If you have oily or combination skin, the thought of using oil-based products on your face might seem a bit strange.
However, thanks to the double cleansing method popularised by Charlotte Cho of Soko Glam, beginning your skincare routine with a cleansing oil has transitioned from a specialised step for those who wear a lot of makeup to a common practice that anyone can enjoy.
If you’re just starting out with cleansing oils and are curious about giving one a try, you’re in the right place. Here’s everything you need to know about this distinctive cleansing option, along with a list of the best cleansing oils to pamper your skin.
What Are Cleansing Oils?
Cleansing oils typically feature an oil base combined with a surfactant, a common skin-cleansing agent that effectively binds to dirt and removes it without harming the skin’s protective barrier.
Essentially, they function like face washes, but cleansing oils utilize water-soluble “good” oils to break down your makeup, leaving your skin fresh and ready for the next steps in your skincare routine.
In contrast to traditional makeup-removing wipes or micellar waters, cleansing oils are among the gentlest options available, ensuring that even stubborn waterproof mascara and foundation are thoroughly removed without any harsh rubbing.
Another benefit of cleansing oils is that they won’t strip your skin of moisture, as they don’t remove water. Many of them are enriched with beneficial ingredients like olive oil, jojoba seed oil, apricot kernel oil, and centella asiatica extract, which nourish your skin while providing a deep clean.
Just remember to choose a product that suits your skin type; you can easily determine this by checking the label or consulting a beauty advisor for personalised recommendations.
How To Use Cleansing Oils
All you really need to do is to work the formula onto dry skin so it “attaches” itself to makeup, sunscreen, and dirt and breaks them down – before rinsing off with lukewarm water or gently wiping it away with a soft muslin cloth.
In fact, we love giving ourselves a nice, relaxing massage with a cleansing oil every evening – it’s a perfect way to end a long, hard day. Whether your face is makeup-filled or just sunscreen-laden, gently massage a pump of cleansing oil all over your dry face for at least 30 seconds – taking care to carefully rub your lashes to get rid of any mascara – and rinse.
Want a deeper clean to get the gunk out of your pores? Try the 60-second cleansing rule by esthetician
Nayamka Roberts-Smith of LABeautyologist.
According to Nayamka, massaging an oil-based cleanser or balm on your face for 60 seconds gives the ingredients sufficient time to get to work and help to soften the skin, dissolve sebum blockages, and break down all of the day’s pollution and grime. Watch her video to learn more about this cleansing method!
Thereafter, you can either follow with the rest of your skin care routine or give your face one more round of cleansing (a.k.a double cleansing, get it?) with a gentle face wash that’s water- or gel-based.
Ready to give cleansing oils a try? Here are 25 best gentle-but-effective cleansing oils in Malaysia that will give you the softest, cleanest skin of your life.
Budget-friendly Cleansing Oils
DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
Not only has this oldie-but-goodie from Japanese beauty brand DHC been around for almost three decades, the cleansing oil is also what most beauty editors consider as one of their desert-island products.
That’s because the hero ingredient, antioxidant-rich olive oil removes makeup so gently and thoroughly that it actually makes you want to wash your face every night. Doesn’t hurt that the oleic acid from the olive oil, together with hydrating vitamin E and rosemary oil, also conditions your skin while clinging onto and removing pore-clogging oil and dead skin cells.
You’ll appreciate the silky smooth and lightweight texture too, as it just glides easily on the face and doesn’t actually feel like oil on your skin. No wonder this has a strong reputation for being one of the best cleansing oils in the market.
DHC Deep Cleansing Oil retails for RM176 on Shopee.
Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Cleansing Oil
Some inexpensive oil cleansers may resort to mineral oil for a cheap cleanse, but not this one from Hada Labo. The formula uses high purity olive oil to cut through the day’s grime, and also contains two types of hyaluronic acid to effectively hydrate your skin on multiple levels and optimise skin’s moisture balance.
Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Cleansing Oil retails for RM42 on Shopee.
Bioré Cleansing Oil
Unlike conventional cleansing oils which require a dry skin surface, Bioré’s version is an advanced Japanese formulation which does not emulsify upon contact with water so you don’t have to worry about rendering the cleansing oil ineffective if you accidentally wet your face or while in-shower.
It effortlessly dissolves impurities and long-wearing makeup so no excessive rubbing is needed, and leaves no greasy film on your face while maintaining the skin’s natural moisture balance. This is definitely one of the best cleansing oils you can find that won’t break your bank.
Bioré Cleansing Oil retails for RM22 at major pharmacies such as Watsons.
Simple Kind To Skin Hydrating Cleansing Oil
Cleanse and soothe your skin at the same time with this comforting blend of pure grape seed oil and a healthy dose of vitamins A and E that removes even the toughest makeup without irritating the skin. Your skin will just be left thoroughly cleansed, hydrated and soft.
Simple Kind To Skin Hydrating Cleansing Oil retails for RM56.340 at major pharmacies such as Watsons.
Nutox Cleansing Oil
Made with sweet almond and organic grapefruit oils, this formula lifts away waterproof makeup, pore-clogging muck and whiteheads instantly without stripping away the natural moisture from your skin. The added bird’s nest extract helps slow down signs of ageing.
Nutox Cleansing Oil retails for RM40 at major pharmacies such as Watsons.
Neutrogena Deep Clean Cleansing Oil
The water-activating formula in this refreshing cleansing oil transforms it into a soft white cleansing emulsion that easily washes away makeup and gunk.
On top of that, it also has a botanical skincare complex that helps to lock in your skin’s moisture balance in your skin, so your face stays nourished and moisturised.
Neutrogena Deep Clean Cleansing Oil retails for RM66 at Guardian.
Dear, Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil
Formulated with a few skin-loving vegetable oils such as black bean, black sesame, and blackcurrant seed, this mild cleansing oil aids in sebum regulation and skin cell regeneration while preventing dehydration and ageing.
Thanks to the addition of vitamin E, the formula also helps to keep your skin firm and supple.
Dear, Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil retails for RM109 on Shopee. A discount is available at the time of writing. Tap into the link for updated price.
Innisfree Green Tea Cleansing Oil
Harnessing the cleansing powers of antioxidant-rich green tea, this Innisfree formula melts away traces of light makeup and impurities without disrupting skin’s hydration levels or leaving behind any greasy residue.
Innisfree Green Tea Cleansing Oil retails for RM88 at all Innisfree stores and Shopee.
Fancl Mild Cleansing Oil
Formulated with the sensitive eye area in mind, this formula uses a fusion of vitamin C, cocoa butter as well as carefully selected plant extracts, including rose hip and squalane, with the brand’s Smooth Cushion Oil technology so that even the most stubborn makeup can be eliminated with minimum effort and without stripping the natural oils from your skin.
Fancl Mild Cleansing Oil retails for RM83 on Stylevanna.
The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Light Cleansing Oil
If you’re looking for something on the lighter side, this water-based cleansing oil may just be it. The formula uses a combination of rice water, soapwort as well as moringa, jojoba and rice bran oils to trap all the dirt and heavily pigmented makeup, purifying your skin and making it feel pillow-soft. One of the best cleansing oils in Malaysia now? You bet.
The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Light Cleansing Oil retails for RM49 on all The Face Shop stores and online.
Splurge-worthy Cleansing Oils
Shu Uemura Anti/Oxi+ Pollutant & Dullness Clarifying Cleansing Oil
We can’t possibly write a list of the best cleansing oils without mentioning Shu Uemura, the OG cleansing oil maker. The Japanese beauty brand is known for its incredible line of high-end cleansing oils and this green bottle of magic potion is one of its bestsellers worldwide.
Powered by antioxidant-packed green tea, pollutant-removing moringa, and polishing papaya, the formula is capable of ridding skin of muck, micro-sized pollutants (like PM2.5 particles) as well as the most waterproof makeup, so you’ll only be left with smooth, healthy skin.
Shu Uemura Anti/Oxi+ Pollutant & Dullness Clarifying Cleansing Oil retails for RM185 (150ml) and RM410 (450ml) at all Shu Uemura boutiques and Sephora.
Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil
This cleansing oil, infused with a blend of botanical oils, is formulated to gently whisk away long-wearing eye makeup and surface impurities. Kukui nut, white water lily, and goji berry extracts help the skin feel instantly soothed while jasmine flower provides sufficient nourishment.
Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil retails for RM94 (30ml) to RM408 (400ml) at all Bobbi Brown boutiques and Sephora.
Dermalogica PreCleanse
Need a cleansing oil that breaks down layers of heavy-duty mascara and foundation in a snap? You’re looking at it right here.
Formulated especially for oily skin, this Dermalogica formula dissolves dirt, makeup, and residual product with rice bran, borage seed, kukui, and apricot oils, while olive and vitamin E oils offer long-term skin-conditioning benefits such as moisture retention and environmental protection without clogging pores or leaving an oily after-feel.
Dermalogica PreCleanse retails for RM399 at all Asterspring outlets and authorised salons, as well as Dermalogica counters and online.
Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Oil
Cleverly named, this Clinique formula does just what it says it will – that is, melt away all traces of makeup, sebum, and debris. You’ll appreciate how the glycerin-infused cleansing oil glides off with water as easily as it’s applied, with no residue left in sight once you’re done cleansing. This is definitely one of the best cleansing oils you can find at the moment.
Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Oil retails for RM191 at all Clinique counters and Sephora.
Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil
This delicate formula is chock full of skin-loving ingredients, such as coix lacryma-jobi seed, tangerine peel extract, and apricot kernel oil, which you can count on to gently clear out gunk from your pores.
After all of the day’s makeup and buildup are completely gone, your face will feel oh-so-soft and velvety to the touch.
Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil retails for RM160 at all Sulwhasoo boutiques and online at Lazada.
Biossance Squalane + Antioxidant Cleansing Oil
In the beauty industry, squalane is considered one of the most effective facial oils – it’s super hydrating (but never heavy) and gentle enough for sensitive skin – so it’s only fitting that it makes for a great cleansing agent, too.
This cleansing oil pairs sugar cane-derived squalane with several other antioxidant-rich ingredients, like evening primrose and sunflower seed oils, to hydrate and refresh your face while breaking down makeup. Best cleansing oil you can find in Malaysia? Definitely one of the top contenders!
Biossance Squalane + Antioxidant Cleansing Oil retails for RM170 on Sephora. There’s also a travel-friendly version retailing for RM47 for 25ml.
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Featured image from @iforeveryng, @shikitheugc, and @missingskincare on TikTok.
