforming from a thick cream, to a foaming lather and then a milky lotion upon emulsifying.

I initially wondered if this might be a gimmick but found the texture lent itself incredibly well to gliding over the face without any resistance, while still melting oil and light makeup with ease.

I also found it to be extremely concentrated, requiring only a tiny blob to comfortably cover my face and neck.

One word of warning though; if you’re a fan of waterproof makeup on your eyes you should use a dedicated eye makeup remover first, before following up with this, for the most effective clean.

For my purposes though, it was perfect, leaving my skin bouncy and glowing, with my pores looking significantly smaller right away.

After a day out in the cold the lipids, hyaluronic acid and peptide complex in this formula – along with some warm water, of course – were instantly comforting.

I wondered if the fragrance in the formula might irritate my skin, but fortunately this wasn’t the case. However if scented products don’t agree with you, it might be safer to swerve this one.

Of course £26 isn’t exactly cheap, but Charlotte Tilbury products always feel luxurious and decadent, so this is for the splurgers rather than the bargain hunters.

If you’re all about the bargain, look no further, because this creamy cleanser from Q+A is utterly unbeatable for value. At just £7.50 it stands up against products several time its price, yet nothing about this formula feels budget at all.

This gentle wonder is safe to use around the eyes and a great options for anyone with sensitive skin.

The clue is in the name with this one but let’s break it down – the formula is rich in fatty acids, omegas and oleic and linoleic acid thanks to the British-farmed oat seed oil, which is easily absorbed into the skin. Meanwhile vitamin E and ceramides help to lock in moisturise and promote a healthy skin barrier.

As long as you’re not someone who needs a lather to feel clean, you’ll love how this cleanser makes your face feel – quenched, soothed and nourished.

To top it all off it’s alcohol, fragrance and cruelty-free.

One word of warning though – if you wear VERY heavy or waterproof makeup you may need to go in twice with this. Because it doesn’t contain any stripping surfactants you may find a little more massaging to get the product to emulsify and works its magic is needed, but that’s a small price to pay.

This cleanser really is in its own lane – and you’d be forgiven for mistaking it for an oil-based product, when in fact it contains none at all.

Aside from looking undeniably chic on your bathroom shelf, this non-foaming formula is packed full of replenishing fruit lipids derived from tomato skins and seed oil which won’t disturb your skin barrier as it gets to work breaking down grime, including SPF and waterproof makeup.

Between the linoleic and oleic acid, as well as carotene (responsible for the orange hue) and lycopene – this cocktail is fantastic for moisture retention, while the inbuilt antioxidants help preserve the skin’s natural collagen.

To really make the most of these benefits I recommend you spend a whole minute massaging this over your face.

Trust me, once you’ve rinsed this off you’ll be greeted with a smooth, supple complexion that’s the perfect canvas for the rest of your skincare routine.

Cheap? No. Highly effective? Yes.

This cleanser is the latest in a line of Korean beauty products that have seriously impressed me in recent months. This powerhouse, cream-to-foam formula is perfect for your morning cleanse, as a nighttime cleanse for those who don’t wear makeup, or as step two in a double cleanse routine after an oil-based cleanser to remove makeup.

As per its namesake it contains eight different forms of hyaluronic acid, along with glycerin and panthenol for maximum hydration. Meanwhile hydrolysed vegetable protein boosts elasticity and zinc PCA gets to work controlling oil and sebum.

If you’re someone prone to both dryness AND oiliness, this is a fantastic option, leaving a shine-free finish without stripping the skin barrier at all.

I particularly loved this after a workout when you want a proper lather to banish sweat, rather than an balmy, non-foaming option.

Not that these things should matter, but the chrome and blue packaging, along with the lack of fragrance, also makes this a great option for the reluctant man taking his first steps into the world of skincare and would be a great place to start.

There’s a reason Curel is one of the most popular skincare brands in Japan. With a focus on a looking after the skin barrier, products from across the brand are packed full of ceramides – and this cleansing oil is no exception.

This PH-balanced, fragrance-free, colourless formula is idea for those with dry and/or sensitive complexions.

It glides across the face upon application, breaking down grime, SPF and makeup without the need for heavy rubbing.

I also loved how this reacted with water – transforming into a milky emulsion that leaves the skin spotless, bouncy and plumped.

Now if you like glitzy packaging and fancy scents this cleanser may feel a little basic, but frankly for £16.50 you’ll be hard pushed to find a better alternative at the same price point.

I’ll be reaching for this on days I’ve gone overboard with exfoliating acids or retinol and my skin is in desperate need of comfort.

This cleanser is so gentle and hydrating it could be mistaken for a moisturiser the first time you squeeze it from the tube.

The creamy formula is buttery soft, thanks to the blend of goat milk, manuka honey, jojoba and avocado oils, and feels thoroughly premium.

I recommend massaging this all over the face for a couple of minutes to make the most of its grim and makeup-melting properties.

Those sensitive to fragrance will be pleased to know that there’s no scent whatsoever, and it’s also totally safe to use around the eyes.

I found that after taking this off with a flannel I had no need to double cleanse by following up with a gel formula.

If your face is left feeling tight and stripped by more aggressive cleansers that lather up, this a great non-irritating alternative.

Cleansing can be quite the gauntlet for those with a sensitive complexion – with hot water and harsh formulas wreaking havoc on your skin barrier and leaving you looking red and blotchy.

Enter this gentle wonder – which is suitable for even the most reactive, easily irritated skin, including those with rosacea.

The fragrance-free formula does as good a job at nourishing the skin as it does cleansing it and feels instantly soothing upon first use.

With a powerhouse of natural ingredients such as shea butter, calendula, rosemary extract and inulin prebiotics, there’s plenty of moisturising agents in the mix, plus there’s no silicone, alcohol or parabens.

I love using this first thing in the morning when you don’t need heavy duty cleansing, but rather just want to refresh the skin and prime it for the rest of the steps in your routine without stripping it.

As a vegan, cruelty-free brand, you can also rest assured there’s no lanolin or other animal-based ingredients in any Green People product, plus they’re a British company, so if supporting a home-grown business is important to you, you’ll want to check them out.