I need a cleanser, but I have a very specific set of requirements.

[StepAwayFromCake]

I don't use makeup, but I do use sunscreen or moisturiser, and I get a sweaty head and face. I'm early 50s and, on the whole, have good skin. It's just very sensitive because of my allergies.

I find Simple products too harsh (except, oddly enough, their exfoliating facial wash - but I don't want to exfoliate several times a week!).

I need a cleanser that:

• is fragrance-free. Not just artificial fragrances, all fragrances. This includes essential oils.

• has no bee products in it. No honey, beeswax, royal jelly or propolis.

• has no coconut products in it. Frustratingly, I can use coconut oil sparingly, but commercial preps generally have far too much for me to tolerate.

• is SLS-free. I could possibly compromise on this.

• is not exfoliating.

• can be used in the shower or bath.

Does such a cleanser exist?

I second the Cerave Hydrating Cleanser recomnendation. No fragrance at all, non foaming and leaves the skin feeling soft and moisturised, not tight and dry.

Cerave hydrating really didn't work for me, my skin was a bit sore and dry.

Cetaphil is full of sls. It is the 2nd ingredientz

You could also try Korres Olympus Mountain Cleansing Cream Foam. Of all the ingredients you are trying to avoid, it only contains fragrance (and what a heavenly fragrance it is). I am finishing my first bottle now and I will def order my second. It is very creamy, and cleans my combination and acne-prone skin v well, without stripping it off! It is even suitable for the eye area, as it's so gentle, and it removes my (lancome hypnose) mascara with minimum effort. Also my skin is prone to redness and general irritation and I've had no issues.

Check the ingredient list here:
eu.feelunique.com/p/Korres-Olympus-Mountain-Cleansing-Cream-Foam-200ml

NO Petrolatum, Mineral Oil, Silicones, Parabens, Propylene Glycol, Ethanolamines, SLES, ALES, Synthetic Dye, Phthalates, Polycyclic Musks, Retinol.

I have similar skin and have used this for years, I'd highly recommend it.

Love the camomile cleanser from body shop. I also use Medic-8 stuff though as I also have a very specific set of allergies etc and that range is made my life so much easier. It's very pharma driven and all made in small batches in the uk

Love, love, love take the day away balm from Clinique. Only cleanser I use on my sensitive skin and eyes. Most other cleansers leave my eyes red and stinging, but this is so calming it doesn't but yet budges all makeup etc.

Oh, and boots are doing an offer on Clinique just now.

Thanks for these suggestions. I've gone through every one, and this is what I've found out (in case it helps anyone else with the same, very fussy skin):

AHA – don’t list ingredients on the website, and as they don’t claim fragrance-free, probably aren’t.
Clarins – also don’t list ingredients on the website. Same concern as for AHA.
Clinique – again, don’t list ingredients on the website. But the website does imply that they make fragrance-free products.
Sukin – some products look suitable.
Green People – bought! I got some shampoo and conditioner as well. Thanks for the 20% code!
Body Shop Aloe – a pleasing surprise! Fragrance-free. I did not expect that from Body Shop.
Cetaphil – contain SLS, some contain fragrance, too.
LaRochePosay Toleriane – look suitable.
Avene – look suitable.
Trilogy – Website claims to have a fragrance-free range, but says nothing available.
CeraVe – possibly suitable, doesn’t actually list my allergens, but I don’t recognise many of the ingredients, so am unsure.
Nip and Fab – contain fragrance.

I've never found hair products (styling, not washing) with the same criteria. I shall have to check out these makes again!

Oops, I've missed a couple:

Medic8 - doesn't look suitable. No full list of ingredients, but the only non-exfoliating one has citrus oil, which is potentially a no-no for me.
Goat's Milk Cleansing Lotion - would love to try it, but no ingredients listed. I may email them. (I was once given a bar of handmade camel's milk soap - supposed to be amazing for your skin, but I didn't dare try it )
Korres - fragrance! My worst allergen.

Would you like me to look at the bottle of goats milk cleansing lotion I've got? It may be too faded (it's huge as I stock up once a year to save on postage, so I've had it a while) but I can give it a go. Though they're a lovely family firm, so I'm sure they'll happily tell you by email.

Have you thought of making your own?? I make all my own face creams now it's not difficult and then I know exactly what is in them. My daughter laughed at me initially, then asked for one with tea tree in for her teenage skin. Look on Pinterest for recipes and amazon sell all the ingredients. I find DōTERRA recipes the best.

That would be very kind, Cinderellas. If it's a long list, perhaps you could photograph it?

What a great idea, Elfride! I use to make my own in-shower moisturiser. I shall certainly look into it.

I think it's not going to work for you because of the coconut acid, unfortunately. Though they will do free samples, so it might be worth waiting for their next free postage weekend and getting one to try.

Fourthing the La Roche Posay Toleriane Dermo Cleanser. Very soft, very nice. Website says: The minimalist formula contains no parabens, no fragrance, no colourants, no lanolin and is 100% hypoallergenic."

I got it for my DD but she didn't like the milky lotion (no reason why, she's just picky) so I started using it and I love it. She likes the LRP Sensitive Skin Micellar Water.

Boots has LRP products but not always the full range, some chemists do more or available direct from LRP website.

Clinique Take The Day Off caused a really bad reaction on my eyes (swollen and burnt) which then caused me to react to any balm like cleansers afterwards. I wouldn't have said I was particularly sensitive before either. It took a few days to really cause the issue and then was a disaster.

Toleriane works for me. Oddly, Liz Earle Cleaner and Polish too although I'd say I hadn't even expected it to.

Cetaphil has sulphates in it.

Both Clinique Take The Day Off and Cetaphil irritate my skin - I've tried samples of both. Much too stingy.

Thanks though, Cinderellas.

Have you tried plain jojoba or sweet almond oil

I love this one from LRP.
www.laroche-posay.co.uk/toleriane-softening-foaming-gel

I was going to ask the same as Lalalalaaaa, how about actual oil? I've used oil on my face for ages (usually olive, sometimes adding a little castor). Most other stuff makes me itch.

When my skin reacts to an allergen I use cold-pressed virgin coconut oil as a moisturiser. But I don't really feel that it cleans my skin. I've also used a Hot Oil Cleanser which felt lovely, but, again, didn't feel like it cleaned my skin.

When I use sunscreen, particularly if I've done grubby work like gardening, my skin feels dirty. Sticky. That's when I feel I need something more than oil.

I have tried everything mentioned on here (with the exception of the goats milk stuff) and I swear by dermalogica ultracalming cleanser. My skin is the most reactive and sensitive plus dehydrated, combination, spot prone, allergy prone etc! It's extremely difficult for me finding products but this cleanser is the only one I can tolerate! U can either remove with cotton wool or a flannel (I use warm flannel) or it can be rinsed in the shower. It leaves no residue and doesn't make my skin tight afterwards! U can get it reasonably priced online from beautythings.co.uk

How about using a cloth I've just bought the W7 cleansing cloth you don't use any cleanser at all. I expected it to feel slightly rough but it's actually super soft but it does actually work.

Deciem has some cleansers, unfortunately none in The Ordinary range (because that's the cheapest) but you could see if they'd arrange a sample of any of the ones you're interested in :)

deciem.com/category/skincare/cleaners