Best Overall

Ma:nyo Cleaning Oil

$23 at UltaView on Manyo.us

Key Ingredients: Brand’s 14 plant-oriented oil, argan kernel oil, jojoba seed oil| Skin Type: All| Size: 6.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Ma:nyo’s Pure Cleansing Oil earned top marks from our tester for its lightweight consistency, gentle formula, and ease of use. Just a few pumps created a smooth, milky lather that removed makeup and sunscreen effectively without stripping her combination skin. She also noted that it emulsified beautifully and left her skin feeling soft, clean, and hydrated, with no greasy residue. Its faint citrus scent also added a subtle, refreshing touch; however, it’s worth noting that the scent is derived from essential oils, which can be irritating for sensitive skin.

While our tester didn’t notice improvements in her acne-prone spots, she appreciated that this cleansing oil product didn’t exacerbate them. Overall, she found this cleansing oil to be a simple yet highly effective staple that delivers a satisfying and hydrating cleanse every time, full stop.

India, tester with combination skin: “This product removes my makeup and skincare effectively— it’s gentle around my eyes, with no irritation at all. After rinsing it off, my skin feels clean, soft to the touch, and hydrated!”

Best Budget-Friendly

Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil

$20

$15 at Amazon$20 at UltaView on Anua.com

Key Ingredients: Heartleaf extract, sunflower seed oil, olive oil, jojoba oil | Skin Type: All | Size: 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Our tester named this the best budget-friendly cleansing oil due to its impressive makeup-removing power and skin-friendly formula, all at an affordable price. Just a few pumps were enough to completely dissolve a full face of makeup, leaving her skin clean, fresh, and soft without feeling stripped or oily. Despite having combination and acne-prone skin, she noted zero irritation or breakouts, instead raving about the product’s lightweight texture and smooth glide.

The main drawbacks she noted were its stiff dispenser and its scent (FYI, the formula includes rosemary oil), which detracted slightly from her overall experience. Even with these minor critiques, our tester found this product to be a standout value—an effective, gentle, and affordable first step in any skincare routine.

Ginger, tester with combination, acne-prone skin: “This product was 10/10 for taking away all of my makeup. Personally, I would use this cleansing oil every day—and possibly add it as a permanent first step [in my skincare routine].”

Best for Acne-Prone Skin

Prequel Pre-Gleanse Cleansing Oil

View on Prequelskin.com

Key Ingredients: Cica oil, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, rice bran oil| Skin Type: All | Size: 6.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Prequel’s cleansing oil was the favorite of our tester, who has oily, often acne-prone skin. She loved its lightweight texture and gentle formula; its thin, fluid consistency dispensed the perfect amount of product and spread easily across her skin, emulsifying well without leaving any residue or film. It was also soothing, fragrance-free, and caused no irritation—even around sensitive areas like her eyes. After rinsing, her skin felt clean, refreshed, and comfortable.

While this cleansing oil effectively removed most of her makeup and sunscreen, it sometimes required a second pass or follow-up with micellar water for full removal, especially for stubborn products like eyebrow gel. The formula also left her skin feeling slightly tight immediately after use, though not in a harsh or drying way. All in all, our tester found it to be a gentle, breakout-safe option that balances thorough cleansing with a soft, skin-soothing finish.

Anna Traver, writer with oily, sometimes acne-prone skin: “This cleansing oil removed most of my makeup and sunscreen, but not all of it—I definitely had some left behind that I removed with micellar water. It was very gentle around the eyes, which was great, and it did a good job at breaking down my mascara and caused zero irritation or sting.”

Best for Sensitive Skin

Dieux Ethereal Instant Cleansing Oil

$28 at SephoraView on Dieuxskin.com

Key Ingredients: Instant Dissolve Complex (two emollient oils), Double Cleanse Emulsifier Complex | Skin Type: All | Size: 3.38 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

We loved Dieux’s Ethereal Instant Makeup Removing cleansing oil for sensitive skin types due to its featherlight texture, fragrance-free formula, and soothing, non-irritating cleanse. The oil glided smoothly across our tester’s skin, transforming into a milky consistency that rinsed off effortlessly without leaving any residue. It left the skin feeling soft, supple, and hydrated—never stripped or tight—and was especially gentle on sensitive eyes, causing no cloudiness or stinging.

Its only drawback was its limited makeup-removing power, particularly when tackling stubborn or waterproof mascaras—though it worked beautifully for minimal, everyday makeup. Even so, our tester praised this cleansing oil as a soothing, skin-friendly option that delivers comfort and cleanliness for those with sensitive or easily irritated skin.

Jennifer, tester with sensitive skin: “I loved the gentle, conditioning feel of Ethereal— its formula is one of the only cleansing oils I’ve ever tried that didn’t cloud or irritate my extremely sensitive eyes. I used it most nights to remove my minimal, daily wear makeup, but I’d use a more potent cleanser when I had to remove denser mascaras.”

Best for Oily Skin

Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Cleansing Oil

$20

$18 at Amazon

$20

$16 at Amazon$20 at Sephora

Key Ingredients: Ginseng seed oil, soybean oil| Skin Type: All| Size: 7.1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

While cleansing oils are effective for nearly everyone, regardless of skin type, those with oily skin may prefer a lighter option with minimal slip or residue, such as this one from Beauty of Joseon. Our tester, who has combination, acne-prone skin, noted that its texture struck the right balance between light and rich, spreading easily across her face and emulsifying into a smooth, milky consistency that washed away with no residue. It also removed the brunt of her makeup, sunscreen, and skincare products efficiently while leaving her skin soft and calm afterward.

However, she noted that the oil had a noticeable tea tree-like scent and that it struggled to remove her most stubborn mascara. Still, she found it to be a reliable, well-rounded option that got the job done.

Ashley, tester with combination, acne-prone skin: “This cleansing oil removed my makeup, skincare, and sunscreen effectively, but it wasn’t ideal for removing mascara. However, my skin felt soft after use.”

Best for a Deep Cleanse

medicube Zero Pore Blackhead Deep Cleansing Oil

View on Medicube.us

Key Ingredients: LHA, niacinamide, guaiazulene, hyaluronic acid | Skin Type: All | Size: 6.93 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Those seeking a thorough deep cleanse should opt for Medicube’s Zero Pore Blackhead Deep Cleansing Oil. Just a few pumps effectively dissolved virtually all of our tester’s stubborn makeup and sunscreen without leaving any residue behind. She also loved its lightweight texture, fragrance-free formula, and that it left her skin feeling refreshed and smooth post-use.

However, this oil did cause slight stinging around her eyes and left her combination skin feeling tight and a bit stripped after use. For this reason, she felt it might be too strong for daily cleansing, particularly for sensitive or drier skin types.

Rachel, tester with combination, acne-prone skin: “This oil cleanser removed my makeup effectively, though it did cause slight stinging and irritation around my eyes. My skin felt a bit tight after rinsing, but clean.”

Best Slip

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil

$32

$23 at Amazon$32 at Ulta$16 at Dermstore

Key Ingredients: Organic olive oil, vitamin E| Skin Type: All | Size: 6.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

If your goal is a cleansing oil that glides effortlessly on the skin, we suggest adding DHC’s Cleansing Oil to your cart. Using just two to three pumps per application, our tester noted that its formula was incredibly spreadable, melting away her waterproof makeup, sunscreen, and daily buildup without any tugging or pulling. It emulsified quickly into a milky rinse that left her dry, sensitive skin feeling clean and refreshed. Fragrance-free and gentle, it delivered exactly what it promised—a smooth, no-nonsense cleanse suitable for both makeup and bare-skin days.

While our tester noted that the formula left their skin feeling more “bare” than hydrated, she didn’t find it stripping or uncomfortable. Its straightforward, effective performance and incredible glide made it a true standout.

Katie, tester with dry, sensitive skin: “This cleansing oil did a great job of melting off makeup, sweat, sunscreen, and grime really effectively. It was also super gentle around my eyes without any stinging or irritation.”

Best Softening

Mara Chia + Moringa Algae Enzyme Cleansing Oil

$58

$47 at Amazon$58 at SephoraView on Credo Beauty

Key Ingredients: pumpkin, pineapple, papaya, and grapefruit enzymes; squalane, chia, moringa, spirulina, kelp| Skin Type: All| Size: 4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Mara’s Algae Enzyme Cleansing Oil stood out for its luxuriously smooth texture and skin-conditioning finish. We also give it bonus points for being mildly exfoliating, thanks to fruit enzymes in the formula. The texture felt light, silky, and soothing for our tester, who noted that it glided across her skin without tugging or heaviness. It also emulsified beautifully without leaving a greasy film, rinsing clean while leaving her sensitive skin noticeably softer and more moisturized.

The only drawback was that our tester experienced a slight stinging sensation around her eyes, making it less ideal for removing heavy eye makeup. Still, it delivered consistent hydration and a smooth, soft finish—a reliable go-to for both morning and evening cleansing.

Chelsea, tester with sensitive, rosacea-prone skin: “This oil cleanser really does make your skin feel softer—I found myself looking to [use] it when my skin felt dry.”