Keep Greasiness At Bay With Byrdie Editor Favorite Face Washes for Oily Skin (2024)

Key Ingredients: Mandelic acid, vitamin E | Skin Type: Acne, blemish prone | Size: 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Hyper Skin’s gel cleanser takes on breakouts, clogged pores, and dullness with a combination of a gentle exfoliating mandelic acid and blend of powerful botanicals like licorice root and willow bark that calm inflammation and prevent future breakouts. There’s even a touch of vitamin E, aloe, and mushroom extract to soothe irritation.

The gel-like texture emulsifies into creamy milk when combined with water and felt like a protective layer over our face. It also has a pleasant, strong, fruity-floral fragrance, which we personally liked but may not be tolerable to more sensitive noses. It’s great for daily cleansing, however if you wear heavier makeup, you may need to double cleanse to remove it all.

Key Ingredients: Polyhydroxy acids, prebiotic inulin, glycerin | Skin Type: Acne, blemish-prone | Size: 3.38 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

One not-so-desirable side effect of oily skin is an increased chance of breakouts, from blackheads to acne. That’s where a gentle foaming wash like this one helps to clear congestion and leave skin clean without stripping it of every ounce of moisture. The formula uses a gentler form of AHAs called polyhydroxy acids (PHAs)to exfoliate skin without increasing sensitivity. It’s also formulated with chicory root-derived prebiotic inulin to strengthen the skin barrier and a corn-based sugar complex to add a dose of hydration that sticks around long after you’ve rinsed off the suds.

We loved the lightweight, ultra-foamy consistency of this wash, which never left our skin feeling tight or parched after use. In fact, our tester noted that it added a long-lasting layer of moisture to her complexion that stood up amazingly to winter weather. During the testing period, her skin was noticeably softer and seemed more illuminated than usual.

Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid | Skin Type: Oily, sensitive, combination | Size: 6.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

The hero ingredient in our budget-friendly pick, Neutrogena’s Deep Clean Facial Cleanser, is salicylic acid. This BHA helps dissolve oil and dirt while boosting cell turnover, revealing a more radiant complexion. The foamy formula is also oil-free, noncomedogenic, anda favorite of dermatologists.

The lightweight gel spreads easily over the face, building up to a foamy lather that easily nuzzles into every face crevice for a really good clean. It wasn’t great at removing makeup, so we used an oil-based cleanser beforehand to do that, but it definitely left our skin feeling clean and refreshed. We experienced a little tightness after washing, but it was never uncomfortable and left skin more glowy, making it a gentle, quality everyday face wash.

Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, heartleaf hyaluronic acid | Skin Type: Oily, sensitive, blemish-prone | Size: 5.07 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

A “Holy Grail” oily skin cleanser can clean out pores and minimize excess oil without sensitizing the skin. This luxuriously foamy option by ANUA does exactly that. It’s effective but gentle, utilizing salicylic acid to exfoliate dead skin cells and help control sebum production, heartleaf to calm inflammation, and hyaluronic acid to deeply hydrate. While the bubbly formuladeep cleans pores and refreshes your complexion, you will want to use an oil cleanser first to help wash away any makeup or sunscreen.

We loved the frothy lather and gentle exfoliating texture of this face wash, which rinsed away with no residue. Our face looked and felt squeaky clean, so we did slather on a layer of moisturizer after cleansing to counteract its exfoliating effects, but we noticed our complexion was super soft and smooth afterward.

Key Ingredients: Oat, kaolin clay, vitamin E | Skin Type: Very sensitive, eczema prone | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This gentle facial cleanser from Blueland is like a flashback to your high school science class. It begins as a powder, which you decant into a reusable bottle, then mix with water and shake to activate the face cleansing mixture.

We gave this one high marks for how gentle and soothing the creamy, gel texture felt on the skin, and how well it removed makeup with a single cleanse. It's also derm-tested and formulated with gentle,plant-based ingredients like oats, kaolin clay, and vitamin E for extra skin coddling while cleansing. Our favorite part is the sustainable glass bottle design, which features powder refill packs that you mix in when empty and last about one month.

Key Ingredients: Activated charcoal, vitamin C | Skin Type: Oily, acne, blemish prone | Size: 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you’re prone to blackheads and whiteheads, this detoxifying cleanser from Boscia can help. The formula contains a combination of activated charcoal to absorb oil and tighten the look of pores and vitamin C to refine skin texture and give skin a glowy finish. Pro tip: pair this face wash with an acne-fighting black charcoal Konjac Cleansing Sponge for the cleanest, softest, smoothest results.

This gel formula has a thicker, heavier consistency that doesn’t glide over skin like foam or oil. However, it was easy to rinse off and left our skin feeling undeniably refreshed and tighter, in a good way. It absorbed any gunky oils and grime from the day and effortlessly washed away grease and makeup. With consistent use, our pores appeared smaller, and our skin looked cleaner and healthier.

Key Ingredients: Lavender essential oil, peppermint essential oil, natural salicylic acid, rosemary essential oil, organic grape water | Skin Type: Oily, congested, blemish prone | Size: 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

When pores are clogged with sebum and gunk, they expand, making them more noticeable. The secret to making them appear smaller is keeping pores clean with a pore-minimizing cleanser like this one from Caudalie. The formula contains salicylic acid to gently clear away grease, dirt, and makeup, and absorb excess oils without leaving skin stripped of moisture. The result is shrunken pores, and smoother, cleaner skin.

The gel textures feels thick and luxurious and effectively removed all makeup—even stubborn mascara residue. It gently cleaned skin thoroughly without drying it out, with no signs of irritation or sensitivity. We were also impressed by how soft our skin felt, and how much smaller our pores appeared, after use.

Key Ingredients: Zinc, glycerin | Skin Type: Oily, sensitive, blemish prone | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

If you prefer to do your beauty shopping at the drugstore, the sensitive skin-conscious brand Cetaphil is a tried-and-true favorite for a reason: it delivers. This foamy formula gently, yet effectively, removes oils from the skin’s surface while also delivering a dose of hydration to ensure skin feels soft and pampered, instead of stripped. It also contains zinc to reduce inflammation associated with acne and leave skin looking clearer and more even. The foamy lather spreads easily around face lifting dirt, oils, and face makeup (although, our tester can’t attest to how it does on eye makeup since she doesn’t wear any). She noted her skin felt cleansed and hydrated without any tightness or irritation. While it’s a perfect pick for a gentler cleanse, if you’re looking for something more clarifying or exfoliating we’d suggest trying another option on this list.

Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, ginseng root, cucumber, glycerin, brown algae extract | Skin Type: Oily, blemish-prone | Size: 16 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Having specific cleansers for your evening and morning skincare routine is helpful for oily skin as it helps skin stay clean without making it too dry. That’s where this cleansing duo comes into play with a gentler morning formula spiked with vitamin C, antioxidant ginseng root, and skin-soothing cucumber extract to remove oil and improve skin texture and glow. Followed by a more heavy-duty evening formula with glycerin and brown algae extract for a deeper cleanse to remove makeup and oils from the day while also leaving skin hydrated and soothed.

Overall, we liked incorporating two targeted cleansers into our daily routine. The morning formula lathered nicely and left skin feeling clean and the evening formula was less foamy but did an excellent job of removing all traces of makeup when we used it with a washcloth. The night cleanser did leave our skin feeling a little tight but we took that as a sign that the cleanser was doing its job. We just paired with a good moisturizer and our skin was clean, supple, and refreshed.

Key Ingredients: Red clay, rosemary leaf oil, camellia leaf extract, bisabolol | Skin Type: Oily, sensitive, acne-prone | Size: 4.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Oily, sensitive skin is often prone to acne. This deep cleanser from First Aid Beauty clears congested pores and calms inflammation, leaving skin soft, supple, and blemish-free. A blend of detoxifying red clay and rosemary leaf oil help balance sebum production and clear out any clogs that can cause breakouts, while camellia sinensis leaf extract and chamomile-derived bisabolol soothe and protect the skin.

We loved the lightweight texture of this gel formula, which removed all makeup and cleaned the skin thoroughly without stripping natural oils from the skin. It didn’t irritate our tester’s sensitive skin whatsoever and it was gentle enough to use twice a day. After rinsing, her skin felt refreshed, rejuvenated, and bouncy.

Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, ceramide-3 | Skin Type: Oily, sensitive, combination | Size: 13.52 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

If you’re looking for an everyday cleanser that’s gentle enough for everyday use yet effective at curbing oiliness, this pick from La Roche-Posay is our go-to. It contains the brand’s signature prebiotic thermal spring water for instant skin soothing, along with radiance-boosting, oil-balancing niacinamide and hydrating ceramide-3 to protect the skin barrier.

This formula works up to a luxurious lather—that we love—but our tester noted it was best to use a washcloth to remove it, instead of simply splashing your face with water. We loved how effectively it reduced oil and shine, leaving our skin soft and clean but not stripped dry—even on cold winter days.

Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, ceramide-3 | Skin Type: Oily, sensitive, combination | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

This gel cleanser is formulated with papaya and grapefruit enzymes that help to remove dirt and sebum from the skin, leaving your complexion looking and feeling refreshed and glow-y post-cleanse. It also doubles as a purifying face mask that you can leave on your skin for one to five minutes before washing it off, for a deeper cleanse.

It’s one of the lightest cleansers we’ve ever tried, with a satisfying silky texture that glides over your face as you apply it, but it doesn’t build up to a frothy lather. It did a good job of removing oil buildup from the day and left our skin feeling noticeably smoother afterward however it’s worth noting, we did opt for two applications to get that fully cleansed and refreshed feeling we were hoping for.

Key Ingredients: Glycolic and Lactic acids, neem seed oil, green tea | Skin Type: Oily | Size: 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This cooling eucalyptus and peppermint-infused face wash from Ole Henriksen turns your cleansing routine into a soothing sensory experience.The formula contains a mix of glycolic and lactic acids (AHAs) that help to gently loosen and remove dead skin cells, exfoliating and clearing skin to reveal a glowier refreshed complexion. It also contains a cocktail of soothing botanicals, like antioxidant neem seed oil and clarifying green tea, that add to the refreshing cleanse while also protecting the skin with a dose of antioxidants.

The thick-gel consistency worked up to a healthy lather and we adored the cooling, tingly sensation that left our skin feeling super clean. Our sensitive skin did experience a little redness post-cleanse, probably due to the exfoliating AHAs, but it was also undeniably softer and smoother. Any oiliness was gone and our complexion looked matte and refreshed. We also liked the scent: minty, a little sweet, and a bit herbaceous, adding to the satisfying sensory cleanse.

Key Ingredients: Kirishima Mineral Spring Water, rice germ oil | Skin Type: Oily, blemish-prone | Size: 4.22 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Shiseido’s Deep Cleansing Foam boasts signature Japanese skincare ingredients likesoothing Kirishima Mineral Spring Water and softening rice germ oil, which work to absorb excess sebum and protect against environmental stressors like pollution.This skin-brightening formula gently polishes rough, flakey skin patches, to reveal a buffed, brighter complexion post-cleanse.

A dime-sized amount of the thick gel lathers into a rich foam thatcovers the entire face and effectively removes the day’s makeup. Each time we used this cleanser, our skin looked noticeably brighter. It helped remove excessive oiliness and ultimately reduced the breakouts we experienced during the testing period. We didn’t find the formula particularly moisturizing or smoothing, as compared to some others in this lineup, however it did help clear up patches of redness, which was an unexpected plus.

Key Ingredients: volcanic sand microbeads, grape water, menthol | Skin Type: Oily, combination | Size: 2.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Although chemical exfoliants like AHAs are all the rage in beauty, we’re partial to a physical exfoliator for its satisfying gritty texture and skin-polishing results. This cleanser from Caudalie contains natural volcanic sand microbeads to slough off dead skin and pore-clogging dirt, rinsing away to reveal a smoother, softer, more radiant complexion. The formula is also spiked with cooling menthol, which gives it a delightful skin-tingling effect that is equally refreshing and energizing.

We enjoyed the natural sensation of this scrub, which uses gritty volcanic sand instead of synthetic microbeads, and loved how clean and invigorated our skin felt every time we rinsed it off. We used the formula several times per week, as directed, and our skin looked and felt clean, tingly, and much less oily after each use. It is a more expensive option, but we think the results are worth the splurge.

Key Ingredients: Kelp extract, wheat protein, tourmaline | Skin Type: All | Size: 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

For a super satisfying foamy wash, reach for this frothy cleanser from Origins. The Sephora bestseller features a combination of hydrating broad-leaf kelp extract, skin-firming wheat protein, and detoxifying tourmaline (yes, as in the crystal) to gently cleanse the face, remove grease and gunk from the day and mattify oily zones to give skin an instantly refreshed appearance.

The consistency of this cleanser is dreamy; just a little dab, and it foams up like a cloud. It was incredibly gentle on our skin but did a great job of removing all the grime that can accumulate after a day in the city. Our skin felt clean and coddled, never stripped or dried out. We used this formula twice daily, as directed, and found the experience so delightful that we were tempted to use it as a body wash, too.

FAQ

• How do you get the most out of a face wash for oily skin?

  Use it as you would any other face wash. One caveat: If you are trying to get the most bang for your buck from an active ingredient, such as salicylic acid, leave it on for 30 to 60 seconds before rinsing off. This allows the ingredient to be in contact with your skin long enough to work.

• What ingredients should you avoid in a face wash for oily skin?

  Ideally, any kind of oil, as well as thicker, heavier, moisturizing ingredients (think shea butter or coconut oil).