I can’t get enough of cleansing oils. No longer just for the face, cleansing oils have evolved over the past few years. Now they’re turning up in everything from shampoo to body wash, and with good reason—this hyper-moisturizing product leaves you soft and clean in one step (perfect for cooler weather ahead!).
Here are the eight formulas I’ve tried and love the most. Check them out in the slideshow.
More Facial Products to Try:
- 9 Best Anti-Aging Creams
- Sensitive Skin? Why You Need to Add Micellar Water to Your Beauty Routine Right Now
- Sheet Masks: Are They Worth the Hype?
The Evolution of Cleansing Oils (& What You Need to Try Now)
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L’Occitane En Provence Shea Butter Cleansing Oil
I’m prone to dry skin, so this abundance of oils has been quite a welcome addition to my beauty routine. This one is infused with 5% shea oil, which is derived from the seeds of the shea tree. Especially nourishing when it’s cold outside, this cleansing oil feels light and smooth on the skin. Add warm water to achieve a mollifying liquid that strips skin of makeup, dirt, and debris while leaving it soft and nourished.
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Kerastase Elixir Ultime Sublime Cleansing Oil Shampoo
This rich shampoo certainly lives up to its name, but “sublime” is almost an understatement. Made with a cocktail of argan, camellia, maize, and pracaxi oils, it softens and strengthens as it cleanses. My hair feels lusciously soft when I use this---and the lovely scent left behind is exquisite, too.
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Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Conditioner
I don’t make a habit of purchasing costly conditioners, but I may make an exception for this after going through a bottle. It’s made with fatty avocado oil, which is rich in vitamin E and biotin. The latter is known for its strengthening properties, and may help revive brittle, malnourished hair. My own strands felt silky soft after just one use; regular usage gave my hair a distinctive shine that simply was not there before.
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Garnier Clean + Nourishing Cleansing Oil
This is the game-changer that made me rethink cleansing oils entirely. Before I discovered it, I was a little ambivalent about smearing oil all over my face. What about breakouts? What about residue? I went through a litany of fears before finally taking the plunge and sampling this light oil. Made with jojoba and macadamia oils, it feels lovely on my often dehydrated skin, and somehow seems to instantly quench its thirst. It removes makeup with a quick swipe of a cotton pad---and at the end of a long day, that’s exactly what I need.
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Aveda Stress-Fix Creme Cleansing Oil
Stress manifests itself in many ways, including hair damage. This multipurpose oil cleanses hair with babassu and sunflower oils, which are great for brittle or heat-damaged strands. It also leaves behind a decadent blend of lavender and clary sage, both known for their stress-relieving abilities.
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Marula Pure Beauty Oil Foaming Cleansing Oil
Marula oil is a powerful antioxidant that prevents free radical damage. With regular use, skin feels softer and smoother, and you may just notice the added benefits of a more youthful complexion, too. This gel cleanser does it all, from gently exfoliating to slough off dead skin to cleansing makeup and debris. It feels decadent, too---light and refreshing, with a little slip that feels lovely on thirsty skin.
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Bobbi Brown Bobbi-To-Go Soothing Cleansing Oil
I travel all the time, but I’m not especially crazy about decanting my full-size cleansing oils into portable containers. I prefer a pump dispenser to the traditional screw-on caps that are typical of travel bottles. That’s why I grabbed a bottle of this TSA-friendly size before my last trip---and was delighted. It contains a hyper-blend of oils: kukui nut, olive, sunflower, and jojoba, plus a touch of comforting jasmine flower extract. I’m looking forward to toting this along during the colder months, especially.
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Neutrogena Ultra Light Cleansing Oil
Add this to the list of affordable finds. This one ranks up there as one of the year’s best, thanks to its fast-acting formula that even removed my stubborn waterproof mascara with just two to three swipes of each eyelid. That’s really the ultimate test, and this oil delivered. It contains rosemary and green tea extracts, but the light scent didn’t irritate my sensitive skin at all. In fact, my skin felt pampered and a bit like it does after a spa facial.
