The natural oil on your skin helps maintain a healthy barrier and helps your skin do what it is supposed to do – protect you from the outside world.
However, it is not uncommon for the sebaceous glands (the glands that produce the natural oil) to go into overdrive and produce too much oil that makes our skin look greasy and shiny, as well as clog pores and cause acne breakouts.
Therefore, the first and most important step in keeping your skin fresh, clean, and free of acne-causing impurities is regular cleansing.
In this article, I will share the best face washes for oily skin while explaining a little more about picking the right cleanser for you and keeping oily skin in check.
Krave Beauty – Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser
Best daily face wash for oily skin.
The Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser by Krave Beauty is the best daily face wash for oily skin.
The gentle cleanser contains several soothing components, including matcha, a cell-repairing antioxidant, as well as hemp seed, which is high in essential amino acids and vitamin B5, which strengthens the skin barrier and replenishes lost hydration.
The light gel texture is also easy to work with and doesn’t leave a sticky layer that’s hard to wash off once you’re done cleansing.
Fantastic for all skin types, including oily and sensitive skin, the Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser is a fantastic cleanser for daily use.
COSRX – Low pH Good Morning Cleanser
Best morning cleanser for oily skin.
The COSRX Low pH Good Morning Cleanser is the best morning cleanser for oily skin and for starting the day with a refreshed, clean, and supple complexion.
Its low pH almost mimics our skin’s natural state and contains a healthy dose of antibacterial tea tree oil along with other hydrating ingredients.
The cleanser also helps reduce the appearance of enlarged pores and control excess sebum production while leaving your skin with a refined, hydrated, and thoroughly cleanser surface.
Paula’s Choice – Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser
Best cleanser for oily aging skin.
The Paula’s Choice Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser is an advanced anti-aging cleanser formulated to effectively remove excess oil and impurities from your face without disturbing or harming your skin’s barrier.
It contains vital skin-repairing ingredients such as ceramides and hydrating hyaluronic acid that will leave your oily skin feeling polished, smooth, soft, and younger-looking.
Additionally, the gentle foaming cleanser also contains skin-soothing aloe extract that helps calm sensitivity and reduce the appearance of redness.
Perfect for anyone dealing with oily skin that’s showing signs of aging, this cleanser can be used morning and night to refresh, cleanse, and hydrate your complexion.
Youth To The People – Superfood Cleanser
Best natural face cleanser for oily skin.
The Youth to The People Superfood Cleanser is a gentle daily face wash with a gel texture formulated with superfoods such as kale, spinach, and green tea to provide your skin with the ultimate comfort and cleanliness.
It is 100% vegan, natural, cruelty-free, and free of irritating sulfates and drying alcohol.
It also comes in recyclable glass packaging and has a mildly foaming consistency that gently dissolves daily impurities stuck onto the skin.
La Roche-Posay – Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser
Best face cleanser for oily skin.
The La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser is a daily facial wash expertly formulated for oily skin types.
This gel-based cleanser lathers into a creamy foam that gently removes face and eye makeup and accumulated impurities while leaving the skin clean and refreshed.
Its key ingredients include ceramides to preserve the skin’s natural barrier and niacinamide to soothe the skin and balance oil production.
Being free from oils, sulfates, parabens, and fragrances, the cleanser is particularly suited for oily skin, as it removes excess oil without stripping the skin of essential moisture.
Bioderma – Sébium Gel Cleanser
Best face wash for oily to combination skin.
The Bioderma Sébium Gel Cleanser is a highly effective cleansing solution for oily to combination skin.
Its unique gel consistency allows for a gentle yet thorough cleanse, leaving the skin feeling refreshed and balanced.
The formula is enriched with active ingredients like zinc and Ginkgo Biloba extract that work to balance oil production, reverse free radical damage, and prevent inflammatory skin reactions.
This makes it an ideal choice for oily to combination skin, particularly skin exposed to daily pollutants, as it effectively controls excess oil and helps the skin fight against environmental aggressors without causing dryness or irritation.
Vivant Skin Care – Green Tea Antioxidant Cleanser
Best hydrating cleanser for oily skin.
The Vivant Skin Care Green Tea Antioxidant Cleanser is the best hydrating cleanser for oily skin due to its gentle, non-stripping formula that effectively removes impurities while keeping the skin hydrated and nourished.
This gentle cleanser boasts a refreshing gel consistency and a formula enriched with powerful antioxidants from green tea and kiwi extract, which help to purify, hydrate, and calm the skin.
Additionally, the foaming gel cleanser also contains hydrating glycerin and antibacterial honey to keep harmful bacteria away from the skin’s surface and prevent inflammatory bacterial conditions.
Neostrata – PHA Facial Cleanser
Best face wash for oily skin and large pores.
The Neostrata PHA Facial Cleanser is the best cleanser for oily skin with enlarged pores and uneven skin texture.
The cleanser has a lightweight gel consistency and a lightly foaming formula enriched with Polyhydroxy Acids (PHAs), which gently exfoliate the skin, refine enlarged pores, and control excess oil production.
Additionally, the cleanser contains soothing botanicals that hydrate and calm the skin while deeply cleansing, gently exfoliating, and refining the skin’s texture while maintaining optimal moisture balance.
SkinCeuticals – Soothing Cleanser
Best face wash for oily sensitive skin.
The SkinCeuticals Soothing Cleanser is an excellent choice for those with oily yet sensitive skin.
This cleanser boasts a calming, soap-free foam that gently removes impurities while maintaining the skin’s natural balance.
It is made up of a minimal ingredient blend that features botanical extracts such as cucumber to soothe and calm irritated skin and reduce the appearance of redness.
Effectively cleansing and leaving the skin feeling refreshed, plump, and nourished, this cleanser is perfect for those who need a gentle yet effective daily cleansing solution.
iS Clinical – Cleansing Complex
Best face cleanser for oily acne prone skin.
The iS Clinical Cleansing Complex is the go-to choice for oily, acne-prone skin.
This dynamic, clear gel cleanser is formulated with a balanced blend of bio-nutrients, antioxidants, and mild resurfacing ingredients that thoroughly cleanse the skin and encourage it to regenerate.
The cleanser contains several active ingredients, including white willow bark extract, a source of salicylic acid, which reduces acne by dissolving impurities inside the pores; chamomile extract, known for its soothing properties; and sugarcane, a natural source of AHA that resurfaces the skin and evens out the complexion.
With a dense gel consistency that foams up well when in contact with water, this cleanser exfoliates, reduces oil production, and keeps breakouts at bay.
However, while the iS Clinical Cleansing Complex is effective at removing acne-causing impurities and excess oil while promoting healthy skin cell renewal for a clearer, healthier complexion, it’s best to use this cleanser 2-3 times a week to avoid over-exfoliation and potential irritation by the powerful actives it contains.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why Do You Need a Face Wash for Oily Skin?
A face wash for oily skin is essential as it helps remove excess sebum, impurities, and debris that can clog pores and lead to breakouts.
Cleansers for oily skin are often formulated with ingredients that balance oil production, which helps achieve a clearer, more refined, and healthier complexion.
Incorporating a face wash for oily skin into your skincare routine can help maintain optimal skin health and prevent acne flare-ups.
How to Control Oily Skin?
Here’s how to control oily skin effectively by incorporating the following steps into your daily routine:
- Use a Face Wash Designed for Oily Skin: These products are formulated to dissolve excess oil and impurities without overly drying the skin.
- Apply an Oil-Free Moisturizer: Contrary to popular belief, oily skin needs hydration too. An oil-free moisturizer can hydrate your skin without making it greasy and clogging pores.
- Exfoliate Regularly: This helps remove dead skin cells and unclog pores, reducing oil buildup and preventing acne breakouts.
- Choose Makeup Wisely: Opt for oil-free, non-comedogenic makeup products to prevent exacerbating oiliness and causing acne breakouts.
- Maintain a Healthy Diet: Certain foods, especially those high in fats and sugars, can contribute to oil production. A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains can promote healthier skin.
- Use Blotting Papers: These can help absorb excess oil on the skin surface throughout the day, keeping your complexion looking fresh and less shiny.
What is The Best Face Cleanser for Oily Skin?
The best face cleanser for oily skin is typically a gel or lightly foaming formula with a balanced blend of non-comedogenic and gentle ingredients, such as green tea, niacinamide, and mild actives such as enzymes and polyhydroxy acids (PHAs).
These ingredients work together to effectively reduce excess oil and lift impurities, preserve the skin’s natural barrier, soothe the skin, and gently exfoliate without stripping essential moisture.
What is The Best Facial Cleanser for Oily Sensitive Skin?
The best facial cleanser for oily, sensitive skin is the SkinCeuticals Soothing Cleanser.
This soap-free, foaming cleanser has a minimal ingredient list, featuring gentle and non-comedogenic botanical extracts such as cucumber, which soothes and calms irritated skin while effectively removing impurities and maintaining skin’s natural moisture balance.
My name is Simone and I am a certified skin specialist. I created this website to teach my readers how to take great care of their skin and I also like to occasionally share my honest opinions on skincare products I’ve tried. You can learn more about me here.
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