Reviewed: First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser, a Creamy, Fragrance-Free Face Wash for All Skin Types

The First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser is a gentle face wash that does exactly what it promises: removes dirt, oil and makeup while leaving your skin soft and supple. It’s a non-stripping, pH-balanced formula that won’t make your skin feel uncomfortably tight once you remove it, like so many cleansers can.

Most importantly, it’s effective. I’ve found that I don’t need to use a separate makeup remover before I wash my face with this product—it gets everything off. So if you’re looking for a “one and done” type of cleanser, this should fit the bill. 

(Just keep in mind that I only wear light makeup. If you’re wearing heavy foundation and/or waterproof formulas, I would recommend using a separate makeup remover.)

As for who it’s for, the brand claims that all types of skin—normal, dry, oily, combination and sensitive—can use this. That’s a rare thing for a cleanser! 

⚠️ If you are acne-prone, proceed with caution. I personally am acne-prone, and this cleanser has never once broken me out. However, a few reviewers have reported experiencing breakouts, possibly from the surfactant or emollients. If you are concerned, I recommend swiping your skin with toner after cleansing, in order to remove any leftover cleanser residue.

Here’s the most up-to-date ingredients list for the First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser:

Water/Aqua/Eau, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Allantoin, Chrysanthemum Parthenium (Feverfew) Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium PCA, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Tetrasodium EDTA

The first thing you need to know is that it’s free of sulfates—always the first thing I check for in a cleanser. In my opinion, everyone should avoid them because they’re harsh detergents that can compromise the skin barrier and cause dryness and irritation.

In their place is sodium cocoyl isethionate, an ultra-mild cleansing agent that produces a rich, creamy foam. Various humectants (including glycerin and aloe) and emollients (like stearic acid and allantoin) were also added to soothe and condition your skin.

There’s also a plant-derived antioxidant blend that includes feverfew, white tea leaf and licorice root extracts. (Just keep in mind that it won’t give you comparable benefits to a leave-on antioxidant treatment, like a vitamin C serum, since you’re rinsing this off.)

Just as important as what’s in here is what's not. Unlike most cleansers, it has no synthetic fragrance or essential oils—and for good reason, since they are the number one cause of skin reactions.

It’s also oil-free and silicone-free, which is rare for a cream-textured cleanser. Since these ingredients can clog pores and leave residue on the skin that leads to breakouts, I’m happy they were left out.

But that’s not all. As a brand that specifically caters to sensitive skin, First Aid Beauty has more than 1,300 ingredients on its “no-no” list. So not only is everything “clean,” each product is exclusively formulated with safe, non-irritating and allergy-tested ingredients.

This is what the First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser looks like straight out of the tube.

If it reminds you of liquid hand soap, you’re not alone. It has the same pearlescent white colour, but the texture is a little more luxe, thick and whipped. (And unlike hand soap, it’s fragrance-free, of course.)

Once you massage it over damp skin, you’ll notice that it transforms into a creamy lather.

And the best part? It rinses off completely with just water, and doesn’t leave any film behind on your skin.

You can use the First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser as often as twice daily, morning and night.

1. Dampen your face.
2. Dispense a dime-sized amount of cleanser onto your fingertips. (A little goes a long way, so this will be more than enough!)
3. Gently massage the cleanser over all areas of your face.
4. Rinse it off with water or a soft, damp washcloth. 
5. Finish with your favourite toner to remove any traces of cleanser residue. (I love The Inkey List’s.)