Here are fifteen picks from our beauty editor, sorted by skin type and budget for a comprehensive guide guaranteed to convert you a cleansing oil devotee.
For Mature Skin
As skin matures it makes less of its own oil, so the job here is to lift the day off without taking the last of the moisture with it.
Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil, £42
If you already swear by the cult night serum, this squalane and evening primrose sibling, scented with lavender, turns a nightly chore into the nicest five minutes of the day.
Clarins
Total Cleansing Oil, £28
Nearly half organic sunflower oil, it shifts waterproof mascara and turns to a soft milk with a splash of water, the sort of dependable skincare classic that you’ll be buying on repeat.
Medik8
Lipid-Balance Cleansing Oil, £35
Made in the UK with safflower and moringa oils, it's designed to support the skin barrier, that can become more fragile as we age, leaving skin soft rather than squeaky.
For Acne-Prone Skin
Oil on breakout-prone skin sounds counterintuitive, but a lightweight, non-comedogenic formula lifts the sebum and SPF that clog pores in the first place.
Anua
Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil, £16
The K-beauty bestseller that converted a generation of oil sceptics, its soothing heartleaf extract and featherlight texture make it the obvious place to start.
SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil, £17.50
Almost water-thin and non-comedogenic, with calming centella asiatica, it's the one for anyone who finds richer oils sit heavily on oily or congested skin.
Dermalogica PreCleanse, £49
The first step in a double-cleanse routine that Dermalogica has championed for 40 years, this oil dissolves excess sebum, SPF and waterproof make-up without artificial fragrance.
For Sensitive Skin
If your skin flares at the mere sight of a new product, the plainer the formula, the better. Here are a trio of gentle options that will soothe, rather than aggravate sensitive skin.
Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Cleansing Oil, £21
Unfragranced and gentle enough to use over the eyes, it still tackles waterproof make-up effectively, with Bioderma’s famous micellar formula to hydrate as it cleanses.
Pai Light Work Cleansing Oil, £34
Pai built its whole range around reactive skin, and this COSMOS Organic rosehip formula has been independently patch-tested for sensitive complexions, so you can cleanse with confidence.
Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Oil, £38
Fragrance-free and allergy-tested like everything Clinique makes, it's the no-surprises choice for those who want a fail-safe option their skin can rely on.
Best Bargain Buys
These high street heroes prove you don't need to spend a fortune to get good results, with each one melting away make-up and SPF as capably as oils at several times the price.
Simple Kind to Skin Hydrating Cleansing Oil, £6.99
Cheap as chips and refreshingly unfussy, this grapeseed oil formula has no added perfume, comes in a recycled plastic bottle and does the job without a single frill.
Super Facialist
Vitamin C+ Skin Renew Cleansing Oil, £14
A generous 200ml of vitamin C, rosehip and olive oils with a zesty scent, it feels far pricier than it is.
Bubble First Class Oil Cleanser, £17
Prickly pear and rosehip oils in a lightweight formula that melts make-up and SPF, proof that budget skincare doesn't have to be dull.
Best Investment Buys
With their silky textures and sumptuous scents, these are the luxury cleansing oils that turn an evening routine into a spa moment, offering a few minutes of genuine self-care before bed.
Tatcha The Camellia Cleansing Oil, £48
Japanese camellia oil and rice bran melt into a milk with the silkiest slip, making double cleansing feel like a ritual rather than a rule.
Guerlain Abeille Royale Cleansing Oil Anti-Pollution, £56
Royal jelly and honey, a warm honeyed scent and enough power to shift waterproof mascara make this the bottle to put on your Christmas list.
EDITOR’S PICK
Votary Super Seed Cleansing Oil, £65
A concentration of 22 cold-pressed seed oils, this soothing formula is designed to calm the look of irritation and redness and to help with the visible signs of ageing as it cleanses. More than a simple ‘cleanse’ with genuine skin benefits locked in.
AT A GLANCE
Best for mature skin: Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil, £42
Best for acne-prone skin: Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil, £16
Best for sensitive skin: Pai Light Work Cleansing Oil, £34
Best bargain buy: Simple Kind to Skin Hydrating Cleansing Oil, £6.99
Best luxury buy: Tatcha The Camellia Cleansing Oil, £48
Editor's pick: Votary Super Seed Cleansing Oil, £65
The Best Cleansing Oils
What are the best cleansing oils to buy in 2026?
The Guide's edit includes Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil, Clarins Total Cleansing Oil and Medik8 Lipid-Balance Cleansing Oil for mature skin. For acne-prone skin it picks Anua, SKIN1004 and Dermalogica PreCleanse, and for sensitive skin Bioderma Sensibio, Pai Light Work and Clinique Take The Day Off. Simple, Super Facialist and Bubble are the bargain buys. Tatcha, Guerlain Abeille Royale and Votary Super Seed are the investment buys.
How does a cleansing oil work?
A cleansing oil works on the principle that oil dissolves oil. Massaged onto dry skin, it breaks down make-up, sunscreen and excess sebum. Most contain emulsifiers, so adding water turns the oil into a milky liquid. That liquid rinses away cleanly, taking impurities with it without stripping the skin of moisture.
How do you use a cleansing oil?
Apply two or three pumps to a dry face with dry hands and massage for about a minute. You can include closed eyes if the formula is ophthalmologist-tested. Add a splash of warm water to emulsify the oil, then rinse thoroughly. For a double cleanse, follow with a gentle water-based cleanser.
Can you use a cleansing oil on acne-prone skin?
Yes, provided the formula is lightweight and rinses away completely. Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil and SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil are both designed with breakout-prone skin in mind. Dermalogica PreCleanse is suitable for oily skin and dissolves excess sebum before a second cleanse. Persistent or painful acne should be assessed by a GP or dermatologist.
Where can I buy cleansing oils in the UK?
Cleansing oils are widely available at Boots, Superdrug, John Lewis, Space NK, Cult Beauty and LookFantastic, as well as on brand websites. Budget options such as Simple Kind to Skin Hydrating Cleansing Oil cost around £7. Luxury formulas such as Votary Super Seed Cleansing Oil cost £65.
