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Ask virtually any derm, and they’ll confirm that cleansing your skin is vital to keeping it healthy, especially if you wear makeup or SPF (which you 100 percent should be doing). You should always keep a top-tier face wash, moisturizer, and sunscreen on hand at all times. However, one “extra” step I regularly implore my friends and family members to add to their routines is oil cleansing—namely, a Korean oil cleanser to use before going in with your second one.
Double cleansing is a two-step cleansing process first popularized in South Korea. “It starts with an oil cleanser to effectively dissolve and remove oil-based impurities like makeup, SPF, and excess sebum, followed by a water-based cleanser to gently remove water-based impurities like dirt, sweat, and grime,” says Alicia Yoon, the founder of Peach & Lily. Even your toughest waterproof mascara will melt at the touch of a good oil cleanser. Plus, as Yoon says, “like attracts like,” so oil cleansers are able to really get into your pores and clean them out. Regular cleansers could never properly fight my blackheads and sebaceous filaments, but my favorite oil ones sure can.
Our top picks for the best Korean oil cleansers of 2025
In recent years, there’s been an explosion of new cleansing oils from non-Korean brands, but there is a reason everyone keeps gravitating toward Korean options. “Because of its widespread popularity and demand among Korean consumers, [oil cleansers] are a very competitive market and drive incredible innovation in the category,” Yoon says. Korean-born formulas have become so advanced that they wash off incredibly easily while also making your skin feel nourished and soft without residue.
If I’ve managed to win you over, I’m happy to share my personal recommendations ahead. Additionally, I consulted Yoon and read through countless customer reviews to provide the six best Korean oil cleansers for soft, clean, and much smoother skin.
Pros
- Suitable for sensitive skin
Cons
- Some may dislike scent
I’ve tried and liked many oil cleansers, but I truly have a love affair with this one. Even if I test a different one and think it’s doing the job well, when I come back to this one, I’m astonished by how quickly and easily it takes my makeup off. It gets rid of blackheads and sebaceous filaments that other oil cleansers simply cannot dislodge, and because it feels more like a dry oil, my skin never feels greasy after using it. I have sensitive skin, and it’s never irritated my skin or caused a reaction. The original version is great, too, but this one will forever be my favorite.
Key ingredients: Argan oil, jojoba seed oil, olive oil, camellia oil, evening primrose oil
Size: 6.7 fl. oz.
Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “I really liked the consistency of this product. I typically don’t like thin oils because it feels like it’s less effective, but the Ma:nyo oil…spreads so easily. It washes off cleanly without stripping natural oils. I use a gel cleanser after this to remove the rest of the oil. It smells like rosemary and lavender. I would recommend this oil after using it.”
Pros
- Cost-effective
- Suitable for sensitive skin
Cons
- Some reviewers found it to be a bit watery
Beauty of Joseon’s sunscreen may be getting all the attention on TikTok, but this oil cleanser is just as effective and hardworking. One of the star ingredients, ginseng oil, fights environmental stressors, as the formula’s soybean oil cleanses and moisturizes.
Key ingredients: Soybean oil, ginseng seed oil
Size: 7.1 fl. oz.
Amazon rating: 4.3/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “This left my skin better than it found it. It truly gets into every crevice and pore and detoxes my face—I can feel the oil and dirt being pulled every time I massage it in. I usually wash it off with a gentle cleanser after, and my skin is left incredibly soft and plump. It also didn’t break me out. I have sensitive skin, but this is not irritating at all. The cherry on top is how affordable it is.”
Pros
- Suitable for all skin types
- Balances skin
Cons
- Some customers noted that it may not be as effective on certain mascaras
Peach & Lily developed this cleanser for six years before landing on this perfected formula. The product “dissolves stubborn makeup and SPF with ease without causing foggy eyes, breakouts, irritation, or drying out the skin. And the best part is the feeling it provides once it's rinsed off—there’s no residue, and skin is left supple, clear, and deeply cleansed,” Yoon shares.
Key ingredients: Ginger root extract, grapeseed oil, sunflower seed oil
Size: 5.07 fl. oz.
Peach & Lily rating: 4.7/5 stars
A Peach & Lily reviewer says: “I love the ingredients in this, and I love that it has never broken me out, as a sensitive skin girlie. It’s luxurious, emulsifies beautifully, and doesn’t feel heavy. Worth every penny.”
Pros
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Effective on waterproof makeup
Cons
- May feel a little heavier than other formulas
If you’re tired of rubbing your eyes to get every last bit of mascara off, this cleansing oil melts away eye makeup in seconds without any extra friction. You also won’t find that it stings the eyes or sensitizes the skin, thanks to the fragrance- and colorant-free formula.
Key ingredients: Grape seed oil, olive oil, seaberry oil
Size: 6.76 oz.
Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “It’s a beautiful product in my opinion. I feel like it’s the best oil cleansing product with the way it feels and smells. It’s great for a light cleansing and keeps the skin moisturized afterwards. Good for prepping before a more exfoliating cleanser or heavy duty cleanser.”
Pros
- Pleasant scent
- Avoids stripping skin
Cons
- Some may dislike jar packaging
Reviewers rave about this balm’s elegant texture and cleansing powers. Within seconds, it dissolves everything sitting on top of your skin and infuses hydration as you massage it, thanks to ingredients like persimmon extract and vitamin E.
Key ingredients: Grape seed oil, olive oil, seaberry oil
Size: 3.17 oz.
Amazon rating: 4.6/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “It removes difficult makeup and sunscreen in 60 seconds (that is how long I like to massage my cleansers in), and it feels so silky on the skin. It has a nice slip to it, so I never feel that I am tugging at my face. It melts into my hands as soon as I rub them together. My biggest pet peeve with cleansing balms is that they never fully melt into my hands, and I am left with big cleanser chunks between my fingers. That is not the case with this balm. It is perfect. It does not leave a residue either, if that is something you look for. Personally, I never mind either way, because I’m going to follow with a regular cleanser right after. But this rinses off clean and leaves my face feeling soft. There is a very pleasant scent to this balm as well. I don’t find it too strong, and it doesn’t irritate my skin, either.”
Pros
- Effective at reducing blackheads
Cons
- Some may dislike scent
According to Yoon, this “is a classic Korean cleansing oil that has had a cult following for well over a decade. ”It is especially loved by those with sensitive skin, as it removes everything effortlessly while olive oil and glycerin hydrate and ginger root delivers antioxidative benefits,” she says. The formula does feel a bit warm as you apply it, but it’s totally normal and feels quite pleasant.
Key ingredients: Olive oil, glycerin, lilac extract, ginger root extract
Size: 6.7 fl. oz.
Peach & Lily rating: 4.6/5 stars
A Peach & Lily reviewer says: “My skin feels very nourished after using this cleansing oil. It is very effective at removing the built-up excess residue that is trapped in your pores! The texture is silky, and a little drop goes a long way, so be careful, ladies!”
Why is it important to cleanse your face at the end of the day?
Sometimes, it’s all too tempting to skip your evening self-care routine and go right to bed. A gentle reminder: it’s a bad idea, even if you didn’t wear makeup that day. “Makeup, SPF, and excess sebum can all settle deeper into pores and be a trap for impurities. This build-up can cause irritation, breakouts, dullness, or decreased skincare product absorption. Cleansing skin thoroughly and gently at the end of the day helps keep skin healthy,” Yoon says.
Do you have to use another cleanser with an oil cleanser?
According to Yoon, it depends on what product you’re using. Some rinse right off without leaving behind greasy residue, so it may not be necessary to go in with another cleanser. “For other cleansing oils, you may find that without a second cleanser, it’s harder to remove the oily feeling. Everyone is different, so see what your skin loves, but for the most part, you can’t go wrong with a two-step cleanse.”
Why Trust ELLE Beauty?
As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, beauty writer Carol Lee consulted a Korean skin care expert to learn more about oil cleansers. She combed through reviews for top-rated products, assessing each one based on their features and customer evaluations.
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