Watch waterproof formulas disappear.
Even if you’re not a fan of oils, the best cleansing oil might just convert you. Not only are cleansing oils able to break down even waterproof mascara, but they can also balance skin and offset dryness — without clogging pores or causing breakouts. Used properly, they can leave skin softer, smoother, and (of course) cleaner in a matter of seconds.
If you have oily or acne-prone skin, the concept of slathering on any oil-based products like cleansing oils might not have much appeal. But there’s some logic here: Thanks to a little concept called double-cleansing, the habit of starting your routine with a remove-it-all oil (or cleansing balm) has gone from a niche Korean skin-care step to a full-on mainstream practice. And yes, it’s something that anyone, regardless of skin type, can get into.
“Since oil dissolves oil, they are ideally suited to be used as cleansers,” Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, tells Allure. “Cleansing oils usually contain an oil base, along with a traditional skin-cleansing ingredient called a surfactant, which helps bind to dirt on the skin and remove it without disrupting the skin barrier.” Just make sure you work them onto dry skin, so it breaks down waterproof makeup, sunscreen, and dirt, before rinsing off with lukewarm water or gently wiping it away with a soft muslin cloth.
While oil-based cleansers don’t stay on your face for too long, it doesn’t hurt that most are infused with moisturizing ingredients, like jojoba seed oil, apricot kernel oil, and Centella asiatica extract, which actively nourish skin while giving it a deep clean. Below, check out the best cleansing oils, as recommended by board-certified dermatologists and Allure editors alike, to remove makeup, impurities, and sunscreen.
Best Overall: DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
Why It’s Worth It: Japanese beauty brand DHC’s Deep Cleansing Oil features olive oil as a hero ingredient — the oleic acid from olive oil clings onto and removes makeup, excess sebum, and even dead skin cells while also conditioning your skin. (For very dry skin types, DHC even has an Olive Concentrated Cleansing Oil.) Work this beloved classic onto dry skin and then watch it emulsify beautifully with water.
Best for Sensitive Skin: Avène XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cleansing Oil
Avène’s XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cleansing Oil is a favorite of New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Claire Chang, MD, who says that it leaves the skin feeling restored and soft. She calls attention to the brand’s mineral-rich Thermal Spring Water, as well as glycerin and omega-6 (a fatty acid found in linoleic acid that promotes a healthy barrier), which all work together to calm and nourish your complexion after a long-wearing day of sunscreen and makeup.
Best Drugstore: Neutrogena Ultra Light Face Cleansing Oil
Why It’s Worth It: We love a drugstore skin-care find that gives us results. Bonus points when it’s a non-comedogenic formula like Neutrogena’s Ultra Light Face Cleansing Oil. This lightweight, non-greasy liquid clocks in at an under-$10 price point and is essentially a one-way ticket to clean, uncongested skin.
Best for Eye Makeup: Mario Badescu Cleansing Oil
Why It’s Worth It: The Mario Badescu Cleansing Oil, another Allure Beauty of Beauty winner, is a drugstore favorite for its affordable price tag and makeup-removing abilities. This gentle, hydrating formula is made with primrose oil to wash away makeup, dirt, and oil without leaving a greasy feel behind. It’s also safe to use for removing eye makeup, so gently rub away.
Best Emulsion: Laneige Cream Skin Milk Oil Cleanser
Why It’s Worth It: New York City-based board-certified dermatologist David Kim, MD, often recommends Laneige’s Cream Skin Milk Oil Cleanser to patients. Spiked with antioxidant-rich white leaf tea extract, he says the gentle milky cleanser efficiently removes makeup and is “well tolerated even among patients with sensitive skin,” he notes, nodding to the positive feedback he’s gotten. To top it off, meadowfoam seed and jojoba oils lock in moisture, so your skin will feel super soft even after the cleanser is washed off.
Best for Dry Skin: Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil
“Cleansing oils don’t strip your skin of its natural moisture,” Shereene Idriss, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist, tells Allure, which is especially essential in the drier winter months, but important year-round. With Tatcha’s signature blend of rice, green tea, and algae, along with Japanese camellia oil, the Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil offers a gentle yet thorough cleanse, leaving skin feeling dewy and smooth. No wonder it’s a true beauty editor favorite.
Best Fragrance-Free: Burt’s Bees Cleansing Oil
Why It’s Worth It: You may already use coconut oil in its raw form in your routine to melt away makeup, but may we suggest stepping it up with Burt’s Bees Cleansing Oil? The elixir combines coconut oil with argan oil to offer an intensely hydrating cleansing experience that doesn’t leave any weird residue behind.
Best Exfoliating: Dermalogica Precleanse
Why It’s Worth It: Thanks to the inclusion of vitamin C (in the form of ascorbyl palmitate), Dermalogica’s Precleanse provides a slight brightening, tone-evening boost to the skin while also melting away the day’s grime and makeup. Vitamin E also joins the party to double up this formula’s antioxidant powers, while rice bran gently exfoliates, relieving clogged pores and leaving behind soft, refreshed skin.
Best Luxury: Angela Caglia Neroli Cleansing Oil
Why It’s Worth It: This velvety oil won a 2023 Best of Beauty award because it doesn’t just soften and nourish as it cleanses — it actually keeps skin moisturized long after you rinse. It’s powerful enough to break down waterproof makeup and sunscreen alike, and delivers antioxidants to repair and protect skin.
Best for Mature Skin: Tata Harper Nourishing Makeup Removing Oil Cleanser
Why It’s Worth It: According to Gloria Lin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City, Tata Harper’s Nourishing Makeup Removing Oil Cleanser is one of the best facial cleansing oils on the market for its high-quality blend of ingredients. “This formula contains camellia oil, vitamins A, C, E, and omega 3s, along with squalane for added moisture,” she says. This moisture-replenishing formula is especially helpful for mature skin types and those targeting uneven skin tone and texture, she says.
Best for Oily Skin: Beauty Pie Japanfusion Pure Transforming Cleanser
Why It’s Worth It: Hadley King, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, says the Beauty Pie Japanfusion Pure Transforming Cleanser is a mainstay in her skin-care routine for its comforting, gel-to-oil-to-milk texture that effortlessly washes away stubborn makeup and excess pore-clogging sebum without over-stripping your skin of essential natural oils. “This cleanser removes makeup, oils, and pollution while supporting the skin barrier and rinses clean without any residue,” she says, noting that it’s also rich in antioxidants, including vitamins C and E.
Best for Combination Skin: Peach & Lily Ginger Melt Cleansing Oil
Why It’s Worth It: The Best of Beauty-winning Ginger Melt Cleansing Oil features anti-inflammatory sunflower seed oil, an ingredient backed by Chesahna Kindred, MD, a Maryland-based board-certified dermatologist. She tells Allure that it’s an “essential oil that repairs the skin barrier.” There are also two antioxidants present in the formula, grapeseed oil and ginger root extract, to guard the skin against free radicals. Allure associate beauty director Sarah Kinonen is a personal fan of this formula. “All I need is a pump or two to break down all of the day’s yuckies,” she says.
Best for Dullness : PCA Skin Daily Cleansing Oil
Why It’s Worth It: Dr. Chang also recommends PCA Skin’s Daily Cleansing Oil, which she says “gently dissolves dirt while repairing and brightening the skin.” It’s formulated with moisturizing oils (like grapeseed, sweet almond, and soybean) that never leave behind a filmy residue. All you can expect is baby-soft, pampered skin.
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil
Why It’s Worth It: Housed in a can’t-miss midnight blue bottle, Kiehl’s lavender-scented Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil is the perfect way to wind down from the day and soothe your skin, while completely dissolving dirt, oil, and makeup. The formula is non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog pores, while hydration-boosting squalane and evening primrose oil ensure that skin doesn’t feel raw and stripped.
