Gentle Facial Cleanser — Reddit Reviews
by Vanicream
Updated September 23, 2026
Boring, fragrance-free cleanser that calms reactive skin; can still feel stripping.
What the community says
A minimalist water-based cleanser built around glycerin and mild surfactants, with no fragrance or actives. It’s catnip for tret users and reactive-skin folks. Dry, rosacea-prone, or over-washed skin can find it stripping, especially with twice-daily use.
What this means for you
What people love
Watch out for
- Can be drying or stripping, especially on dry skin
- Some sensitive or rosacea-prone skin gets red or itchy
- May not fully remove sunscreen or makeup alone
Product details
Values
Product Traits
Where to buy
Real Reddit threads — 1,127 mentions across 28 threads
Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser on Reddit, in one place — 28 threads from r/tretinoin, r/30PlusSkinCare and 4 more, summarized.
“PM - Vanicream cleanser, wait 20 mins, tret, wait 20 mins, LRP Cicaplast”
Positive
“PM - Vanicream cleanser, tret, LRP Cicaplast”
Positive
“Very simple.”
Positive
“All I do is use a gentle cleanser once a day at night (using vanicream now), then tret, then cetaphil daily moisturizer.”
Positive
“I use the cetaphil moisturizing cream for dry and sensitive skin.”
Positive
“Less is best!”
Positive
“PM:”
Positive
“Vanicream gentle face cleanser”
Positive
“I do little dots all over my face right after washing.”
Positive
“+ vanicream gentle facial cleanser”
Positive
“pm routine:”
Positive
“Do you wash your face before doing short contact?”
Positive
“I just use micellar water and if I do wash my face with cleanser I use the vanicream gentle cleanser!:)”
Positive
“Once I stopped using cleaners meant to clear acne or for oily skin, I had way less breakouts and oddly, way less oil. I swear by Vanicream cleanser now!”
Positive
“what gentle cleanser did u use? coz i used one from cerave and it made me worse :(”
Positive
“Dove, but I didn’t go that far! Just vanicream cleanser”
Positive
“Same!! I stopped using everything but vanicream and my redness went away completely.”
Positive
“What works for me is vanicream facial cream and Trader Joe facial sunscreen”
Positive
