Whether its from dryness in winter or stripping away oils with products in summer, dry and worn out skin can be frustrating at any time of the year. Enter oil cleansers: the products born from the two-step method of facial cleansing in Korean beauty skincare routines that have hit the mainstream in a big way, providing gentle and effective moisture-rich cleansing for all skin types.
So, why is everyone from dermatologists to celebrities raving about cleansing oils, and do you really need one? We take a deep dive into the facial cleansing method that both Candice Swanepoel and Sophia Bush use daily, and look at why you should make a cleansing oil an integral part of your skincare routine, too.
Oils are solvents, meaning that they can absorb the oils found in our makeup and excess sebum produced by our skin to deeply cleanse the face without disrupting its natural protective barriers or leaving it stripped of moisture.
Another reason to opt for an oil-based cleansing method is because oil cleansers are more gentle on the skin than other makeup removal alternatives, like make-up removing wipes or micellar water, whilst still removing hard-to-budge make-up like waterproof mascara.
2024’s top oil cleanser
- Go-To Fancy Face Nourishing Oil Cleanser, $45, Go-To Skincare
- Dermalogica PreCleanse Oil Cleanser, $73.35, Adore Beauty
- La Roche-Posay Lipikar Huile Lavante AP+ Cleansing Oil, $28.99, Amazon Australia
The Best Oil Cleansers 2024
Go-To Fancy Face Nourishing Oil Cleanser
from $45 at Go-To Skincare
Formulated with five botanical plant oils (camellia, sunflower, sweet almond, argan, passionfruit seed oil), antioxidants (vitamin E), and essential fatty acids, this oil cleanser will nourish all skin types and leave your face feeling fresh and soft.
Sizes: 100ML
Key features:
- Contains a blend of camellia, sunflower, sweet almond, argan and passionfruit seed oil
- Enriched with vitamin E and essential fatty acids
- Nourishing formula
- Leaves skin feeling fresh and soft
- Suitable for all skin types
Available at:
- $45 from Go-To Skincare
- $45 from MECCA
Dermalogica PreCleanse Oil Cleanser
from $73.35 at Adore Beauty
Watch the most stubborn makeup disappear with this plant-based cleanser. Using olive and kuki oils as well as rice bran and vitamin E, this formula dissolves sebum without disrupting your skin’s protective barriers to deliver a deeply penetrating clean.
Sizes: 30ML / 150ML / 295ML
Key features:
- Plant-based formula
- Contains a blend of olive and kuki oils
- Enriched with rice bran and vitamin E
- Dissolves sebum
- Cleans without disrupting the skin’s protective barrier
Available at:
- $73.35 from Adore Beauty
- $73.80 from Oz Hair & Beauty
- $82 from Dermalogica
La Roche-Posay Lipikar Huile Lavante AP+ Cleansing Oil
from $28.99 at Amazon Australia
Ideal for those with sensitive or dry to very dry skin, La Roche-Posay’s cleansing oil is formulated with prebiotic aqua posae filiformis to balance your skin’s microbiome, as well as soothing niacinamide and lipid-replenishing shea butter.
Sizes: 400ML
Key features:
- Can be used on the face and body
- Prebiotics balance the skin’s microbiome
- Niacinamide soothes sensitive skin
- Shea butter replenishes lipids
- Suitable for sensitive, and dry to very dry skin
Available at:
- $28.99 from Amazon Australia
- $38.95 from Adore Beauty
- $38.95 from Priceline
Medik-8 Lipid-Balance Cleansing Oil
from $62 at The Iconic
Suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin, this hydrating formula combines vitamin E, omega-6 and safflower oil to balance the skin’s lipid levels and transforms into a milky emulsion when combined with water for a luxurious cleansing experience.
Sizes: 140ML
Key features:
- Enriched with vitamin E, omega-6 and safflower oil
- Balances lipid levels
- Transforms into a milky emulsion when combined with water
- Moisturises as it purifies
- Suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin
Available at:
- $62 from The Iconic
- $62 from Adore Beauty
- $62 from Oz Hair & Beauty
DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
from $34.25 at Beauty Amora
This much-loved holy grail cleansing oil is a water-soluble solution that uses an olive oil base to remove makeup and dirt. The formula also contains capric triglyceride and pentylene gloycol to moisturise and enrich skin. Recommended by dermatologists, it’s a deeply nourishing cleansing oil that poses benefits for every skin type.
Sizes: 200ML
Key features:
- Enriched with olive oil, capric triglyceride and pentylene gloycol
- Moisturises and nourishes skin
- Water-soluble
- Suitable for all skin types
- Dermatologist tested and recommended
Kose Softymo Speedy Cleansing Oil
from $8.79 at Beauty Amora
Japan’s leading oil cleanser export, the Kose Softymo Speedy Cleansing Oil is enriched with a moisturising blend of ingredients that gently and easily remove face and eye makeup and purify pores.
Sizes: 230ML
Key features:
- Easily removes sebum, makeup, sweat or dust, lipophilic and hydrophilic dirt
- Gentle and non-irritating formula
- Refreshes and softens skin
- Protects the delicate skin around the eyes
Which Oil Cleanser Suits Your Skin Type?
The idea of cleansing with oil can sound counterintuitive for those with oily or combination skin, but there is an oil-based solution for every skin type.
Those with acne-prone or oily skin should be sticking to lighter natural oils like coconut oil, lavender oil and vitamin E-rich grapeseed oil, which won’t weigh too heavily on the skin or cause breakouts.
This goes for sensitive skin, too – oil cleansers can provide a natural solution for those who flare up at harsh chemicals. Those combatting dry skin can opt for oils with richly hydrating properties like avocado oil and olive oil.
Looking to save money on oil cleanser? Check out our coupon codes for MECCA, Oz Hair & Beauty and more.
Main image credit: @candiceswanepoel
This article originally appeared on Marie Claire Australia and is republished here with permission.
