Six Facial Cleansing Oils Worth Trying

Cleansing Oil as the First Step in Your Evening Routine

Removing makeup is one of those skincare steps that are easiest to skip at the end of the day. Yet, evening is when your skin has the most work to do: it needs to get rid of makeup, sunscreen, street dust, and the sebum that has accumulated in your pores throughout the day. Water alone or a quick swipe with a makeup remover pad isn't enough – most of these impurities are oily and simply don't dissolve in water.

Cleansing oil works on a simple principle: oily impurities readily bind to oils. The product is applied to dry skin, where it gradually dissolves makeup and sunscreen, and upon adding water, it transforms into a gentle milky emulsion that can be rinsed off completely. This leaves your skin clean without stripping away its entire protective layer – unlike harsh soap, which can leave your skin feeling tight.

What oil cleansing handles better than just makeup remover water:

• waterproof mascara and long-lasting lipstick,
• sunscreen products with a high SPF that are designed to stay on the skin,
• heavy makeup and silicone-based primers,
• excess sebum and small environmental impurities that settle in your pores during the day.

Oil is not a competitor to your regular cleansing foam or gel – it's a step that precedes them. In practice, this is called double cleansing: the oil removes the oily layer, and a gentle gel refines the rest, preparing the skin for serum or night cream. We will discuss the specific process and quantities further in the text, but for now, just know that oil is not meant to replace anything, but to open up.

What was once a niche curiosity known mainly to makeup artists and Korean skincare enthusiasts has become a common product for anyone who wears makeup daily or diligently uses sunscreen. And with growing demand, the range of products has expanded.

In the following sections, we'll go through six cleansing oils worth trying – from pharmacy classics you know from dermocosmetic shelves, to Korean innovations, and even one luxurious option. Cleansing and makeup removal are among the most widely represented parts of skincare and body care at Brasty, so there's plenty to choose from – which is why it can be easy to get lost at first. The purpose of this selection of six is to narrow down the options to products you know what to expect from and how to choose between them.

Which Skin Types Benefit from Cleansing Oil

Cleansing oil is sometimes touted as a universal solution for everyone, but in reality, its benefits vary depending on your skin type. The composition of the oil plays a role, but more importantly, it's about what you need to remove from your skin at the end of the day: whether it's mainly makeup and sunscreen, or rather the tight feeling left by a regular cleansing gel.

The principle is based on simple chemistry: oily impurities dissolve better in oil than in water. Therefore, oil can handle waterproof mascara, sunscreen filters, and sebum, which water or foaming gel alone cannot tackle. This is why it's often referred to as the first step in a two-phase cleansing routine: the oil dissolves the oily layer, emulsifies into a milky consistency when water is added, and rinses off, after which a foaming or micellar product comes in to remove the remaining impurities and sweat. If you skip the second step, a light film may remain on the skin, which many interpret as "the oil doesn't suit me."

The type of skin mainly determines what texture and composition are worth looking for.

• Sensitive Skin. The oil removes makeup without rubbing and without repeatedly wiping with a cotton pad, which is often the greatest relief for sensitive skin. Look for simple formulations without fragrance and a significant amount of essential oils, as these are more likely to cause irritation than the oil base itself. Sensitive skin is also the type targeted by the largest selection of cleansing products, so the choice is really wide here.
• Dry Skin. The difference compared to a foaming gel is most noticeable here: after washing, there is usually no feeling of tightness or the urge to immediately reach for a cream. However, oil is not a substitute for hydration – after cleansing, still count on a serum and cream to retain moisture in the skin.
• Combination Skin. The oil can handle both at once: it dissolves oil in the T-zone without drying out the drier cheeks. Opt for a lighter, fast-absorbing texture rather than a thick balm and don't skimp on the second step, especially around the nose and chin.
• Oily and Problematic Skin. Concerns about oil on oily skin are understandable, but aggressive degreasing often leads to the skin compensating with even more oil. Gentle dissolution of sebum is usually more skin-friendly. Choose light oils labeled as non-comedogenic and consider the second step mandatory. For inflammatory acne, follow your dermatologist's advice – cleansing oil is part of daily skin hygiene, not a treatment.

A separate question is how often you actually need the oil. If you don't wear makeup and spend most of your day in an office, you can often get by with oil just a few times a week, typically on days with sunscreen or more pronounced makeup. Conversely, for skin that produces a lot of sebum, or for anyone who uses waterproof products daily, oil makes sense as a regular evening step.

If you're unsure about your skin type, a simple test can help: wash your face with just water, leave your skin alone for two hours, and observe where shine appears and where tightness occurs. Based on the result, you can then filter directly in the Cleansing and Makeup Removal category, where alongside cleansing oils, you'll find micellar waters and foaming gels sorted by skin type – allowing you to choose the second step to complement the oil that caught your attention.

Three Pharmacy Classics: Bioderma, La Roche-Posay, CeraVe

When it comes to cleansing oils from the pharmacy shelf, this trio often comes to mind. It's no coincidence – Bioderma, La Roche-Posay, and CeraVe have long been among the best-selling brands in facial and body care, and their cleansing lines are readily available even in larger sizes. All three focus on simple formulations, minimal fragrance, and ensuring the skin doesn't feel uncomfortably tight after washing. However, they differ in terms of their primary target audience.

Bioderma: A Safe Bet for Dry or Sensitive Skin

For whom: For skin that barely shines during the day, peels around the nose in winter, and reacts with redness even to ordinary soap. This includes atopic skin or skin that has been long-term dried out by frequent washing.

What it does: The oil component dissolves makeup, sunscreen, and sebum residues without the need for scrubbing. Bioderma bases its cleansing products on two lines that you might recognize from other formats – Atoderm targets dry to atopic skin and works with a nourishing oil base, while Sensibio is designed for sensitive, easily irritated skin.

What to combine it with: As a second step, Bioderma Sensibio H2O Make-up Removing Micelle Solution is ideal for removing any remaining emulsion without further tightening. Follow up with Bioderma Hydrabio Serum for hydration. If you're dealing with dryness on the body as well, opt for Bioderma Atoderm Huile de Douche shower oil – the logic is the same, just on a larger scale.

La Roche-Posay: The Choice for Problematic Skin

For whom: For skin prone to imperfections, oily in the T-zone, and simultaneously sensitive – a combination where people often unnecessarily fear oils.

What it does: Oil cleansing here works on the principle of similarity. It dissolves hardened sebum that has accumulated in the pores throughout the day and allows it to be washed away with water instead of being dried out by harsh surfactants. The brand adds thermal water as a soothing component, an approach you'll find across its sensitive skin care lines.

What to combine it with: If you're mainly dealing with imperfections, follow up with La Roche-Posay Effaclar Serum Ultra Concentré. If redness is the main issue, La Roche-Posay Toleriane Rosaliac AR Moisturiser SPF30 makes more sense as a day cream. Simplify your morning routine – save the oil for the evening.

CeraVe: Simple Formulation in Large Sizes

For whom: For anyone who doesn't want to study formulations and is looking for cleansing that behaves predictably. It also serves the whole household well, as the packaging is large-volume.

What it does: CeraVe is based on ceramides, lipids that are a natural part of the skin barrier. The brand's cleansing products are formulated to cleanse the skin just enough without leaving it feeling tight. The formulations are typically short, fragrance-free, and without experiments.

What to combine it with: Follow up oil cleansing according to skin type – CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser 1000 ml for dry skin, CeraVe Foaming Cleanser for oilier skin. CeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion solves daily hydration, while CeraVe Moisturising Cream is suitable for the body. Large sizes are often more economical per milliliter, so if you already know the brand suits you, it's worth switching to them.

This trio covers most common situations and is a good starting point for oil cleansing. The difference between them is not which brand is better, but whether you're addressing dryness, imperfections, or primarily seeking calm and simplicity.

Korean New Arrivals and a Touch of Luxury Oil

Pharmacy brands have a strong presence in oil cleansing, but they are not the only option. Our next three recommendations take you elsewhere – to two Korean brands that are rapidly growing on Brasty, and to a luxury oil for those who want to elevate their cleansing routine into a small evening ritual. The difference from pharmacy classics isn't just in the price: the texture, accompanying ingredients, and how the oil behaves when water is added all vary.

COSRX: Lightweight Texture for Blemish-Prone Skin

Most customers associate COSRX with hydrocolloid patches for blemishes and snail filtrate serum. The brand's approach to cleansing is as straightforward as the rest of its care: short ingredient list, lightweight oil texture, and emphasis on emulsifying well with water to avoid leaving a greasy film on the skin. This is where Korean oils diverge most from the thick pharmacy formulas, which are often designed with very dry and atopic skin in mind.

• Suitable for: Combination and oily skin that doesn't tolerate heavy textures well but needs to reliably remove sunscreen and makeup.
• What sets it apart: A lighter feel after rinsing and a simpler formula compared to purely nourishing oils.
• Price range: Mid-range – Korean skincare on Brasty typically ranges between two and three hundred crowns.

Beauty of Joseon: Rice Extract and a Calmer Feel on the Skin

Beauty of Joseon builds its identity on traditional Korean skincare ingredients, especially rice extract and ginseng. It's better known for its lightweight sunscreens and centella serums, but the same logic applies to cleansing: gentle texture, subtle fragrance, and formulations that aim not to dry out the skin after cleansing. If pharmacy oils seem functional but a bit soulless, here you'll find cosmetics where the application experience itself plays a role.

• Suitable for: Normal to dry skin that can handle fragrance and appreciates a softer feel after washing.
• What sets it apart: A formula based on plant extracts instead of purely dermatological minimalism.
• Price range: Higher mid-range, roughly from three hundred crowns upwards.

Luxury Touch: Clarins and Dermalogica

The sixth tip is for brands where cleansing is part of a more elaborate ritual. Clarins has been working with plant extracts for decades, and its cleansing products tend to be richer, more fragranced, and designed for longer facial massages. Dermalogica takes the opposite approach – it's professional skincare originally developed for salon use, so it maintains a more restrained texture and fragrance, emphasizing a two-step cleansing process where oil is followed by a second product.

• Suitable for: Those who spend more than two minutes on their evening care and want cleansing to be a standalone step, not a quick obligation.
• What sets it apart: More sophisticated texture, aromatic component, and usually smaller packaging intended for the face, while pharmacy oils are often sold in liter bottles for the whole body.
• Price range: Luxury segment, typically above five hundred crowns.

The difference between pharmacy and premium options isn't that one cleanses and the other doesn't. Both remove makeup and sunscreen. The difference lies in what they add: dermatological brands focus on reliability and minimal irritants, while Korean and luxury oils focus on texture, fragrance, and the overall impression of evening care.

How to Use Oil and Which to Choose First

Cleansing oil relies on one key rule: apply it to dry skin with dry hands. Water would emulsify it before it has a chance to dissolve makeup, sunscreen, and sebum residues, leaving just a slippery film from the treatment. The whole process takes less than two minutes and fits into any evening routine.

1. Apply the oil to dry skin. Spread two to three pumps between your palms and distribute over your face, forehead, and chin. Keep both your hands and face completely dry for now.
2. Massage for at least thirty seconds. Use circular motions to work through the T-zone, sides of the nose, and chin line, where sebum tends to accumulate. Treat the eye area gently, without pulling the skin.
3. Emulsify with lukewarm water. Moisten your fingers, add a few drops of water, and continue massaging until the oil turns into a milky emulsion. This step turns the oil into a rinseable product.
4. Rinse thoroughly. Use lukewarm water, not hot. Pay attention to the hairline, under the chin, and sides of the nose, where residues often linger.
5. Add a second step. A gentle cleansing gel or foam complements the oil by cleansing in the water phase, leaving the skin truly clean, not just makeup-free.

Three Mistakes That Ruin the Result

• Too short a massage. Ten seconds for a quick spread is not enough – the oil needs time to dissolve waterproof pigments and filters. If you feel like you're massaging for a long time, you're probably just getting started.
• Insufficient rinsing. Skipping emulsification or a quick rinse leaves a greasy veil on the skin, easily mistaken for "clogged pores from oil." It's actually about technique, not composition.
• Skipping the second step. Two-phase cleansing isn't a marketing gimmick, but a practical division of labor: oil handles the oily stuff, gel deals with the watery. The oil alone can handle makeup removal in the evening, but not the entire cleanup.

Which Oil to Choose First

If you're new to cleansing oils, choose based on your skin type and how much you want to invest in the first bottle. Here are four simple scenarios:

• Sensitive and reactive skin: opt for dermocosmetics with a short ingredient list and no fragrance – Bioderma and La Roche-Posay have long been staples in this segment. Both brands offer cleansing lines designed for skin that reacts to almost anything.
• Dry skin with a compromised barrier: look for formulations with ceramides, like those from CeraVe. An oil from such a line will cleanse without leaving the skin feeling tight after rinsing.
• Combination and oily skin: try lighter Korean oils that emulsify quickly and don't leave a film. They are usually available in smaller bottles, making them cheaper than liter-sized dermocosmetics.
• Mature skin and a desire for ritual: a more luxurious oil from a higher price range makes sense if you care about texture, scent, and a longer massage. You'll pay more for the result, but evening cleansing becomes a pleasant part of the day rather than a chore.

If you're torn between two candidates, decide based on the size of the bottle. A smaller format is a cheaper entry into the world of oil cleansing, and in a month, you'll know if this method of cleansing suits you. Only then does it make sense to switch to a larger bottle, which is more cost-effective per milliliter.

You can find specific options and volumes in the Cleansing and Makeup Removal category, where you can compare the composition, packaging sizes, and prices of individual brands side by side. And if the first oil doesn't suit you, it might not be the oil's fault – try extending the massage and adding a second step first. Most disappointments with cleansing oils are resolved right there.