Our Best Facial Cleansers for Oily Skin

Pop quiz time! Ideally, what should the first step in your skin care routine be? If you answered, “washing your face,” congratulations—you got it right! As far as your skin care regimen goes, cleansing your complexion should be the initial thing you do morning and night—and if you have oily skin, that calls for using the best cleanser for oily skin. This can help keep your complexion from looking overly greasy during the day. In fact, facial cleanser is one of the most important skin care products to use when you have oily skin, right alongside moisturizer for oily skin. Here, find our best facial cleansers for oily skin, plus tips for how oily skin types should wash their face.

OUR BEST FACIAL CLEANSERS FOR OILY SKIN

When it comes to cleansing oily skin, it’s all about finding the best facial cleanser for your skin type. Without further ado, here are our best face cleansers for oily skin.

L’Oréal Paris Micellar Cleansing Water Complete Cleanser - Normal to Oily Skin: Heading to the gym or going on vacation? Consider packing a no-rinse cleansing option, like micellar water, with you. Micellar water is powered by tiny micelles—oil molecules—that act as a magnet to lift dirt, oils, and makeup up and away from the skin. This micellar water purifies and mattifies.

How to use it: All you have to do is saturate a cotton pad with the solution and wipe the pad gently across your face. Yep, it’s that easy!

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Purify & Mattify Cleanser: Clay-formulated skin care products are super-trendy these days—and for good reason. This clay-to-mousse cleanser formula is powered by three different types of clay and enhanced with eucalyptus to help remove excess sebum from the surface of skin for a refreshed look and feel.

How to use it: Once a day, squeeze the clay facial cleanser into your hands and add water to transform it from clay to mousse. Gently massage it onto your face in circular motions, then rinse thoroughly with water and pat dry.

L’Oréal Paris Ideal Clean™ All Skin Types Foaming Gel Cleanser: Have oily skin? Stock your vanity with this gel facial cleanser, which lifts dirt and impurities without drying out skin.

How to use it: Wet your face and hands with lukewarm water, then work a small amount of gel into a foamy lather and massage it onto your face in a gentle, circular motion before rinsing off.

L’Oréal Paris Men Expert™ Hydra Energetic Extreme Cleanser Infused With Charcoal: This one goes out to all the guys! This facial cleanser formula, which is formulated with charcoal, acts as a magnet on skin to help capture and get rid of impurities and excess oil on its surface.

How to use it: Apply twice daily on wet face and gently massage, concentrating on forehead, nose, and chin (the areas that tend to get the oiliest on your face), then rinse thoroughly.

3 CLEANSING TIPS FOR OILY SKIN

It’s not just about finding the best facial cleanser for oily skin; it’s also about how you put that cleanser to use. If you have oily skin, consider the following tips.

TIP #1: CLEANSE MORNING AND NIGHT

Cleansing can help rid the surface of your skin of dirt, excess oils, and makeup. That’s why it’s a good idea to wash your face when you wake up and before you go to bed. Sleeping in your makeup can lead to clogged pores, as the makeup can mix with the dirt and oils on your skin—so don’t skip out! Think about leaving a no-rinse cleansing option, such as micellar water, on your bedside table so that you can cleanse from the comfort of your bed.

TIP #2: RINSE OFF IN LUKEWARM WATER

If you’re using a rinse-off facial cleanser, make sure to do so in lukewarm water. The reason for this temperature change is because super-hot H20 can strip your skin of essential oils, which can trick your oily skin into thinking it needs to produce more oil—aka the opposite of what you want.

TIP #3: TRY DOUBLE CLEANSING

Double your fun by cleansing your oily skin not once but twice. Double cleansing involves first using a micellar water or towelettes to remove makeup, then following up with a rinse-off facial cleanser to help remove any remaining impurities from the surface of your skin. Give it a shot if you have oily skin to help keep excess oil at bay.

Next up: Now that you know how to cleanse your oily skin, find the answer to an age-old question—Do You Need to Use Moisturizer if You Have Oily Skin?