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

Would it be an oily skin cleanser round-up without The Inkey List? Of course not. Taking its rightful place in first place, the Oat Cleansing Balm is a must-have for us oily gals. The silky balm melts away makeup and other impurities, without making the skin greasy, whilst also not drying out the surface.

Our review by Closer writer Ruby Barry: "There's a reason why everyone raves about the Oat Cleansing Balm - and I've hopped on the hype train. The formula is so smooth and buttery - gentle yet extremely effective. It's moisturising without leaving any residue. If you strip your oily skin too much, it'll freak out and just make more oil, so your cleanser has to be hydrating, guys! This one is the perfect match. Plus, it hasn't got a strong scent, which is preferable for me with a face wash."

You have to love a bit of Cetaphil - they never let a girl down. For only £6.66 (absolute bargain), the Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser Wash helps to minimise the appearance of pores and visibly improve the skin tone. Oily skin is nourished with panthenol, whilst the foaming formula reduces grease.

Our review by Closer writer Emma Richardson: "Cetaphil's Oily Skin Cleanser is a perfect cleanser if your skin is on the slightly oily side of things. The cleanser contains niacinamide too, which is something I always like to include in my skincare routine as I always try to minimise my pores. It's gentle and takes off dirt easily and leaves skin feeling fressssssh. It's also fit for any budget which is ideal if you're trying to save some extra coins. 100% recommend!"

Sometimes, when you have oily skin, you are also blessed with the gift of acne. Thank you, world - so kind of you. But with the La Roche Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel, your oily skin will be diminished, as well as your active acne, and previous acne scars. It is also a suitable cleanser for sensitive skin, so you can rest easy.

Our review by Closer writer Ruby Barry: "This stuff is gold dust. It did a fantastic job clearing up my spots and even faded my old acne scars a bit, which I never thought would disappear. It's a great price point (especially if you get the 200ml bottle for £19, it lasts a millennium), and feels nice and silky on the face."

If you're a TikTok aficionado like us, then you'll know that the influencers can't stop talking about the CeraVe Foaming Cleanser. Simple and basic, but a formula that works. The cleanser releases three essential ceramides over time to ensure long-lasting hydration, even after banishing oil and bumps.

Customer review: "I love this face wash so much. it leaves my skin cleansed but not dry at all, none of that stretchy feeling. it doesn't have much of a scent and is great at removing makeup. It's one of the first cleansers that I can freely use on my eyelids too as it never irritated me so I can clean my whole face in one go. It's also so economical that I can buy a giant tub at such a great price. Lasts forever even though I use this every day. Love it!"

As raved about on our favourite Facebook group, Mrs Gloss & The Goss, the Camomile Sumptuous Makeup Cleansing Butter is the perfect first step in a double cleansing routine to remove that day-old, caked-in makeup from your skin to reveal your natural glow. It'll even get through dried waterproof mascara - impressive. It is a perfect hydrating cleanser for oily skin without overdoing it.

Customer review: "This cleanser is a wondrous product, one of those rare little gems you wish you’d discovered years ago! Easy to use and removes all traces of makeup effortlessly. My face even feels moisturised afterwards! Would recommend."

Right - so you've removed your makeup, and now you need a double cleanser to really penetrate those pores. Allow us to introduce the Byoma Creamy Jelly Cleanser. This pH-balanced formula is packed with a Tri-Ceramide Complex (ceramides, cholesterol, fatty acids), smells subtle and herby, and leaves the skin squeaky clean.

Our review by Closer writer Ruby Barry: "I was really impressed when using the Byoma Jelly in my double cleansing routine. After using my first balm to remove impurities from the surface (see my review of the Inkey List above, or sometimes I use plain Rosehip Oil from Q+A and its amazing at removing even waterproof makeup) I follow up with the Byoma formula and it leaves my skin soooo clean and bright. My favourite part is that you only need a tiny pump for your whole face as it foams up so effectively, so the bottle is lasting me for months at this point - with many months of use to come."

Oily skin can, unfortunately, make you more prone to clogged pores and blackheads. If you're struggling with this, don't let your self-confidence take a blow - start using the face theory Clarifying Cleanser. Full of actives such as salicylic, glycolic and lactic acid, this formula penetrates deeply into the pores to remove trapped dirt and dead skin cells.

Customer review: "This is quite literally the only cleanser I have found that clears my blackheads and pores without soreness, or being heavy in my deep pores. I had Roaccutane as a teenager for acne which makes your skin sensitive to everything for life. Any others out there: this works for cleansing and ongoing blemishes and doesn’t irritate the skin. I put on direct without water and massage in then rinse with water for the best results."

Sometimes, you have to treat yourself. Splurge on the OSKIA Renaissance Cleansing Gel and look forward to radiant, soft, supple skin. Perfect for all skin types, the free-radical fighting formula helps improve the appearance of sun damage and increases collagen production for heightened elasticity. Its beautiful rose scent makes it that extra bit boujee.

Customer review: "Discovered this cleanser when I was sent a sample from Space NK and fell in love with its texture, consistency, and effectiveness. It's a lovely gentle cleanser and hasn't aggravated my blemish-prone sensitive skin. I use it as my morning cleanser, and it doesn't leave any oily or sticky residue on my skin. Feels like a treat every morning to use. Highly recommend it, and a little goes a long way."