The first and key step of any skincare routine is deep cleansing. Why is that? Well, you surely want to take any excess sebum, makeup residue and other gunk off your face before continuing with your skincare routine.
And double cleansing is the best way to get rid of all that grime!
Double cleansing implies that first you use an oil-based cleanser to remove the oil-based impurities, makeup, and dirt from your skin. Then, the water-based cleanser (foam or gel) follows to get that splendid clean look.
Thanks to Koreans, who popularized it, we now have tons of cleansing oils to choose from, which are suitable for most skin types, as a part of double cleansing routine.
Of course, it’s not like all Korean cleansing oils are created equally! Some of the popular ones are packs with not-so-good ingredients that still can lead to irritation or clog your pores and lead to breakouts (quick tip: if you have acne-prone skin and your pores easily clog – avoid ethylhexyl palmitate1)!
Here I’m sharing with you the best Korean cleansing oils, to make your decision easier.
Choosing the Best Korean Oil-Based Cleanser
I prepared a list of the best Korean cleansing oils you can safely use, knowing they are free from nasty chemicals and comedogenic ingredients.
Here are all SAFEST and highly-rated K-beauty cleansing oils for different skin types:
1. Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture Deep Cleansing Oil Makeup Remover
Our verdict: Overall the best Korean oil-based cleanser
This cleansing oil is an excellent choice for those who are not fans of scents, and those with sensitive skin, as this cleanser is unscented.
So what’s inside? Korean rice bran oil, sunflower seed oil, olive oil, vitamin E, and other skin-friendly ingredients – they will keep your skin moisturized while removing excess sebum.
No feeling of oiliness afterward!
Why You Will Love It?
- Yes to every day double cleanse
This cleansing oil is formulated to suit everyday use. It is non-irritating, so you can use it on your face (and around your eyes!) every day.
- It won’t break out your skin
It has super simple ingredients list and it’s free from pore-clogging ingredients like ethylhexyl palmitate. This cleansing oil is just perfect for acne-prone skin,
- Bye, bye, stubborn makeup
Girls who have been using this cleansing oil, rave in their reviews how awesome it is for removing tough waterproof makeup residues, as well as eye makeup and sunscreen without over-rubbing.
Keep In Mind
This cleanser is more on the thick side (to be fair, it’s the thickest oil I tried!). It doesn’t leave greasy residue or anything, but for me it takes more time to rinse it off.
2. IUNIK Calendula Complete Deep Vegan Cleansing Oil
Our verdict: Best Korean cleansing oil for oily skin & preventing breakouts
This gel-textured cleansing oil is perfectly lightweight and easy to use in your everyday double cleansing routine. It contains natural ingredients, including sunflower oil and macadamia oil.
It is free from harsh chemicals, so it is not one of those synthetic cleansing oils that could harm your skin.
This oil-based cleanser is suitable for all skin types. If you have dry skin, it will definitely help you fight the skin dryness and dry patches.
However, you will probably be most satisfied with this product if you have combination skin, as it improves uneven skin texture and tone.
Why You Will Love It?
- Less is more
As it has a great combination of natural oils, it takes only a small amount of the product to do the job. Few drops will remove all the dust, oil-based impurities, and makeup very easily.
- Fabulous ingredients for acne-prone skin
Most of the ingredients are non-comedogenic which makes this oil-based cleanser perfect for acne and breakouts. Lots of women praises it for reducing breakouts.
- Melts away your makeup
It’s supper effective at removing makeup. It takes literally only a few seconds and even my waterproof mascara is melted!
Keep In Mind
This oil doesn’t have “fragrance” mentioned in the inci, however, it does contain some fragrance components. For me it smells like a baby oil that my mom used when I was a child so it brings me sweet memories, but I know some people don’t like it.
And fragrance is always fragrance, tricky thing for sensitive skin. This oil doesn’t break out my skin, and doesn’t sting eyes, but after washing it off I can feel that my eyes are slightly irritated.
PRO TIP: Iunik recenty launched a new sunflower-based cleansing oil, infused with Centella Asiatica. It is soothing and targets oily skin. If your pores need some extra action, this new version of the oil would be a better option!
3. Skin1004 Centella Light Cleansing Oil
Our verdict: The only oil cleanser that doesn’t make eyes blurry
I couldn’t miss adding the Skin1004 Centella to my list of the best Korean cleansing oils is.
What is so special about it?
It is a very lightweight cleansing oil. Its active ingredients are great for removing impurities, dead skin cells, and sebum.
As it doesn’t contain any nasty chemicals, that could cause irritation – you may use it on sensitive skin without any worries.
What’s more, this oil cleanser contains bergamot fruit oil which unclogs your pores and helps control sebum production.
Why You Will Love It?
- Centella Asiatica to the rescue!
This cleansing oil contains Cica – which is an amazing ingredient for calming irritated skin and reducing redness.
My rosacea and reactive skin just loves it!
- No burry or stingy eyes!
I tried a few Korean cleansing oils and some of them make your eyes blurry or even sting them.
Skin1004 is nothing like that. It’s super gentle for eyes (and I have super sensitive eyes!) and I never had blurry vision from this oil.
- Makeup has no chance
It emulsifies easily and rinses away easily, too. Despite the fact this is a lightweight cleansing oil, it is very effective.
So, it quickly and effectively removes dirt, and makeup (even waterproof mascara), and leaves skin soft and smooth.
Keep In Mind
It does contain ethylhexyl stearate at the beginning of ingredients list. It is not as pore-clogging as ethylhexyl palmitate, but you should keep that in mind if your skin is prone to breakouts. Mine is, but this oil cleanser has never broke me out and I come back to it most often.
4. Sandawha Natural Mild Cleansing Oil
Our verdict: Camellia-based oil for waterproof makeup
What distinguishes this cleanser is that it’s main ingredient is Camellia oil, not sunflower or rice, like with many other cleansing oils.
It is a deep cleansing oil which thoroughly cleans your skin and enables you to remove makeup easily, even the waterproof one.
It does so without disrupting the skin’s natural balance.
Among other ingredients, it contains canola, sunflower and castor oils.
It calms redness and irritation (related to acne or sensitive skin).
Why You Will Love It?
- Deep pore cleaning and no breakouts
It’s free from pore-clogging ingredients and sulfate detergents. Gentle, yet effective, it leaves the skin with refreshed complexion.
- Gentle for eyes
It’s not stingy for eye, which is always important, especially if you have sensitive eyes like me.
- Smells lovely
This is one of the oil-based cleansers that has really nice gentle floral scent, but you don’t have to worry – it comes from the oils, not artificial fragrance!
According to my friend Rainie, who was recently testing Sandawha oil, after using it for a while the scent becomes less noticeable.
I recommend you to check out Rainie’s reel on Instagram to see how effective this oil is at removing makeup!
Keep In Mind
Quality comes with a price. This is one of the most expensive Korean cleansing oils.
5. Sioris Fresh Moment Cleansing Oil
Our verdict: Awesome oil cleanser for people with acne breakouts
If you’ve been looking for the best Korean cleansing oil for some time, you have probably came across Sioris brand.
This deep cleansing oil melts away makeup, pore-clogging impurities, and fine dust. It thoroughly cleanses your skin and removes dead skin cells and environmental pollutants.
Ingredients like grape and sweet almond oil make your skin soft and smooth.
The best part? This oil-cleansing product is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin and oily skin types, and those prone to pimples.
Why You Will Love It?
- Acne issues help
If you have acne-prone skin, you will benefit from this Korean cleansing oil. It’s main ingredient is safflower oil which is non-comedogenic.
All ingredients in this cleanser make it less likely to cause breakouts. I went through dozens online reviews of it, and customers confirm that.
I was using it for 2 months (that bottle is really long-lasting) and also didn’t notice new pimples from it.
- Sensitive skin stress-free use
I have terribly sensitive skin and never had any irritation or other issues from this cleansing oil.
It kept my skin hydrated while having a soothing effect.
Keep In Mind
It doesn’t handle long-wear or waterproof makeup that nicely!
6. Purito From Green Cleansing Oil
Our verdict: Great cleansing oil for dry skin
Purito is in general one of my favorite brands, because most of their product have really simple and clean formulations, and they are available at affordable price!
Their cleansing oil doesn’t clog pores, and helps refresh the skin, while keeping it hydrated.
It has a non-greasy formula and it’s not overly runny.
This Korean cleansing oil contains 5 skin-loving oils: olive, sunflower, jojoba, sweet almond and grape oils.
They are filled with vitamins and moisturize your skin.
Why You Will Love It?
- (Every) skin loves it, dry type particularly
Yes, this deep cleansing oil is suitable for all skin types. However, it’s ingredients make it a fantastic option for dry skin type. It doesn’t dry out the skin. I’ve seen even people with eczema recommending it!
- Eco-friendly refill
Purito is a eco-conscious brand and they offer a refill for this oil, so you won’t need to buy another plastic bottle! Really great solution. I wish more brands offer refills.
- Vegan & cruelty-free
I know that for some skin enthusiasts it is important to have cruelty-free skincare. Purito is a fantastic option.
Keep In Mind
I really wanted to recommend also a makeup remover balm version of this cleanser. Sadly, it contains ethylhexyl palmitate so it’s not a great choice for oily of acne-prone skin, and it can make your skin to break out. I recommend you to check out my other article if you’re looking for one of the best Korean cleansing balms that washes off heavy makeup.
PRO TIP: If you buy the cleansing oil in bottle and refill as a bundle it is WAY cheaper (you can save even $10)!
7. Vegreen Rice Daily Moisture Pore Cleansing Oil
Our verdict: Gentle oil that diminishes blackheads
Just like Haruharu, Vegreen cleanser is a formulation basen on rice oil.
But what makes it to stand out from other best Korean cleansing oils, is that it’s in 86% made from natural ingredients, and contains lots of fruit extracts (apple, vanilla, strawberry, peach and banana).
Besides being free from harsh chemicals, it is also vegan! This cleansing oil is great when used as part of Korean skincare and double-cleansing method.
Why You Will Love It?
- Powerful protection
Your skin barrier protects you from free radicals. A harsh environment is often the cause of skin damage. However, you can keep it protected using the right products.
This cleansing oil has the ability to improve your skin’s protective layer – it protects and repairs your skin barrier (thanks to fatty acids in rice bran oil).
- Hydration for dry skin
Oils inside this cleanser make it a good choice for dry and sensitive skin. And what’s important, it doesn’t leave sticky residue and the skin doesn’t feel tight after washing.
- Improves skin texture
This K-beauty cleansing oil is recommended for uneven skin tone. It thoroughly cleanser face and leaves it fresh, with more radiant and brighter complexion.
Keep In Mind
While this is one of the best Korean oil cleansers, it is a bit expensive.
What’s more, it contains some ingredients that I don’t recommend for acne-prone and oily skin: coconut oil (NOT fungal acne friendly!), cocoa extract and soybean oil.
Final Decision: Which Korean Oil Cleanser Is Best?
It is really difficult to choose the single best complete cleansing oil among different cleansers. Many cleansing oils are good for different (or almost all) types of skin, while some of them are better for specific ones.
Of course, you should always choose the skincare products – especially cleansing oil based on your skin type.
From this list, I would point out the Haruharu Cleansing Oil and recommend it to be a part of your everyday Korean skincare regimen. Besides the fact it suits all skin types (including ultra sensitive ones), it contains only natural ingredients and has a non-greasy formula.
This cleanser contains rice bran oil, sunflower seed oil and vitamin E, making a perfect combination for nourishing the skin and removing excess oils and sebum while regenerating and moisturizing your facial skin. It is great for mature skin, too.
Additionally, this cleansing oil is really effective at removing all impurities and stubborn makeup residue.
What Is The Best Korean Oil Cleanser For Oily Skin?
If you struggle with oily skin, you may be worried that oil balms will worsen your skin issues. Therefore, you may wonder: What is the best Korean oil cleanser for oily skin?
Based on the ingredient check, I would recommend the Iunik Calendula Cleansing Oil as the best cleansing oil for oily skin types. It contains essential oils that remove excess oil and control sebum production.
At the same time, it provides moisture to your skin (you know that you may have dry skin hidden under that oily skin?). This is a very effective cleansing oil and your skin will surely love it.
PRO TIP: If you’d like to see more amazing Korean cleansers, make sure to check out this article where I’m sharing my favorite K-beauty face washes for each skin type.
Which Korean Oil Cleanser I Do NOT Recommend
There is quite a lot of popular oils that are in my opinion overhyped. And there’s even more misinformation around them, especially about “non-comedogenic formulation”.
Even if you don’t see comedogenic tests as reliable (all those rabbit ear test, I know), you need to know that there are ingredients that tend to clog pores, and lots of people report having breakouts from them. If your skin is already prone to blocked pores and zits, it’s better to avoid those ingredients.
One of them is ethylhexyl palmitate – and unfortunately it can be found as the FIRST ingredient in many balms and oils for makeup removal, even those hyped as “best Korean oil cleansers”.
Some of the K-beauty oil-based cleansers that contain ethylhexyl palmitate:
- Anua Heartleaf (it also has fragrance as 6th ingredient on the list; it irritated my skin badly plus blocked pores that lead to new breakouts. I talk more about my bad experience with Anua cleansing oil in this review)
- Mixsoon Bean (this one has fragrance too – as 7th ingredient, plus it’s soybean oil-based and this oil is highly comedogenic)
- Beplain Greenful (I really like this brand, and this first cleanser has some nice ingredients like panthenol, but ethylhexyl palmitate at the beginning of inci list is a no-no for me)
- COSRX Pure Fit Cica (I like lots of COSRX product, but I’m not a fan of this one)
- Hanskin (each version, whether it’s AHA, BHA or PHA, has ethylhexyl palmitate)
- Acwell pH Balancing Watery cleansing oil
- Neogen Real Fresh Green Tea
Best Korean Cleansing Oils – FAQ
Choosing the right skincare products may be overwhelming. When it comes to the best cleansing oils which are part of your double cleanse routine, you will probably have many questions. I will, therefore, answer the most frequent ones.
Do Koreans Use Oil Cleansers?
Yes, Koreans use oil cleansers for cleansing their face from dirt, makeup and other grime.
Cleansing oils are a part of 10-step Korean skincare. They have a double cleanse routine, and cleansing oils are the first step of deep cleansing.
How Does A Cleansing Oil Work?
Cleansing oil is there to gently remove the excess oil, makeup, and impurities from your skin.
The cleansing oil has lipophilic properties. What does that mean? This means that this type of cleanser naturally dissolves other types of oil, including sebum and the oils found in skincare products.
An oil cleanser can draw these oils out and dissolve them, after which they can be easily washed away in the second step of double cleansing.
Pros & Cons Of Cleansing Oils
Everything has its positive and negative sides. Your favorite cleansing oil does, too. So, what are the pros and cons of cleansing oils?
Pros
- Effective, gentle and easy removing impurities, makeup and even mineral sunscreen!
- Formulated to suit all types of skin with no irritations.
- Cleansing oils keep your skin hydrated and moisturized.
- They are loaded with various essential oils and antioxidants, which are beneficial for the skin.
Cons
- Some leave a greedy residue on your face (which is removed by the foam cleanser in the second step of washing your face).
- Double cleansing takes time! Using a cleansing oil is merely the first part of two-step cleansing, so if you are in a hurry, you may need to skip it.
Which Oils Are Best For Oil Cleansing?
- Argan oil and coconut oil – are great options for dry skin.
- Avocado oil, as well as jojoba, olive, and sunflower oils are great for more oily types of skin.
- Black sesame oil is great for every skin type, especially acne-prone skin.
The purpose of this article is informative and entertaining. It’s not a substitute for medical consultation or medical care. The author of this article does not accept any responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, from any information or advice contained here. Safety should be your priority. This article contains affiliate links.
All pictures in this article with YouAreBeautie logo belong to YouAreBeautie.com and were taken by the owner of this website. All these images are copyright-protected. Picture of Sandawha oil belongs to Rainie. Sources of other pictures:
- Pictures of Purito From Green belong to Purito Brand. Source: https://puritoen.com/
- Pictures of Vegreen Rice belong to Vegreen Brand. Source: https://en.vegreen.co.kr/
Sources of information:
- https://www.acne.org/
