What Are The Best Cleansers For Oily Skin?

Remember when we were all cleansing our skin raw to get rid of every last trace of excess oil?

Now we know that just triggers skin to make more of that damn oil. Ugh.

Going in the opposite direction doesn’t work either. If your cleanser’s too gentle, it won’t remove all that grease on your skin.

So what’s a girl with oily skin to do? Take the middle road and opt for gentle foaming cleansers that get rid of excess oil but still leave enough behind to keep skin naturally moisturised.

Sounds like a tall order? Worry not, I won’t let you fulfil it alone. Here are the best cleansers for oily skin:

Best For Absorbing Excess Oil: Clinique City Block Purifying Charcoal Cleansing Gel ($20.50)

Don’t let the hype fool you. Charcoal can’t get rid of the impurities lodged in your pores all that well. Especially not in a cleanser that stays on your skin for two minutes. But you know what it can do in that short time? Absorbs excess oil. If you’re greasier than a frying pan, Clinique City Block Purifying Charcoal Cleansing Gel will help you tone down the shine and remove dirt and makeup. All without drying out the skin. Oh, don’t let the black colour put you off. It rinses off easily.

Available at: Blue Mercury, Look Fantastic, Selfridges and Sephora

Best For Oily And Sensitive Skin: Paula’s Choice Calm Redness Relief Cleanser Normal To Oily ($18.00)

Paula’s Choice Calm Redness Relief Cleanser Normal To Oily has its fair share of anti-inflammatory ingredients, like allantoin and aloe vera, to reduce redness and irritations. It’s true these ingredients do a much better job when left on the skin for hours rather than being rinsed off down the drain after a few minutes but they still have their use here. Cleansing is always a little traumatic for skin, especially if it’s sensitive. Aloe vera & co will make it a little gentler, reducing the risk of irritation and dryness. Did I mention it’s fragrance-free, too?

Available at: Dermstore, Look Fantastic, Paula’s Choice and Skinstore

Related: 9 Ingredients To Soothe Irritated & Sensitive Skin

Best On A Budget: Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser ($6.99)

If you want to spend less than $10 on a cleanser and still get the cleansing job done well, look no further than Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser. It removes everything – dirt, makeup, impurities, you name it – without drying out and irritating your skin. I wish it were fragrance-free but if that doesn’t bother you, this is hard to beat.

Available at: Ulta and Walmart

Related: Are Foaming Cleansers Bad For Skin?

Best Morning Cleanser: Cosrx Low pH Good Morning Cleanser ($11.00)

Looking for a gentle, no-frills morning cleanser that gets the job done without irritating skin? Cosrx Low pH Good Morning Cleanser has you covered. It uses gentle cleansing agents that melt away dirt and impurities without stripping your skin of its natural moisturising oils. Plus, it has a skin-friendly pH that doesn’t destroy the skin’s protective barrier. In other words, it gets rid of dirt without drying out your skin.

Available at: Look Fantastic, Sokoglam, Urban Outfitters and Yes Style

Related: Why You Should Opt For A Low pH Cleanser

Best Bar Soap: Drunk Elephant Peekee Bar ($28.00)

I know what you’re thinking, “why is Gio recommending a bar soap?!” I know I always say they’re the worst thing for skin and I stand by that. Most bar soaps on the market are formulated with pore clogging ingredients and at a pH that dry out skin and give it pimples. Drunk Elephant Peekee Bar is the exception to the rule. I don’t know how they did it but Peekee Bar behaves like a liquid soap: it removes dirt and makeup without drying out skin and rinses off well, leaving no residue behind that could clog your pores. If you really can’t give up on bar soaps, switch to this.

Available at: Sephora

Related: Still using soap to wash your face? Read This

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What do you think are the best cleansers for oily skin? Share your picks in the comments below.