The best cleansers for oily skin to banish that grease for good

Finding the best cleanser for oily skin can be a task and a half because, frankly, there are too many options out there. What are the ideal products for your skin - that hydrate it without encouraging the grease that'll have your foundation swirling around like a marble cake? If you've got oil-prone skin, here are the best cleansers for oily skin that will change your life, as reviewed by the Closer team.

Back in the day (and by "back in the day", we mean 2010), it was all about the matte. Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse, baked powder on top for ten minutes, smoky matte brown eyeshadow. But now, in 2023, it's about the glow. Clean girl aesthetic, dewy L'Oréal Tined Serum, the glazed eyeshadow trend. Wherever your opinion lies on matte vs. dewy, having oily, greasy skin is never fun. But, never fear, we're here to help because there's a cleanser for every skin type, including oily, dry and even cleansers for sensitive skin.

Closer's best cleansers for oily skin, at a glance:

Editor's Choice: The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm - View offer on LookFantastic

Best affordable cleanser for oily skin: Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser Wash - View offer on Ocado

Best cleanser for acne-prone oily skin: La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Cleansing Gel - View offer on Amazon

We've searched high and low across the interwebs to find you nine of the best cleansers that'll improve your oily skin for the better, as well as tackle specific issues you're looking to solve. Have you got acne you'd like to banish? How about a jelly cleanser that'll fit perfectly into your double-cleansing routine? Our guide has got everything you need, and more. After our list, you can read our FAQs chat we had with three skincare experts, all about oily skin and how you can become confident in managing it. If, on the other side of the spectrum, your skin is a little drier, we have a comprehensive guide on the best cleansers for dry skin.

Shop the best cleansers for oily skin below.

SHOP: The best oily skin cleansers to shop right now

Oily skin FAQs

We spoke to Pharmacist Prescriber Whitney Yeboah at Skin + Me, Noelly Michoux, CEO and co-founder of 4.5.6 Skin, and Kate Kerr, Director and Clinical Facialist at Kate Kerr London, to answer the internet's most burning questions about all things oily skin. Keep reading to find out why your skin has suddenly gotten so oily, or what products you should use alongside your cleanser.

Should people with oily skin use an oil cleanser?

Whitney says if you want to avoid oil cleansers you should...

If you have oily skin, you’re more likely to get congested pores and potentially experience acne breakouts. You want to avoid using products that can exacerbate the problem. Opt for a water-based clarifying cleanser with gentle hydrating ingredients.

If your pores are particularly congested, then you can opt for a cleanser that contains a Beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) such as salicylic acid. BHAs are fat-soluble making them particularly helpful in oily skin as they can penetrate deeper into the pores to break up any blockages.

Noelly says if you want to embrace oil cleansers you should...

Individuals with oily skin can benefit from using an oil cleanser. It might sound counterintuitive, but oil absorbs oil and oil cleansers, when well-formulated, can effectively remove excess oil from the skin's surface while maintaining its natural balance. By using a biocompatible oil cleanser, you can help regulate oil production and keep your skin from going into overdrive, which can lead to more oiliness or breakouts.

Using biocompatible oil cleansers from high-quality, natural plant-based oils, such as our Come Clean Cleansing Oil, can be incredibly beneficial. They can help balance oil production and sebum composition to healthier levels and prevent the skin from overproducing oil to compensate for its removal.

Why did my skin suddenly get oily?

Kate says the most common cause is hormones...

There are many factors that can contribute to the skin suddenly producing more oil, the most common is a change in hormones, this could be from a change in your menstrual cycle, puberty, pregnancy, menopause or stress. When stress levels rise, we start to overproduce cortisol and adrenaline, both these hormones have a direct impact on the sebaceous glands triggering them to produce more oil. Another factor that can make the skin suddenly become more oily is a change in weather, humid or hot environments will also switch on the sebaceous glands. Lifting heavy weights, leading to higher muscle mass, can increase testosterone, which in turn increases oil production. Exercise, in general, increases sebaceous gland activity by the heat caused.

Noelly says dryness can cause us to overproduce oil...

Our skin operates at its best when it maintains a delicate balance between water and oil. When our skin's micro-nutrition levels drop (due to diverse factors such as age, use of drying skincare, and certain deficiencies), and it becomes dehydrated and dry, an interesting thing happens – it can actually start producing more oil as a protective response to combat the dryness. It might sound counterintuitive, but the most effective way to address excess oiliness is by giving your skin some deep nourishment.

Whitney says oily skin can actually be beneficial...

Oily skin is caused by excessive sebum (oil) production from sebaceous glands. Don’t be alarmed if your skin suddenly becomes oily, this is not all doom and gloom. Those with oily skin types tend to have thicker younger-looking skin and are less prone to fine lines and wrinkles.

Should people with oily skin use hyaluronic acid?

Noelly says yes, unless you struggle with acne...

Hyaluronic acid, or HA as many call it, is a fantastic polysaccharide naturally produced by our body. It is a humectant meaning, it acts like a magnet for moisture, drawing water into the skin. However, as we age or face certain deficiencies, our natural production of it tends to wane.

Now, for those with oily skin, which is prone to acne and inflammation, you'd want to tread lightly with HA. Our studies suggest sticking to low concentrations- We see that even 1% in a formula can be too much for the skin. Why? A fact that many aren't aware of is that HA is a Pro-inflammatory agent, and high doses can overstimulate the skin cells' immune system and trigger inflammation. And always, always opt for top-notch quality HA with the highest purity. HA with impurities, nanoparticles might ramp up potential side effects.

Does oily skin need toner / when to use toner for oily skin?

Kate says absolutely...

A face toner is a great opportunity to get some oil-controlling ingredients into your regime. A toner should be used both morning and evening, after cleansing and before you apply any serums or SPF. We recommend using an oil control toner containing salicylic acid due to it being oil soluble, thus having the ability to deep cleanse and to break down oil within the skin and follicles helping to reduce congestion and allow subsequent serums to be able to properly penetrate.

Noelly says when you should use toner...

After Cleansing: To remove any lingering impurities post-cleansing

Before Serums and Moisturisers: To prepare the skin to better absorb the following products.

Twice Daily: For most people, using toner both in the morning and evening after cleansing can be beneficial. However, depending on your skin type and the toner's formulation, you might only need to use it once a day. For instance, if you have extremely sensitive skin or are using a particularly potent toner, you might want to start with once a day or every other day.

Ruby Barry is a Product Writer for Closer Online, specialising in fashion and beauty. The team has nicknamed her "dupe queen", as there's not a product in the world she can't find a cheaper alternative for.