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Washing your face twice a day is the foundation of any good skincare routine. But, your efforts may be in vain if your face wash isn't formulated with the right ingredients. In fact, it may even be drying out your skin instead of nourishing it.

Unfortunately, as the Environmental Working Group reports, that probability is high. Cosmetic and personal care companies are "allowed to use almost any ingredient they wish" when formulating products, and "the U.S. government doesn't review the safety of products before they're sold," writes the EWG.

This problem is amplified by a lack of education on the consumer end. A staggering 65 percent of surveyed American adults have "no idea what ingredients to look for when purchasing a facial cleanser," according to CeraVe's Skincare Survey. Sixty-three percent don't understand the purpose of those ingredients. 

To help bridge this educational gap and navigate the confusing world of skincare, we tapped licensed esthetician Matthew Miller of Matthew Miller Skin. Below, read up on the drying face wash ingredients to avoid, plus the best face washes for dry skin.

According to Miller, sulfates, specifically Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, can "strip the skin of its natural oils, causing dryness and irritation," he told Who What Wear. "Sodium Laureth Sulfate can be more mild, but I still tend to advise clients to avoid these ingredients to stay on the safe side." 

Gentler alternatives: Sodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate, Sodium Coco-Glucoside Tartrate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate. 

All Paula's Choice products are formulated without synthetic dyes or fragrances, irritating alcohols, or Sodium Lauryl Sulfate.

SkinCeuticals' gentle cleanser is paraben-free, phthalate-free, non-comedogenic, sulfate-free, and dermatologist- approved.

This creamy face wash from French skincare brand Caudalie is infused with grape seed oil, glycolic acid and shea butter.

Artificial fragrances can irritate the skin, especially in the cold winter months. What's more, "companies can put the word 'fragrance' on the packaging without having to specify exactly what's in it," explains Miller. "It's best to just avoid fragrance and not risk irritating dry skin." 

Gentler alternatives: Miller prefers essential oils for a source of natural fragrance. Plus, if formulated properly, they offer a host of health benefits. "Properly-formulated products containing essential oils will not harm or irritate the skin." 

This dermatologist-approved cleanser was formulated specifically for dry, sensitive skin.

This botanical-based cleanser is paraben-free and infused with antioxidant-rich acai and goji berry extracts.

This incredibly gentle cleanser from Australia-based CosMedix is brimming with nourishing antioxidants.

"Artificial dyes can interfere with oil production," notes Miller. "This can lead to clogged pores and breakouts." What's more, artificial dyes do not benefit your skin in any way, so he recommends avoiding them. 

Gentler alternatives: Some brands now are turning to botanical ingredients for coloring, while others are leaving their formulations in their natural colors. Both are safer options.

Tata Harper Skincare is vegan, cruelty-free, and free of toxins, fillers, synthetics, and GMOs.

This all-clean, organic cleanser has over 100 five-star reviews.

This innovative cleansing butter from clean skincare brand Drunk Elephant quickly transforms from oil to milk upon contact with water. 

"Benzoyl Peroxide can be great for acne spot treatments in the short term," he explains. But long-term use of Benzoyl Peroxide will "exacerbate any issues with the skin" and cause dryness and redness.

Gentler alternatives: TrySalicylic Acid (BHA) instead. "This ingredient is oil-soluble, so it will help dissolve away impurities and oil build-up," explains Miller. "It's great for oily or acne prone skin. As always, moderation is key." 

This gentle, fragrance-free cleanser is formulated with moisturizing allantoin and plant-derived antioxidants.

This is another best-seller from clean skincare brand Paula's Choice.

This soothing cleanser is gluten-free, vegan, paraben-free, and formulated without artificial fragrances or dyes.

"This ingredient is tricky; I'm actually not anti-alcohol," he divulges. "There are many forms of alcohol that can be hydrating to the skin. At the end of the day it’s all about formulation!" He does caution against using anything with "denatured alcohol" or just "alcohol" on the label, especially if there are no hydrating ingredients listed to balance out the formulation. "It’s best to play it safe and avoid these products." 

Gentler alternatives: "Fatty alcohols like cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol shouldn’t worry you," he explains. These ingredients are typically used as emollients and thickeners in skincare products and can actually benefit dry skin.

This gentle face wash is infused with ceramide-3, niacinamide, glycerin, and La Roche-Posay's famous prebiotic thermal water.

This fragrance-free cleanser from Avène features a concentration of thermal spring water to calm irritation and soothe inflammation.

This gentle cleanser is formulated without dyes, fragrance, masking fragrance, parabens, sulfates, or formaldehyde.  Next up: The number-one mistake you're making if you have dry skin.

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