You might think that oil should never be applied to your face, but they’re actually an asset to your skincare routine.
Cleansing oils in particular have become extremely popular for their ability to completely dissolve makeup without stripping your skin’s natural oils (Healthline).
Contrary to popular belief, oil cleansers can lift excess sebum, clean dirty pores, dissolve blackheads, and remove foundation and sunscreen.
In fact, cleansing oils work great even on oily skin and acne prone types!
You just need to make sure that you are using them correctly. Here are some tips to get you started:
So now that you know what to do, you need to discover the best cleansing oil for you. In this article, we present the best cleansing oils for every skin type to help you narrow it down!
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Here are my top recommendations:
Best For:
✅ Dissolving Makeup
✅ Moisturizing Skin
✅ Clearing Blackheads
✅ Sensitive Skin
Key Ingredients:
⭐ Jojoba Seed Oil
⭐ Moringa Oil
⭐ Soap Wort
⭐ Glycerin
⭐ Vitamin A, B, E
Key Features:
👍 5.0 oz / 150 mL
👍 Free of Mineral Oil, Sulfates, SLS, SLES
👍 Fragrance-Free
Give your skin the royal treatment with the Face Shop Rice Water Bright Light Facial Cleansing Oil!
Rice water was considered the secret behind the clear and glowing skin of royal court women during the Joseon Dynasty. It includes vitamins A, B, and E for moisturizing, brightening, skin-balancing, and protecting the skin from sun damage.
A 2013 study has also shown that it increases collagen and helps prevent fine lines and wrinkles (Binic et al., 2013).
It’s a powerhouse on its own but this cleansing oil from the much-loved and well-known The Face Shop comes with even more skin loving ingredients such as:
Meanwhile, it’s free of mineral oil, sulfates, SLS, and SLES which makes it great for sensitive skin and those just starting with cleansing oils.
Our Verdict: You could get clear and glowing skin with the Face Shop Rice Water Bright Light Facial Cleansing Oil and its mix of rice water, jojoba seed oil, moringa oil, and soap wort!
If you want even more value for money, you could bundle it with the Face Shop Foaming Cleanser for a two-step cleansing routine (oil first, then cream cleanser).
Shop NowBest For:
✅ Deep Hydration
✅ Refreshing Cleansing
✅ Makeup Removal
✅ Antioxidant Skincare
Key Ingredients:
⭐ Jeju Green Tea
⭐ Jeju Green Tea Root
⭐ Amino Acids
Key Features:
👍 5.1 oz / 150 mL
👍 Antioxidant Rich
Green tea isn’t just for drinking; it’s also for hydrating and cleansing. Just check out Innisfree Hydrating Cleansing Oil With Green Tea!
Innisfree is a popular Korean skincare brand and its Green Tea oil cleanser has been a bestseller for over a decade now. It uses Jeju green tea extract which is 3.5x more enriched with amino acids than regular green tea.
Amino acids are great for moisturizing, soothing, and protecting the skin from sun damage. Innisfree then combines this with Jeju green tea root, a natural surfactant that gently cleanses the skin.
Interestingly enough, all the other ingredients in this hydrating cleanser are emollients and emulsifiers. It’s great for all skin types since there are no active ingredients to trigger adverse reactions. However, it does contain fragrance.
I’ve personally used this cleansing oil though and have found that it does great at cleansing my acne prone skin without irritation.
Many users point out that it’s excellent for removing makeup, sunscreen, and excess oil without stripping the skin.
Our Verdict: Experience the best of green tea with Innisfree Hydrating Cleansing Oil With Green Tea! And if you’re up for an even more immersive experience, you could pair the oil cleanser with the Innisfree Green Tea Hydrating Cleansing Foam and Intensive Hydrating Serum.
Shop NowBest For:
✅ Makeup Removal
✅ Nourishing Cleanser
✅ Clear Blackheads
✅ All Skin Types
Key Ingredients:
⭐ Olive Oil
⭐ Rosemary Oil
Key Features:
👍 6.7 oz / 200 mL
👍 Original Bestseller
👍 Amazing Value for Money
Even the most stubborn mascaras don’t stand a chance against the DHC Deep Cleansing Oil.
The DHC oil cleanser is the classic Japanese cleansing oil and it set the standard for all other cleansing oils in the beauty industry. It uses a formulation based on 100% olive oil formulation and is particularly great at binding with sebum and cleansing oily skin.
This product also includes rosemary leaf oil, which contains antioxidants and is great for toning skin, and vitamin E, which protects the skin from free radicals.
Our editor has used this before and can attest that it leaves the skin clean and feeling soft and hydrated. You just need about two pumps to cover the entire face. As a plus, it’s great for cleaning makeup brushes too!
Our Verdict: Still considered the best cleansing oil to come from Japan as it removes sunscreen and waterproof makeup with ease, the DHC Deep Cleansing Oil provides a true deep cleanse worth every penny.
Shop NowBest For:
✅ Shower Oil
✅ Body Cleanser
✅ Eczema
✅ Very Dry Skin
Key Ingredients:
⭐ Coco & Sunflower Biolipids
⭐ Niacinamide
⭐ AHAs
⭐ Mannitol
⭐ Vitamin E
Key Features:
👍 33.8 oz / 1 L
👍 Best Value for Money
Wash away all the dirt, grime, and stress of the day with Bioderma Atoderm Huile De Douche!
This cleansing oil uses the Bioderma-patented skin barrier therapy which prevents skin irritation and enhances the skin’s natural tolerance. It also contains:
These ingredients together provide a wide range of benefits but that’s not the best part. The Bioderma oil cleanser functions as a face oil AND a shower oil, making it one of the best value-for-money cleansing oils on this list!
Because it is formulated for sensitive and very dry skin, even those with eczema can use this without worrying about irritated skin. Users say that the oil feels silky and light on the skin and doesn’t leave a greasy residue.
Our Verdict: The best cleansing oil if you want to get the bang for your buck, the Bioderma Atoderm Huile De Douche gives you makeup removal and the full body cleansing experience with its skin barrier therapy, niacinamide, and coco and sunflower biolipids!
Shop NowBest For:
✅ Spa Quality
✅ Deeply Nourishing
✅ Improves Skin Tone
Key Ingredients:
⭐ Botanical Blend
⭐ Essential Oils
⭐ Vitamin A & C
Key Features:
👍 6.0 oz / 177 mL
👍 Highest Rated Cleansing Oil
Erno Laszlo Phelityl Pre-Cleansing Oil gives a spa experience for the face using a proprietary blend of essential oils and botanicals.
Notable ingredients include:
All of these are also antioxidant rich ingredients. But what makes this cleansing oil really stand out is that its first ingredient is mineral oil.
Studies even show that mineral oil improves the epidermis, is highly moisturizing, does not clog pores, and is gentle even on the most sensitive skin (IncideCoder).
This oil based cleanser is a bit pricey but it’s the highest-rated product on this list. Plus the reviews say that you just need a tiny amount to get rid of all the dirt and makeup on your face so one bottle will last you a long time.
Our Verdict: The cleansing oil to use if you want to unwind and destress at the end of the day, the Erno Laszlo Phelityl Pre-Cleansing Oil uses rich botanical oils and antioxidant protection that’s great for all skin types!
Shop NowBest For:
✅ Smoother Skin
✅ Luxurious Cleansing
✅ Enhanced Elasticity
✅ Enhanced Firmness
Key Ingredients:
⭐ Green Tea
⭐ Ginger Root
⭐ White Birch
⭐ Coconut Oil
⭐ Sugar Cane
⭐ Papaya
Key Features:
👍 6.75 oz
👍 Top 10 Korean Brand
Grab a page from your favorite k-idol’s skincare routine and use the Amore Pacific Treatment Cleansing Oil!
Amore Pacific is one of the ten largest cosmetic companies globally and is considered a premium brand for highly discerning skincare enthusiasts in Korea. I’s the most expensive oil cleanser on this article but it’s also the most luxurious.
This nourishing oil cleanser comes in a lightweight formula that you can gently massage on your skin to remove makeup and cleanse your pores. It uses only the best skin loving ingredients including:
Our Verdict: Cheaper than a dermatologist visit, ISDIN Flavo-C Ultraglican uses state-of-the-art UltraGlycans (proteoglycans and pre-proteoglycans), vitamin C, vitamin E, and hyaluronic acid to restore healthy, radiant, and bouncy skin with less noticeable wrinkles and fine lines.
Shop NowBest For:
✅ Makeup Removal
✅ Milky Cleansing
✅ Dry Skin
✅ Sensitive Skin
Key Ingredients:
⭐ Rosehip Oil
⭐ Green Tea
⭐ Avocado Oil
⭐ Olive Oil
⭐ Vitamin E
⭐ Turmeric
⭐ Safflower Seed Oil
⭐ Jojoba Oil
Key Features:
👍 5.0 oz / 150 mL
👍 100% Vegan
👍 Cruelty-Free
👍 Preservative-Free
Go green and get clean skin with the Boscia MakeUp-BreakUp Cool Cleansing Oil!
This oil based makeup remover is free from gluten, preservatives, fragrance, colorants, and is 100% vegan. The formulation uses natural ingredients:
The Boscia oil cleanser is great for every skin type and those with dry skin in particular have found it to be good at cleansing without stripping.
Further, an overwhelming sentiment on Amazon is that this cleansing oil does exceptionally well in removing eye makeup without causing irritation or burning. Just be vigilant when purchasing from the platform as some customers complained about receiving fakes and used bottles.
Our Verdict: The Boscia MakeUp-BreakUp Cool Cleansing Oil is one of the gentlest yet most thorough oil cleansers out there. It is very effective as a makeup remover and gives users a vegan and clean beauty experience without sacrificing quality.
Shop Now
