12 Best Face Washes for Oily Skin [Tested and Reviewed]

CeraVe's Foaming Facial Cleanser washes away excess sebum with a gentle foaming action, keeping the skin healthy. 

Among the products we tested, it had a decent amount of cleansing power. It contains an abundance of acne-care ingredients, so those troubled by oiliness, pimples, or large pores should give it a try.

It also uses gentle cleansing components, promising to suppress sebum overproduction without irritation, and has very little scent. However, unfortunately, it does contain preservatives that can easily trouble sensitive skin.

On the plus side, our testers loved the after-wash feel, commenting that it cleaned thoroughly with no tightness after rinsing off.

Washing away excess sebum while offering a refreshing, clean finish with minimal tightness or an overly strong scent makes this our best-buy cleanser for oily skin.

La Roche-Posay's Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Cleanser for Oily Skin claims to wash away dirt and excess sebum without excessively drying out the skin. Notably, compared to other products we tested, its cleansing power did receive a high score.

As for the formula, we were pleased to see it contains PCA zinc, which suppresses excessive sebum secretion to reduce pimples and help prevent other skin troubles. However, the fact that it's scented is not ideal for those with very sensitive skin, so use it with care if you’re easily irritated.

Testers mentioned their skin feeling refreshed and not too tight after washing off, despite a bit of dryness. Also, its scent was pleasant and could appeal to many with its fresh, plant-based fragrance.

With decent cleansing power and ingredients useful for sebum control and other skin issues, this is a great option for those with oily skin.

Vichy Laboratories' Normaderm PhytoAction Daily Deep Cleansing Gel is a lather-free option that aims to wash away excess sebum while balancing the skin’s moisture and oil levels with zinc gluconate.

It’s also rich in ingredients known to be effective for textured skin, including exfoliating salicylic acid and probiotics.

As well as scoring fairly well in our cleansing tests, 90% rated it as satisfying or very satisfying for its feel post-wash. The lack of unpleasant odor also scored highly. Although the official product details don't specify the scent, users have reported a mint-like or fruity fragrance.

The balancing formula and other ingredients make this a good choice for not just oily complexions but also combination or textured skin. The non-foaming gel formula will speed up your morning routine, too. 

Cetaphil's DermaControl Oil Removing Foam Wash promises to remove excess sebum, dirt, and makeup that could clog pores, without overly drying out the skin.

Looking at the formula, it contains an anti-inflammatory ingredient (glycyrrhizin), so we can expect it to calm redness and irritation and help maintain healthy skin. Be aware there are added fragrances, though.

This cleanser ranked well in the cleansing power tests, coming third out of our product selection. It also received good scores for gentleness and scent. And with its pump dispenser, it’s a good choice if you want something quick and fuss-free on busy mornings.

Another fuss-free pump option, Neutrogena's Oil-Free Acne Wash is formulated to not only thoroughly cleanse pores but also prevent skin irritation.

It combines exfoliating salicylic acid with aloe vera leaf and chamomile flower extracts to reduce skin irritation, making this a promising product for calming acne-induced redness or inflammation and maintaining healthy skin overall. In fact, it came first in our acne care ingredient analysis test.

The fragrance is pleasant and reminiscent of soap, but this addition could cause issues for those with very sensitive skin.

Finally, while the cleansing power isn’t too low, feedback from our testers included comments like "It makes my skin feel dry and tight." If this concerns you, be sure to follow up with a good moisturizer.

Clinique's Acne Solutions™ Cleansing Foam is another acne-focused product formulated with salicylic acid and oil-fighting ingredients as well as anti-irritants. However, it contains preservatives unsuitable for sensitive skin, resulting in a slight markdown in this category.

With its foam-dispensing pump, lathering requires zero effort, although some testers commented that the foam dissipates quickly. The after-wash feel is also not so refreshing, with a noticeable smell of alcohol.

On the other hand, among the products we tested, it has fairly decent cleaning power. It doesn't remove all types of sebum dirt, but it should cleanse away most excess oil.

Farmacy’s Whipped Greens Oil-Free Foaming Cleanser uses papaya enzyme as its exfoliant as well as green clay and other plant-based ingredients to remove pore impurities and oils without stripping skin of its natural moisture.

When looking at the formula, we can see that it’s rich in acne-care and oil-control ingredients and doesn't appear to contain any irritants that could inflame sensitive skin. The fresh scent is a plus too, with hints of mint and lemon.

While it cleaned off well with no residue, some users reported a slight tightness, so be careful not to overwash. However, it didn't perform as well as expected in the cleansing power tests. This product might not be suitable for males, who generally have higher sebum levels than females, or for teens, whose skin also tends to produce more sebum.

If you’re looking for a thoroughly deep cleanse, Olay’s Regenerist Detoxifying Pore Scrub may be for you. With hydrated silica for dirt and oil removal along with salicylic acid, it promises to reveal smoother, brighter skin and reduce the appearance of pores.

During our tests, opinions were divided about the after-wash feel. There were, however, many positive comments about its fresh, appealing scent. But for those with sensitive skin, the heavy use of fragrance and preservatives could cause some issues.

Moreover, while its cleaning power wasn’t too bad, it did leave behind some stickiness.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Cleanser is a lightweight foam that removes dirt and excess sebum to maintain healthy, fresh-feeling skin. A highlight is the inclusion of salicylic acid and kaolin clay, both of which should absorb sebum, reduce shine, and result in a balanced, smooth complexion.

The charm of this product is its fresh finish, leaving no stickiness behind. However, during our tests, it didn't fully remove grease from the skin, yielding somewhat disappointing results. However, it received high praise for its gentleness and is completely fragrance-free, so it shouldn’t irritate those with sensitivities.

Some reviewers felt that it dried out their skin, so we recommend this cleanser only if you like a very clean wash. 

The INKEY List's Salicylic Acid Cleanser lifts and removes makeup and dirt, while its absorbent ingredients control excess sebum for a fresh, clear complexion.

There don’t appear to be any ingredients that could trouble sensitive skin, earning it high marks for gentleness. It’s also packed with acne-care ingredients, such as texture-smoothing tocopherol, PCA zinc to control excess sebum secretion and salicylic acid.

However, its low cleansing power won’t be ideal for men or teens, who tend to have a higher sebum secretion.

As it's fragrance-free, it has practically no scent, although some testers thought it smelled like plastic. Others also mentioned that their skin felt a bit slimy after washing off. To avoid this, make sure to rinse well with lukewarm water so no residue is left behind.

The Ordinary's Glucoside Foaming Cleanser is formulated to thoroughly remove dirt from the skin with its gel-to-foam formula, all while retaining the skin's moisture levels.

Upon testing, its cleansing power wasn't great, so it won’t be suitable if you have a particularly high amount of sebum and shine. It also has a distinct chemical-like scent, which many of our testers found unpleasant.

While it didn’t leave behind any residue after washing off, there were comments that the skin felt tight in certain areas. Just be sure to moisturize thoroughly afterward.

This cleanser scored highly for gentleness on the skin, as there are hardly any ingredients that could irritate sensitive skin. Also, it packs in a good amount of acne-care ingredients. This could be worth a try if you only have slightly oily or combination skin.

Origins’ Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash removes excess oil with its rich foam and promises to leave the skin smooth.

Plus points of this product are the inclusion of several acne-care ingredients, including tocopherol for healthy skin, as well as non-irritating cleansing components that can help prevent excessive sebum secretion.

Unfortunately, its cleansing power was disappointing, and failed to remove grease effectively. If you have very oily skin, you might want to skip this one. It also contains fragrances, so it’s not ideal for sensitive skin types either.

As for the scent, reviews were mixed. Some testers enjoyed the fresh minty scent, while others found it too similar to toothpaste. While the scent might not be for everyone, it does leave you feeling refreshed!