A cleanser is one of the key components of a foundational skincare routine. This means that choosing a product that serves your skin's unique needs is essential. If you have oily skin, there are a range of ingredients that you should look for when picking out your cleanser – as well as a few that you should avoid. 

Importance of Using the Right Cleanser

Choosing a cleanser that is suitable for your skin type is critical. A cleanser washes away impurities, ensuring any pore-clogging residue is removed from the complexion (which is especially important for oily skin). 

At the same time, a cleanser will prepare your skin to ensure any serums or treatments you use are able to fully absorb into the skin and do their best possible work. A cleanser that isn’t right for your skin type may not properly rid your skin of debris, and as a result, won’t be able to properly prep your complexion for the next steps in your routine. 

Ingredients to Look for In Oily Skin Cleansers

When it comes to choosing an oily skin face wash, picking a gentle formula that effectively washes away excess sebum and debris without being too harsh is essential. It should leave the skin feeling refreshed, hydrated, and soft, rather than tight, dried out, and aggravated. 

With this in mind, some of the best cleanser ingredients for oily skin include hydrators like aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin. These ingredients draw water to the skin, ensuring the complexion stays balanced after being cleansed. 

Additionally, look for cleansers made with lightweight oils, such as jojoba and cranberry seed oils. While it may seem counterintuitive, oils can actually be great for oily skin. They ensure the skin is left feeling smooth and moisturized after cleansing, rather than stripped of its natural moisture. Oils are also loaded with nutrients that nourish and strengthen the skin. Lighter oils will benefit the complexion without feeling heavy or greasy on the skin. 

We also recommend seeking out a face wash made with antioxidants and other nutrient-dense plant extracts. Antioxidants help defend the skin against damaging free radicals, while nourishing plant extracts strengthen the skin. 

Ingredients to Avoid

When it comes to cleansers to avoid for oily skin, it is best to steer clear of formulas made with alcohol, as alcohol can dry out and aggravate the skin. While it might seem beneficial to use a cleanser with ingredients that dry out excess oil, this can actually be problematic. When the skin gets dehydrated, it may try to compensate by producing even more oil – which is exactly the opposite of what you want if you have oily skin!

For similar reasons, we recommend avoiding cleansers made with sulfates. Just like alcohol, sulfates (which are detergents often used in cleansers) can dehydrate and irritate the skin, ultimately causing more harm than good. 

Tips for Choosing the Right Cleansers

Here are a couple of our top tips for choosing the best face cleansers for oily skin: 

Seek Out Foaming Formulas: Foaming face washes are perfect for oily skin. The foaming action helps deeply cleanse the skin to whisk away excess sebum and other debris. By choosing a foaming cleanser made with hydrating and nourishing ingredients (like those recommended above), you’ll be able to give your oily skin the deep cleansing action that it needs while ensuring it stays healthy and comfortable. 

Stick with a Gentle, Nourishing Cleanser: It can be tempting to reach for an aggressive cleanser that strips away every last trace of oil. However, using a harsh face wash can dehydrate and irritate the skin, ultimately triggering it to produce more oil in response. Instead, you want to use a cleanser that keeps the skin balanced. For optimal results, use a gentle cleanser made with nourishing and hydrating ingredients.  

Oily Skin Product Recommendations

The Seratopical Revolution Clarity Purifying Foaming Cleanser is expertly made to meet the needs of oily skin. The gentle yet thorough foaming face wash works to wash away excess oil and impurities, while at the same time nourishing, hydrating, and balancing the skin. 

This cleanser contains lightweight and nutrient-dense oils like jojoba and cranberry seed oils, as well as coriander seed extract, an antioxidant-rich natural ingredient that helps soothe while protecting the skin against free radicals. These ingredients are joined by hydrators like aloe, as well as antibacterial and anti-inflammatory vanilla essence, which helps ensure irritation stays at bay. Most importantly, the clean formula is made without ingredients that may dry out or aggravate the skin – including sulfates and alcohols. 

A good skincare routine starts with the right face wash. By using a formula that is suitable for the needs of your complexion, you are ensuring your skin not only stays healthy and balanced, but also is properly prepped for the next steps in your routine.