8 Best Facial Cleansers For Oily Skin
Washing your face should help you feel refreshed and ready for the day.
If you have oily skin, these nine cleansers can keep your complexion clear, balanced, and beautiful.
See Related: 13 Scrubs Your Oily Skin Will Thank You For Using
1. JUARA Rice Facial Cleanser
This super gentle cleanser can calm skin as it strengthens the natural moisture barrier. It's a fabulous face wash whether you have dry, sensitive, or oily skin.
If you are on the oily side and prone to breakouts, the Rice Facial Cleanser by JUARA will remove makeup, dirt, and oil. This unclogs pores and helps keep breakouts at bay, but without stripping the skin of its moisture.
Like all of our products, this formula was inspired by the Indonesian beauty and wellness tradition of Jamu. This holistic approach emphasizes the use of natural healing ingredients as well as a balance of self-care and relationship with one's community.
A rice water rinse is a common skincare practice in Indonesia. Incorporating ingredients that encourage you to be gentle with yourself and your skin is important. Rice softens, smooths, and protects the skin.
In addition to the vitamin-rich rice bran extract in this recipe, it also contains apple extract, plum fruit extract, glycerin, and more.
Rich in polyphenolic antioxidants, the apple extract brightens skin and provides a gentle exfoliation. This nudges along the natural skin cell turnover and allows younger fresher skin cells to make their way to the surface.
The plum fruit extract improves skin hydration and has a heavenly scent.
Glycerin, like hyaluronic acid, is an effective humectant that binds water to the skin. Even a face wash for oily skin should include hydrating ingredients that contribute to a healthy skin barrier.
This barrier, or outermost layer of your skin, is called the stratum corneum. It consists of skin cells called corneocytes, and a lipid layer (made up of cholesterol, fatty acids, and ceramides). The stratum corneum aims to keep moisture in and environmental toxins out.
Studies have shown that rice extract improves skin barrier function and hydration.
With the rice to calm and protect the skin while the coconut botanical cleansing agents do the work of clearing clogged pores, it's not surprising that this gentle foaming wash leaves skin feeling clean and nourished.
2. CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser
A face wash for oily skin should help balance healthy oils and control oil production.
CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser contains 4% benzoyl peroxide to address bacteria and manage oily skin. This is great news for acne-prone skin in particular.
This gentle foaming cleanser also contains niacinamide to calm the complexion.
Since breakouts don't always back down after adolescence, having a face wash like this can be quite handy. It dissolves dirt and oils that can congest skin and lead to pimples. Still, it's gentle enough to use every day.
The Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser supports the skin barrier with ceramides, enabling a better defense against dryness and flaking.
Ceramides are the fats or lipids that help hold our skin cells together. They make up 30% to 40% of your skin's outer layer, the stratum corneum (of the epidermis) mentioned above. This barrier seals moisture in the skin and helps keep harmful environmental elements out.
Lower ceramide levels are associated with acne, eczema, and other skin conditions.
Exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays and especially dry climates can further exacerbate such skin issues, so it's important to incorporate ceramides and help restore the skin barrier function.
This CeraVe foaming facial cleanser contains three essential ceramides that are naturally found in the skin. Face washes with ceramides can improve lipid levels and balance the complexion.
CeraVe foaming cleanser and other products from this brand are generally great for sensitive skin. You'll likely notice an improvement in skin texture and overall skin health.
3. Dermalogica Acne Clearing Skin Wash
For acne-prone oily skin, Dermalogica Clearing Skin Wash is a win.
With salicylic acid to clear clogged pores and encourage exfoliation, this face wash will do away with dull skin and let you put your best face forward. It has both anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that make it a perfect topical treatment for acne.
Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid that also aids in minimizing the signs of skin aging. Since it gently exfoliates and scrubs the top layers of the epidermis, it allows the younger-looking skin cells to arrive at the surface.
While it's hard to actually shrink pore size, this cleanser does seem to reduce the appearance of pores since it clears out excess oil and debris.
This is one of the best face washes for treating oily skin as it also contains extracts of balm mint, eucalyptus, and tea tree.
Just like benzoyl peroxide, tea tree oil can target blemishes and help address excess oil that is often an issue for combination skin and oilier skin. Eucalyptus extract strengthens the natural moisture barrier by trapping water in.
Some folks with sensitive skin may not favor the tingling or cooling effect that comes from the menthol and camphor, but it can be invigorating for others who enjoy that extra oomph.
4. Eucerin DERMOPURE Cleansing Gel
Eucerin DERMOPURE Cleansing Gel is another salicylic acid cleanser that addresses excess oil production and blemish-prone skin.
It's non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores. In fact, it'll do the opposite, clearing out hair follicles as it removes dirt and makeup from the surface.
This soap-free foaming cleanser contains 6% ampho-tensides. Ampho is short for amphoteric and means the molecule has both a positive and negative charge. Tenside indicates the detergent-like molecules that lower the water's surface tension and make it easier to break up into foam.
These are cleansing molecules in this formula that gently remove the excess sebum and dirt. leaving oily skin clean and fresh, but not overly tight.
This face wash contains other ingredients that add moisture to the skin and help keep it supple. It also has sebum-regulating technology. This means it will not only remove excess oil, but help achieve a better balance in the skin's natural oils with ongoing use.
It's a smart choice for folks with oily skin with want just a little bit of body polishing thrown in there.
Eucerin's skincare products are frequently recommended by dermatologists, and this cleansing gel is no exception.
Bonus: Top 12 Ingredients Your Facial Cleanser Should Include
5. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Pore-Perfecting Cleansing Gel
Dr. Dennis Gross, a board-certified dermatologist, understands that healthy skin has an impact on our overall wellness. Skin is the body's largest organ, giving it an oversized impact on our health. It has an important role in how we see ourselves and how others see us.
Having a glowing, clear complexion can make it a little easier to face the day ahead.
Alpha Beta Pore-Perfecting Cleansing Gel is one of the better washes for oily skin because its formula is backed by scientific research and includes pharmaceutical-grade ingredients for treating acne.
As the product name indicates, this face wash contains both alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) for exfoliation and pore refinement.
Made from sugary fruits, AHAs are water-soluble. They gently exfoliate the skin's surface allowing fresher, more evenly pigmented skin cells to emerge. This improves both texture and tone.
In this cleanser, glycolic acid and citric acid are the AHAs that speed along this skin cell turnover.
BHAs are oil-soluble and delve deeper into our pores. They remove dirt, dead skin cells, and excess sebum.
Benzoic acid and salicylic acid are BHAs at work in this cleansing gel. They are beneficial for oily skin since they remove oil and still leave the surface soft and supple.
In addition, this formula boasts willow bark extract, which happens to be the natural precursor to salicylic acid. It works along with phytic acid, farnesol, and siraitia monk extract to dissolve the waxy buildup that occurs within the pores. Farnesol inhibits bacterial growth on the skin, preventing some acne breakouts.
This pH-balanced foaming cleanser is also cruelty-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, sulfate-free, and vegan.
6. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Cleanser
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Cleanser shuts down the shine that those with oily skin see so often. However, this gel cleanser still gives you a healthy glow and doesn't overdry the skin.
The zinc pidolate helps reduce excess oil and washes away dirt and debris from the skin's surface. It's one of those face washes for oily skin that's really figured it out.
The citric acid in this face wash can help unclog pores. It will remove dirt and the upper layer of dead skin cells so your face feels clean and softer to the touch.
A key ingredient in virtually all La Roche-Posay skincare products is the thermal spring water. It's sourced in the French town of La Roche-Posay and contains a combination of minerals and has a high concentration of selenium, which is a natural antioxidant.
This product is alcohol-free and soap-free, which is why it won't dry you out. That's an important factor for acne-prone skin. Folks often want to fight against their oily skin with drying ingredients, but it can sometimes backfire and make your skin produce more oil.
Allergy tested and suitable for sensitive skin, it's one of the more gentle cleansers on the market.
7. Skinfix Barrier+ Foaming Clay Cleanser
The Skinfix Barrier+ Foaming Clay Cleanser contains mineral-rich volcanic kaolin clays that absorb excess oil and act as a mini detox. Coconut cleansers complete the cleanse and leave skin feeling fabulous.
This sulfate-free clay cleanser foams up when activated. Simply wet skin, apply the product, and massage it into your face in circular motions. After you rinse it off and pat your skin dry, you may very well see visibly smoother skin.
Of course, it may take a little longer to see a difference for some.
This face wash for oily skin (and dry skin and combination skin) is gentle enough to use morning and night. With continued use, you'll delight in the dewy look of your lovely complexion.
As alluded to several times above, hydration is key for healthy skin. This is one of those washes that covers its bases as far as moisture is concerned.
It has hydrating humectants like aloe vera and moisturizing emollients like jojoba seed oil, one of the best body oils you can find.
Humectants attract water to the uppermost layer of the epidermis from deeper layers of the skin as well as from the humidity in the environment. Emollients fill in the spaces between drying skin cells, smoothing out the surface, while also helping to hold the moisture in.
This soothing and smoothing sulfate-free cleanser for all skin types also provides skin brightening benefits. It boasts sugar beet extract, which balances skin and brings a brightening effect because of its vitamin C content and betalain pigments.
Sometimes people think that clay masks or any skincare product with clay might leave skin feeling tight or deplete it of natural oils, but this product proves that assumption wrong.
This is one of those face washes for oily skin that works for virtually everyone.
It's free from formaldehyde, phthalates, parabens, sulfates, lanolin, gluten and well, the list goes on. If it poses a problem or is a potential allergen, it's probably not included in this formula.
8. The Deep Cleanse Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser by Tatcha
The Deep Cleanse Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser by Tatcha is another great option for oily skin.
Tatcha takes a holistic approach to skincare similar to that of JUARA. It harnesses the power of timeless beautifying botanicals and balances that with scientifically-backed clinical ingredients to support skin health.
Since skin plays an important part in your overall wellness, it's important to take the time and energy for self-care and fulfilling skincare rituals.
If a cleanser can help clear your skin as you clear your mind, you'll feel that much better.
The Deep Cleanse gel lifts away dirt and oil without leaving your skin looking like a desert landscape.
The cleansing power partly comes from amino acids sourced from silk, so it's no surprise this gel works with sensitive skin types. Ground fibers from the Japanese luffa fruit add the critical component of exfoliation that sloughs off dead skin cells and decongests pores.
Japanese wild rose is an antioxidant-rich fruit extract that is known to bring about balance and improve circulation. In skincare, it can help diminish the look of pores. Along with Japanese Leopard Lily, which can calm the skin, these blooms are a boost to beauty.
The Deep Cleanse can help address oily skin, while not removing too much natural oil.
So what is the best facial cleanser for oily skin? You can guess our favorite (see #1), but you'll have to decide for yourself.
Or, if you have oily skin and like to try DIY recipes, here's an oil-free recipe for you:
Keep Reading: Nourishing Face Mask Ingredients For Mature Skin
--
Juara Skincare incorporates ancient rituals with western skincare science creating the ultimate beauty experience. We aim to transport you from the mundane to the extraordinary with our exotic ingredients, intoxicating scents, and powerful, skin-improving formulas. All of our products are nutrient-rich, and botanically based. We are proud to be certified cruelty-free. Get the latest skin care tips and info on Juara products by following us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.