11 Best Face Washes for Oily Skin in 2024

Cleansing is one of the most important steps in your skin care routine, and if your complexion leans a little too dewy for your liking, switching to a face wash designed for oily skin could make all the difference. An effective cleanser takes away that slick, greasy feeling, but won’t leave your skin feeling stripped of moisture. And if you have other concerns—acne, dark spots, uneven texture—it’s a sweet bonus if your face wash has ingredients that’ll take a whack at those too. Below, we rounded up the best cleansers for oily skin, all of which are either SELF staff favorites or dermatologist-approved.

Our top picks:

1. CeraVe SA Cleanser
2. La Roche Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser
3. RoC Barrier Renew Gel to Foam Cleanser
4. Dermalogica Daily Glycolic Cleanser
5. Cetaphil Gentle Clear Clarifying Acne Cream Cleanser
6. Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser
7. Paula’s Choice Calm Ultra-Gentle Cleanser
8. Naturium Niacinamide Cleansing Gelée 3%
9. Beauty Pie Japanfusion Pure Pure Transforming Cleanser
10. Philosophy Microdelivery Exfoliating Daily Facial Wash
11. Skinceuticals LHA Cleanser Gel

Jump to:

• Why is cleansing important if you have oily skin?
• What to look for in a face wash for oily skin
• How often should you wash your face if you have oily skin?

1. CeraVe SA Cleanser

You’ll get the oil-reducing and pimple-fighting benefits of salicylic acid in this face wash, with a boost from hydrating hyaluronic acid, soothing niacinamide, and reparative ceramides. “My face skews oily but can be dry at times, and this never irritates my acne-prone skin,” says one SELF editor. “It has a smooth, gel-like consistency that morphs into a gentle lather for that clean but not overly dry feeling. I also love using this on my chest and upper back during the warmer months—all that sweat buildup tends to break me out, and this keeps things looking pretty clear.”

• Formula consistency: gel
• Ingredients worth noting: salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, ceramides
• Non-comedogenic | Fragrance-free | Comes in two sizes: 8 and 16 fl oz

2. La Roche Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser

“I bought this cleanser last summer when my normal-to-dry skin started looking oilier and feeling sensitive from time in the sun, and it was exactly what I needed,” says one SELF editor. “It lathers up to a foam that doesn’t sting my skin or eyes and it leaves my face feeling clean but not dry.” This face wash also gets an expert’s seal of approval: “It effectively reduces oil but also contains ceramides as well as niacinamide to support the skin barrier, minimizing the potential for dryness or irritation,” Marisa Garshick, MD, New York–based dermatologist and clinical assistant professor at Weill Cornell Medicine, tells SELF.

• Formula consistency: gel
• Ingredients worth noting: niacinamide, ceramides
• Non-comedogenic | Fragrance-free | Oil-free | Comes in two sizes: 6.76 and 13.52 fl oz

3. RoC Barrier Renew Gel to Foam Cleanser

“This cleanser is a great option for people who are oily, but it’s gentle enough for those with sensitivity,” Joshua Zeichner, MD, associate professor and director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, tells SELF. Ceramides and glycerin (a humectant that draws water into the skin to help retain its moisture) will leave your face feeling supersoft.

• Formula consistency: gel-to-foam
• Ingredients worth noting: ceramides, green tea, shea butter, glycerin
• Non-comedogenic | Fragrance-free | 12 fl oz

4. Dermalogica Daily Glycolic Cleanser

The glycolic acid in this face cleanser can help give your skin a more even tone because, as a chemical exfoliator, it can gradually reduce hyperpigmentation. Plus it has jojoba seed oil to make sure your skin doesn’t feel stripped, as well as calendula extract and allantoin to calm any potential irritation. “I have an especially oily T-zone, and this cleanser keeps my face looking smooth, bright, and shine-free,” says one SELF editor. “Unlike most face washes with actives, this one doesn’t leave my face feeling parched and flaky—which I really appreciate as someone with combo skin.”

• Formula consistency: gel
• Ingredients worth noting: glycolic acid, hyaluronic acid, calendula extract, allantoin, jojoba seed oil
• 5.1 and 10 fl oz

5. Cetaphil Gentle Clear Clarifying Acne Cream Cleanser

This face wash is a solid pick for anyone dealing with the triple whammy of oily, acne-prone, and sensitive skin, according to Dr. Garshick. It contains salicylic acid to unclog pores, prevent pimples, and reduce the production of excess sebum (the oily, waxy stuff that comes out of your pores) without drying out the skin. At the same time, white tea and aloe vera calm inflammation, so any breakouts or irritation won’t look as angry.

• Formula consistency: cream
• Ingredients worth noting: salicylic acid
• Fragrance-free | 4.2 fl oz

6. Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser

Glossier had many of us in a chokehold for a while, but it wasn’t just about the millennial pink packaging for one SELF editor: “I’ve been using the Milky Jelly Cleanser consistently for the past eight years or so—it remains my holy grail,” she says. “I love the texture, the gentle scent, and the packaging, which makes it so easy to hold in your hand. As an oily gal who will also get random dry flaky patches in the winter, this checks all my boxes.”

• Formula consistency: gel
• Ingredients worth noting: allantoin, hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5, rose water
• Non-comedogenic | Fragrance-free | Comes in three sizes: 2, 6, and 10 fl oz

7. Paula’s Choice Calm Ultra-Gentle Cleanser

One tester called this 2023 Healthy Beauty Award winner “the ideal morning cleanser” because it’s “exactly what you need to refresh and start your day and not strip your skin in the process.” It’s designed to work for eczema- and rosacea-prone folks, so it’ll gently sweep away oil and dirt without ramping up redness or other signs of irritation.

• Formula consistency: gel
• Ingredients worth noting: glycerin
• Fragrance-free | 6.7 fl oz

8. Naturium Niacinamide Cleansing Gelée 3%

Niacinamide, a key ingredient in this cleanser, is sorta like Barbie, because it seems to do everything—calm inflammation, reduce oil, even out dark spots, the list goes on. One SELF editor can vouch for this face wash’s multitasking perks: “Not only does it do a great job of removing my makeup, but it also helps control oil, especially on summer days. I’ve even noticed my breakouts disappearing whenever I use this one.”

• Formula consistency: gel
• Ingredients worth noting: niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, glycerin
• Fragrance-free | 7.1 fl oz

9. Beauty Pie Japanfusion Pure Pure Transforming Cleanser

This cleanser is great for lots of skin types, including folks who deal with too much shine, Dr. Zeichner says. It offers up the oil-removing abilities of a gel and the moisturizing qualities of a creamy face wash. Plus its unique formula acts as a sort of cleansing balm that you can massage around the eyes to remove makeup, including waterproof mascara.

• Formula consistency: gel-to-oil-to-milk
• Active ingredients: vitamin E, fruit extracts (antioxidants)
• Fragrance-free | 3.38 fl oz

10. Philosophy Microdelivery Exfoliating Daily Facial Wash

The fine grains in this 2023 Healthy Beauty Award winner buff away oil, dirt, and flaky skin, leaving you with a much smoother complexion. “It totally kept my small bumps at bay, and when I stopped using it for a week (due to travel) I noticed a clear difference,” one tester wrote. Since a physical exfoliator can be irritating for some people, experts generally recommend only using it once or twice a week to start, especially if your skin is sensitive. (Don’t forget to be gentle—no scrubbing!)

• Formula consistency: gel with exfoliating grains
• Ingredients worth noting: amino acids, sunflower seed oil
• Fragrance-free | Comes in four sizes: 3, 8, 16 and 32 fl oz

11. Skinceuticals LHA Cleanser Gel

This gel cleanser relies on a combination of exfoliating acids to even out skin texture and tone, according to Dr. Garshick. One reviewer called this their “new forever cleanser” and wrote that they’ve seen a “major improvement” since they started using it: “I hardly ever breakout anymore and the hyperpigmentation is slowly but surely fading away.”

• Formula consistency: gel
• Ingredients worth noting: lipo-hydroxy acid, glycolic acid
• Fragrance-free | Comes in two sizes: 6.7 and 13.5 fl oz

Washing your face is key to preventing breakouts (including blackheads and whiteheads) because the right cleanser gets rid of all the sweat, oil, and dirt that builds up on and in your skin throughout the day (and at night, if you tend to be a sweaty sleeper). Plus Dr. Zeichner says it “creates a fresh canvas” for other products, like serums, spot treatments, retinol, moisturizer, and whatever else you like to include in your skin care routine.

Consistency and texture

If you have oily skin, odds are you’re staying away from thicker cream- or oil-based cleansers already, and that instinct is right. Instead, go with lighter gel or foam formulas, Farah Moustafa, MD, board-certified dermatologist and director of Laser and Cosmetics at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, tells SELF. “Foam-based [face washes] are better for those with very oily skin, and gel-based are great for oily or combination skin,” she says. They get the job done without drying out your face, and typically don’t introduce any oil or other ingredients that might add to that slick feeling or cause breakouts.

Ingredients

One of the best ingredients to look for in a face wash for oily skin is salicylic acid, according to Dr. Moustafa. It works by dissolving the dead skin cells that clog pores and contribute to acne, and using it regularly can reduce your skin’s oil production over time. Niacinamide and green tea are also worth looking out for, she notes, since they’re both anti-inflammatory, which means they’ll help soothe irritation and acne, and they’ve been linked with lowering oil output.

Stick to washing your face twice a day, in the morning and at night, and only add in a third cleanse if you get sweaty. As Dr. Moustafa notes, cleansing more than that “can backfire over time and cause the skin to make more oil to compensate, as well as lead to a lot of irritation.”