Best Skin Cleansers and Face Washes for Oily Skin

Finding skin cleansers and face washes for oily skin can be tough. All skin types are different (make sure you find out what type you are!) and skin types with excess oil are particularly hard to control, because many facial cleansers make the skin feel too dried out, or worse, continue to make them even more oily. Washes for oily skin must be oil free, of course, and contain strong ingredients for acne prone skin such as salicylic acid, glycolic acid, or some other ingredients for oil control. Here are some of the best on the market today.

This organic facial wash by Christina Moss Naturals is one of the best face washes for oily skin, because it is hypoallergenic, organic, and gentle enough to make it one of the best skin cleansers for sensitive skin too. It contains no harmful chemicals of any kind, so anyone can use it, whether they have oily skin, combination skin, or acne prone skin. This facial cleanser will keep skin feeling fresh and free of excess oil. This product is priced at $22.99 for a 4 ounce bottle, but it is long lasting and effective.

My face was so clean after washing it actually squeaked! And wow! I saw a huge improvement in my face the very next day! Two weeks later my face is almost completely clear. - Amazon Customer

The simply clean gel by Skinceuticals is a gel cleanser that is one of the best skin cleansers for oily skin, because it is gentle enough to remove makeup and excess oil from the face as well as help with acne prone skin. It is created with botanical extracts to soothe and hydroxy acids to exfoliate. Chamomile is also included for its anti inflammatory properties. This product is helpful for oily skin, but also ideal for other skin types such as combination skin. It is a surprisingly effective cleanser for oily skin.

So gentle yet thorough. Skin feels so smooth and clean after using! I have extremely sensitive skin and this cleaner never breaks me out or leaves me feeling greasy or oily.- Verified Purchaser

The deep pore charcoal cleanser by Bioré is a foaming cleanser that is a great for oily skin, because it is made with natural charcoal, which is known to draw out impurities and excess oil in the skin. This product can help with oil control and can be used daily to keep the skin feeling fresh and bright. It is also a cheap product at only $5 dollars per 200 ml bottle.

After only using this a couple of times I started getting relief. After about a week it has cleared up. No itching. I would recommend this to anyone! - Sandra Kay

This product by SkinMedica is one of the best skin cleansers because it uses both alpha hydroxy acid and beta hydroxy acid remove impurities and excess oil from acne prone skin. This gel cleanser also includes botanical extracts to soothe inflammation. Combination skin and oily skin can benefit from this exfoliating cleanser and its double cleansing acid action. It is priced at $39.95 for a 6 fluid ounce bottle.

Wonderful wonderful product!!! Love the way it makes my skin feel and look. - Verified Purchaser

This foaming cleanser is a great skin cleanser and face wash for oily skin, because it is both oil free and soap free. It contains Zinc Pidolate to purify skin, and it’s a perfect option for acne prone skin. This product will effectively reduce excess oil and gently cleanse the skin on a daily basis. It is also priced reasonable at $14.99 for a 200ml bottle.

Very good face wash. I use it in the morning only. Started clearing up minor breakouts in about a week, and keeps my face less greasy feeling all day without over-drying.- HitesMites

This facial cleanser by Jan Marini is one of the best for oily skin because it utilizes the power of glycolic acid to control excess oil without irritating sensitive skin in the process. Also containing sorbitol, this facial cleanser leaves skin soft and clean. This product is $30 dollars for an 8 ounce bottle and has raving customer reviews.

My skin became bumpy and blemished and nothing I used worked until this! I use this every other day at night as directed and my entire face cleared up. -Verified Purchaser

This oil eliminating foaming cleanser by Neutrogena is extremely popular on the market. It is ideal for acne prone skin and skin with excess oil build up. It’s clinically proven to help with oil control and Neutrogena is a trusted brand for combination skin as well as oily skin. This foaming cleanser is oil free and non comedogenic, so it will not clog pores. Users love this affordable product.

Over the years, there have only been a handful of facial cleansers that have helped clear up my oily skin and acne... this is definitely one of them. It cuts through the oily sludge on my skin and keeps it oil free for at least a few hours. - Leah Thompson

This unique gel cleanser by Eminence Organic Skin Care is one of a kind and one of the best skin cleansers and face washes for oily skin, because it contains stone crop pulp, which calms the skin and removes excess oil and old layers of skin from the surface of the face. This cleanser leaves the skin feeling fresh, smooth, and rejuvenated. This product is priced at $38 for a 4.2 ounce bottle.

I've gone years trying to find the right cleanser for my face and FINALLY I have found it, thanks to my spa ladies for this amazing recommendation! - Verified Purchaser

This gel cleanser by Touch is great because it contains 10% glycolic acid, which means it provides powerful exfoliation to remove impurities and excess oil. This cleanser is perfect for combination skin and acne prone skin. It reduces irritation and redness, will keep the face blemish free, and won’t dry out the face. It works well with sensitive skin even though it’s aggressive!

This face wash is wonderful and I don’t think I’ll ever use anything else. I'd say it’s in between a baby gentle and normal face wash. So you still get the kick of glycolic acid. -Salena S

This skin cleanser by Obagi's key ingredient is vitamin C. Vitamin C not only controls excess oil on oily skin and acne prone skin, but it also lightens spots from sun damage and scarring. This gel cleanser can remove makeup easily and can be used daily to really cleanse the skin and keep it feeling fresh and clean. This product is priced at $42 for a 6 fluid ounce bottle.

My skin feels very clean and fresh after I use this cleansing gel! I feel like it really works - it washes away makeup residuals and oil/dirt, leaving my skin clean and soft. I would definitely recommend this cleansing gel for those who have combination/oily skin.- Verified Purchaser

The broad leaf kelp extract used in the checks and balances frothy face wash by Origins is a great ingredient to balance out oil production in the skin. This is one of many face washes for oily skin that can really help control excess oil in acne prone skin. There is also wheat protein in this foaming cleanser, which dries out the oil evenly and works well on sensitive skin. This product sells for $23.50 for a 5 ounce bottle.

I started using this checks and balances face wash from Origins after being referred to it from a friend, and have now been using it for two years. I will never use anything else. My skin is clearer and is never irritated. -Jordyn Cotton

This gel cleanser by Anora Skincare competes well with other skin cleansers and face washes for oily skin that are on the market. It is made with natural ingredients such as orange peel oil, white tea leaf extract, cucumber fruit extract, and more. It works well with all skin types including oily skin, acne prone skin, and combination skin. It retails for $36 for a 200ml bottle.

The cleanser is light but lathers well and leaves my skin feeling refreshed. -Sydney

This foaming cleanser by Neostrata is a major competitor with other skin cleansers because it uses the double cleansing power of 18% glycolic acid and 2% lactobionic acid to unclog pores and work hard to get rid of acne and other impurities on the skin. With grapefruit extract included, the skin will get the benefits of antioxidants as well. This product is also fragrance-free and the skin will be left feeling clean and healthy. It retails at $40 for a 3.4 fluid ounce bottle.

I’m combination/acne prone and allergic to benzoyl so this is an amazing option to keep skin clear- Verified Purchaser

This tea tree oil face cleanser by Era Organics promises to cleanse, nourish, and soothe any skin type, which makes it comparable to other skin cleansers and face washes for oily skin on the market. This skin cleanser is sulfate free, and uses organic ingredients. It will fight acne and excess oil. It sells for $15.87 for an 8 ounce bottle.

Excellent product. Provided proper PH balance for my skin. Left my face bright and tight after each wash. I will buy this product again.- Adrienne Baker