9 Best Drugstore Cleansing oils that work like Magic

I only recommend products I love and I think you will, too. If you click on links I provide, I may receive a little compensation. Learn more.

Looking for best Drugstore cleansing oils that are just as good as expensive ones?

I vividly remember coming across a youtube video a few years ago about double cleansing and I was like, what? Now we have to clean our face twice? I consider myself lucky if I get to wash it once, lol.

Now all I can say is, double cleansing has become as important to me as removing makeup before sleeping, which is VERY.

Apparently, as per the method of double cleansing, you first have to use some oil and massage it into the skin. Oil attracts all the dirt, sebum, and makeup in the pores and pulls them out leaving your skin squeaky clean. Then you have to use any other normal cleanser – preferably foam or gel, to clean your skin more deeply and to get rid of any impurities or residue if any.

How to correctly use oil Cleaners?

Now that the process is clear, I have seen many people using these oil cleansers the wrong way and then complaining of skin congestions, breakouts, and other skin issues.

What you have to do is, take some amount of oil cleanser onto your hands and massage it on the dry skin for 30-60 seconds. You have to massage it until you see every bit of makeup coming off. Good oil cleansers don’t take much time.

Now, the important part, clean your oily hands, take some water, and massage it over the oil on the skin to emulsify it so that you can actually pull out all the impurities. Lather for another 30 seconds and see the oil changing into a milky white substance.

It’s time to rinse away the lather with water. And then use foam or gel-based cleanser to clean your skin like never before.

This is how you should double cleanse instead of wiping away the oil with a washcloth, cotton pad, or just water after massaging it in.

That being said, we know that not all oil cleansers are created equal, but a good one doesn’t need to break the bank for you. You can easily find amazing drugstore cleansing oils for under $20 and they won’t be much different than expensive ones.

So here are some of my best drugstore cleansing oils that actually work like magic.

Even though I love all of the recommendations below, this drugstore cleansing oil is blindly my first choice. As it is a mix of some beautiful non-comedogenic oils and is also fragrance-free. My other favorite oil cleansers are this and this one due to their strong cleaning effects and acne-prone skin-safe ingredients.

best Drugstore cleansing oils

1. Hada labo Gokujun Cleansing Oil

Hada Labo is a Japanese brand famous for this drugstore cleansing oil. I have tried many cleansing oils and I always have things to say about them. But I’m sorry, this shocked me.

Despite the fact that I can barely read what it says, this works like magic. Pure magic. It is an olive oil-based product with hints of hyaluronic acid so your skin doesn’t get deprived of hydration and is fragrance-free and doesn’t have mineral oil, alcohol, or any added colors which makes it one of the top oil cleansers in the market.

It tends to remove all kinds of makeup so quickly and doesn’t leave any traces of greasy oily residue behind. Unlike some drugstore oil cleansers, it doesn’t irritate your eyes and pulls out eye makeup and lashes easily and effectively.

Thus, this affordable gem is a pretty good option to consider for all skin complexions and issues.

2. Physicians Formula Organic Cleansing Oil

Oh my wow, if you know me, you know I love Physicians Formula for almost everything they put out but when they launched this organic wear skincare and makeup line, I was all for it.

It is a very thick dense oil but it breaks down and removes dirt, tough makeup, impurities, and clogged pores within seconds. Yes, I’m serious. What I love the most about it is that it has most of the skin-loving ingredients like organic Rosehip oil, organic aloe vera, organic Chamomile and organic Jojoba oil which are all non-comedogenic and suitable for all skin types.

This oil feels super gentle on the skin and tough on the makeup. I really couldn’t find any cons in it except the fact it smells different. But don’t get me wrong, there is no added fragrance to the product, and the smell is due to the mixture of all the oils, which is a good and rare thing to find in drugstore cleansing oils.

All in all, I absolutely love this affordable fragrance-free cleansing oil and would totally recommend it.

3. Simple Kind to Skin Cleansing Oil

Oh, here’s one drugstore cleansing oil that is super gentle and insanely affordable. It is enriched with 100% grapeseed oil, which btw is not only very low on the comedogenic scale but also helps improve the skin barrier and reduce the appearance of acne scars and hyperpigmentation, and has a healthy amount of vitamin A and E to best suit your skin.

I love how light its texture is and how soft it feels on the skin. It dissolves every inch of makeup (waterproof too!) real quick and emulsifies without any effort to remove everything off the skin without leaving any oily residue behind.

After washing it off, you can actually feel the softness and hydration which I bet dry skin people will especially adore.

There are just a few fragrance-free cleansing oils that are actually good, affordable, and safe for acne-prone skin. And yes, this drugstore cleansing oil is one of those gems.

4. Organys Cleansing Oil

This double action cleansing oil can be used as the first step in double cleansing or you can use it instead of a foam cleanser. Once you add water to emulsify it, it changes into a nice lather to clean off the skin properly and doesn’t leave any oily residue behind.

It has a 4.5-star rating on Amazon with overwhelmingly positive reviews. And you know what the best part is? It DOESN’T has any fragrance. Oh yes, it is as affordable as the others and the ingredient list is short as well (which is a major plus).

On how decent it is at removing makeup, I’ll say it eliminates everything quickly and gently, doesn’t leave any traces of residue, and also helps reduce blackheads.

All in all, I’m loving this cleanser and would recommend it to all skin types. Totally value for money.

5. KLAIRS Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil

If there’s one cleansing oil I actually fell in love with on the very first use, it has to be Klairs gentle black one. It is a mid-weight rich oil with different natural oils to get rid of every bit of tough makeup and skincare of the skin.

It is actually one of the better drugstore oil cleansers that do not trigger whiteheads/blackheads, instead help remove them as well with consistent use. Fortunately, it doesn’t leave any residue behind and cleanses the skin properly.

Unlike the above cleansers, it has a pleasant subtle scent added that fortunately is not overpowering and doesn’t irritate the skin.

The only disappointment it has is that even though it claims to not clog your pores and control sebum production, most of its active ingredients are fungal acne triggers which do not look like a good sight for acne-prone skin types.

Now I know this drugstore cleansing oil from Klairs is a bit on the expensive side but you can still snag it for less than $20 on lucky days. So it makes it a bit more affordable. And even for its price, it is totally and absolutely worth it.

6. Neutrogena Ultra Light Cleansing Oil 

Another really light non-comedogenic affordable oil cleanser is the one from my favorite brand, Neutrogena. It effectively dissolves and removes all the impurities and waterproof makeup in under 30 seconds without leaving the skin greasy or oily.

I like that it is dermatologically and Ophthalmologically tested and is safe for acne-prone skin.

Honestly, all I can think of is how watery and lightweight its texture is. It is water in the form of oil (in a good way). And how quickly it pulls out the gunk and makeup. Also, it has a really soothing subtle scent to it which does not bother me.

I really cannot find any con that is big enough except that it has mineral oil as its first ingredient. Which btw is not always bad for skincare. You can read this article to get more knowledge about it.

In short, for the price this drugstore cleansing oil retails for, it is soooo good that you don’t wanna miss it.

7. Palmer’s Ultra Gentle Cleansing Oil

Another oil cleanser, jam-packed with beautiful natural ingredients is this Palmer’s cocoa butter cleansing oil. It is a solid combination of eight (yes 8!!) natural oils, cocoa butter, and vitamin E and removes all the impurities and makeup gently by massaging just a little into the skin.

Like most of the drugstore cleansing oils, it too has a little scent to it which is pleasant and doesn’t give you a headache. It actually smells low-key like chocolate muffins. The best part? Even with so many oils, it is non-comedogenic, which means, it won’t cause you breakouts.

Also, it doesn’t leave any oily residue behind but does make your skin supple and moisturized after cleansing it. So I think this is a must-try drugstore oil cleanser, especially for dry skin types.

8. Burt’s Bees 100% Natural Cleansing Oil

This is one of the better drugstore cleansing oils of all time. And it is as good as any high-end cleanser you may try. It is a 100% natural and mineral oil-free formula, which is a major plus and all of the ingredients are super gentle on the skin and helps remove tough waterproof, pigmented makeup without struggling.

Some of the few cons of this product are that it contains coconut oil which we know is a highly comedogenic oil (which means it clogs pores and causes breakouts). It may not react with every skin but if you are prone to acne, it may not be good for you.

Another thing is that it has this natural herbal fragrance added to it which may not be good for fragrance-sensitive skin types. But I can say that since the fragrance is very light and not overwhelming, you may not have much problem with it most of the time.

Overall, I can say that if you are looking for a good affordable cleansing oil without harmful chemicals, this oil cleanser is what you need in your routine.

9. The face shop Rice Water Cleansing Oil

This Face shop cleansing oil has been around for quite a while now and people have been loving it ever since. It comes in two versions, one for normal to dry skin and the other for oily to combination skin. There’s not really much difference in both the drugstore oil cleansers but it is what it is.

It is an easy-to-use lightweight formula that claims to remove every bit of oil-based impurities like makeup, sunscreen, and waterproof mascara along with giving your skin a brightening effect due to rice bran oil. Even though the claim of removing makeup and mascara is true, I feel like it doesn’t really give a brighter skin tone after washing.

That being said, I would never recommend it to people with sensitive or acne-prone skin types. And also not to people with migraines. I’m serious. It has an enormous amount of fragrance which can be irritating to your eyes, skin, and head. And that fragrance actually sticks to your face even after using another cleanser.

But if you are okay with fragrance-based products and your skin doesn’t react to them, you can give this drugstore cleansing oil a try.

And these were basically my top recommendations for drugstore cleansing oils that actually perform on the skin and would rarely cause any skin congestion or issues. The only key is to properly emulsify the product and then remove it with a foam or any other cleanser instead of removing it with a washcloth or cotton pads.

So tell me, what drugstore cleansing oil sounds like it is made for your skin? Don’t forget to add that to your bag already!

Related Drugstore cleansing oils articles

• 10 Literally The Best Drugstore Cleansing Balms
• Micellar Water Vs Toner: Which Is Better? (Know the Truth)
• 6 Insanely Good Drugstore Shampoos For Oily Hair
• 13 BEST Drugstore Acne Scar Products That’ll Definitely Help
• 15 Little-Known Drugstore Makeup Dupes Of Topnotch Brands

best Drugstore cleansing oils