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The Best Cleansing Oils For A Spa-Standard Evening Routine
When it comes to melting make-up, nothing else comes close
Oil cleansers can be divisive. Some of us swear by their rich, silky formulas, while others recoil at the mere thought of removing the day’s oil with, well, more oil.
But if there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that cleansing oils do a stellar job at shifting stubborn formulas – waterproof mascara included. Oil is perfect as the first step in your double cleaning routine. Use it to break down your makeup, and follow up with a gel or milk to treat the skin itself for a thorough cleanse. For oilier skin types, look for lightweight ingredients such as jojoba and grapeseed oils.
What is an oil cleanser?
An oil cleanser is formulated with oil, surfactants and emulsifiers to help lift dirt and stubborn make-up from the skin. 'Oil cleansers do a brilliant job at dissolving make-up, and are generally gentle on skin,' says MAC regional trainer Lewis Clarke. Indeed, an oil will be able to melt away matte and long-wear formulas much better than a water-based liquid or airy foam, meaning you'll be less inclined to tug on your delicate skin (and less likely to upset your complexion's all-important pH balance). The hydrating nature of a cleansing oil also makes it a brilliant option for those with parched skin.
Let's not discount the sensorial element of a cleansing oil either. There's something really satisfying and spa-worthy about massaging one into your face as part of a night-time ritual.
How to use an oil cleanser
Unlike your classic water-based gel cleansers, you'll need to use a flannel alongside your oil cleanser to help lift the make-up from the skin. Take time to work the oil cleanser onto dry skin, letting it dislodge all your make-up, then emulsify with warm water and rinse off with a flannel. The result: a make-up-free, soft and hydrated complexion.
New-gen cleansing oils offer something for everyone; there's options packed with ceramides to help rebuild a broken skin barrier, and even one that lathers gently to deep-treat oily skin.
Here, see our verdict on the very best cleansing oils for all skin types, from dry and dehydrated to sensitive and irritated.
The 15 best cleansing oils for fresher, cleaner skin
Damaged skin barrier? If you're nodding along, yes, you'll want to turn your attention to this shiny-new oil cleanser from Byoma. Designed to protect your stratum corneum (that's your skin barrier, FYI), it combines a high-tech concoction of moringa seed oil, olive fruit oil and squalane, as well as the brand's Barrier Lipid Complex, to remove tough make-up and hydrate your skin, all at a purse-friendly price.
Medik8's hero cleanser is a great one for all skin types, but will work especially well on dryness and dehydration, thanks to the blend of barrier-boosting linoleic acid and safflower oil. The slim pump also deserves a special mention for ensuring you don't go overboard and squirt too much into your hands.
Erborian is a cult Korean brand worth adding to your beauty routine, and this skin-soothing oil is a great place to start. Not only will it thoroughly cleanse you skin, it also contains an ingredient called BisaBolife which helps reduce redness and inflammation, alongside a cocktail of humectants and botanical oils.
Super Facialist Vitamin C+ Brighten Skin Renew Cleansing Oil
People have been raving about this one for an age, and not just because of the accessible price tag (and gigantic bottle). The 'brightening' claims might be pushing it a little – save actives such as vitamin C for your serums – but it gets top marks for the citrussy scent and nourishing, non pore-clogging formula.
Lightweight and nourishing, Pai's cult rosehip oil feels more like an at-home facial than a standard daily cleanse. Melting into skin, it's lightweight in texture, smells delightful and is specially formulated for skin that's more on the sensitive side.
Blended with a powerhouse of nourishing oils, from apricot oils to grapeseed, sunflower and chamomile, this luxe, lightweight oil is a treat for the senses and makes removing mascara and stubborn make-up a total breeze.
You might know this aesthetically-pleasing brand for its sensorial bergamot-scented hand creams and home scents, but Aesop's skincare line is just as promising, inside and out. This cleansing oil takes on a more milky, oil-to-liquid texture helping to remove even the toughest of waterproof mascara.
A treasured cult hero in the States, Tatcha's Cleansing Oil is indeed deserving of praise. A serious treat after a long day, this precious blend boasts calming camellia flower alongside rice and algae extracts to calm and rehydrate tired skin. Fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, it sweeps away SPF and liquid foundation without leaving a slimy film on your skin.
Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil
This is one of those cult Kiehl's products that loyal fans will never be without. With a heavenly floral scent and rich texture, it's the kind of thing that turns the chore of make-up removal into a something you'll actually look forward to in the evening. Use it to perform a DIY facial massage, then add water to transform the oil into a lightweight milk.
For those who want to melt mascara in less than a minute, this is the gold standard. It might feel light in texture, but this blend of grape seed, sweet almond and sunflower oils makes light work of the heaviest make-up applications.
Okay, does one actually need a Chanel cleansing oil? Perhaps not. But! Hear us out: the silken texture feels like pure luxury, and leaves skin feeling as soft as silk. Of course, it smells absolutely delicious, and the pampering appeal is impossible to beat. Alright, looks like we do need this after all.
A little different to the others, Cerave's oil cleanser contains gentle foaming agents to deliver a satisfyingly soft lather. Ph-balanced and boosted with ceramides, it's a skin-kind winner that will keep all complexions happy.
For the ultra-dry, sensitive skin types struggling with flakiness, tightness and all around discomfort, this Japanese oil is the one for you. It's packed with ceramides and lipids, and emulsifies into a milky lotion to cleanse skin without stripping.
MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil
From Mac's buzzy new Hyper Real skincare line, this plant-based oil is packed with the good stuff – think: jojoba, sunflower seed and meadowfoam seed – but emulsifies as soon as it meets water, meaning removal is an effortless feat.
Aromatherapy Associates Oil To Foam Cleanser
This luxuriously aromatic cleanser brings a spa-like experience to your daily cleansing ritual. It's rich in moisturising squalane, balancing niacinamide and brightening rosehip oil to keep complexions happy, while the gentle foam promises an extra-clean feel without stripping the skin of moisture.
Amelia Bell is the Multiplatform Beauty Director for ELLE UK and Harper’s Bazaar, developing beauty strategy, writing, editing, and commissioning, and leading beauty content across both sites. Amelia has a particular interest in wellness and longevity, exploring the skin-mind connection, and decoding the latest treatments, tweakments and runway trends. She also has bylines for Women's Health, Refinery29, British Vogue, Harrods Magazine, and more.
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