The 14 Best Face Washes for Oily Skin That Won't Be Too Drying (2024)

King recommends this new—and reasonably priced—cleanser from Peach Slices, calling it "an innovative approach to oil control."

Expert Review:

"It uses niacinamide, zinc, and green tea extract for oil control. I like that these are all things that aren’t harsh or drying," says King.

This formula features oil-absorbing kaolin clay, but because it also has sunflower and grapeseed oils, it won't overdry skin. Plus, it can also be used as a mask when left on for 10 minutes.

Customer Review:

"This cleanser is great for my sensitive skin. It cleanses without drying out the skin, leaving my face feeling clean and supple. It smells great too!" —Candice

If you like a creamy lather when you cleanse, you'll love this jelly formula from Byoma. Made with licorice root and green tea to balance, plus a Tri-Ceramide Complex, it leaves skin soft, not stripped.

Customer Review:

"I love that a little goes a LONG way, it lathers well and my face feels great afterward. No dryness or anything, just soft and clean. My face cleared up really well after about a week of use and has stayed that way ever since." —Meghan

Neutrogena's Hydro Boost line is always a favorite, and their gel cleanser is no exception. Don't be fooled by the word "hydrating" here—oily skin types still need hydration—it will still wash away excess oil, dirt, sunscreen, and more.

Customer Review:

"My friend has the clearest skin, and on our Mexico trip together i borrowed this cleanser from her. My sunburn and acne was instantly soothed. Ever since I've used this, my skin has felt so clean and non-irritated. I LOVE this cleanser and I couldn’t recommend it more." —Maddies201

Somehow, Paula's Choice created a foaming cleanser that's also soap-free. The sorcery! But it works, and replenishes skin with hyaluronic acid, a ceramide blend, and aloe as it cleanses away sebum.

Customer Review:

"i thought no cleanser existed that would be good for my oiliness, clear up some acne, and be good for my sensitive skin. But this is that all in a bottle. i love how foamy it is and it feels like silk on my skin!"

Rather than using physical exfoliants, which can be harsh, this formula relies on natural fruit exfoliant to unclog pores and leave skin super-soft. Plus, it's oil-free and creates the loveliest lather.

Customer Review:

"I can't say enough good things about this cleanser. I have sensitive, oily, blemish-prone skin, and this cleanser keeps my skin looking clear and radiant without drying it out." —Michelle0809

This frothy face wash might have been one of the first "grown-up" products in your skincare routine. And guess what? It still holds up, thanks to a gentle but effective formula and pop of zingy mint that leaves you and your skin feeling refreshed.

Customer Review:

"I love this product because it cleans your skin gently yet thoroughly, not harsh at all. Leaves a soft texture to the skin once rinsed off, you can tell it works when you wash your face." —Sandy

This teal gel is formulated with willow bark (which naturally contains salicylic acid), calming blue tansy, and oil-absorbing zinc PCA—so all your bases are covered. Plus, let's be honest, it looks so pretty next to the sink.

Customer Review:

"Loving this cleanser! I have super oily skin and live in the south (lots of humidity) and this has done a great job at keeping my skin less slick. It’s not as sudsy as I was expecting, so I use one more pump than directed but I’m loving it!" —IndiaElizabeth

Mandelic acid, licorice root, bearberry, and willow bark help not only with oil control, but also a brighter, more even glow with each wash. Let it sit 30 seconds before rinsing for the best results.

Customer Review:

"When I washed my face with the wash it doesn’t take much but a dime size amount. It lathers so beautiful and I could feel all the dirt washing off. This is the cleanest my skin has felt. It was almost a shame to use moisturizer afterwards." —sadiehoops

Eucalyptus-spiked and packed with glycolic and lactic acids, this cleanser comes close to recreating the spa experience in your bathroom each and every day.

Customer Review:

"If you use this and let it sit on your face for a few minutes you'll feel it actually deep cleanse your pores and that's the real game changer. The smell isn't off-putting and a little goes a long way." —alimaee

From derm-loved CeraVe comes this gel cleanser formulated with pore-clearing salicylic acid, strengthening ceramides, and soothing niacinamide. It's a great all-around cleanser for acne-prone and combination skin too.

Customer Review:

"Make this purchase! This cleanser is refreshing, no scent and leaves your skin hydrated and feeling invigorated. I have been using this for a couple weeks now and it has taken the place of my Medical Grade cleanser for a fraction of the cost. Don't sleep on this product. —Mandy

Another derm-favorite option, La Roche-Posay's foaming cleanser has niacinamide and glycerin to keep skin soothed, and is suitable for sensitive skin as well.

Customer Review:

"Best foaming cleanser it make my skin feel soft the whole day even after exercising my face feels clean It helps with my acne and my skin has been feeling cleaner and smoother."

Amazonian White Clay is the hero ingredient in this beloved cleanser as it's both rich in minerals and known for its ability to absorb excess oil. Win-win.

Customer Review:

"I’ve been using this as my daily face wash for about a year and I absolutely love it. My skin is blackhead-prone and this helps so much plus leaves my face feeling soft." —Nicole M12

Prefer something that doesn't foam at all? Go for this AHA cleanser from Holifrog, which utilizes a blend of lactic, glycolic, and mandelic acids to deep-clean pores, rather than a soapy lather.

Customer Review:

"Shasta has a way of ridding my skin of all the sweat and debris from working out without irritating it. It always restores and makes my face feel so smooth. Everybody needs to give this one a shot!" —Megan