Let me fill you in on a little secret: Cleansing oils are absolutely the move if you’re trying to get clean, soft-as-hell skin. Unlike makeup wipes—which, hi, are actually a breeding ground for acne!—or harsh face washes, cleansing oils call on water-soluble oils to gently dissolve a day’s worth of makeup, oil, and grime without irritating your skin or stripping it dry. They’re genuinely excellent for every skin type (yup, even oily or acne-prone folks—don’t be scared by the word “oil”), and they leave your face nice and ready for the rest of your skincare routine (kinda like a soft, dewy little canvas).
All of this is to say that you definitely need a cleansing oil in your lineup, which is why I gathered the 16 best formulas of all damn time below. And if you’re just here for the goods and don't want alllll the ~great knowledge~ below (which, whomp whomp), here's a little sneak peek of the content ahead...
Our top picks for the best cleansing oils in 2022:
1
Best cleansing oil for acne-prone skin
Cocokind Oil to Milk Cleanser
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2
Best Hydrating Oil Cleanser
KORA Organics Milky Mushroom Gentle Cleansing Oil
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3
Best Oil Cleanser for “Normal” Skin
Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Oil Cleanser
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4
Best Exfoliating Cleansing Oil
Mara Natural Chia + Moringa Algae Enzyme Cleansing Oil
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5
Best cleansing oil for hyperpigmentation
Epara Cleansing Oil
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Meet the experts:
- Dr. Mona Gohara, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Hamden, Connecticut, President of the Women's Dermatologic Society, and Associate Clinical Professor at Yale. Her areas of expertise include medical and surgical dermatology and skin of color.
- Dr. Rachel Maiman, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Marmur Medical and a clinical instructor at Mount Sinai. She specializes in general and cosmetic dermatology, including injectables.
What is a cleansing oil?
"Cleansing oils are cleansers that usually contain an oil base, along with an ingredient called a surfactant—which helps bind dirt on the skin and remove it without disrupting the skin barrier," says board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Maiman. These cleansers work well for removing makeup, are super gentle, and because cleansing oils are water-soluble, you won't have to worry about them leaving behind an oily residue that will clog your pores.
Cleansing oils are commonly used as the first part of a two-step K-beauty process called double-cleansing. In short, you begin with an oil-based cleanser that'll rid your skin of oil-based products (i.e., makeup, sunscreen) and rewash the face with a water-based cleanser that'll rid the skin of the water-based debris (i.e., sweat, dirt). As a result, your skin will be left feelin' super clean without actually stripping it.
How does a cleansing oil work?
Dr. Maiman explains that cleansing oils work due to the chemical principle, "like dissolves like," which states that similar substances will dissolve each other. So, when you massage an oil cleanser onto the skin, the oil in the cleanser and the oil-based gunk on your skin integrate, allowing the product to attract and dislodge sebum and other oil-based debris.
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Gohara paints us a picture: Pretend you're the first of your friends to arrive at a party. A few moments later, you receive a text that your friends are there, but they're congregating outside. You go outside to hang out with them because, well, they're your friends. It's the same with the oil element in these cleansers—"like attracts like, or, the oil attracts oil."
Can oily or acne-prone skin still use a cleansing oil?
"Yes, cleansing oils are products that every skin type, even oily and acne-prone skin, can incorporate," says Dr. Maiman, adding that some people even argue that oil cleansers may be beneficial for oily skin types.
"Some cleansers—especially those that leave the skin feeling ultra-tight (i.e., stripped) after rinsing—dismantle the skin's acid mantle (aka, the film on our skin's surface that acts as a barrier to bacteria, grime, and other contaminants) and render it too acidic," she says. When the acid mantle is unbalanced, it has the potential to increase sebum production and, consequently, provoke acne. Cleansing oils don't change the acid mantle at all, Maiman says.
How do I use a cleansing oil?
Gently massage a pump of cleansing oil all over your dry, makeup-covered face for 30 seconds—carefully rub your lashes to eliminate any mascara—and rinse. (Remember, your skin needs to be DRY!) You can either follow with the rest of your skincare routine or give your face one more round of cleansing.
Dr. Gohara says that a cleansing oil will not replace your standard face wash because "it is just an extra step to remove more particles than a standard cleanser alone." And don't feel like you need to double-cleanse every day, says Gohara. In fact, because they essentially act as a makeup remover, you only need to use them when you're wearing makeup.
How to choose the best cleansing oil:
Know your skin type
It's always beneficial to know what your skin needs so that you can choose products to use in tandem with the cleansing oil. Because cleansing oils are commonly used as part one of a double-cleanse, your second water-based cleanser can target other skin concerns.
For example, if you have oily, acne-prone skin, the second cleanser should contain active acne-fighting ingredients such as salicylic acid, willow bark,
or niacinamide, says Maiman. If you have dry skin, opt for a second cleanser with hydrating ingredients such as glycerin and hylaronic acid.
Determine which oils to look for
"Not all oils function the same way," Dr. Maiman says, stressing that product selection is crucial for those with naturally oily skin. She recommends that those with oily and acne-prone skin choose a cleanser that incorporates jojoba, argan, or marula oil because they may help reduce acne by balancing oil production. If you have dry skin, avocado, sunflower, or jojoba oil are awesome options.
Ready to give it a try? Great, let’s move on to the goods:
1
Best cleansing oil for acne-prone skin
Cocokind Oil to Milk Cleanser
2
Best Hydrating Oil Cleanser
KORA Organics Milky Mushroom Gentle Cleansing Oil
3
Best Oil Cleanser for “Normal” Skin
Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Oil Cleanser
4
Best Exfoliating Cleansing Oil
Mara Natural Chia + Moringa Algae Enzyme Cleansing Oil
5
Best cleansing oil for hyperpigmentation
Epara Cleansing Oil
6
Best Drugstore Cleansing Oil
Neutrogena Ultra Light Cleansing Oil
7
Best Cult-Favorite Cleansing Oil
DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
8
Best Cleansing Oil for Waterproof Makeup
Be the Skin Daily Complete Cleansing Oil
9
Best Cleansing Oil for Sensitive Skin
Avène XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cleansing Oil
10
Best Squalane Cleansing Oil
Biossance
Biossance Squalane + Antioxidant Cleansing Oil
11
Best Cleansing Oil for Dry Skin
One Love Organics Botanical B Enzyme Cleansing Oil
12
Best Exfoliating Cleansing Oil
Hanskin Pore Cleansing Oil PHA
13
Best Oil Cleanser for Double Cleansing
Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil Makeup Remover
14
Best Foaming Cleansing Oil
Skinfix Barrier+ Foaming Oil Cleanser
15
Best Natural Cleansing Oil
Tata Harper Nourishing Oil Cleanser
16
Best Cleansing Oil for Full-Coverage Makeup
Dermalogica Precleanse
Siena Gagliano Contributing Editor Siena Gagliano is a contributing editor at Cosmopolitan, where she primarily covers beauty in the makeup, skin, and hair spaces.
Ruby Buddemeyer Ruby was the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covered beauty across print and digital.