Korean Oil Cleansers Are the Secret to Your Smoothest Skin Yet

• Suitable for sensitive skin

• Some may dislike the scent

For something super gentle yet powerful, Ma:nyo's cleansing oil earns top marks. Infused with a blend of five nourishing oils, it effortlessly melts away impurities without leaving behind any greasy feeling. The antioxidant-rich argan oil also helps ward off free-radical damage that can contribute to signs of aging.

Key ingredients: Argan oil, jojoba seed oil, olive oil, camellia oil, evening primrose oil

Size: 6.7 fl. oz.

Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars

Our expert says: “I’ve tried and liked many oil cleansers, but I truly have a love affair with this one. Even if I test a different one and think it’s doing the job well, when I come back to this one, I’m astonished by how quickly and easily it takes my makeup off. It gets rid of blackheads and sebaceous filaments that other oil cleansers simply cannot dislodge, and because it feels more like a dry oil, my skin never feels greasy after using it. I have sensitive skin, and it’s never irritated my skin or caused a reaction. The original version is great, too, but this one will forever be my favorite.”—Carol Lee, ELLE.com contributor

• Cost-effective
• Suitable for sensitive skin

• Some reviewers found it to be a bit watery

Beauty of Joseon’s sunscreen may be getting all the attention on TikTok, but this oil cleanser is just as effective and hardworking. One of the star ingredients, ginseng oil, fights environmental stressors, as the formula’s soybean oil cleanses and moisturizes. “This is a lightweight favorite that leaves skin bright and calm,” notes Crumm.

Key ingredients: Soybean oil, ginseng seed oil

Size: 7.1 fl. oz.

Amazon rating: 4.4/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “This left my skin better than I found it. It truly gets into every crevice and pore and detoxes my face—I can feel the oil and dirt being pulled every time I massage it in. I usually wash it off with a gentle cleanser after, and my skin is left incredibly soft and plump. It also didn’t break me out. I have sensitive skin, but this is not irritating at all. The cherry on top is how affordable it is.”

• Suitable for all skin types
• Balances skin

• Some customers noted that it may not be as effective on certain mascaras

Peach & Lily developed this cleanser for six years before landing on this perfected formula. The product “dissolves stubborn makeup and SPF with ease without causing foggy eyes, breakouts, irritation, or drying out the skin. And the best part is the feeling it provides once it’s rinsed off—there’s no residue, and skin is left supple, clear, and deeply cleansed,” Yoon shares.

Key ingredients: Ginger root extract, grapeseed oil, sunflower seed oil

Size: 5.07 fl. oz.

Peach & Lily rating: 4.7/5 stars

A Peach & Lily reviewer says: “I love the ingredients in this, and I love that it has never broken me out, as a sensitive skin girlie. It’s luxurious, emulsifies beautifully, and doesn’t feel heavy. Worth every penny.”

• Suitable for sensitive skin
• Effective on waterproof makeup

• May feel a little heavier than other formulas

If you’re tired of rubbing your eyes to get every last bit of mascara off, this cleansing oil melts away eye makeup in seconds without any extra friction. You also won’t find that it stings the eyes or sensitizes the skin, thanks to the fragrance- and colorant-free formula.

Key ingredients: Grape seed oil, olive oil, seaberry oil

Size: 6.76 fl. oz.

Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “It’s a beautiful product in my opinion. I feel like it’s the best oil cleansing product with the way it feels and smells. It’s great for a light cleansing and keeps the skin moisturized afterwards. Good for prepping before a more exfoliating cleanser or heavy-duty cleanser.”

• Pleasant scent
• Avoids stripping skin

• Some may dislike jar packaging

Crumm also recommends Then I Met You's Living Cleansing Balm, which he calls “a sensorial ritual that melts everything off from the day.” Reviewers rave about its elegant texture, too. It quickly dissolves all debris sitting on the skin and infuses hydration as you massage it, thanks to ingredients like persimmon extract and vitamin E.

Key ingredients: Grape seed oil, olive oil, seaberry oil

Size: 3.17 fl. oz.

Amazon rating: 4.6/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “It removes difficult makeup and sunscreen in 60 seconds (that is how long I like to massage my cleansers in), and it feels so silky on the skin. It has a nice slip to it, so I never feel that I am tugging at my face. It melts into my hands as soon as I rub them together. My biggest pet peeve with cleansing balms is that they never fully melt into my hands, and I am left with big cleanser chunks between my fingers. That is not the case with this balm. It is perfect. It does not leave a residue either, if that is something you look for. Personally, I never mind either way, because I’m going to follow with a regular cleanser right after. But this rinses off clean and leaves my face feeling soft. There is a very pleasant scent to this balm as well. I don’t find it too strong, and it doesn’t irritate my skin, either.”

• Breaks down waterproof mascara

• Some may dislike jar packaging

This bestselling cleansing balm is a superstar in South Korea—it’d be hard to come across a skin care enthusiast who hasn’t heard of it. “This Korean cleansing balm has been an icon for over a decade now because of how it glides elegantly onto skin and effectively removes waterproof makeup, leaving skin feeling deeply clean and refreshed,” says Yoon.

Key ingredients: Acerola berry, vitamin C

Size: 3.38 fl. oz.

Amazon rating: 4.7/5 stars

Our expert says: “This may have been my first oil cleanser ever. Because it was the first oil cleanser I saw go viral, I couldn’t help but pick it up during one of my trips to South Korea as a teen. It feels like Vaseline at first, but it quickly transforms into a thin, oily texture that easily washes down the drain—along with all of your makeup and any pollutants that may have accumulated on your skin throughout the day.” —CL

Alicia Yoon is the founder of Peach & Lily.

Ian Michael Crumm is a celebrity esthetician, skin care expert, and co-host of the educational beauty podcast BeautyCurious.

Sometimes, it’s all too tempting to skip your evening self-care routine and go right to bed. A gentle reminder: It’s a bad idea, even if you didn’t wear makeup that day. “Makeup, SPF, and excess sebum can all settle deeper into pores and be a trap for impurities. This buildup can cause irritation, breakouts, dullness, or decreased skin care product absorption. Cleansing skin thoroughly and gently at the end of the day helps keep skin healthy,” Yoon says.

According to Yoon, it depends on what product you’re using. Some rinse right off without leaving behind a greasy residue, so it may not be necessary to go in with another cleanser. “For other cleansing oils, you may find that without a second cleanser, it’s harder to remove the oily feeling. Everyone is different, so see what your skin loves, but for the most part, you can’t go wrong with a two-step cleanse.”

“For oily or acne-prone skin, choose formulas with lighter oils like jojoba,” says Crumm. “For dry or sensitive types, rice bran or camellia oil brings comfort. Avoid anything overly fragranced or coconut-heavy if you clog easily. A good cleansing oil should rinse clean and leave your skin balanced.”

For this piece, beauty writers Carol Lee and Sam Peters consulted a Korean skin care expert and esthetician to learn more about Korean oil cleansers. Lee also personally tested some top-rated options on the market. Additionally, the authors combed through reviews for top-rated products, assessing each one based on their features and customer evaluations.

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