10 Best Face Wash, Cleansers For Oily Skin Reviews

People say having oily skin is better than having dry skin. In my case, I beg to differ! Sure, all seems nice and dandy soon after I wash my face. My skin looks pretty decent and sometimes it even glows. Fast-forward half an hour or so and it’s a whole other story. That glow turns into a sheen that refuses to go away. Many dabs with a tissue later and it seems I have it under control. But, no, it’s back again!

I think the worst experience has to be photographs. There’s just no escaping that prominent shine. And let’s face it, these days it’s all about trying to capture the perfect picture. Oily skin doesn’t help matters and you’re left wondering just what to do.

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Like many others with oily skin, I tried dozens of products. Some almost hit the mark and others failed miserably. The biggest problem was that even the okay stuff didn’t last long. A few months into using them and it was back to square one. It was until a year back or so that I actually found some of the best face wash for oily skin. They did the job terrifically. I couldn’t believe my luck!

You are reading: 10 Best Face Wash, Cleansers For Oily Skin Reviews

I know there are many people like me who struggle to manage oily skin. If you’re reading this, you’re probably one too. To guide you in your quest to find products that work, I want to list those that have helped me. I hope they do the same for you and that you get the oil demon under control!

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Top Face Washes For Oily Skin On The Market

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How To Wash Your Face The Right Way

Before we get to that, however, I want to bring something to your attention. Did you know there’s a way to wash your face? I didn’t until recently! Oily skin sufferers, in particular, have to be more disciplined in how they clean their skin. Check out what I’ve learned, tried and can testify to.

Always, always take make-up off. It’s a cardinal rule no matter what skin type you have. Blocked pores, zits and blemishes are just a few nasty things you can get if you don’t cleanse your skin. Choose a formula designed for oily skin. A deep facial cleansing cream is a great choice because it removes dirt more efficiently. Try to avoid products with very high pH levels as they can be too drying.
Once your make-up is removed, follow up with a face wash. It will eliminate residues of the cleansing cream, which would otherwise clog pores. Squeeze a pea-sized amount of face wash on your palm, lather it and apply to wet face. Use circular motions all over and massage the product into the skin. Do this for at least 30 seconds to let it work its magic.
Wash off with cool or warm water. Throughly remove all traces of the face wash.
Pat dry with a clean towel. Don’t wipe it as this can irritate the skin especially if you have breakouts.
Wash face at least twice a day.

Best Cleanser For Oily Skin Reviews

Now, on to the good stuff! I’ve picked 11 face washes that I believe would help you as they have me. I’ve also added a comparison chart to show what each contains and does.

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, For all skin types – Best moisturizing face wash

First, this comes in a 2-bottle pack so you have more than enough product to last you a while. Second, it’s very moisturizing. Just because you have oily skin it doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be moisturized. It’s all about maintaining the right balance of oil production.

After using this product, I noticed that my skin didn’t develop that annoying shine as quickly. It didn’t feel dry and stretched either. I really like the gentle formula, which is soap-free and does a great job of cleaning the skin. The formula is also fragrance-free and non-comedogenic so pores are kept clean and unclogged. Don’t expect it to lather much; just use a small amount and let it do the job.

Pros

It’s gentle and suitable for all skin types
It moisturizes the skin
It can be used with and without water
It’s free of fragrance and is non-comedogenic
It can be used to alleviate diaper rash.

Cons

It contains sulfate, which is considered to be an irritant for rosacea. This contradicts its claim to be suitable for rosacea.

CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser 12 – Best foaming face wash

Another non-drying formula, CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser 12 cleanses and removes oil effectively. It contains hyaluronic acid for moisture-retention and niacinamide to calm the skin. What I like about the product is its foaming action. I love a good lather! Silly, I know, but I feel my skin gets a better wash!

The ceramides in the formula really do make a difference. FYI, ceramides supposedly inhibit elastase enzymes that are responsible for ruining elastin. Skin becomes smoother, less prone to wrinkling and doesn’t flake. I have to say my skin felt moisturized without becoming oily. We’ll see about the wrinkling. It’s still early days yet!

Pros

It contains 3 ceramids – 1, 3 and 6-II
It’s non-comedogenic, non-drying and non-irritating
It has foaming action.

Cons

It contains parabens, which are believed to disrupt the endocrine system
Some users have said it causes breakouts.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel – Best oily skin face wash

This is specially formulated for oily skin. I like it because it doesn’t dry my skin though it controls oil production well. You may want to wait till summer to use it because it could dry it out otherwise.

I love that it foams (of course) but the best part is that it doesn’t contain parabens and alcohol. It’s also soap-free. My skin is pretty easy to take care of in that I don’t break out often. But, I still prefer soap-free formulations because my skin doesn’t feel stretched. If you do too, I think you’ll like this.

Pros

The formula is soap-free and oil-free
It doesn’t contains alcohol and parabens
It contains zinc pidolate
It has good foaming action.

Cons

It can be a little dry for people who only have slightly oily skin
It contains sulfates and fragrance, which may irritate sensitive skin.

Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser – Best deep cleaning face wash

Another foaming cleanser, this time by Mario Badescu. Its deep cleaning properties really do remove dirt and makeup well. I don’t use it every day, probably about twice a week when I really need a deep cleanse. I use a normal cleanser otherwise.

Unfortunately, for all the good it does, it has a few questionable ingredients. It sadly contains stuff like sulfates and parabens, which I’d rather avoid and know some of you would too. This is another reason I prefer using it only occasionally. You can never be too careful, right?

Pros

It works well on all skin types
It contains glycolic acid and herbal extracts
It can be used as a supplemental cleanser 1 to 3 times a week.

Cons

It contains sulfates, parabens and fragrance
Some users have said that it dries the skin.

Vichy Normaderm Daily Deep Cleansing Gel Acne – Best shine control face wash

Vichy is kind of similar to the Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser in that it deep cleans. It contains glycolic acid but also has salicylic acid that unclogs pores. I use it during summer when my skin is extra oily. It works wonders during the hot season and does a great job of managing shine. However, it can otherwise be drying. So, you probably want to avoid using it in winter or when your skin is dehydrated.

Pros

It’s suitable for oily skin, acne-prone skin and sensitive skin
It contains glycolic acid, salicylic acid and exfoliating LHA
It’s soap-free and alcohol-free.

Cons

It can have a tendency to dry out the skin
It contains sulfates and fragrance.

Bioderma Sebium H2O Micellar Water – Best oil control face wash

My oily skin benefited quite a bit from using Bioderma Sebium H2O Micellar Water. It removes makeup pretty well and tempers the oiliness. I use a cotton pad soaked in the solution and wash off the residue with water. However, I wouldn’t recommend it if you have skin that’s not too oily. I think it would cause dryness because parts of my face did get a little flaky.

Pros

It’s suitable for oily skin and combination skin
It’s oil-free and contains zinc gluconate and copper sulphate.

Cons

It probably won’t get rid of acne
While some users have said it’s non-drying, others claim it is

Biore Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser – Best gentle cleaning face wash

A great product for keeping skin clean especially when you’ve spent a chunk of the day outdoors. A little goes a long way so you don’t have to use much. What I like the most about Biore Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser, however, is its gentle formula. I use it almost every day. I haven’t yet experienced a bad case of dryness although my skin does feel a tiny bit stretched. Thankfully, there’s no flaking.

Pros

It contains salicylic acid and claims to clear blackheads
It’s oil-free and gentle on the skin
It has foaming action.

Cons

It contains sulfates and fragrance
It can be drying in winter or if you don’t have very oily skin
Some users have reported suffering breakouts.

Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser for Oily Skin – Best daily use face wash

Charcoal is supposed to be good for oily skin and after using Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser for Oily Skin, I have to agree! I especially love how the black formulation turns white when it foams. It’s just really cool! The label says to use it every day for optimal results, which I do. Until such time as I feel the need for a change, of course! The product leaves my skin feeling fresh and clean. Some people have said that it causes a burning sensation and breakouts but it didn’t for me. Then again, my skin isn’t very sensitive.

Pros

It’s formulated for oily skin
It contains natural charcoal, which is good for oily skin.

Cons

It contains sulfates and parabens
Some people report burning sensations and breakouts.

Jack Black Deep Dive Glycolic Facial Cleanser – Best double action face wash

Jack Black Deep Dive Glycolic Facial Cleanser is one of those products that seems to meet all the criteria. It’s vegan – which I love! – it’s cruelty-free and doesn’t contain sulfates, parabens and alcohol. It’s also fragrance- and gluten-free. But, that’s not what has me hooked. I can’t get over how this cleanser can double up as a mask. I just leave it to dry and wash it off! How great is that?

Pros

It’s formulated for all skin types
It’s vegan, cruelty-free and dermatologist-tested
It’s free of fragrance, sulfate, paraben, alcohol, gluten and colorant
It contains volcanic ash, kaolin clay, oatmeal, vitamin E and glycolic acid
It can be used as a mask.

Cons

Some users report that it causes breakouts.

Amara Organics Facial Cleanser – Best summer face wash

Amara Organics Facial Cleanser is a little similar to Jack Black Deep Dive Glycolic Facial Cleanser. It’s vegan and cruelty-free and doesn’t have sulfates, parabens and alcohol. It’s suitable for sensitive skin as well. However, I do notice that it dries my skin so I have to use more moisturizer. I’ve put it on hold for summer.

Pros

It’s suitable for different skin types including sensitive skin
It contains natural and organic ingredients
It’s vegan and cruelty-free
It doesn’t contain sulfates, parabens and fragrance.

Cons

It dries the skin after prolonged usage.

Natural Moisturizing Face Wash – Best 2-in-1 face wash

Natural Moisturizing Face Wash is a 2-in-1 formula that works on the face and the body. I really like that because I don’t need to use two different products. It claims that it’s balanced to the skin’s natural pH level. I can’t vouch for that but I can say that it makes my skin noticeably softer. It’s supposed to help treat psoriasis and eczema too. However, since I don’t suffer from them, I can’t vouch for this either.

Pros

2-in-1 formula for face and body
It’s balanced to the skin’s natural pH level
It helps treat eczema, psoriasis and acne

Cons

Does not work well on dry skin and makes it drier
Some users report suffering breakouts

How to choose the right face wash for oily skin

We live in a time when choices seem never-ending. I went to a small department store the other day looking to pick up a few cosmetics. There were so many options I really didn’t know where to look! Each brand has so many products and all claim to do the best job. Don’t get me wrong, I love all these choices. But, it can be very confusing finding what you want. Like I said, I’ve tried numerous face washes and it’s only because of trail and error that I’ve managed to narrow the list.

Aside from presenting you with the best face wash for oily skin, I want to show you how to go about buying what you need. It’s pretty simple but knowing the basics will save you time and more importantly, money!

Look for specially formulated products

Face washes usually clearly state what skin type they’re suitable for. However, you should still check the label before buying any. You want a formula that not only reduces and controls oil production but that doesn’t dry the skin. Otherwise, you’ll be left with yet another problem! I lean towards face washes labeled ‘gentle’ because they don’t strip the skin of all oils. Keep in mind, though, that if you have only slightly oily skin, certain products may still seem a tad harsh. In this case, choose face washes for normal to oily skin.

The more natural, the better

Many face washes contain synthetic ingredients and chemicals. While it can be tricky finding an all-natural product to suit your skin, try your best to stick to them. Certain ingredients like sulfates can cause dryness and irritate the skin. If you have sensitive skin, only use face washes that are sulfate-free. There’s nothing worse than suffering breakouts when trying new products! Paraben is another ingredient. While it has benefits like preserving products and eliminating bacteria build-up, you may want to avoid it. Some believe that it’s linked to cancer although this hasn’t been established.

Look for deep cleaning formulations

Oil build-up can clog pores and cause pimples and blackheads. There’s a higher chance of this happening when you have oily skin. A deep cleaning face wash that cleanses the pores and removes dirt and oil is the best bet. Look for a product that’s gentle enough to be used daily. Otherwise, use the product twice or thrice a week and an ordinary face wash in between. Your skin won’t dry out and will stay squeaky clean!

Products should be non-drying

One of the most annoying things to happen when using a face wash for oily skin is the resulting dryness. Formulations sometimes work a little too well and you’re left with skin that’s dry and stretched. You then have to switch up products. The quickest way to find face washes that are non-drying is to look for those labeled moisturizing and non-drying. Face washes infused with oils like ylang ylang moisturize and balance your skin’s oil production.

Zero fragrance is better

I love a good scent. Who doesn’t, right? Unfortunately, fragranced face washes can irritate the skin and even cause allergies. If you have sensitive skin, search for products that are fragrance-free. In fact, do this even if you have ordinary oily skin. The fewer chemicals a product contains, the healthier it is.

Conclusion

Don’t let oily skin keep you from using your favorite makeup or from taking those selfies. There are so many products available today to help you manage it. What I’ve listed doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface! Give them a try and see if they work for you as well as they’ve done for me.