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Last Updated on March 18, 2026 by Giorgia Guazzarotti

right way to remove sunscreen

Do you really need a special cleanser to remove sunscreen? Rumour has it that only oil-based cleansers can melt those stubborn UV filters away, hence the need for double cleansing. So if you’re not doing that, does that mean you have layers of sunscreen still clogging your pores?! I had to investigate it and what I discovered surprised me. Here’s the right way to remove sunscreen:

Do You Need An Oil-Based Cleanser To Remove Sunscreen?

Good news: you don’t need an oil-based cleanser to remove sunscreen. You need oils AND/OR surfactants. If this is too science for you, let me explain it in plain English (cos you ain’t here for a science lesson).

Let’s start with why everyone is telling you that you need an oil-based cleanser to remove sunscreen. It all started when Korean skincare became a thing and they forced double cleansing on people. The theory is: you start with an oil-based cleanser to remove oil-based impurities followed by a water-based cleanser to remove water-based impurities.

Except, it’s all BS because a good cleanser removes everything without you having to spend twice the amount of money to get the same results. There are many things I love about Korean skincare, but boy, they do like to invent products and rituals no one needs. Now the rant’s over, here are the 2 ways cleansers remove every impurities:

  • Oils: oils work because like attracts like. The oils in your cleanser attach to the oils in your sunscreen, melting them off and away.
  • Surfactants: they help water mix with oils, rinsing everything off down the drain. Common examples are Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine and Decyl Glucoside.

It’s like washing your dishes. The last time you had to clean a greasy pan, did you use an oil-based cleanser to do the job? Of course not! You used your regular dish washing soap. Guess what that has? Surfactants!

If surfactants are good enough to clean a greasy pan, you can trust them to remove your sunscreen. Sure, your cleanser has gentler surfactants than dish washing soap, but you get the point: surfactants CAN remove sunscreen. Put another way, the cleanser you’re already using can remove your sunscreen. No need to throw it away and look for something else. Phew!

Related: How To Choose The Best Cleanser For Your Skin Type?

How effective is your sunscreen? Sign up to the newsletter below to receive the “Sunscreen Audit” Worksheet and find out if your sunscreen is really up to the job:

What Are The Best Cleansers To Remove Sunscreen?

Again, that cleanser you’re already using is probably up to the job. But if you’re curious to know what my fave cleansers are, check out the picks below:

  • CeraVe Foaming Cleanser ($16.99): One of the best cleansers for oily and acne-prone skin. Available at Asos, Sephora, Ulta and Walmart
  • Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm ($44): A gentle, oil-based makeup remover. Available at Nordstrom, Sephora and Ulta
  • Drunk Elephant Beste No.9 Jelly Cleanser ($36.00): A great cleanser for combination skin, although every skin type can use it. Available at Cult Beauty, Sephora and SpaceNK

Are There Any Cleansers That Can’t Remove Sunscreens?

Yes, but they’re rare. Occasionally you will come across a cleanser like Avene Tolerance Extreme Lotion that has neither oils nor surfactants. Micellar waters are another example of a cleanser I wouldn’t use to remove my sunscreen. But then micellar waters should only be used on-the-go. They make good morning cleaners but they can’t get rid of sunscreen or waterproof makeup. You need something stronger for that.

FAQs

How long should you massage your cleanser in?

No one’s done a study on this so take it with a grain of salt, but cosmetic chemists tend to agree on 30-60 seconds of actual massaging. The point is giving the surfactants or oils enough time and friction to emulsify the UV filters and lift them off. Ten seconds and a rinse? Probably not cutting it. Past 60 seconds you’re not gaining much and you’re just aggravating your skin barrier for no reason.

Mineral vs chemical sunscreen: does it matter?

Nope, not really. What matters is the base the sunscreen is formulated in, not whether the filters are mineral or chemical. A thick, occlusive formula is harder to shift than a lightweight fluid regardless of what UV filters are in it. So stop worrying about which type of sunscreen you’re wearing and just focus on whether your cleanser has oils and/or surfactants. Which, as we already covered, it almost certainly does.

Water-resistant and sport sunscreens: harder to remove?

Technically yes, water resistance comes from film-forming polymers and waxes that make the formula stick to skin. But that doesn’t mean you need to double cleanse. It just means you need to put in a bit more effort with your regular cleanser. Spend the full 60 seconds massaging it in properly instead of doing a lazy 10-second rinse-off. A cleanser with good surfactants will still break it down, you just can’t be half-arsed about it.

The Bottom Line

You don’t need a special cleanser to remove your sunscreen. Any cleaser with oils and/or surfactants will do the job. And that includes 99% of cleansers on the market. Phew!