TOP 10 BEST FACE WASHES FOR OILY SKIN
Oily skin: it feels like that friend who shows up uninvited at 11 a.m., right across your T‑zone. Bright, radiant and luminous? Yes, please. But excess midday shine? No thank you. Needing a little more TLC, this skin type loves attention and a cleanser that actually knows how to handle its drama— without stripping it dry.
Lucky for you, we’ve done the hard work. Our curated list of the top 10 best face washes for oily skin will not only whisk away makeup and grime but leave your complexion feeling fresh, balanced and ready for the day... no compromise required.
In This Article
- La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Cleanser for Oily, Blemish-Prone Skin
- FARMACY Green Clean Whipped Foaming Cleanser
- Caudalie Vinopure Purifying Gel Cleanser
- Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser
- CeraVe Foaming Cleanser with Niacinamide for Normal to Oily Skin
- Ole Henriksen Daily D-Clog Pore-Clearing Cleanser
- Dermalogica Clearing Skin Wash
- Murad Blemish Control Clarifying Cream Cleanser
- COSRX Low pH Good Morning Cleanser
- Moussse Purifying Cleanser
- The Best Face Washes For Oily Skin FAQs
THE TOP 10 BEST FACE WASHES FOR OILY SKIN
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Cleanser for Oily, Blemish-Prone Skin
Adored by derms for a reason, La Roche-Posay's Effaclar Pufifying Foaming Gel Cleanser for Oily, Blemish Prone Skin is the best face wash for oily skin to effortlessly lift away dirt, grime and makeup. Formulated to be gentle while still being effective, it’s infused with shine-reducing zinc PCA and lightly exfoliating citric acid to lift away dead skin cells without disrupting the integrity of your complexion.
FARMACY Green Clean Whipped Foaming Cleanser
Bring a wave of clarity to your oily complexion with FARMACY’s Green Clean Whipped Foaming Cleanser. Infused with apple-derived surfactants, moringa seed, citrus extract, green clay and sodium PCA, this luxurious face wash lathers on skin while gently removing debris. Lightweight and non-greasy it's the airy, everyday companion to a balanced, clearer complexion.
Caudalie Vinopure Purifying Gel Cleanser
Another skincare standout for the best face wash for oily skin is Caudalie’s Vinopure Purifying Gel Cleanser. Powered by natural-origin salicylic acid, this velvety formula not only effortlessly washes away dirt, grime and makeup, but thanks to the infusion of organic grape water it delivers a dose of soothing hydration too. Refreshing on skin and turning from a gel to a foam, it quickly unclogs pores and clears away buildup without disrupting your skin’s natural balance.
Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser
Packed with an innovative blend of mild cleansers and makeup-dissolving emollients, it’s no wonder Drunk Elephant’s Beste No.9 Jelly Cleanser has a spot on our top 10 best cleansers for oily skin list. With a coconut-based surfactant to create a rich foam and a blend of omegas 6 and 9, this complexion caring cleanser replenishes hydration, soothes and restores to leave skin feeling clean and supremely soft.
CeraVe Foaming Cleanser with Niacinamide for Normal to Oily Skin
We can’t have a list of the best face washes for oily skin without mentioning the MVP of cleansers – CeraVe’s Foaming Cleanser with Niacinamide for Normal to Oily Skin. Crafted to promote a healthier more comfortable feeling complexion, this daily face wash calls on a cocktail of three essential ceramides to protect your moisture barrier even while cleansing. Enriched with CeraVe’s MVE Technology, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, it rinses away debris for glowy, more refined looking skin.
Ole Henriksen Daily D-Clog Pore-Clearing Cleanser
For a more gentle approach to pore-clarity and excess oil, Ole Henrikson’s Daily D-Clog Pore-Clearing Cleanser is considered one of the best face washes for oily skin. Powered by a blend of salicylic acid, Danish purple willow ferment and juniper berry extract, this refreshing skincare solution turns from a milky gel into a luxuriously lathery experience that leaves skin feeling clean, clarified and soft.
Dermalogica Clearing Skin Wash
Banish away pore-clogging foes and dullness with Dermalogica’s Clearing Skin Wash. Leaving skin feeling cool and comforted when washed off, this daily cleanser uses balm mint, tea tree, salicylic acid and a blend of BHAs and menthol to soothe away texture, roughness, dullness and excess oil to deliver a complexion that looks beaming and bright.
Murad Blemish Control Clarifying Cream Cleanser
Tackle blemish-causing bacteria with Murad’s Blemish Control Clarifying Cream Cleanser. Efficient and hardworking, this clever cleanser is considered one of the best face washes for oily skin because of its next-generation formula powered by encapsulated spheres of salicylic acid. Crafted to reduce irritation, purge pores and dissolve even the most stubborn oils, it soothes skin while making quick work of removing everything that makes it look dull and congested.
COSRX Low pH Good Morning Cleanser
Made with a skin-loving pH level that doesn't disrupt your complexion, COSRX’s Low pH Good Morning Cleanser is the ideal addition to your oily skin routine if you want something multi-tasking. Mild yet supremely effective, this face wash not only refreshes complexions and removed grime, but it also protects skin from environmental aggressors that can cause damage to skin throughout the day. Formulated with a slightly acidic pH, it helps to balance your skin’s natural pH levels and in turn strengthen your moisture barrier. The result? A complexion that is happy, healthy and naturally dewy.
Moussse Purifying Cleanser
Ensure your complexion is left feeling soft, nourished and clean with Moussse’s Purifying Cleanser. With a soft, mousey texture that cushions complexions, this is considered one of the best face washes for oily skin you can use as a first or second cleanse. Powered by the brand’s proprietary Mouseshield complex, it not only helps lift away dead skin cells and debris, but it protects your skin’s microbiome from the effects of urban stressors too. With a gel-to-milk formula that feels comforting on complexions, this skincare superstar makes quick work of everything from SPF and makeup to stubborn waterproof mascara and more.
THE BEST FACE WASHES FOR OILY SKIN FAQs
Which brand is best for oily skin?
When considering what brand is best for oily skin, this totally depends on your specific skin concern and what your skincare routine for oily skin is missing. If you’re after gentle but effective formulas, The Ordinary, La-Roche Posay and Paula’s Choice all have dedicated collections for oily skin. If you’re more intersted in more targeted solutions, Murad and SkinCeuticals have clinical grade ranges that offer effective oil-regulating and pore-refining actives that are much more targeted.
What do dermatologists recommend for oily skin?
For oily skin, dermatologists usually recommend a gentle cleanser from our list of the top 10 best face washes for oily skin, a targeted serum that features either niacinamide, vitamin C or salicylic acid, a lightweight moisturiser that’s either oil-free or a gel-texture and a broad spectrum SPF that’s not-pore clogging. To keep skin looking nourished without the excess oiliness, look for a day cream that’s infused with ceramides and hyaluronic acid as these won’t feel heavy on skin.
What to avoid if you have oily skin?
The number one issue with oily skin is learning how to control excess sebum without triggering more oil production. Typically, you should avoid cleansers formulated with alcohol and strong sulphates, pore-clogging ingredients like coconut oil and heavy butters, being overzealous with your exfoliating acids and skipping your moisturiser! If you skip your moisturiser, you risk your skin becoming dehydrated causing your oil glands to work overtime and in turn produce more oil.
Rina is Cult Beauty’s SEO Content Strategist and Beauty Expert and has always had a passion for beauty and skin care (rich moisturisers are her obsession). What started as a love for The Body Shop and their famed Born Lippy lip balms (in ‘Watermelon’ of course!), she is now more interested in finding products with proven effectiveness instead of broken promises. A loud and proud VIEVE fan, Rina owns nearly every item of the range and recommends the brand to anyone who will listen... When she’s not intently reading ingredient lists, you can find her either immersed in multiple true crime podcasts or a fantasy romance novel, with an *extra* hot cappuccino in hand.