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Have you ever used a cleanser, then looked up and into the mirror, only to see a half face of makeup staring back at you? If so, same! In fact, I’ve tried dozens of cleansers over the years—balms, foams, micellar waters… you name it—all to varying results. What my dry skin really seems to love? The oil cleansers that basically melt off makeup and leave my skin looking radiant.
That's because oil cleansers rely on the principle of "like dissolves like," meaning the oils in these soaps remove the oils in makeups and sunscreen without drying your face, says dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick, MD, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Cornell New York Presbyterian Medical Center. In other words, oil cleansers keep the skin hydrated and help keep the skin barrier intact better than foaming cleansers can. And a strong skin barrier keeps you glowing and less prone to breakouts.
Best Cleansing Oils
Best Overall
Dermalogica PreCleanseRead more
What to consider
Type
Though all oil-based cleansers tend to have a slick, oily consistency (as opposed to gel-like or foamy), there are two different types: oil washes and creams. Oil washes are the most standard and generally more lightweight, while balms and creams are heavier but provide more hydration.
Ingredients
Look for a selection of oils that are made of smaller molecules that can better penetrate the pores to flush them. Some good options include argan oil, clary sage, sunflower oil, and maracuja oil, says Merry Thornton, PA-C, a licensed dermatology physician assistant and founder of Element Medical Aesthetics in New Canaan, Connecticut. And the more streamlined the ingredient list, the better—especially if you have sensitive skin, says Rachel Lee Lozina, an aesthetician and founder of Blue Water Spa in Oyster Bay, New York. She also recommends avoiding common skin irritants like fragrance and sulfate surfactants. "These are all highly comedogenic ingredients," says Lozina. Read: They’ll just further clog your pores.
How we chose
As a seasoned beauty and shopping writer, I've been testing cleansing oils for the past decade, and found that they're the best cleansers to remove makeup from my dry skin. For this story, I combed through my extensive testing notes to find the best options. I also asked beauty experts—including a dermatologist, an aesthetician, and a physician’s assistant—what products they recommend to their patients and clients and even use in their own beauty routines. Then, I evaluated each, considering ingredients and important attributes like consistency, ease of application, scent, and—of course—overall efficacy. These are the five best cleansing oils that left our faces clean, clear, and glowing.
Best Overall
Dermalogica PreCleanse
Pros
- Good choice for dry skin as it is non-stripping
- Won't clog pores
Cons
- Expensive, compared to similar formulas
Of all the cleansers I've tested, Dermaologica's PreCleanse has done the best job of removing my makeup and sunscreen without drying my face. That should be no surprise, given the brand is known for the double cleanse—that's when you use an oil product first and then follow it up with a foam cleanser. This lightweight, plant-based formula is powered by vitamin E and rice bran extract to moisturize, smooth, and soften skin, as well as kukui nut oil and borage seed oil to deliver vitamins and fatty acids to the skin barrier and apricot kernel oil to soothe and further hydrate.
"I love the smell and texture of this product," says Thornton, who says she often use it during facials because it gets through oil, sunscreen, and makeup without clogging pores or stripping the skin of its natural oils. Yes, this is expensive compared to other cleansing oils, but we found that the its deep-cleaning results are worth the splurge.
Read more: Best Face Washes For Sensitive Skin
| Type | Oil wash |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Vitamin E, rice bran extract, kukui nut oil, borage seed oil, apricot kernel oil |
Pros
- Good option for those who like the feeling of a foam
- Well-priced drugstore option
Cons
- Not great at removing water-resistant sunscreen
For those who crave the makeup- and sebum-dissolving power of an oil cleanser, but can't get behind a non-foaming face wash, there's this option from dermatologist-recommended brand, Cerave. Dr. Garshick, is a fan of this formula, which is infused with hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and squalane to cleanse and leave skin feeling moisturized at the same time. "It's a great option for all skin types, but especially those with dry to very dry skin," she says. Use it as a pre-cleanse or on its own—and the formula is suitable for use on the face and the body. Though we did find that CeraVe didn't do as great of a job at removing water-restant sunscreens as other oils we tested.
| Type | Oil wash |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Hyaluronic acid, ceramides, squalane oil |
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Best for Face and Body
La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+ Gentle Foaming Cleansing Oil
Pros
- Suitable for sensitive skin
Cons
- Some users with very dry skin report irritation
If you experience acne flare-ups on both your face and your body (ugh, bacne and buttne!), this formula by La Roche-Posay will help you tackle it all with one single product. Shea butter is the main emollient and works hard to cleanse while also moisturizing, but we love that this lightweight wash’s main ingredient is the brand’s thermal spring water, which is naturally rich in minerals with soothing and antioxidant properties. Niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3, and glycerin further soothe and hydrate your skin.
La-Roche Posay products—this one included—are known for being great for sensitive skin types, too. This cleanser is not only paraben-free, but also free from fragrances and soap. It’s also non-comedogenic and allergy-tested, which means it's less likely to cause breakouts.
| Type | Oil wash |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Thermal spring water, shea butter, niacinamide, glycerin |
Pros
- Contains 8 oils and nothing more
- Hydrating enough for very dry skin
Cons
- Not as widely available as some other options
Those with dry skin can also benefit from the hydrating properties of cleansing oils—particularly a formula like this one, which contains a whopping eight emollients to nourish the skin barrier, moisturize, and soften skin. In addition to cleansing, apricot kernel and grapeseed oils help improve elasticity and skin tone, while argan and olive oils lock in moisture. Plus vitamin E, hemp, jojoba, flaxseed, and evening primrose oils further promote softer skin.
We love the brand’s commitment to clean beauty, and appreciate the limited ingredient list that doesn’t contain anything more than the oils you need for a clean, glowing complexion.
| Type | Oil wash |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Apricot kernel oil, grapeseed oil, argan oil, olive oil, vitamin E, hemp oil, jojoba oil, flaxseed oil, evening primrose oil |
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Best Balm
The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm
Pros
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Not as messy as oil face washes
Cons
- Can be hard to get all of the product out of the packaging
Love the idea of an oil cleanser, but want something a little thicker and easier to work with? Grab this balm, which has a consistency that's closer to a thick moisturizer. It doesn’t dribble down your arm, but works just as hard as oil washes to cleanse skin and melt away SPF or makeup—yep, even waterproof mascara.
It’s ultra-soothing and suitable for all skin types, including those with more sensitive skin, thanks to the addition of colloidal oatmeal. It works to target any irritation or redness while oat kernel oil does its work. Though I did find that its bottle dispenser made it harder to get all the product out of the packaging compared to other pump-based cleaners I tested.
| Type | Balm |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Oat kernel oil, colloidal oatmeal |
What is the best way to use a cleansing oil?
Starting with dry skin, massage one or two pumps into your face in circular motions and then rinse with warm water or tissue off, says Lozina. If the oil cleanser is just part one of a two-step cleansing regimen with a foaming cleanser, you would leave it on the skin, apply the foam on top of it, emulsify by massaging the two together, and then rinse with cool water. If you regularly wear makeup, Lozina recommends oil cleansing twice a day, every day.
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Meet Our Experts
- Marisa Garshick, MD, is a New York-based dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Cornell New York Presbyterian Medical Center.
- Rachel Lee Lozina, is an aesthetician and founder of Blue Water Spa in Oyster Bay, New York.
- Merry Thornton, is a licensed dermatology physician assistant and founder of Element Medical Aesthetics in New Canaan, Connecticut.
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Brigitt Earley
Contributing Writer
Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more.
