Ever wondered what are the best cleansers for oily skin? Once upon a time, remember how we were all cleansing our skin raw to get rid of every last trace of excess oil? Now we know that just triggers skin to make more of that damn oil. Ugh.
Going in the opposite direction doesn’t work either. If your cleanser’s too gentle, it won’t remove all that grease on your skin. So what’s a girl with oily skin to do? Take the middle road and opt for gentle foaming cleansers that get rid of excess oil but still leave enough behind to keep skin naturally moisturised.
Sounds like a tall order? Worry not, I won’t let you fulfil it alone. Here are the best cleansers for oily skin:
- What To Look For In A Cleanser For Oily Skin?
- Best Cleansers For Oily Skin
- Paula’s Choice Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser ($22.00)
- CeraVe Foaming Cleanser ($14.99)
- Cosrx Low pH Good Morning Cleanser ($11.00)
- Drunk Elephant Peekee Bar ($28.00)
- Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm Makeup Remover ($38.00)
- Bioderma Sebium Micellar Water (£11.00)
- First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser ($24.00)
- Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser ($25.00)
- Final Verdict
What To Look For In A Cleanser For Oily Skin?
The best cleansers for oily skin fit two criteria:
- Foaming: They use gentle surfactants, like Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Cocamidropopyl Betaine, to allow water to mix with excess oil and other impurities, so they can be rinsed away – without leaving an oily residue on the skin that could trigger breakouts.
- pH-balanced: Most cleansers have a high pH (7 or higher) that disrupts the skin’s protective barrier, leaving it tight and irritated. It also destroys your skin’s acid mantle, leading to acne in the long run. Unfortunately, most cleansers don’t tell you their pH, but the ones in this post all have a skin-friendly pH (you’re welcome).
- Salicylic Acid or Benzoyl Peroxide (optional): These acne fighters help you kill P.Acnes and heal your breakouts faster. They work better when left on the skin for hours instead of in a cleanser where they get rinsed off down the drain. But, if your skin is sensitive and can’t tolerate contact with them for long, a cleanser with these actives is the next best thing.
WARNING! Don’t bother with cleansers that contain antioxidants and other goodies. They don’t work when they’re rinsed down the drain. Instead, opt for simple, no-frills formula that cleanse skin and nothing else. Otherwise, you’re just throwing money down the drain, too.
FAQ ABOUT CLEANSERS FOR OILY SKIN
What can cleansers for oily skin do?
Cleansers for oily skin can remove excess oil, makeup, and other impurities from your skin, leaving it clean and soft.
What can’t cleansers for oily skin do?
A lot of cleansers promise to purify skin and remove toxins. That’s a job for your liver. No cleanser can do that.
Can I use a foaming cleanser if my skin is oily AND sensitive?
You can use a foaming cleanser if you have sensitive skin. Just look for one that produces little to no foam and uses mild surfactants. Sodium Laureth Sulfate or Sodium Lauryl Sulfate are too harsh for you.
How often should you use a cleanser for oily skin?
If you have oily skin that produces a lot of excess oil, you may be tempted to wash your face multiple times a day. Don’t. Once in the morning and once in the evening is more than enough. Do it too often and you’ll dry out skin.
How do you use a cleanser for oily skin?
Pour a little amount onto the palms of your hands, mix it with water until it foams, and gently massage it onto your face. Rinse off with lukewarm water.
What ingredients should you avoid in a cleanser for oily skin?
I recommend you stay away from oil-based cleansers. They’re too moisturising for your skin type, can clog pores, and lead to acne.
Best Cleansers For Oily Skin
Paula’s Choice Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser ($22.00)
Paula’s Choice Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser is a cream-to-foam formula that uses a mix of surfactants and a few drops of oil to remove every last trace of makeup, dirt, and excess oil from the skin. It’s also enriched with ceramides to strengthen the skin’s protective barrier while the cleanser does its job. In other words, it strikes the perfect balance between cleansing and moisture to keep skin happy, soft, and clean.
Available at: Dermstore, Paula’s Choice, Sephora, and SpaceNK
Active ingredients: Sodium Lauroamphoacetate and Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate.
Benefits: Cleanses and moisturises skin.
Cons: Can’t think of anything.
Skin type: Oily and combination skin.
Fragrance-free: Yes.
Related: 9 Ingredients To Soothe Irritated & Sensitive Skin
Struggling to put together a skincare routine that banishes shine, excess oil, and acne? Download your FREE “Best Skincare Routine For Oily Skin” to get started (it includes product recommendations + right order application):
CeraVe Foaming Cleanser ($14.99)
CeraVe Foaming Cleanser is a little stronger than all the other cleansers in this list. It effortlessly removes dirt, excess oil and makeup without drying out or irritating skin (unless it’s sensitive). Oh, it doesn’t leave any residue behind. It’s just one of those frills-free cleansers that does what it says on the tin. Plus, the bottle is so big, it’ll last you for ages. I always like to know that I’m getting my money’s worth whenever I buy a cleanser (or any other skincare products).
Available at: Beauty Bay, Boots, Sephora, and Ulta
Active ingredients: Behentrimonium Methosulfate and Cetearyl Alcohol.
Benefits: Cleanses skin and removes excess oil.
Cons: May be too drying for some skin type.
Skin type: Oily and resistant skin.
Fragrance-free: Yes.
Cosrx Low pH Good Morning Cleanser ($11.00)
Looking for a gentle, no-frills morning cleanser that gets the job done without irritating skin? Cosrx Low pH Good Morning Cleanser has you covered. It uses gentle cleansing agents that melt away dirt and impurities without stripping your skin of its natural moisturising oils. Plus, it has a skin-friendly pH that doesn’t destroy the skin’s protective barrier. In other words, it gets rid of dirt without drying out your skin.
Available at: Beauty Bay, Boots, Sephora, Stylevana, Ulta, and Yes Style
Active ingredients: Cocamidopropyl Betaine and Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate,.
Benefits: Cleanses skin and removes impurities.
Cons: Too gentle to remove heavy makeup.
Skin type: Oily and sensitive skin.
Fragrance-free: Yes.
Related: Why You Should Opt For A Low pH Cleanser
Drunk Elephant Peekee Bar ($28.00)
I know what you’re thinking, “why is Gio recommending a bar soap?!” I know I always say they’re the worst thing for skin and I stand by that. Most bar soaps on the market are formulated with pore clogging ingredients and at a pH that dry out skin and give it pimples. Drunk Elephant Peekee Bar is the exception to the rule. I don’t know how they did it but Peekee Bar behaves like a liquid soap: it removes dirt and makeup without drying out skin and rinses off well, leaving no residue behind that could clog your pores. If you really can’t give up on bar soaps, switch to this.
Available at: Cult Beauty, Sephora, and SpaceNK
Active ingredients: Sodium Coco-Sulfate and Disodium Lauryl Sulfoccinate.
Benefits: Cleanses skin without drying out skin.
Cons: Bar soaps aren’t the most hygienic.
Skin type: All skin types, including oily.
Fragrance-free: Yes.
Related: Still using soap to wash your face? Read This
Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm Makeup Remover ($38.00)
If you don’t like using foaming cleansers to remove your makeup, grab a jar of Clinique Take The Day Off. This balm has a luxurious texture that spreads easily onto your skin, melting away every last trace of makeup. While it’s at it, it also removes excess oil and any other impurities you may have on your skin, leaving it clean and super soft. Although it’s oil-based, it doesn’t clog pores. The jar is big and will last you for ages as well.
Available at: Beauty Bay, Boots, Clinique, Nordstrom, Sephora, and Ulta
Active ingredients: Ethylhexyl Palmitate and Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil.
Benefits: Cleanses skin and removes makeup.
Cons: If you don’t like balms, this isn’t for you.
Skin type: All skin types, including oily.
Fragrance-free: Yes.
Bioderma Sebium Micellar Water (£11.00)
I’m not a fan of micellar waters to remove makeup. They’re too gentle to do the job well. But I love them for cleansing on-the-go, especially when water isn’t available. Bioderma Sebium Micellar Water For Blemish-Prone Skin is enriched with zinc to help your skin regulate oil production and reduce shine during the day. It also removes dirt and impurities from your skin without drying it out. It’s very gentle and suitable even for sensitive skin.
Available at: Boots, Revolve, and Sephora
Active ingredients: Peg-6 Caprylic/capric Glycerides and Zinc Gluconate.
Benefits: Cleanses skin and regulates oil production.
Cons: Can’t remove makeup.
Skin type: Oily and sensitive skin.
Fragrance-free: No.
First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser ($24.00)
This gentle cleanser barely foams, but don’t let that fool you. It still removes dirt and impurities from your skin well – although it does struggle with makeup. This is more of a morning cleanser than a makeup remover. What makes it stand out from other cleanser? It’s loaded with soothing ingredients, like feverfew and green tea, that can reduce redness and irritations and make the cleansing process gentle for sensitive skin. It’s fragrance-free too. It really does get gentler than this.
Available at: Harrods, Look Fantastic, Sephora, and Ulta
Active ingredients: Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, feverfew, green tea.
Benefits: Cleanses and soothes skin.
Cons: Can’t remove makeup.
Skin type: Oily and sensitive skin.
Fragrance-free: Yes.
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser ($25.00)
A simple, no-frills foaming cleanser that’s suitable for all skin types, including oily. It uses mild surfactants that remove dirt and impurities from your skin without stripping it bare of the natural oils it needs to stay naturally moisturised. It also does a good job to remove your makeup. There’s not much else to say. It does its job like it should – and that’s the best compliment you can pay a skincare product.
Available at: Boots, Kiehl’s, Sephora, SpaceNK, and Ulta
Active ingredients: Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, and Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate.
Benefits: Cleanses skin without drying it out.
Cons: More expensive than most drugstore cleansers.
Skin type: All skin types, including oily.
Fragrance-free: Yes.
Final Verdict
The best cleansers for oily skin are free (or almost free) of oils. Instead, they’re foaming cleansers with gentle surfactants that remove dirt and makeup without stripping skin bare and leaving it dry. Look for gentle surfactants and pH-balanced formulas.
My husband only cleanse his face day & night and doesn’t apply any other facial product. Can he use Cosrx Low PH Morning Cleanser Gel for day and night? He has oily skin, acne scar, enlarged pores and a lot of blackheads. I saw this product- SOME BY MI CEREAL PORE FOAM SRCUB CLEANSER, is this suitable as my husband everyday cleanser? Will it be too dry for him? Please share your opinion on this product! Would love to hear it from you ?
Mia, I wouldn’t use a scrub everyday as that may be too aggressive but Cosrx day and night is fine. Tell him to follow up with a salicylic acid product a few times a week as that can help control oil production.
My husband only cleanse his face day & night and doesn’t apply any other facial product. Can he use Cosrx Low PH Morning Cleanser Gel for day and night? He has oily skin, acne scar, enlarged pores and a lot of blackheads. I saw this product- SOME BY MI CEREAL PORE FOAM SRCUB CLEANSER, is this suitable as my husband everyday cleanser? Will it be too dry for him? Please share your opinion on this product! Would love to hear it from you ?
Claire, I don’t recommend using scrubs everyday as they could be too harsh for your skin. But the Cosrx cleanser is a great one. 🙂