Best Facial Oil Cleansers for 2023

If you have dry or sensitive skin, you probably dread the tightness, redness, and irritation that can come after you’ve washed your face, especially on full-glam days. That’s exactly the situation where oil cleansers can be total skin savers. 

Cleansing oils melt down makeup like nothing else and leave the skin looking glowy and hydrated. Despite their rich texture, the best cleansing oils rinse down the drain with just a splash of water. 

In this guide, we selected the best oil cleansers on the market. These formulas remove makeup and sunscreen thoroughly without leaving a residue. We’ve included options for every skin type and budget, so you should have no problem finding a cleanser you’ll love. 

Best oil cleansers overview:

• Best overall: Shiseido Perfect Cleansing Oil 
• Best budget: Palmer’s Skin Therapy Cleansing Oil Face
• Best splurge: Tatcha The Camellia Cleansing Oil
• Best for dry skin: DHC Deep Cleansing Oil 
• Best for sensitive skin: Kosé Softymo Speedy Cleansing Oil
• Best hydrating: Cocokind Oil to Milk Cleanser
• Best natural: iUNIK Calendula Complete Cleansing Oil
• Best exfoliating: Hanskin PHA Pore Cleansing Oil 
• Best for barrier repair: Tula #Nomakeup Replenishing Cleansing Oil
• Best drugstore: Neutrogena Ultra Light Cleansing Oil
• Best squalane: Biossance Squalane + Antioxidant Cleansing Oil

How we chose the best facial cleansing oils

To compile this list, we researched best-seller lists, manufacturer claims, ingredients, and more to create a short list of the top facial oil cleansers. Then, we combed through detailed product descriptions, ratings, and reviews to find the best oil cleanser for each category.

Our picks for the best oil cleansers

Our top cleansing oil is simple, lightweight, elegant, and effective — regardless of your skin type. 

It’s made primarily with mineral oil, which dissolves makeup effectively and is also safe and inert. There is also a touch of grape seed oil, known for its soothing properties and affinity for oily skin, and glycerin for a small dose of direct hydration. 

The formula doesn’t leave a residue once you rinse it off, meaning it can work for both single and double-cleansing. It contains a mild fragrance that adds a luxurious touch but could be an issue for sensitive skin.

Skin type: All | Key ingredients: Mineral oil, grape seed oil, glycerin | Size: 6 oz

For the longest time, oil cleansers were strictly a luxury item. Not anymore! Palmer’s lightweight cleansing oil is just as effective and pleasant as options from other brands, even if the packaging isn’t quite as luxurious. 

It’s made with a blend of light oils like soybean, sesame, and grape seed oil, along with a touch of richer cocoa butter. This means it has a very diverse fatty acid profile, so you get a lovely combination of soothing effects and deeper nourishment, which we like best for dry and balanced skin types.  

This formula removes face and eye makeup thoroughly, including false eyelash glue, and rinses away completely. It has a rosy scent that many love but can be polarizing.

Skin type: All | Key ingredients: Soybean oil, cocoa butter, vitamin E, sesame oil, rosehip oil | Size: 1 oz

This luxurious cleanser is a cult favorite made with camellia oil, which is rich in oleic acid and vitamins to deeply nourish the skin. You can expect quick and easy makeup removal — and it should rinse right off. 

It also contains a large amount of rice bran oil, which balances the formula and adds a soothing touch of linoleic acid. This moisturizing blend was found to reduce the look of wrinkles over the course of just four weeks. 

While this cleanser is apt for all skin types, we’d caution those with oily skin to be wary of high-oleic formulas.

Skin type: All | Key ingredients: Camellia oil, rice bran oil, Hadasei-3 | Size: 5 fl oz

This was one of the first oil cleansers to grow a big following outside of East Asia. Developed by DHC, a Japanese brand, it’s made with oleic acid-rich olive oil, known for its effective moisturizing effects, ideal for dry skin. 

It’s a little thick, but it rinses away effortlessly, so it’s excellent for all skin types. That said, if you’re acne-prone, you may want to double cleanse by following it up with a foaming cleanser. It has a fresh rosemary scent that makes it an excellent unisex option, although it could pose an issue for sensitive skin.

Skin type: All but acne-prone | Key ingredients: Olive oil, rosemary essential oil, vitamin E | Size: 4.1 fl oz

When you have sensitive skin, the simpler, the better. This mild oil cleanser from the Japanese drugstore brand Kosé removes makeup gently without irritating the skin. It’s fragrance-free, with a blend of mineral oil, lightweight emollients, and a few nourishing botanical oils. 

Despite mineral oil having a reputation for being greasy, reviewers actually noted that this cleanser is very light and thin. It removes most makeup very well but struggles with more intense waterproof mascara formulas. 

Skin type: All | Key ingredients: Mineral oil, olive oil, sesame oil, shea butter | Size: 7.7 fl oz

This oil-to-milk cleanser infuses the skin with moisture, making it the perfect choice for dehydrated skin. It’s made with light sunflower and grape seed oils, glycerin, and a bit of water, ensuring both thorough cleansing and deep hydration. It also features a soothing fermented oat blend to support the microbiome. 

The texture is a little more balm-like than most oil cleansers, which is helpful if you find thinner oils messy to use. You’ll also want to note that it has a floral scent that some reviewers mentioned was too strong.

Skin type: All | Key ingredients: Sunflower oil, grape seed oil, glycerin, fermented oat | Size: 2.9 fl oz

This gentle Korean oil cleanser is an excellent choice for those who prefer natural products. It’s made with 94% plant-based ingredients. Light sunflower and canola oils are the main oils, paired with soothing calendula extract. However, there’s also a small amount of ylang-ylang essential oil, adding a subtle scent.

Skin type: All | Key ingredients: Sunflower oil, canola oil, calendula, ylang-ylang | Size: 6.7 fl oz

This K-beauty best-seller is made with gluconolactone, a poly-hydroxy acid with ultra-mild exfoliating effects. It helps to clarify the pores while melting away makeup. The key oils here are light soy and sunflower oils, making it a reliable choice even for those with oily skin. 

It also contains some lavender essential oil that can be relaxing before bed but could potentially pose a problem for those with fragrance allergies.

Skin type: All | Key ingredients: PHA, soybean oil, sunflower oil, lavender | Size: 10.14 fl oz

This gorgeous oil cleanser goes above and beyond when it comes to moisturizing and strengthening the skin. All oil cleansers leave the skin supple, but this probiotic and ceramide-enriched formula actively fortifies the skin barrier for long-term hydration. 

It removes makeup well and leaves the skin feeling incredible. The only drawback is the pump itself, which can malfunction, according to some reviewers.

Skin type: All | Key ingredients: Rice bran oil, probiotics, ceramides | Size: 4.7 fl oz

Neutrogena often wows us with affordable products that feel luxurious. This fresh-smelling oil cleanser comes in an elegant-looking bottle and has a super light texture that those with oily skin will appreciate. It dissolves waterproof makeup easily, although it can sting a little if it gets in the eyes. 

Skin type: All | Key ingredients: Mineral oil | Size: 4 fl oz

Can’t get enough of squalane? This incredible lipid has a silky texture and moisturizing properties that work well across skin types. This cleanser is bolstered by antioxidants that offer anti-aging protection. It’s made with essential oils from lavender and chamomile, which can be pretty calming at bedtime but won’t work for everyone’s skin.

Skin type: All | Key ingredients: Squalane, antioxidants | Size: 6.7 fl oz

Oil the day away

Oil cleansing with any of the products on this list gets your skin feeling clean yet nourished. Shiseido’s Perfect Cleansing Oil is our top choice because it’s highly effective, pleasant, and should work for most skin types. That said, each one of these facial oil cleansers was selected for its flawless ability to remove makeup, so you can’t go wrong with any of them. 

How to pick the right oil cleanser for you

When choosing an oil cleanser, it’s important to consider the ingredients, texture, and how they’ll impact your skin. 

Oils 

In an oil cleanser, the oils are the stars. They’re responsible for breaking down makeup, oils, and impurities in the skin. Different oils have different properties, so you’ll want to choose the ideal ones for your skin type. 

Light, non-comedogenic oils are usually high in linoleic acid and include sunflower oil, grape seed oil, and soybean oil. Linoleic acid also has soothing effects that benefit acne-prone or sensitive skin. 

On the heavier side, consider olive oil, camellia oil, and plant butter, which are ideal for dry skin. The main fatty acid in these oils, oleic acid, is richer and more penetrating, although it may be problematic for acne-prone skin. 

For those with normal skin, rice bran oil and sesame oil contain a balanced quantity of both linoleic and oleic acids. There are also oil-like ingredients that aren’t technically oils, like squalane and mineral oil, which often feel richer but are suitable for all skin types. 

Other Ingredients 

Oil cleansers can also include emulsifiers, fragrances, texture enhancers, and preservatives. All of the oil cleansers we selected for our list contain emulsifiers. These ingredients allow oils to mix with water. Once you’re ready to rinse your face, they ensure your cleanser washes away completely, so you don’t have to double-cleanse. 

Fragrances, including ones from natural essential oils, make a cleanser very pleasant to use but can be troublesome for sensitive skin, which is why we make sure to point them out in our reviews. 

Texture

Some oil cleansers are thicker and more viscous, while others are light and more fluid. A cleanser’s texture doesn’t necessarily correlate with any skin benefits, but it can impact your overall experience, so consider your personal preferences.  

If you have oily skin, you might prefer a light oil cleanser that won’t feel greasy or like it’s leaving a residue on your skin. But keep in mind that fluid textures can also be a little runny and messy. Additionally, you may have to use a slightly higher quantity of cleanser to break down heavy makeup or sunscreens thoroughly. 

If your skin is quite dry, you probably won’t mind heavier textures. They glide over the skin easily and often break makeup down quickly. That said, rinsing off a viscous cleanser may require a bit more water. If you’re a fan of very thick textures, you may want to consider looking at cleansing balms as well. 

FAQs

Which cleansing oil is best for your face? 

The best overall cleansing oil on our list, the Shiseido Perfect Cleansing Oil, is an excellent choice for every skin type for its light texture and luxurious feel. That said, take your personal needs and skin type into account when choosing the ideal facial oil cleanser for you. 

Do dermatologists recommend oil cleansers?

Oil cleansing isn’t a well-researched practice, so the American Academy of Dermatology hasn’t weighed in on it. While many dermatologists, including YouTube-famous Dr. Dray, use oil cleansers themselves, you may want to speak to your doctor to see if oil cleansing is appropriate for your skin. 

Should I oil cleanse my face every day?

If you wear makeup or heavy sunscreen daily, then you’ll want to oil cleanse daily. Otherwise, it isn’t necessary but can still be beneficial.