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Cleansing Oil Deserves a Spot in Your Skincare Routine

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The art of the double-cleanse was originally brought into focus by the popularity of Japanese skincare routines. While this has just recently gained more traction in mainstream skincare news, double-cleansing has been practiced in Japan for centuries. Cleansing multiple times is also a typical component of the traditional 10-step K-beauty skincare routine.

Both methods include washing your face first with an oil-based cleanser, followed by washing with a water-based face wash afterward. This ensures that every single trace of makeup, dirt, and pollutants is effectively removed from your skin first, allowing the ingredients in your second cleanser to do its job, addressing your specific skin concerns, with no interruption.

It may sound excessive, but double-cleansing can be a serious game-changer, especially if you suffer from skin issues like acne, dullness, or an oily T-zone. According to Women's Health, using a cleansing oil can actually help people who suffer from oily skin by balancing out the natural production of oils and reducing overall inflammation. Read on to discover our editor-tested cleansing oils and get ready to elevate your skincare routine.

1
Best of the Best

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
1
Best of the Best

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil

Now 14% Off
$27 at Amazon$25 at Walmart$28 at Ulta Beauty

We can't get enough of this classic cleansing oil from DHC. This is the perfect pick if you're new to the world of using a cleanser before your cleanser. For heavier makeup days, we recommend keeping a bottle of the DHC Olive Concentrated Cleansing Oil in your skincare rotation as well. 

More: J-Beauty Products We Love

2
Best for Sensitive Skin

Bioderma Atoderm Cleansing Oil

Bioderma Atoderm Cleansing Oil
2
Best for Sensitive Skin

Bioderma Atoderm Cleansing Oil

If you have sensitive skin, or even a skin condition like eczema, you have to be especially careful with the type of cleanser you use. This cleansing oil from Bioderma was specifically formulated to be gentle on this type of skin.

More: Give Your Skin Some TLC with GLAMGLOW's Supermattify Clarifying Oil-Control Face Primer

3
Best for Quick Makeup Removal

Boscia MakeUp-BreakUp Cool Cleansing Oil

Boscia MakeUp-BreakUp Cool Cleansing Oil
3
Best for Quick Makeup Removal

Boscia MakeUp-BreakUp Cool Cleansing Oil

Boscia offers an effective and affordable cleansing oil that does literally what its name says it does. The MakeUp-BreakUp oil is formulated with rose hip, green tea, avocado, and olive-fruit oil, all ingredients rich in vitamin E, which protects against free-radical damage.

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4
Lightweight Option

bareMinerals Oil Obsessed Total Cleansing Oil

bareMinerals Oil Obsessed Total Cleansing Oil
4
Lightweight Option

bareMinerals Oil Obsessed Total Cleansing Oil

Now 38% Off

This lightweight cleansing oil offers a delicate blend of blueberry, borage, cucumber, and sunflower oils. Just glide this oil on after a long day to melt off makeup and dirt and enjoy a supple, hydrated complexion.

5
Best for Normal Skin

Erno Laszlo Phelityl Pre-Cleansing Oil

Erno Laszlo Phelityl Pre-Cleansing Oil
5
Best for Normal Skin

Erno Laszlo Phelityl Pre-Cleansing Oil

Now 30% Off

Legendary skincare brand Erno Laszlo offers an assortment of oil cleansers for every skin type. For normal skin types, we love the Phelityl variation, formulated with 12 different essential oils to nourish and deeply cleanse the skin.

6
Best for Dry Skin

Garnier Clean+ Nourishing Cleansing Oil For Dry Skin

Garnier Clean+ Nourishing Cleansing Oil For Dry Skin
6
Best for Dry Skin

Garnier Clean+ Nourishing Cleansing Oil For Dry Skin

A budget-friendly option that keeps up with the prestigious competition, this Garnier cleansing oil is great for dry skin. It's infused with moisturizing ingredients like jojoba and macadamia nut oils to melt makeup off and leave your skin feeling like velvet.

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7
Celebrity Approved

Josie Maran Argan Cleansing Oil

Josie Maran Argan Cleansing Oil
7
Celebrity Approved

Josie Maran Argan Cleansing Oil

Josie Maran knows a thing or two about argan oil. This beneficial ingredient is present in practically all of the brand's iconic products, so we were thrilled to see it present in this cleansing oil, too. It also features a blend of sunflower, safflower, and grapeseed oils to dissolve makeup without stripping the skin of its natural oils.

8
Best for Dull Skin

Shu Uemura Anti/Oxi+ Pollutant & Dullness Clarifying Cleansing Oil

Shu Uemura Anti/Oxi+ Pollutant & Dullness Clarifying Cleansing Oil
8
Best for Dull Skin

Shu Uemura Anti/Oxi+ Pollutant & Dullness Clarifying Cleansing Oil

This Shu Uemura cleansing oil is on the pricier side, but it's packed full of quality ingredients that make it worth the price tag. Formulated with moringa extract for purifying and anti-pollution action, it also contains green tea extract to revitalize and brighten the skin.

9
Best Botanical Blend

Tata Harper Nourishing Oil Cleanser

Tata Harper Nourishing Oil Cleanser
9
Best Botanical Blend

Tata Harper Nourishing Oil Cleanser

This silky blend of oils from Tata Harper offers botanical sources of omega-3, -6, and -9 to nourish the skin, while rose geranium essential oil lends a sweet scent. It smells divine and cleans your skin like a dream, leaving it feeling hydrated and never stripped of natural oil.

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10
Classic Cleanser

Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Oil

Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Oil
10
Classic Cleanser

Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Oil

Clinique's Take the Day Off Cleansing Oil is a cult-classic cleanser we adore. It effortlessly removes every trace of makeup, including heavy eye makeup and stubborn liquid lipsticks. Skin is left feeling fresh and soft!

Headshot of Katie McBroom
Katie McBroom
Beauty Editor

Katie McBroom is an award-winning content creator and freelance writer. Prior to contributing to Biography, she served as Content Editor for Google and Beauty Editor for Best Products. Her work has also appeared in publications including CNN, WWD, Business Insider, Forbes, and Men's Health, among others.

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