Archived Post
The Hit List: Best Cleansing Oil
What’s the Best Cleansing Oil…?
What brand/product wins this category? Any particular reason it wins?
Thanks to Hannah for today’s topic!
Explore Temptalia
We're here to help you make better beauty purchases that you'll enjoy and love! We recommend signing up to take advantage of personalized features like tracking products you own, viewing dupes that you already have, and more!
Here are some useful resources for you:
Compare Any Two
Curious how two shades compare to each other? Type in the shades below to get instant side-by-side swatches!
83 Comments
Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!
Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).
We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!
Comments on this post are closed.
We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!
shu uemura
Shu Uemura! It’s a classic for good reason. It comes in different formulations to address different skin concerns. It emulsifies easily and rinses off without leaving residue.
Mac cleansing oil or Laura Mercier Light are my personal favorites! =)
I’ve only used MAC but I’m super impressed! Usually I don’t even look at MAC skincare products but, this stuff removes everything and leaves my skin beautifully soft without any build-.up
Fancl Mild Cleansing Oil!
i’m probably alone here but: coconut oil. organic and raw. it smells good, is AMAZING for your skin and removes ANYTHING very very easily. it’s also eye-safe, i’ve actually gotten it in my eyes when removing eyemakeup and had no irritation or redness at all. plus it smells yummy 🙂
You’re not alone!
I also keep some in the fridge to keep it a nice, solid chunk. Then I rub it on my legs and anywhere else like a stick of deodorant for a great moisturizer — it’s AMAZING for shaving your legs, too!
It’s a great makeup remover, especially during the winter when my skin is really dry.
I have heard good reviews about using coconut oil on your face. Where did you purchase it?
I use organic jojoba oil! But I must try coconut oil then, I trust you Dusty!! Hehe 🙂
Really? That stuff is only available solid incarnations isn’t it? – not that that is necessarily bad, presumably it makes for easier transportation, but how do you use it? Rub and wash, cotton pad, something else?
I used to use eco extra virgin olive oil, and it was great – soft, well moisturised aye area, likewise lashes (that grew and grew and GREW!), but it’s slightly acidic, and it bothered my eyes on days where I’d kept in my lenses too long and tired my eyes by the computer screen.
Is it heavy at all?
Coconut oil melts at 24 degrees Celsius — basically, when it comes in contact with your skin. You can also heat it up in the microwave for a little bit or leave it out on the edge of the bathtub when you’re taking a hot shower. 🙂
OMG I could not live without coconut oil ! I use for my skin but also my hair !! You are definitely not alone
woohoo! 🙂 i thought i’d be the only one here! i loves it for just about everything. face moisturizer, body moisturizer, frying food. lol! (i don’t use the same jar for cooking though) hehe. i get mine at a health food store near my house but i’ve seen it at co-ops, health and vitamin chains, even more upscale grocery stores and supermarkets. it smells like coconut and it’s solid until it reaches about 74 degrees… so it’s easy to carry around with you and it melts into your skin right away.
SOME people do have allergies to it though – just like with anything else – i have a friend who breaks out in a rash if he gets raw coconut anything on his skin.
I just picked up some coconut oil (huge jar for super cheap) and looking forward to using it..but I have what may be a silly question. Do you all wash your face after using it or leave it? Do you find you break out?? THanks for the info 🙂
You should google/youtube “Oil Cleansing Method” but basically you put it on your face and then cover your face with a damp hot rag for a minute and then wipe away the oil with the rag.
Coastalscents is selling virgin organic, expeller pressed CO. Based on all your raves, I’m definitely going to pick me up a bottle. Thanks! SU, MAC, etc. are just too overpriced.
L’Occitane Almond Apple Cleansing Oil – love it!
It’s just a perfect product when it comes to remove makeup and clean your skin perfectly 🙂
I’ve tried DHC, MAC (too drying), Shu (too pricey), and Origins and I find Origins to be the best overall, and a decent value.
same here! i used to love shu’s but i later find that origins is the best <3
Lancome Huile Douceur! The first one I tried and I fell in love-I use it year round.
I no longer use cleansing oils or harsh cleansing formulations. Handmade soap all the way, my make up is off in a single, soft wash and my left left fresh and clean.
Baby oil. Gentle and not too thick. Great for eye makeup removal.
The one I make myself with sunflower oil and castor oil. My skin has never been better!
Dermalogica Pre Cleanse. Ir removes all the dirt and make-up without need to rub your face.
Though I find if I give myself a good massage with it its great at getting the gunk out. My acne improves soon afterward.
Precleanse is by far the ultimate cleansing oil. Does not blur eyes, and it just gets the job of removing impurities done very effectively. I couldn’t live without it.
I recently ordered Laura Mercier Cleansing Oil – Rich after reading all the great reviews on it. I’ll weigh in after I’ve had some time to try it out. 🙂
Babyface cleanser by Lush, except for the fact that it is solid and not liquid!
Shu Uemura, no doubt! I’m still sad they’re leaving us.
L’Occitane Almond Apple Cleansing Oil.İts perfect but ı want to try mac.
i like MAC’s cleansing oil because it doesn have mineral oil in it like Shu’s & the mineral oil would really eff up my skin. lately though, i’ve been using Yes to Carrots Cucumber mu removing cloths and its the best way to get actually get everything off quickly! its the only my wipe i’ve found that removes WP mascara and doesnt leave an oily film (looking at your cleansing mu wipes MAC…) no burning irritaion on my skin and doesnt irritate my eyes either
Dermalogica Pre Cleanse. It removes everything but without leaving my face oily. I’m going to try the shu uemura one next. I hope this will finally save my poor skin! 🙂
Shu Uemura!!!!!!!!!!!!
i’m definitely on the hunt for a moisturizing cleansing oil. I have a mini bottle by Missha right now.
The Missha cleansing oil(the BB one) is amazing. It’s gentle, removes everything, emulsifies great, and leaves no residue. I need to buy a full size bottle of it since it works great.
Shu Uemura is great for removing eye makeup.
My favorite so far is MAC. I have tried Shu and L’Occitane also, and I didn’t like either one for my skin.
I like Nude cleansing oil. I like the scent and it leaves my skin very soft.
I should say my mother takes her eye makeup off every day by using baby oil. She’s been doing this since the 60’s and her undereye lines are minuscule compared to other women her age. (She also wears giant, dark sunglasses all the time.)
freeplus!!!It is the best one!Iv used shu uemura and Fancl one, they just not as good as freeplus
Shu Uemura (the rinsability and the smell), Bobbi Brown (the smell), NARS (just OK).
I have been using DHC for about ten years and love it. Great price, only need one pump. I am very oily though (I use it to remove makeup, then wash) and I understand some people find it drying. If you are oily though, it’s worth a try-I’m also very sensitive and it doesn’t irritate at all.
DHC for sure! They contain majority Olives.Cleans well and keeps my skin soft.
I’m also aboard the DHC train! Long time user here.
MAC! I love it, and it’s mineral oil free. Which, obviously, many of you don’t mind… but for my skin, mineral oil is a definite no-go. =)
Burts Bees Deep Cleansing Cream! It’s amazing! So reshing and great for any and I mean ANY skin type. Takes off absolutely everything and it’s like 97% organic.
I like MAC Cleanse off oil. Used to be $25 CAD and now it’s $29 CAD 🙁 stuff is getting expensive….
Shu Uemura, hands down.
Shu Uemura hands down for me too!
I like Shu Uemura’s. The only other one I’ve tried is MAC.
MAC hands down!
Shu Uemura!!
Origins is the best.
I have used DHC, Missha, Lumene, and Shu Uemura.
Dermalogica’s precleanse. A fantastic cleanser which would suit all skin types: Its great on my congestion/acne/combination to oily skin. Its non-drying. It removes makeup. Its ace!
DHC and Shu Uemura are neck and neck for me….
gotta love DHC!
Origins the best ! The only one that never clog my pores ! <3
Mac Cleanse Off Oil – I love it!!!! 🙂
The only one I tried is Boscia…i got to try other brands before I do a real comparison
i love love love decleor cleansing water, it’s not a oil though 😛
at night i just use it as a makeup remover, but in the morning i use it as a cleanser because my skin gets irritated by the water and it works perfect:)
Shu Uemura High Performance Cleansing Oil hands down. It removes traces of makeup so well.
COCONUT OIL, SWEET ALMOND AND OLIVE OIL. I USE THESE FOR EVERYTHING! FROM RUBBING INTO MY HAIR TO MY FEET.
I love MAC one. I tried a lot of brands before but no matter what I do it always leave a film of oil on my face and this makes my skin breaks out and yucky. I got a free travel size when I purchased the Fabulous Feline collection and took it on vacation with me. I fell in love with it!!!
MAC Cleanse Off Oil and it seems to last me quite a long time because I’ve only ever bought one but you really don’t need to use a lot but I recommend using this or some other brand of cleansing oil because they really gently clean off all your eye makeup and lipsticks.
Shu Uemura one looks as if it might be OK too but I’m a MAC die-hard though anyway.
Shu Uemura is the best.
kanebo and shu uemura
I really like Boscia’s Makeup-Breakup Cool Cleansing Oil. It takes everything off – waterproof mascara included – with hardly any effort.
It’s not heavy and it doesn’t really require a follow up with a regular cleanser to get rid of an ‘oily’ feeling.
I tried Shu Uemera’s green cleansing oil and it required more effort that Boscia and I definitely had to follow up with another cleanser.
Shu Uemura hands down!
Fancl mild cleansing oil. This is after trying MAC’s, and all of Shu Uemura’s. I love the Shu brand, but the oils are a huge no no.
skinfood carrot cleansing oil is formulated without 7 Chemicals: Parabens, dyes, alcohol, mineral oils, animal-derived ingredients, artifical fragrances and benzopnenone. and best of all it cleanses very well! not too thick and not too liquid great!
MAC Cleanse off oil
Definitely MAC! Removes EVERYTHING, doesnt irritate my eyes or skin, and has a nice scent.
erno laszlo active phelityl oil. it gets everything off, and even gets dead skin and blackheads. it’s a winner.
I love Mac’s cleanse off oil.
Fancl. With so many great suggestions above, I think I’ll try a few after my current bottle runs out. I think I’ll go for Dermalogica next. 🙂
lancome cleansing oil! i love it so much,skin feels so soft afterwards!
Bobbi Brown. Smells great, gentle to eyes, yet removes everything including mascara. Skin feels great afterward too!
Fancl Mild Cleansing Oil beats Shu Uemura hands down, I feel. It doesn’t contain any mineral oil or preservatives, and is entirely plant-derived. It feels very cushion-y and spreads well on skin.
Missha deep cleaning oil. Effective, cheaper than Shu and no oily residue. Loves it!
Missha’s Cleansing Oil is the BEST makeup remover I’ve ever used. It really gets everything off. I’ve tried a lot of expensive designer brands and have been disappointed because nothing ever seemed to be able to remove my awesomely bulletproof Korean waterproof mascara. This removes it with zero elbow grease. Yes, it’s love.
Josie Maran Argan Oil Face Cleanser
TATCHA’s One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil
Hands down the best! Truly one step and no traces of oily residue or make left behind. My skin actually feels soft and clean without the stretchy dry feeling~! I also love it because it’s
“Formulated without:Mineral Oil, Synthetic Colors, Synthetic Fragrances, Sulfate Detergents, Parabens, PEGs, PPGs, Urea, DEA, TEA or Phthalates”
Say that 3 times fast!
I found that I had to double cleanse with NUDE, Amore Pacific, and Missa,.The oil cleansers from Korea have strong fragrances that literally give me a headache. Shu Uemura contains MINERAL OIL..so no way! Mac: I’d rather use as a eye makeup remover than my entire face. Boscia is pretty decent but the menthol bothers me.
I tried NUDE several times, it was so highly promoted and recommended, but I left a heavy residue on my skin. I don’t get it!
Baby oil= mineral oil