These oil cleansers dissolve every last trace of makeup.
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When it comes to cleansers, the term "oil" might be off-putting or conjure visions of clogged pores and rampant breakouts. The truth is, though, "every skin type can benefit from cleansing oils — even oily," says pro makeup artist Tati Westbrook. It may sound counterintuitive, but this facial cleanser type combines with the oils on your skin and in your makeup, breaking them down so they're actually easier to remove, says cosmetic chemist Perry Romanowski.
Unlike traditional face washes that contain higher levels of surfactant to strip makeup and dirt from your skin, cleansing oils keep your skin moisturized while purifying and are less likely to irritate sensitive skin. Dermatologists recommend oil cleansers since they "are specially formulated to take away impurities in the skin while leaving a layer of moisturizing oils to prevent skin irritation," explains Julia Tzu, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City. Just massage cleansing oils into dry skin and wash away with a few splashes, and foundation and even waterproof mascara melts right off without the need for extra makeup remover or micellar water.
To ease you in, we rounded up our Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab expert- and dermatologist-recommended picks, plus GH Beauty Award-winners that remove makeup and gently cleanse acne-prone, dry and sensitive skin types and everything in between. Read our guide to the best skincare products of all time for more top-performing picks to add to your skincare routine.
With a rich olive oil base that cuts through grit and grime, the DHC deep cleansing oil (also Amazon's choice) earned itself cult classic status, converting even the oil-averse. "It took me a while to get on the cleansing oil bandwagon, but this all-star converted me,” raved beauty editor Dori Price. “It leaves my skin super soft and supple and literally removes every last trace of makeup." Antioxidant vitamin E and rosemary top off the moisturizing formula. Plus, it’s made without any added fragrance, colors, parabens, phthalates or mineral oil, which can be a draw for sensitive skin types.
For high-end quality at an affordable drugstore price, look no further than this Palmer's formula, which delivers hydrating results. "It did a great job of completely taking off my makeup!" said one GH tester who has dry skin. "It was just the right amount of oil to leave my skin smooth and moisturized." Softening grapeseed, jojoba and rosehip oils team up to wash away makeup, dirt and oil.
All for under $15, this drugstore gem is a lightweight, non-greasy solution to achieving clean, unclogged skin. Like many Neutrogena products, it touts a dermatologically tested formula. Simply apply it on dry skin for an optimal cleansing experience, then Neutrogena's Ultra Light Face Cleansing Oil will work its magic to effectively remove makeup and impurities with its blend of mineral oil, camellia leaf extract, rosemary leaf extract and glycerin.
A crossover hit as one of the best makeup removers and a GH Beauty Award winner, Curél cleansing oil aims to impress. Its silky oil texture helps break down makeup without feeling sticky or irritating. What's more, 100% of testers said it didn’t aggravate their skin. “I liked the smoothness of application and my skin after using it,” one reported. Another raved: “Easy to use, took all makeup off, easily washed off, skin felt hydrated and soft after use."
From Avene, a brand known for its sensitive skincare, this fragrance-free cleansing oil with castor oil works on both face and body. "I get awful itchy rashes on my face and body ... and was amazed at how soothing it felt," a Dermstore reviewer raved. "It definitely reduced redness and itching." The minimal ingredient list consisting of amino acids makes it a match for sensitive skin types — eczema and the like. Its hero ingredient's claim to fame is protecting from environmental stressors and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Beauty lovers say the Shiseido Perfect Cleansing Oil lives up to its name. Lightweight and luxurious, the grapeseed oil and glycerin formula can effectively remove stubborn makeup, dirt and sebum with ease while leaving skin feeling baby soft. Only one pump of its watery consistency is enough for a full face of makeup removal. Reviewers love it for double cleansing: "This stuff melts my makeup off, even stubborn mascara and eyeliner. Very gentle on my skin and doesn’t cause breakouts."
Acne-prone skin types can find a new favorite in the Pai Skincare Light Work Rosehip Cleansing Oil. Aromatic hints of orange, basil and jasmine are enough to make you want to douse your face in the oil cleanser. Its organic formula features anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial rosehip oil, which helps combat acne. Reviewers say its no-lather formula feels gentle on the skin but works effortlessly to remove makeup, dirt and excess oil. Those with dull skin raved that it left skin looking more radiant.
From dermatologists' go-to brand PCA Skin, this sweet almond and soybean oil cleanser removes impurities without stripping skin's natural moisture. "I LOVE how it melts everything away ... and makes my skin feel soft and supple," a Dermstore reviewer noted. Topped off with antioxidant-rich grape seed oil and tocopherol, the gentle oil-based cleanser efficiently removes makeup and is said to be suitable across skin types.
Dissolve the day's makeup and grime with this Kiehl's cleansing oil formulated for the evening, indicated by its midnight blue packaging. "It's especially helpful to use at night since it smells like lavender and is really relaxing,” a former GH beauty assistant said. “It works like a charm to take makeup off." Hydrating squalane and evening primrose oil unite to boost complexions' radiance all the while making skin (namely redness) feel soothed.
Tatcha's star cleansing oil made with Japanese ingredients like rice bran, camellia seed oils and green tea has more than 1,900 reviews on Sephora and is also beloved by our beauty team. "This works so well to take off dirt and grime,” a former GH beauty assistant said. “It’s also super gentle, so it won’t irritate skin." The formula emulsifies on skin and leaves behind a dewy, smooth feeling — a pro in the drier winter months but especially year-round.
Send dirt and makeup down your drain with Naturopathica's gentle cleansing balm. The rich formula combines nourishing sweet almond oil, plus shea butter and honey to relieve dehydrated skin as it gently cleanses. Its royal jelly peptides claim to repair the skin barrier. The proof: "My inflamed face actually felt better — and the jar lasts," reported one GH tester. No wonder it's a GH Beauty Award winner.
One of the latest winners in our 2023 Beauty Awards, the ISDIN Essential Cleansing Oil blew away our pros (one staffer kept using it year-round) and our testers alike with its thorough cleansing. Sunflower seed and olive oils work together to dissolve even waterproof makeup — no tugging required — but leave behind a radiant finish. “It feels soft and silky on skin — a really luxurious experience — and doesn’t dry out my face,” one remarked. Another said: “It leaves skin luminous but not oily.
An excellent choice for those battling dryness, Biossance's oil-based cleanser nourishes by avoiding harsh soaps that can strip natural oils and cause dryness. Added squalane coddles parched complexions by restoring moisture and gently ridding makeup and dirt. Blending eight plant-derived oils, including evening primrose and sunflower seed oil, this cleanser is infused with antioxidants to boost radiance and make skin feel cushiony soft. One satisfied customer with dry skin said: "It lathers sufficiently and makes my skin soft instantly out the shower."
At the GH Institute Beauty Lab, we try hundreds of skincare products each year, from cleansers to moisturizers, face oils and beyond. We test these products in our Lab using advanced imaging and moisturization-gauging technology and we send products out to consumer testers who report unbiasedly on factors including satisfaction, efficaciousness of cleansing, how effectively each cleanser whisks away makeup and oil and how skin feels (and looks!) after use. While we haven't run a cross-category test on cleansing oils in particular, we have rounded up our expert and dermatologist-recommended picks, including GH Beauty Award winners and Seal holders that remove makeup and gently cleanse acne-prone, dry and sensitive skin types.
Our beauty pros came together to round up the best blushes above. Former Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab Executive Director Birnur Aral, Senior Chemist Sabina Wizemann and Beauty Director April Franzino recommended several of the top-rated oil cleanser picks above based on the Beauty Lab's testing as well as personal favorites from their everyday routines. Commerce Editor Jacqueline Saguin most recently updated this guide, vetting some of the most popular cleansing oils online to add additional recommendations.
April (she/her) is the beauty director at Good Housekeeping, Prevention and Woman's Day, where she oversees all beauty content. She has over 15 years of experience under her belt, starting her career as an assistant beauty editor at GH in 2007, and working in the beauty departments of SELF and Fitness magazines.
Jacqueline (she/her) covers all things e-commerce in beauty, lifestyle and beyond for the Good Housekeeping Institute. Before joining GH in 2021, she was a style and beauty reviews fellow at Insider, testing viral trends, reviewing sustainable brands and more. She's a graduate of the University of Florida's School of Journalism, with a specialty in magazines and mass communication.
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