12 Oil Cleansers That Are Actually Great for Acne (2024)

If your acne isn't responding to the lotions and potions you're slathering on, you might want to take a good look at your cleanser. "Cleansers that leave your skin feeling 'squeaky clean' are actually creating an acid mantle that is too acidic," says esthetician Athena Hewett. This imbalance may make your skin more prone to increased sebum production and acne.

That's where oil cleansers come in. "[They] don't change the acid mantle at all," she notes. To learn more about how to use oil cleansers for acne, we tapped Hewett for her advice and product recommendations.

Below, find 12 expert-approved oil cleansers to help treat and prevent acne.

Our Top Picks

• Monastery Rose Cleansing Oil
• Shu Uemura Sakura Refreshing Cleansing Oil
• Julep Love Your Bare Face Hydrating Cleansing Oil
• DHC Pore Cleansing Oil Facial Cleanser for Oily + Blemish Prone Skin
• Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Oil
  

Monastery Rose Cleansing Oil

Made with Edwardian rose oil (each bottle contains the essence of over 100 rose petals), this cleanser is gentle, nourishing, and chock-full of acne-safe ingredients like sweet almond oil, hazelnut oil, and castor oil. Apply it first to a dry face; then remove with a soaked cotton pad for the best results.

Shu Uemura Sakura Refreshing Cleansing Oil

Ideal for oily skin types and acne-prone skin, this water-like cleansing oil washes away excess sebum and blackheads that are stuck inside pores—without that tight or parched feeling after cleansing. Courtesy of cinnamon bark and cherry extracts, shine is blotted and pores appear smaller.

Julep Love Your Bare Face Hydrating Cleansing Oil

Julep's offering is a lightweight, antioxidant-rich oil blend that melts away makeup without irritating your skin. Rosehip oil delivers essential nutrients to protect against environmental damage, while grapeseed and olive oil distribute antioxidants and hydrate without clogging your pores. Finally, green coffee bean oil invigorates your skin to promote cell turnover.

DHC Pore Cleansing Oil Facial Cleanser for Oily + Blemish Prone Skin

Made with a mélange of oils—among them, antioxidant-rich olive oil, moisturizing jojoba oil, and healing sesame seed oil—this facial cleanser by DHC removes makeup and unclogs pores, which will help to prevent future breakouts. How exactly does it work, you ask? "Cleansing oil suspends dirt and makeup so that it can be easily wiped away while leaving a hydrating layer of oil behind," says Hewett.

Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Oil

This potent oil cleanser dissolves all traces of makeup, as it easily glides on and rinses off with warm water. The best part? It leaves zero residue behind (helping current breakouts clear up and preventing others from forming).

Burt's Bees Cleansing Oil

Using a blend of coconut and argan oils, this dermatologist-tested cleanser softens, removes makeup, and is 100% natural with no parabens, phthalates, or petrolatum. Plus, it works with your natural oils to wash, nourish, and keep breakout-causing bacteria at bay.

Dermalogica Facial Cleansing Oil

Glide this formula on dry to gently dissolve any lingering makeup and effectively cleanse impurities; once you add water, the oil transforms into a milky emulsion to infuse natural ingredients like vitamin E, rice bran, and rosemary.

Silk Premier Cleansing Oil

This nutritive formula with anti-inflammatory black cumin oil and hydrating rose essential oil won't clog your pores, but rather leave your skin soft, supple, and nourished. Massage a small amount onto your face and use a washcloth with warm water and wipe it away.

Neutrogena Ultra Light Cleansing Oil

Neutrogena's noncomedogenic oil cleanser contains a blend of fine oils that act like a magnet to effectively extract oil and impurities from your skin.But it leaves your face soft, refreshed, and properly hydrated as well.

Biossance Squalane + Antioxidant Cleansing Oil

This non-toxic, fragrance-free oil lifts away makeup, then rinses completely clean with water. In it is sugarcane-derived, sustainablesqualane oil to better keep your skin hydrated throughout the entire process.

Shiseido Perfect Cleansing Oil

Featuring Shiseido's quick-removing technology to effectively and thoroughly remove dirt and makeup, this cleansing oil is great for both wet and dry skin. It rinses off quickly and leaves a non-greasy, dewy finish.

Mario Badescu Cleansing Oil

Cult favorite skincare brand Mario Badescu is the maker behind this effective, yet affordable, cleansing oil. Formulated with evening primrose oil, it cleanses and moisturizes skin at the same time. "Many people see an improvement in their skin texture after a couple of weeks of oil cleansing," notes Hewett.