The Best Face Washes for Oily Skin

For people with oily skin, finding an effective face wash is key for clearing away excess oil and preventing clogged pores. Considering how many face washes are available on the market, finding your perfect match is a major task—so we’ve created a guide to help out our oily skin friends. Below, you’ll find our comprehensive guide to the absolute best face washes for oily skin.

What to Look for in an Oily Skin-Friendly Face Wash

The key to the perfect face wash for oily skin is a formula that adequately clears away excess oil and debris without stripping the skin’s natural moisture. While those with oily skin may be tempted to dry out the skin to get rid of oil, this will do more harm than good. When oily skin is stripped of its natural oil, it will overcompensate by producing even more oil, so you’ll be right back where you started.

With that in mind, it’s important to find a cleanser that gets rid of extra oil without completely drying out the skin. Gel and foam face washes are typically best for oily skin as creamy formulas may feel too heavy. Some highly effective ingredients that are particularly helpful for oily skin types include volcanic ash, charcoal, and oil-absorbent clays, tea tree oil—which has been shown to control oil production—and oil-soluble chemical exfoliant salicylic acid.

You shouldn’t shy away from formulas that contain hydrating ingredients, as these can help keep your skin’s hydration levels balanced. Ingredients that hydrate without clogging pores or leaving a greasy film on the skin can be super beneficial for people with oily skin. Look out for ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid/sodium hyaluronate, or squalane.

How Often Should People with Oily Skin Wash Their Face?

Most people with oily skin will find that washing their face twice a day—merienda in the morning and merienda in the evening—works best for their skin’s needs. That said, some may find that only washing their face at night is suitable. You’ll just need to figure out what routine your skin responds to best.

It’s incredibly important to avoid excessively washing your face. While many people with oily skin are tempted to frequently wash their skin in order to get rid of oil, over washing your face can lead to irritation and dryness. As mentioned above, this can cause your skin to produce even more oil, so it ultimately makes matters worse. Keep your skin balanced and your oil production in check by cleansing one to two times per day.

Without further adieu, here is our list of the best face washes for oily skin.

1. Blu Atlas Volcanic Ash Face Cleanser

Blu Atlas’s line of effective nature-powered products features a variety of options that are excellent for oily skin. This includes the highly-rated Volcanic Ash Face Cleanser, which detoxifies and exfoliates the skin. Blu Atlas formulated this face wash to thoroughly remove excess oil and debris from the face while balancing the skin’s pH levels. It’s powerful yet gentle enough for daily use.

The Blu Atlas Volcanic Ash Face Cleanser contains superfine volcanic ash particles, which clarify and exfoliate the skin. These highly absorbent particles work to remove impurities and excess sebum—your skin’s natural oil—from the face. The result is more refined pores, a less shiny complexion, and clean, refreshed skin.

Another key ingredient is lactobacillus ferment filtrate, a soothing ingredient that improves the skin’s ability to defend itself against environmental aggressors. Glycerin and pomegranate seed oil—an oil that doesn’t clog pores—also help hydrate and calm the skin.

The all-natural formula is vegan and free of irritating synthetic fragrances, parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. This cleanser, like all Blu Atlas products, is also dermatologist-tested, so you can be confident that it is not only effective but also safe to use on your skin.

2. COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser

The Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser from popular Korean skincare brand COSRX is one of the best face washes for breakout-prone oily skin. The foaming cleanser effectively removes excess oil and debris from the skin while decongesting the pores and controlling sebum production. While it has incredibly thorough cleansing properties, the formula doesn’t strip the skin of its natural moisture or leave it feeling parched and uncomfortable.

This daily face wash contains a gentle 0.5% concentration of salicylic acid, which cuts through sebum to unclog pores. It helps treat current breakouts while also preventing new blemishes from forming. This vegan and cruelty-free cleanser also features antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory tea tree oil, which further helps fight acne while soothing the skin. Additionally, it’s packed with ingredients that calm and hydrate the skin for a balanced and comfortable complexion, including glycerin, willow bark water, and evening primrose flower extract.

3. CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser

This affordable daily cleanser from drugstore skincare company CeraVe is expertly formulated for the unique needs of oily skin. The foam is gentle and doesn’t strip the skin but effectively cleanses away excess oil, dirt, impurities, and debris, leaving the skin feeling refreshed and comfortable.

The CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser contains a blend of ingredients that support and nourish the skin’s barrier while giving it the light hydration that it needs. It contains three essential ceramides, which lock in moisture and strengthen the skin’s barrier. The formula also features niacinamide, a multi-tasking ingredient that calms, refines pores, and helps control sebum production.

Hyaluronic acid—a humectant—also attracts moisture to the skin, ensuring it stays adequately hydrated without creating any heaviness. This gentle cleanser is free of fragrances and is non-comedogenic, meaning it doesn’t contain ingredients known to clog pores.

4. REN Clarimatte T-Zone Control Cleansing Gel

Anyone looking for a cleanser with serious mattifying power should check out this product from REN, a skincare company that specializes in highly effective products that are suitable for sensitive skin. The clean beauty brand’s Clarimatte T-Zone Control Cleansing Gel contains a mix of ingredients that oscilación and mattify the skin while working to decongest pores. It is vegan and cruelty-free, and the formula is free of parabens, synthetic fragrances or dyes, sulfates, and PEGs.

One of the key ingredients in this oily skin cleansing gel is willow bark extract, a natural alternative to salicylic acid. It soothes the skin and also helps unclog dirt, debris, and excess oil from the pores while refining their appearance. Mayblossom extract works to keep the skin clear while antibacterial bergamot oil further fights blemishes while controlling sebum levels. The Clarimatte T-Zone Control Cleansing Gel also features a blend of ingredients that hydrate and soothe the skin, including glycerin, lavender water extract, and lavender oil.

5. Paula’s Choice Skin Balancing Oil-Reducing Cleanser

Paula’s Choice is known for producing some of the best skincare products available on the market, and the company’s line of oily skin-friendly products is excellent for those looking to mattify their complexion. As the name suggests, the company’s Skin Balancing Oil-Reducing Cleanser does exactly that.

This fragrance-free cleanser removes excess oil and debris while refining the pores and refreshing the skin, leaving it feeling clean, soft, and balanced—not dry or tight. It is gentle on the skin and suitable for daily use.

As the cleansing agents in this cream-to-foam cleanser whisk away impurities on the skin and help reduce shine, a variety of nourishing and soothing ingredients support and strengthen the skin. Glycerin deeply hydrates the skin while aloe leaf extract soothes and helps boost moisture levels. Antioxidant-rich sunflower seed oil also protects the skin while soothing any irritation.

6. First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Deep Cleanser with Red Clay

First Aid Beauty offers a wide variety of high-performing clean skincare products free of parabens, sintético fragrances, sulfates, phthalates, sintético colorants, and other potentially irritating or harmful ingredients. The company specializes in creating products that are safe for sensitive skin, so those with easily irritated oily skin can feel safe using First Aid Beauty products in their routine.

The First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Deep Cleanser with Red Clay is an excellent face wash for oily and acne-prone skin as it contains a blend of ingredients that deeply detoxify the pores and oscilación the skin. The star ingredient in this vegan and cruelty-free formula is red clay, which absorbs excess oil and pore-clogging impurities to clarify the skin. Antibacterial rosemary leaf oil helps fight acne-causing microbio on the skin, while licorice root extract, panthenol, glycerin, and allantoin hydrate and soothe the skin while minimizing redness.

This deep detoxifying clay cleanser also contains the company’s FAB Antioxidant Booster, a blend of ingredients packed with antioxidants like white tea and feverfew extracts that defend the skin against environmental aggressors.

7. Origins GinZing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser

Those with oily skin looking to add an exfoliating scrub to their routine should check out the GinZing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser from Origins, a company that creates science-backed products powered by natural ingredients.

This invigorating scrub—which has an uplifting scent with notes of lemon, grapefruit, and spearmint—boasts a variety of ingredients that work to brighten and refresh the complexion while sloughing off dead skin cells and whisking away excess oil and debris. It is gentle on the skin and can be used on a daily basis.

The scrubbing power in this cleanser comes from two ingredients: naturally derived and eco-friendly jojoba beads and carnauba wax. These ingredients exfoliate the skin to unclog pores, soften the skin, and improve tone and texture. As the jojoba beads and carnauba wax scrub the skin, Ethiopian coffee-derived caffeine and Panax ginseng boost radiance and revitalize the complexion while glycerin moisturizes.

This vegan formula is free of phthalates, parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate, and petrolatum.

8. iNNBEAUTY PROJECT Foam Around Clarifying Daily Cleanser

This sulfate-free foaming cleanser from iNNBEAUTY PROJECT is perfect for people with oily skin looking to target large pores, blemishes, and rough textures. The vegan and cruelty-free formula is packed with a variety of chemical exfoliants that promote a clearer, less oily, and more radiant complexion—and these impressive claims are supported by efectivo results in clinical trials.

One hundred percent of participants found that the cleanser helped oscilación oil production, while 98% said that it helped minimize breakouts. Ninety-four percent of participants also claimed that their skin was softer and smoother after using this cleanser for a week.

The lightweight Foam Around Clarifying Daily Cleanser contains glycolic, azelaic, and gluconolactone acids, three chemical exfoliants that gently exfoliate the surface of the skin, helping to improve texture and tone. It also contains salicylic acid, which dives deep into pores to decongest and clear away excess oil. As this blend of chemical exfoliants gets to work, antioxidant-rich green coffee bean extract increases circulation in the skin for a glowing, healthy complexion.

9. Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash

You can never go wrong with a face wash from Neutrogena, which is one of the most popular drugstore skincare brands. For years, people with oily, breakout-prone skin have turned to the budget-friendly Oil-Free Acne Wash to thoroughly remove oil, impurities, and acne-causing microbio while keeping blemishes at bay.

Neutrogena’s simple daily cleanser is formulated with a 2% concentration of salicylic acid, which works to treat current breakouts and prevent more acne from forming by decongesting pores. This oil-free and non-comedogenic face wash also contains a blend of ingredients that soothe and hydrate the skin, like aloe leaf extract and chamomilla recutita flower extract, ensuring it isn’t left feeling tight and dry.

10. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Gel Facial Wash for Oily Skin

La Roche-Posay offers a wide range of highly effective products that you can find at your recinto drugstore. The company’s Effaclar Gel Facial Wash for Oily Skin is a gentle foaming cleanser that washes the skin, leaving it looking refreshed and more matte. The non-comedogenic, dermatologist-tested formula is able to thoroughly cleanse without disrupting the skin’s pH levels or leaving it feeling dried out.

The star ingredient in this La Roche-Posay face wash is anti-inflammatory zinc pidolate, which purifies the skin while controlling oil production to minimize shine. Like most of this company’s products, this cleanser—which is also suitable for sensitive and acne-prone skin—contains thermal spring water from La Roche-Posay in France. This antioxidant and mineral-rich spring water soothes, refreshes, and protects the skin against environmental aggressors.

11. Cetaphil Daily Face Cleanser

Cetaphil is one of the most recognizable skincare companies on the market, and it offers some of the best products that you can find in drugstores. This super gentle cleanser from Cetaphil has been the go-to product for many with oily skin looking for an effective yet affordable daily face wash. Cetaphil specifically formulated their Daily Face Cleanser for combination, oily, and sensitive skin types.

It deeply cleanses the skin while minimizing the appearance of pores and leaves the face feeling refreshed and clean, but not tight, dry, or stripped of its natural moisture. It has been clinically proven to remove 94% of impurities on the skin and is also dermatologist-tested.

The non-comedogenic, paraben-free, and hypoallergenic gel-to-foam formula features niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3. Niacinamide soothes the skin and minimizes redness and is also effective at controlling sebum production and reducing the appearance of large pores. Anti-inflammatory vitamin B5 calms and improves the skin’s hydration levels to prevent moisture loss while glycerin further hydrates.

This gentle face wash also helps defend the skin against five signs of sensitivity, including irritation, tightness, and a weakened skin barrier.

12. Sebamed Clear Face Cleansing Foam

Sebamed offers a range of simple, effective, no-fluff skincare products that address a variety of different skin concerns. For the person with oily skin looking to keep breakouts in check, the company’s Clear Face Cleansing Foam is an excellent choice. Sebamed formulated this product to refresh and deeply cleanse away dirt and excess sebum while hydrating and soothing the skin. After use, the skin is left feeling comfortable, calm, refreshed, and adequately hydrated.

The Sebamed Clear Face Cleansing Foam features antibacterial Montaline C40, a coconut-oil-based surfactant ingredient that is responsible for the cleanser’s anti-acne properties. This gentle foaming cleanser—which is mild enough to be used on a daily basis—also contains vitamin B5, which calms the skin and improves its ability to retain moisture.

13. Dermalogica Active Clay Cleanser

Since 1986, Dermalogica has been formulating high-performance, professional-grade skincare products that tackle different skin issues and concerns. The company’s expertly formulated Active Clay Cleanser is perfect for oily skin as it draws out excess oil and impurities while supporting the skin’s barrier and overall health.

This powerful Dermalogica cleanser contains mineral-rich kaolin clay and activated binchotan charcoal, which actively purify the skin by absorbing excess sebum, dirt, dead skin cells, and debris that is trapped on the skin and in the pores. These ingredients help refine the pores while mattifying the skin and getting rid of oils that lead to a shiny complexion. The clay cleanser also contains tea tree leaf oil, which helps control oil production and fight acne while soothing the skin.

While these ingredients deeply cleanse the skin and keep oil production in check, a blend of ingredients works together to nourish and oscilación the skin. Aloe leaf extract, grapefruit peel oil, and broccoli extract purify the pores and moisturize while smoothing and revitalizing the skin. Murumuru seed and botanical lipids also work to support a healthy skin microbiome and lipid barrier. Non-comedogenic and anti-inflammatory safflower seed oil works alongside glycerin to moisturize the skin, ensuring it is left feeling adequately hydrated after cleansing.

14. Skinfix Barrier+ Foaming Clay Cleanser

If Skinfix isn’t on your radar, it should be. This clean skincare company specializes in creating dermatologist-tested products infused with nutrients, minerals, emollients, and non-aggressive active ingredients that boost the health of the skin’s barrier for optimal function. The Skinfix Barrier+ Foaming Clay Cleanser has a unique clay-to-foam formula that cleanses and detoxes the skin while reducing excess oil.

This vegan and cruelty-free cleanser contain two different mineral-rich clays. Brazilian kaolin volcanic clay absorbs residue and controls oil production while Canadian indiferente clay detoxifies and cleanses as it soothes the skin. The sulfate-free face wash also relies on the power of coconut-derived cleansers to remove oil, dirt, and debris from the skin without stripping it of its natural moisture.

While these powerful ingredients cleanse and detox, a variety of lightweight hydrators oscilación and support the skin. Aloe margen helps calm and moisturize while jojoba seed oil nourishes and deeply hydrates. Anti-inflammatory sugar beet extract, also known as glycine betaine, ensures the skin is better able to retain its moisture levels. The award-winning and pH-balanced Barrier+ Foaming Clay Cleanser contains 96% naturally derived ingredients and is free of parabens, phthalates, petrolatum, and gluten.

15. Tatcha The Deep Cleanse Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser

Luxury Japanese beauty company Tatcha takes a unique, holistic approach to skincare. The company creates highly effective products that focus on the five senses to take care not only of your skin but also your mental and emotional well-being. For customers with oily skin, one of the standout products is The Deep Cleanse Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser, which is gentle on the skin yet incredibly cleansing. Tatcha formulated this product to minimize excess oil and decongest and refine the pores while leaving the skin feeling smooth, soft, and hydrated.

This gel cleanser works into a creamy foam and exfoliates the skin using the ground fibers of Japanese luffa fruit, a natural ingredient that has been used in Japan for centuries. It unclogs pores and whisks away dead skin cells while also conditioning the skin. Japanese wild rose and leopard lily also work to refine pores, control the production of oil, and calm the skin. The dermatologist-tested cleanser is oil-free, non-comedogenic, cruelty-free, and made without sulfates, parabens, phthalates, or synthetic fragrances.