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Last Updated on October 10, 2026 by Giorgia Guazzarotti

review simple refreshing facial wash

I like my cleansers simple. No fragrance. No colour. No fancy bells and whistles. Just gentle cleansing power that takes everything off sans the irritation. That’s just what Simple Refreshing Facial Wash promises. Heck, it proudly boats to be the kindest cleanser the brand has ever made. Does it live up to it?

The Verdict

My rating: 4/5

Best for: Oily and combination skin looking for a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser. My skin was on the drier side when I tested it, and it still felt soft afterwards.

Skip it if: You want one cleanser to take off everything, including eye makeup, without needing a separate remover.

What I like: It cleans my skin without leaving it tight or dry. No artificial perfume, no colour, no alcohol, no fancy extras. Just a cleanser that does its job at a budget price.

What I don’t: I need more product to remove water-resistant sunscreen or long-lasting foundation, and I still use a separate remover for my eyes.

Bottom line: Simple Refreshing Face Wash lives up to its name. It gets my face clean without stripping it, costs little, and doesn’t throw in perfume just to make washing your face feel like an “experience”. If you want gentle cleansing without the bells and whistles, it’s a good buy.

Ingredients In Simple Refreshing Facial Wash: What Does The Science Say?

COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE TO CLEANSE SKIN

Don’t let the complicated name fool you. Cocamidopropyl Betaine is a gentle surfactant that cleanses skin without irritating it. It works by helping water mix with oil and dirt so they can be rinsed away. But it never goes overboard. It removes dirt, but it doesn’t strip skin naked of the little sebum it needs to stay naturally soft and moisturised. That’s why Simple Face Wash chose it. FYI, Cocamidropyl Betaine doesn’t foam much. That’s ok. More foam doesn’t equal better cleansing powers. It just equals more irritation!

Related: Should You Avoid Sulfates In Skincare Products?

PANTHENOL TO MOISTURISE SKIN

Panthenol, or pro-vitamin B5, is a humectant. In plain English, it means it attracts water from the environment into the skin and holds it there. That’s the secret behind Simple Refreshing Facial Wash’s kindness. While Cocamidopropyl Betaine does the cleansing, Panthenol ensures your skin has all the moisture it needs to stay soft during and after the process. While it’s at it, Panthenol helps soothes dryness and irritation, too.

Related: What Are Humectants And Why Do You Need Them In Your Skincare Routine?

How To Use It

No fancy cleansing ritual needed. Here’s how to use it:

  1. Wet your face with warm water. Hot water or cold water won’t get your skin cleaner. 
  2. Massage a small amount over your wet face using a circular motion Use your fingertips and keep it gentle. You’re washing your face, not scrubbing a saucepan.
  3. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry. No rubbing your face with a towel.
  4. Follow with the rest of your routine. Apply your serum and moisturizer, plus sunscreen in the morning.

You can use it morning and evening. If you’re wearing heavy makeup or water-resistant sunscreen, use a makeup remover or cleansing oil first, then follow with this wash. Keep it away from your eyes: I use a separate remover for eye makeup.

My Experience With Simple Refreshing Facial Wash

First things first: foaming cleansers aren’t for every skin type. I recommend them for oily skin or skin prone to acne. Mine’s on the drier side these days. But I still wanted to give this cleanser a go, so I opted for a small travel size.

True to its “no perfume, no colour” motto, Simple Refreshing Facial Wash is fragrance-free and completely transparent. Its texture is gel-like, lightweight and has a slippery feeling. It doesn’t lather much when you mix it with water, but don’t let that fool you. This cleanser removes all traces of dirt and grime from my face (I use a separate makeup remover for my eyes).

If I’m wearing a water-resistant sunscreen or long-lasting foundation, I need to use two pumps to get everything off my face. I was afraid that’d be too drying for my skin, but I shouldn’t have worried.

It doesn’t matter if I use one or two pumps, my face always feels clean and soft afterwards. No tell-tale tight feeling that warns me the cleanser has stripped too much natural oils from my skin. If you have oily and sensitive skin that reacts badly to most cleansers, give Simple Refreshing Facial Wash a try. It truly is one of the kindest cleansers I’ve ever tried.

One last thing: the cleanser comes in a green plastic tube with a flip-flop cap. Nothing fancy, but it’s lightweight and easy to squeeze, so you can control how much you use. The downside? You can’t see how much is left. But at this price, I’d rather pay for a cleanser that works than packaging that looks expensive.

Does Simple Refreshing Facial Wash Live Up To Its Claims?

CLAIM TRUE?
This refreshing 100% soap-free, vegan face wash removes dirt, oil and impurities, leaving skin feeling refreshed and revived.  True. But it does not remove makeup very well.
No colours, no perfume, no harsh chemicals that can upset your skin.  True. Keep in mind that some people are allergic to water, so any chemical (yes, water is a chemical) could upset skin if you’re allergic to it.

Available at: £3.67 at Boots, Superdrug, and Tesco

Ingredients

Aqua, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Panthenol, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Pantolactone, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate.