The 10 Best Oil-Based Cleansers, Tested & Reviewed
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I think we can all agree that while putting on makeup can be fun, taking it off is less so. (Cue the stubborn eye makeup that lingers even after you’ve gotten out of the shower.) When it comes to makeup remover, you’re not in want of options. There’s face wash, bar soap, towelettes, micellar waters and my childhood staple, petroleum jelly. But one of the most effective ways to remove your makeup is using an oil-based cleanser (especially if you wear heavy makeup). Oil-based cleansers dissolve the oil on your face that holds onto your makeup, giving you a more thorough clean. After chatting with NYC-based dermatologist Dr. Ryan Turner and doing extensive testing, I’ve rounded up ten of the best oil-based cleansers, ranging from Burt’s Bees to Drunk Elephant, Kora Organics and The Ordinary. May your face be squeaky clean.
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The 10 Best Oil-Based Cleansers at a Glance
Meet the Expert
How I Vetted the Best Oil-Based Cleansers
To cull this list of the 10 best oil-based cleansers, I spoke with Dr. Turner about the features and ingredients he would consider when shopping for one himself. Then, I researched the internet’s most loved products, looking at data from Google Trends and forums to see what people were raving about. Ultimately, I put together a list of 17 oil-based cleansers for consideration, testing 12. Fellow PureWow editors and our testing team evaluated the cleansers based on efficacy, ease of use and scent. Here are our top 10.
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1. Addiction Tokyo All-Day Reset
“[I have combination skin and used the Addiction Tokyo cleansing oil to take off my makeup.] The scent was very pleasant, aromatic but clean. With a few swipes, everything glided right off, including eyeliner and mascara,” says tester Claire Ngozi. [I thought it was] very gentle, not drying and didn’t sting. Hands down one of the best cleansing oils I have ever used.” The lightweight formula is packed with sesame, olive and jojoba oil. It rinses away easily and can even be used to remove false eyelashes.
2. Drunk Elephant Slaai Makeup Melting Butter
This is one of my favorite oil-based cleansers because it also doubles as an exfoliant. Every cleanser comes with a small vial of Bamboo Booster, which is great for giving the lips (or my entire face) a quick scrub. The scent is a light, pleasant kiwi/strawberry combo, and the balm leaves my face feeling soft and hydrated. My only gripes are that the tube of exfoliant is so small it’s almost impractical to offer it at all, and at $38 per jar, it’s definitely one of the pricier options on this list.
3. Burt’s Bees Cleansing Oil
“I’ve been on the lookout for a skin-cleansing product that gets the job done and is gentle on my sensitive skin. I want (more than) a few things from my cleanser: Something that doesn’t feel sticky on my hands or face, that’s hydrating and gentle on my skin and that works quickly so I can go to sleep as soon as humanly possible. Bonus if it’s affordable but still feels a little luxurious. I [used the cleansing oil to] wash off a face full of Friday night makeup. I was immediately impressed with the way the oil felt in my hands, light and silky, but not greasy. It contains a blend of coconut oil (rich in vitamin E) and argan oils (rich in antioxidants, aka “liquid gold”) that hydrate skin as you cleanse. As I thoroughly massaged the lightly fragranced oil onto my face, I watched my makeup melt right off and rinse down the drain. Sooo satisfying (just me?). After drying off, my skin felt soft, smooth, hydrated and clean.” - PureWow Senior Editor, Branded Content, Kelsey Paine
4. Versed Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm
Versed is one of my favorite skincare brands because they make great products at accessible price points, all while upholding strong commitments to the environment. The Day Dissolve balm is so calming, thanks to the gentle eucalyptus scent. It’s also gentle on the eyes, never stinging mine even though I’m thorough when taking off mascara. Versed advises using it as part of a double-cleanse routine, but I think it stands on its own.
5. Kora Organics Milky Mushroom Cleanser
“I liked the scent of Kora Organics’ cleanser, which contains no artificial ingredients. It does have a more organic smell to it (think mushroom) that I like. This wasn’t the best makeup-removing product, but what pleasantly surprised me is that it cleansed my bare skin so well. I ended up using it like a cleanser rather than a makeup remover. This product contains an alpha hydroxy acid, so the first couple times I used it my face turned a bit red and stung. (I don’t get much acne, but my skin is on the drier side.) The glass bottle is elegant, which was a nice touch. When using the cleansing oil, note that you must shake it well before hand as it will separate.” - Hope Lundblad, tester
6. Farmacy Green Clean
“I’ve been using this cleansing balm all year long and I haven’t wanted to use anything else to remove my makeup. Once applied, it feels so gentle on my skin, and I’m able to use it all over my cheeks, brows and even lashes without feeling any sting. I also appreciated how my skin felt after the product was washed off. When it comes to other makeup removers, they often strip away my natural oils and leave me with super dry skin. That’s never been the case with Farmacy Green Clean. Instead, I’m left with dewier, softer skin than before.” - PureWow Associate Editor Chelsea Candelario
7. Monastery Cleansing Oil
“The Monastery cleansing oil has a definite rose scent, and I like that it’s rather natural and not overly sweet. I only use cleansing oils in the morning, so I have no makeup to remove, but it leaves my skin feeling refreshed. It’s a great option for a gentle cleanser because it doesn’t further dry out my already dry skin—though sometimes the cleanser does leave it feeling just a touch oily. That may bother some people, but I actually like that for some extra nourishment.” - PureWow Assistant Editor Natalie LaBarbera
8. The Ordinary Squalene Oil Cleanser
At $11, The Ordinary’s Squalene cleanser is hard to beat. Tester Rachel Peng reported that the cleanser removed all her makeup—except waterproof mascara. However, it is gentle on the eye area, winning it back some points. “Afterwards, mskin felt softer and wasn’t red or dry,’ she says. “[Unlike other products which often use a pump, this one had a] flip-top cap, and the product comes out easily, though you still have good control over how much you want to use.” Peng does note that though the directions say to rub the oil on a dry face, she found that adding a drop of water helped it spread over her skin more easily.
9. Decorte AQ Cleansing Oil
“I have combination skin, which tends to be oilier in the spring/summer and dry in fall/winter. I typically get blackheads and redness around my cheekbones. I used the Decorte AQ cleansing oil as a makeup remover. There is a light scent, a cross between woody and floral. The cleanser has a thicker consistency compared to the other cleansing oils I’ve used, so it requires you to work it in a bit more. I wear a notoriously stubborn mascara that not all makeup removers can handle completely, but this oil did the job.” – Rachel Peng, tester
10. Fig.1 Micellar Oil Cleanser
Fig’s Micellar Oil Cleanser left my skin feeling soft and hydrated. It also completely dissolved my stubborn eyeliner, which was a pleasant surprise. Usually, I have to really scrub, and it doesn’t fully come off until I finish double cleansing. The brand prioritizes refillable products, and I love their eco-friendly initiative: When you buy the refill of this oil-based cleanser, it comes without a pump so you re-use your previous one. Pumps are notoriously difficult to recycle, so while this is a seemingly small consideration, it adds up.
What to Consider When Shopping for Oil-Based Cleansers
“There’s really no difference between [solid and liquid oil-based cleansers. It really comes down to] user preference,” Dr. Turner explains. He adds that balms are easier to travel with because they are solid, so you avoid the risk of leaks and losing your cleanser at security. Aside from that, he says, “There’s [no difference] in terms of advantages or disadvantages.
That means that all oil-based cleansers function in the same way, by dissolving oil on our skin, which clings to makeup. As Dr. Turner previously cautioned when talking to me about cleansing balms, you should massage the oil-based cleanser into your skin for no more than 30 seconds. Otherwise, you run the risk of drying out your skin.
People with oilier skin should opt for a lighter formulation, preferably something that doesn’t include heavy-hitting plant butters like shea butter. Meanwhile, those with dry skin might benefit from them. Generally, Dr. Turner counsels steering clear of coconut oil, which can clog pores.
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