11 Best Cleansing Oils That Leave Skin Glowing, According to Experts
These gentle face washes melt away makeup and grime.
Tested by Sabina WizemannBeauty Lab Director
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Don’t let the word “oil” fool you—cleansing oils are actually great for skin, even though they sound like they’ll trigger breakouts and clogged pores. Turns out they do the opposite: "These formulas effectively remove makeup, dirt, and impurities while helping to maintain the skin's natural moisture barrier," says Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann.
Our top picks:
- Best Overall: Curél Makeup Cleansing Oil
- Best Value: Palmer's Cocoa Butter Skin Therapy Cleansing Facial Oil
- Best for Dry Skin: Burt's Bees Facial Cleansing Oil
- Best for Oily Skin: EltaMD Oil-In-Gel Facial Cleanser
In GH Beauty Lab testing, Curél Makeup Cleansing Oil earned our top spot for thoroughly cleansing while leaving skin feeling comfortable and hydrated. Read on to learn about more of the best cleansing oils that we've vetted through the Lab, our editors, and experts.
Best Deal
Curél’s fragrance-free cleansing oil proved to be a standout as one of the best makeup removers in GH Beauty Lab testing, and it’s a GH Beauty Award winner. It rated best for not feeling sticky, and 100% of testers said the formula didn’t irritate their skin. The face wash also scored well for easy dispensing and for making skin feel smooth. “It did a great job of removing my makeup with no trace left,” one user marveled, yet “didn’t dry out skin,” another commented.
| Main ingredients | Mineral oil, castor oil |
| Size | 5 oz. |
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.
| Main ingredients | Soybean oil, sweet almond oil, cocoa butter |
| Size | 6.5 oz. |
Parched skin drinks up this Burt's Bees cleansing oil, which is rich in plant oils (including argan, coconut, and sunflower). "Many cleansers can aggravate my constantly dehydrated skin, but this feels so nourishing and comforting as it melts away the grime of the day," says one GH beauty editor, adding that it's a great face wash for dry skin because it "somehow leaves skin feeling hydrated and soft to the touch yet clean, with no layer of oily residue lingering."
| Main ingredients | Abyssinian seed oil, argan oil, coconut oil |
| Size | 6 oz. |
EltaMD’s GH Beauty Award-winning face wash is an oil-based gel made with emollients that melt into a light milk, whisking away even the most stubborn makeup and grime without greasy residue, which we think makes it one of the best face washes for oily skin. Unlike some oil cleansers, it makes skin feel deeply cleansed, ideal for oily skin types. The formula effectively removed residue from sunscreen and heavy makeup, according to Beauty Lab evaluations. “My face felt clean and toned yet soft afterward,” a tester remarked.
| Main Ingredients | Glycerin, meadowfoam seed oil, vitamin E |
| Size | 3.4 oz. |
This CeraVe formula is a rare oil cleanser that actually foams. It’s a GH Beauty Lab expert favorite—and available at both your local and online drugstore for a good value. “I am a huge fan of this—it is truly the only cleansing oil I use,” Wizemann raves. “It gives me all the benefits but without the messiness.” Another staffer also sings its praises: “It’s so gentle, but leaves my face very smooth, clean, and makeup- and dirt-free, with no dryness or tightness.”
| Main ingredients | Glycerin, squalane oil, ceramides |
| Size | 8 oz. |
Cleanse even the delicate eye area with Caudalie's gentle oil face wash, loaded with botanical oils: sunflower, castor seed, sweet almond, and grape seed. Unlike some formulas that require a separate eye makeup remover, this was created for use around the eyes. "It really soaks into skin to remove the day's makeup and gunk, and the almond scent is amazing," says one GH beauty editor.
| Main ingredients | Sunflower oil, castor oil, sweet almond oil |
| Size | 5 oz. |
With a rich olive oil base that cuts through grit and grime, the DHC deep cleansing oil has earned 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,” raves GH Contributing 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.
| Main ingredients | Olive oil, rosemary oil, vitamin E |
| Size | 6.7 oz. |
Tatcha’s star cleansing oil, made with Japanese ingredients like rice bran, camellia seed oils, and green tea, is beloved by GH beauty experts. “This works so well to take off dirt and grime,” one GH beauty editor says. “It’s also super gentle, so it won’t irritate skin.” The formula emulsifies on skin and leaves behind a dewy, smooth feeling.
| Main ingredients | Rice bran oil, camellia oil |
| Size | 5 oz. |
No fear of skin irritation with Naturopathica's mild oil-based cleansing balm, a GH Beauty Award winner made with skin-coddling plant oils. The rich formula combines nourishing sweet almond oil with shea butter and honey to relieve reactive skin while gently cleansing. The proof: "My inflamed face actually felt better using this," a tester reported.
Features at a Glance
| Main Ingredients | Sweet almond oil, glycerin, shea butter |
| Size | 2.8 oz. |
Dissolve the day’s makeup and grime with this Kiehl’s cleansing oil formulated for the evening. “It’s especially helpful to use at night since it smells like lavender and is really relaxing,” one GH editor says. “It works like a charm to take makeup off.” Hydrating squalane and evening primrose oil unite to boost complexions’ radiance, all while soothing skin (namely redness). Our beauty editors also rave about the formula’s “heavenly, aromatherapy-like scent.”
| Main ingredients | Corn germ oil, evening primrose oil, squalane |
| Size | 5.9 oz. |
From the dermatologist-recommended skincare brand Isdin, this formula was a GH Beauty Award winner for conditioning skin as it dissolves both the day’s impurities and makeup. GH Beauty Lab experts were impressed by the product’s thorough cleansing performance. “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.”
| Main ingredients | Sunflower seed oil, olive oil |
| Size | 6.76 oz. |
How we test face cleansers
The GH Beauty Lab regularly evaluates face cleansers, including cleansing oils. Face cleansers are distributed to consumer testers with a range of skin types who incorporate them into their regular skincare routines and assess factors such as texture, scent, lather, ease of application, irritation, effectiveness at removing makeup and impurities, and how skin looks and feels after use.
In the Beauty Lab's most recent face cleanser evaluation, 408 products were label-masked to help eliminate brand bias and assessed by 376 consumer testers. Beauty Lab scientists analyzed 4,512 survey responses to identify the top-performing formulas.
What to look for when shopping for the best cleansing oils
Consider the following factors to determine which face cleansing oil is the most effective for you:
✔️ Your skin type and needs: "Keep in mind what type of skin you have and whether you have any specific concerns, like acne, sensitivity, or aging," Wizemann advises, and choose formulas that call those out on the packaging.
✔️ The product texture: Decide whether you favor a lightweight or heavier option, Wizemann says. "If you prefer a cleanser that leaves less of an oily residue, check the ingredients list to see if it contains emulsifiers [look for an ingredient with polyglyceryl, like polyglyceryl-10 dioleate], which help it rinse off faster with water."
✔️ Skin sensitivity: If you have sensitive skin, "choose a fragrance-free option and avoid any essential oils and botanical extracts, as they can irritate skin and trigger allergies," she notes.
What exactly is a cleansing oil?
“Cleansing oils are a type of facial cleanser that uses oil to remove dirt, makeup, and impurities from skin,” Wizemann explains. “They are typically formulated with carrier oils, a blend of plant oils such as coconut, olive, jojoba, or grapeseed oil that make up the base of the formula.” In addition, cleansing oils “often contain emulsifiers to help the oils mix with water, making the product easier to rinse off,” she says. “Some formulas may include vitamins and antioxidants for additional skincare benefits and preservatives to ensure and maintain the product’s stability.”
As for how they work, "when massaged onto the skin, the cleansing oils bind with the oils on skin, as well as makeup, sunscreen, and other impurities," Wizemann notes. "This process dissolves these substances, allowing them to be easily washed away with water." Cleansing oils can remove even stubborn makeup and residue, too: "The oil also helps to break down waterproof makeup and can lift dirt and debris from pores, resulting in a thorough cleanse," she says.
Are cleansing oils good for your skin?
Yes, "almost any skin type can benefit from cleansing oils," says pro makeup artist Tati Westbrook, especially those with dry, sensitive skin who want to cleanse without dehydrating or irritating. "Those with very oily skin may find that cleansing oils feel too heavy, so it's important to choose products suited to your skin type and preferences, such as the feel on the skin after cleansing," Wizemann notes.
How do you use a cleansing oil?
Remember that a little goes a long way with cleansing oils, Wizemann says, so start with a small dollop. "Massage the cleansing oil in circular motions onto dry skin with dry hands," she recommends. "Then wet your hands with warm water to emulsify the oil and rinse it off thoroughly." Pat your face dry with a clean towel and follow with the rest of your skincare routine.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
GH Beauty Director April Franzino originally wrote this guide based on GH Beauty Lab testing data and scientific expertise. She most recently updated this story with additional expert commentary from our Beauty Lab experts.
GH Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann conducted the Beauty Lab's most recent face cleanser and makeup remover tests, and oversees the assessment of face cleansing oils for the GH Beauty Awards.
Sabina (she/her) is the director of the Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she has overseen skincare, haircare and makeup testing since 2012. She also reviews applications, substantiates claims and evaluates products for the GH Seal and the Beauty Awards and Sustainability Awards programs. She has a B.S. in chemistry from Ithaca College and more than 16 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical and personal care industries.
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