Cleansing oils are perhaps one of the more divisive options in the plethora of ever-evolving facial cleansers. For a luxurious, cocooning cleanse, you may gravitate towards a balm, while for a satisfying lather, a foaming formula may feel like they are more effective at removing stubborn buildup and make-up. For years, I steered clear of cleansing oils, favouring creamy textures that I assumed were better suited to my combination skin. But with the influx of innovative K-beauty cleansing oils, I decided to give them another go – and it turned out I was onto something.
Vogue’s top cleansing oils at a glance:
Beauty Of Joseon Ginseng Cleansing Oil
Oil has a bad reputation in skincare. If you have oily or combination skin, the idea of adding more oil into the mix can feel counterintuitive. Yet oil-based cleansers may have a place in your routine, no matter your skin type. “Their main strength is that oil dissolves oil, so a cleansing oil is brilliant at breaking down the things water-based cleansers struggle with, like long-wear make-up, sunscreen and the day’s build-up of sebum and grime,” consultant dermatologist Dr Sidra Khan explains. “That makes them a really handy first step, particularly if you’ve been wearing heavy make-up or sunscreen, because they lift all of that off gently rather than you having to scrub at it. They also tend to feel comfortable and non-stripping, which people with drier skin often appreciate.”
Think back to GCSE Chemistry and the principle of like dissolves like. In skincare terms, this helps explain why an oil-based cleanser can be so effective at breaking down oily residues. Yet it is important to find the right combination of oils that dissolve without heavy scrubbing and enrich without leaving the complexion feeling irritated or stripped.
Below, find the Vogue-approved cleansing oils – including our favourites direct from South Korea – as well as best practices for incorporating them into your skincare routine according to four skin experts.
In this article:
Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil
Sulwhasoo
Gentle Cleansing Oil
Why it’s Vogue-approved: If you decided to experiment with a waterproof cat eye or went for a full-coverage foundation look, you’re going to need something that removes everything easily and thoroughly. This product melts everything off and leaves your skin fresh and hydrated in the process.
Vogue’s Kiana Murden testing the Sulwhasoo cleansing oil
Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Cleansing Oil
Beauty Of Joseon
Ginseng Cleansing Oil
Why it’s Vogue-approved: “A double cleansing essential, this oil isn’t thick, gloopy or uncomfortable to apply. Just one pump is needed with a splash of water to melt off all your make-up, SPF and skincare that you’ve been wearing all day. Plus, the subtle fragrance is divine.” – Ranyechi Udemezue, contributing beauty & wellness writer
Beauty writer Ranyechi Udemezue testing the Beauty of Joseon cleansing oil
Medik8 Lipid Balance Cleansing Oil
Medik8
Lipid Balance Cleansing Oil
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: Brilliantly suited to removing make-up and cleansing all skin types, this luxuriously textured cleanser that turns from an oil to a milky emulsion is especially good for skin that needs deep hydration and nourishment. Loaded with cold-pressed safflower oil and omega-6 to rebalance natural lipid levels and moringa extract to purify, it leaves skin feeling clean, fresh and supple.
- Ingredients: Safflower oil, omega-6 and moringa extract
- Product type: Cleanser
- When to use: AM and PM at the start of your routine
DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
Why it’s Vogue-approved: For Vogue’s beauty director Funmi Fetto, this has long been her cleansing oil of choice. The formula is made up of organic olive oil that enriches the skin with its innumerable nutrients, turning milky when mixed with water and dissolving impurities. You need just one or two pumps of the Japanese brand’s elixir, as a little goes a long way.
Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Cleansing Oil
Bioderma
Sensibio Micellar Cleansing Oil
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: While Bioderma’s micellar water tends to get all the attention, there is an effective cleansing oil in the range that is making a quiet play for its glory. The formula is enriched with nourishing ingredients like omegas and amino acids, so that while cleansing, it leaves the complexion smooth and supple. Make-up artist Lucy Burt tells us, “The Bioderma Sensibio Cleansing Micellar Oil is the ultimate waterproof make-up remover – it effortlessly dissolves all waterproof make-up without burning the eyes or stripping the skin. Quick and easy to use, I start with the oil on dry skin, add a little water, and massage until the texture transforms. For stubborn waterproof mascara, pair with Chanel’s bi-phase Démaquillant Yeux eye make-up remover to leave lashes squeaky clean.”
- Key ingredients: Omegas 3 and 6 and amino acids
- Type: Cleaning soil
- Who it’s for: Fans of long-wearing or waterproof make-up
- Fragrance: No
- Size: 150ml
La Roche-Posay Lipikar Cleansing Oil
La Roche-Posay
Lipikar Cleansing Oil AP+ for Dry, Itchy Skin
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: Make-up artist Rachel Singer Clark waxes lyrical about this skin-loving cleansing oil from La Roche-Posay. She explains that it “saved me when I was on Roaccutane”, describing it as both “gentle and hydrating.” In fact, it is so gentle that it can even be used on babies over three months, counteracting irritation or itchiness with the nourishing and soothing properties of shea butter and niacinamide.
- Key ingredients: Shea butter and niacinamide
- Type: Oil
- Who it’s for: Dry, easily irritated skin types
- Fragrance: No
- Size: 400ml
Emma Lewisham Illuminating Oil Cleanser
Emma Lewisham
Emma Lewisham Illuminating Oil Cleanser
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: “My skin is dehydrated, so I avoid foaming, soapy cleansers and stick to balms and oils instead. Emma Lewisham’s Illuminating Oil Cleanser is one of my faves – my face feels squeaky clean but also soothed after use. I’ve been following it up with the new Supernatural Face Creme Riche, which is also great for a parched complexion.” – Kerry McDermott, digital director
- “For some people, their happy place is a beach somewhere, rum-based drink in hand. For me, it’s standing at my bathroom sink, beautiful cleanser in hand, ready to rid my face of the day’s make-up and grime. Come the winter months, it’s Emma Lewisham’s Illuminating Oil Cleanser – smooth enough to feel like a treat but still effective at melting down stubborn mascara and leaving my skin supple as anything. Ideal for when harsh weather strips every last bit of dew from our faces, it’s best used first on dry skin, massaged into all nooks and crannies, before being emulsified with a little warm water.” – Morgan Fargo, beauty and wellness editor
CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser
CeraVe
Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser
Why it’s Vogue-approved: This cleanser was recommended by Dr Maryam Zamani, a consultant oculoplastic surgeon and facial aesthetics doctor who praises not just the price tag but also the formula itself. “For a more affordable option, the CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser is a great straightforward choice, particularly if your skin is dry or sensitive,” she tells us. Not only will you find the dermatologist-born brand’s signature use of skin-loving ceramides, but there is hyaluronic acid and squalene too to triple down on the nourishment. The oil transforms into a foam texture once it is combined with water, removing make-up with ease.
Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Oil
Clinique
Take The Day Off Cleansing Oil Makeup Remover
Why it’s Vogue-approved: There is a reason that this formula has stood the test of time. Much like the cleansing balm and make-up remover in the same Take The Day Off collection, this oil is an effective solution for removing the dirt and grime from the day, as well as stubborn mascara and complexion products. On dry skin especially, it feels lovely as it glides across the complexion, leaving it fresh and clean without the need for heavy scrubbing. There is no fragrance of note.
Purito From Green Cleansing Oil
Purito
From Green Cleansing Oil
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: Purito’s From Green Cleansing Oil is a great option for everyday cleansing that will keep skin balanced and feeling nicely hydrated after cleansing. A blend of five botanical oils, this nourishing cleanser lifts impurities and dirt and leaves skin feeling fresh, plump and ready for the next stage in product application.
- Product type: Cleanser
- Ingredients: Olive oil, sunflower seed oil, jojoba seed oil, sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil
- Texture: Oil
Kora Organics Milky Mushroom Gentle Cleansing Oil
Kora Organics
Milky Mushroom Gentle Cleansing Oil
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: Calling all clean-beauty devotees: look no further than Kora Organics’s plant-based cleansing oil. Composed of 98 per cent natural-origin ingredients, this blend of botanical oils effortlessly lifts away make-up without stripping or tugging at the skin. “This is a super-gentle and nourishing clean-beauty pick that’s perfect for sensitive eyes,” says make-up artist Brielle Pollara. Best of all, the texture transforms from a silky oil into a milky cleanser when emulsified with water, leaving no trace of residue. With the soothing aromatherapy of rose and basil oils – and not a hint of artificial fragrance – your nightly cleanse suddenly feels more like a spa ritual than a routine.
- Key ingredients: Aloe vera leaf juice, sunflower seed oil, glycerin, apple seed oil, lactic acid, snow mushroom extract, basil oil
- Type: Cleansing oil
- Fragrance: Yes (naturally derived, only)