Best Face Cleansers for Oily Skin
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Short answer
For oily skin, start with CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser. CeraVe lists it for normal and oily skin, its key ingredients are ceramides, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, and it has no fragrance on its list. If your skin is also sensitive, Brickell Purifying Charcoal Face Wash for Men is listed for dry, sensitive and oily skin. These picks come from brand labels; we haven’t tested them.
Our label-based picks for oily skin
Start here for oily skin
Brand lists it for normal, oily skin
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
Ceramides, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid · normal, oily skin · no scent flags recorded
If you’re also sensitive
Brand lists it for dry, sensitive, oily skin
Brickell Purifying Charcoal Face Wash for Men
Activated charcoal, olive oil, jojoba, aloe, green and white tea · dry, sensitive, oily skin · no scent flags recorded
Which one fits your main goal?
- Glowing, hydrated skin: CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser, because it’s brand-listed for oily skin, and the brand describes it as hydrating. See the ingredients for hydration.
- Less tightness and flaking: Lab Series Anti-Age Max LS Rich Foaming Face Wash, because it’s brand-listed for all skin types, oily skin included, and the brand describes it as nourishing or barrier-supporting. See the ingredients for tightness and flaking.
- Fewer breakouts and clogged pores: Perricone MD Acne Relief Gentle & Soothing Cleanser, because it’s brand-listed for oily skin, and the brand positions it for breakouts or pores. See the ingredients for breakouts.
- Smoother-looking fine lines: Brickell Redefining Anti-Aging Face Wash for Men, because it’s brand-listed for all skin types, oily skin included, and the brand positions it for fine lines or firmness. See the ingredients for fine lines.
- More even tone and fewer dark spots: Dermalogica Daily Glycolic Cleanser, because it’s brand-listed for oily skin, and the brand positions it for tone or dark spots. See the ingredients for dark spots.
By budget
- Under $20: Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cleansing Foam. See the product page for store prices and when each was checked.
- $20–$40: Laneige Balance Mode Rice Foaming Deep Cleanser. See the product page for store prices and when each was checked.
All 33 face cleansers listed for oily skin
| Product | Key ingredients | Skin type (brand) | Fragrance | Size | Price band |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceramides, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid | normal and oily skin | No scent flags recorded in our glossary | Not recorded | No current price | |
| Sucrose, squalane, and glycerin | oily and combination skin | Marketed as fragrance free | Not recorded | No current price | |
| Glycolic acid, kaolin clay and volcanic ash | normal, combination and oily skin | No scent flags recorded in our glossary | Not recorded | No current price | |
| Activated charcoal, olive oil, jojoba, aloe, green and white tea | dry, sensitive and oily skin | No scent flags recorded in our glossary | Not recorded | No current price | |
| Brand doesn’t name one | oily and combination skin | No scent flags recorded in our glossary | Not recorded | No current price | |
| Salicylic acid, 5-α Andro Complex, acetyl glucosamine | oily and sensitive skin | Scent ingredients flagged | 125 ml | No current price | |
| Salicylic acid, niacinamide, menthol, camphor, and eucalyptus extract | normal, combination and oily skin | Scent ingredients flagged | Not recorded | No current price | |
| Glycolic acid, jojoba seed oil and calendula extract | normal, combination and oily skin | Scent ingredients flagged | Not recorded | No current price | |
| Quillaja saponaria, balm mint, and lavender | combination, normal and oily skin | Scent ingredients flagged | Not recorded | No current price | |
| Brand doesn’t name one | all skin types | Marketed as fragrance free | Not recorded | No current price | |
| Rice-inamide Complex, rice powder, glycolic acid, and ceramide | all skin types | Marketed as fragrance free | Not recorded | $20–$40 | |
| Brand doesn’t name one | all skin types | Marketed as fragrance free | Not recorded | No current price | |
| Hyaluronic acid, MSM, geranium, centella, green tea, sodium ascorbyl phosphate | all skin types | No scent flags recorded in our glossary | Not recorded | No current price | |
| Vitamin C, niacinamide, ceramides | all skin types | No scent flags recorded in our glossary | Not recorded | No current price | |
| Brand doesn’t name one | all skin types | Scent ingredients flagged | 100 ml | No current price | |
| Tea tree leaf oil, oleanolic acid, and licorice root extract | all skin types | Scent ingredients flagged | Not recorded | No current price | |
| Papain | all skin types | Scent ingredients flagged | 200 ml | No current price | |
| Brand doesn’t name one | all skin types | Scent ingredients flagged | 100 ml | No current price | |
| Trehalose, sodium hyaluronate, green tea, algae | all skin types | Scent ingredients flagged | 100 ml | No current price | |
| Brand doesn’t name one | all skin types | Scent ingredients flagged | Not recorded | No current price | |
| Brand doesn’t name one | all skin types | Scent ingredients flagged | Not recorded | No current price | |
| Glycolic acid, lactobionic acid, salicylic acid, niacinamide, peptides | all skin types | Scent ingredients flagged | Not recorded | No current price | |
| Jojoba seed oil, argan kernel oil, evening primrose oil, ceramide NP, and 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid | all skin types | Scent ingredients flagged | Not recorded | No current price | |
| Earth marine water, padina pavonica ferment and inulin | all skin types | Scent ingredients flagged | Not recorded | No current price | |
| Brand doesn’t name one | all skin types | Scent ingredients flagged | Not recorded | No current price | |
| Vitamin C Ester, DMAE and copper complex | all skin types | Scent ingredients flagged | Not recorded | No current price | |
| Blue Hyaluronic Acid, papain, lactic acid, and Undaria pinnatifida extract | all skin types | Scent ingredients flagged | Not recorded | Under $20 | |
| Positively charged hyaluronic acid, murumuru butter, oat, lotus root extract, and 10% glycerin | all skin types | Scent ingredients flagged | Not recorded | No current price | |
| Sea buckthorn oil and plant-derived prebiotic | all skin types | Scent ingredients flagged | Not recorded | No current price | |
| Lactic acid, rose flower oil, and antioxidant conditioning | all skin types | Scent ingredients flagged | Not recorded | No current price | |
| Salicylic acid 2% | oily skin | Marketed as fragrance free | Not recorded | No current price | |
| Charcoal, glycerin | all skin types | Marketed as fragrance free | 200 ml | No current price | |
| Brand doesn’t name one | combination and oily skin | Marketed as fragrance free | 200 ml | No current price |
More ways to choose
Common questions
What is the best face cleanser for oily skin?
For oily skin, start with CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser. CeraVe lists it for normal and oily skin, its key ingredients are ceramides, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, and it has no fragrance on its list. If your skin is also sensitive, Brickell Purifying Charcoal Face Wash for Men is listed for dry, sensitive and oily skin.
How many face cleansers here are made for oily skin?
33 of the 51 we track are brand-listed for oily skin. 11 of them name it specifically; the rest are listed for all skin types.
Which face cleanser for oily skin is the most hydrating?
We can’t measure hydration, since we don’t test products. CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser is the pick here because it’s brand-listed for oily skin, and the brand describes it as hydrating.
























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