People with oily skin often feel the need to wash their face more often than people with dry, normal or combination skin. This is not necessary if you are using one of the best facial cleansers for oily skin that cleans and absorbs excess oil without drying the skin completely. Many options, including our top pick (Dr. Dennis Gross' Alpha Beta Gel Cleanser), even use ingredients like salicylic acid to help control future oil production over time.
But even if both have naturally oily skin, no two have the same needs. This is because some people's skin is more sensitive or prone to acne and oiliness (this is a very common correlation). Budget can play a role when looking for a new cleanser for oily skin, and luckily there are plenty of great options on both ends of the spectrum. Read on to find out our top picks for the best facial cleansers for oily skin
Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta AHA/BHA Daily Gel Cleanser
This writer with oily (and acne-prone) skin has tried many facial cleansers and this one is Dr. Dennis Gross is hard to beat. First, the gel foam formula uses alpha-hydroxy acids to gently exfoliate surface cells (and prevent clogged pores). Additionally, salicylic acid, one of the ingredients favored by both experts in this article, is used to balance sebum levels and remove excess oil from pores, thereby preventing shine and blemishes. And even though this product does a lot of heavy lifting (and you may feel a tingling sensation as it works), you can use it twice a day to keep oil levels under control without irritating your skin.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Cleansing Gel
If you're looking for an affordable cleanser that deeply cleanses and keeps pores clear, La-Roche Posay offers this great option with salicylic acid and lipohydroxy acid to gently remove dead skin cells and prevent future blockages. It is a serious enemy against blackheads and is surprisingly hydrating and nourishing compared to other drugstore facial cleansers.
La Mer Cleansing Foam
La Mer Foaming Facial Cleanser contains the exclusive Miracle Broth Complex, which invigorates and stimulates the skin in this cleanser to increase firmness and fight dullness. Although you won't find a list of common oil-fighting ingredients in this recipe (like salicylic acid or clay), remember that your cleanser doesn't have to be an active oil-fighting solution in the first place. Instead, you need to carefully remove this oil without drying out your skin and risking oil build-up or further breakouts. And from that perspective, La Mer's skin-pleasing, nutrient-dense recipe is perhaps the most impressive on this list.
CeraVe Renovador SA Cleaner
CeraVe will always be a favorite among dermatologists, and Dr. Genovia counts herself a fan of the brand's Salicylic Acid Foaming Gel Cleanser. "It's a great, affordable product that can be used every day to fight fat," he says. This is ideal if you have normal to oily skin, or oily in some areas and dry or normal in others (also called combination skin). And like all CeraVe products, this formula is enriched with ceramides that help maintain skin's moisture levels and act as a defense against toxins.
Cardon Clay Cleaning Agent
Kardon's Amazing Facial Cleanser has two main ingredients. Using skin-protecting clay, creates a soothing lather that penetrates deep into pores to remove excess oil and cleanse surface impurities while maintaining skin's moisture levels. Second, the brand's star ingredient, cactus extract, softens and soothes skin, perhaps even better than aloe vera.
Murad Clarifying Cleanser
With a moderate dose of salicylic acid, Murad Daily Cleanser helps keep pores clear and skin soft without over-drying your skin. By maintaining this balance, it helps control sebum production so that the skin stays hydrated, but not too much. Also soothes and fights hyperpigmentation with the addition of green tea extract.
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Dr. Love the Genovia Dermalogica Daily Cleanser because it gently exfoliates the skin with salicylic acid while reducing acne and excess oil. It's a rice-based cleaning powder that you mix with water in your hands. This product contains papaya extract, colloidal oatmeal and white tea to smooth and brighten the skin.
Kate Somerville EradiKate Daily Acne Cleansing Treatment
Sulfur is another Dr. A Genovia-approved ingredient that you can use to prevent and reduce acne while reducing sebum levels in the skin. This gentle yet clinically effective sulfur cleanser from Kate Somerville is one of our favorites because of its airy formula. Contains oat extract to absorb excess oil and balance sebum production, as well as plant extracts to soothe and prevent irritation.
Ken Forbes Trust Review
The Forbes Verified Beauty team is experienced in reviewing the best skin care products in various categories. Author Adam Hurley has been covering hygiene and skin care topics for a decade, including the best facial cleansers for acne and moisturizers for men. For this article we are dermatologist Dr. Asmi Sanghavi and Dr. Genovia Gabriel uses it to identify key ingredients to consider and avoid when choosing the best facial cleanser for oily skin. Senior Beauty Editor Jane Tsang, who edited this article, has conducted extensive research on new and established beauty brands across categories for more than a decade.
We update this article regularly to check price accuracy and availability. We review our product selection and review customer reviews. In this November 2023 update, we have added three new products: Dr. Our luxury facial cleanser picks from Denise Gross, La Mer and a gentler pick for sensitive skin from Kardon.
How we choose the best facial cleanser for oily skin
In our intensive search for the best facial cleanser for oily skin, we tested several options (and continue to do so as new versions arrive) and looked at product reviews and ratings. When making our choices, we consider price, ingredient and formula variations. Finally, we've gathered the best product recommendations from experts Sanghvi and Gabriel to ensure our list is curated from the most professional and reputable sources.