The best cleansing oil in Malaysia 2021 for oily skin? That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen but there are cleansing oils to suit all skin types!
Yes, soap is great at removing dirt. However, it does have its disadvantages! Which you can read about in this post!
Together with reviews on which cleansing oil we recommend! Not forgetting the best cleansing oil you can get from drugstores in Malaysia!
Why Do I Need Cleansing Oil?
Cleansing oil offers an extremely gentle way to remove sunscreen, stubborn waterproof mascara, and other makeup!
Without stripping away your natural oils, leaving your skin parched and dry!
However, the way you should use cleansing oil depends on your lifestyle, environment and skin type!
Who Is Cleansing Oil Good For?
Like we said, there are cleansing oils that work for all skin types. Heavy make-up users will benefit from cleansing oil too!
For those who are prone to acne, double-cleansing is recommended! There’s more on double-cleansing further down this post!
Who Shouldn’t Use Cleansing Oil?
Sensitive skin that gets dry easily can use a fragrance-free cleansing oil instead of the conventional facial cleansers with foam.
And anyone with oily skin should watch out for cleansing oils that only contain oil without any surfactants and emulsifiers.
17 Best Facial Cleansing Oils In Malaysia 2021
1. DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
DHC Deep Cleansing Oil’s formula uses pure organic olive-oil and is suitable for all skin types!
It removes waterproof makeup without the need for petroleum-based surfactants!
This gentle cleansing oil will fit right in your double cleansing routine!
What We Like:
- Free from fragrance, parabens, mineral oil
- Good texture (neither too thick or thin)
- Moisturizing
- Has vitamin E (an antioxidant)
What We Don’t Like:
- Olive oil is moderately comedogenic (avoid this product if you have acne-prone skin)
- Contains rosemary leaf oil (may irritate sensitive skin)
- Doesn’t completely remove sunscreen and makeup
Price: ~RM125 | Size: 200ml
2. Simple Kind to Skin Hydrating Cleansing Oil
An oil based cleanser (100% pure grapeseed oil) with vitamin E and vitamin A:
It has a watery texture that spreads well. With it, you will be able to get waterproof mascara off!
What We Like:
- Alcohol free
- Affordable
- Suitable for all skin types
- Doesn’t feel overly greasy
What We Don’t Like:
- Contains fragrance and comedogenic ingredients (sensitive skin and those prone to acne should be wary of this)
- Not in a pump dispenser
Price: ~RM35 | Size: 125ml
3. Caudalie Make-Up Removing Cleansing Oil
100% naturally-derived plant oils like sunflower seed oil, castor seed oil, sweet almond oil and grape seed oil form the Caudalie Make-Up Removing Cleansing Oil!
What We Like:
- Dissolves all types of makeup, even waterproof makeup
- Very gentle (for all skin types)
- Does not contain preservatives, parabens, phenoxyethanol, phthalates, or mineral oils
- Sweet and subtle scent
- Makes skin feel soft afterward
- Convenient pump packaging
What We Don’t Like:
- Has fragrance
- Sweet almond oil is comedogenic
Price: ~RM100 | Size: 75ml
4. Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Oil
Those with sensitive skin can give this lightweight cleansing oil a go!
It effectively removes long-wearing makeup and sunscreen:
With the help of emollient ingredient, cetyl ethylhexanoate (popular in make up removers)! As well as a mild surfactant like peg-20 glyceryl triisostearate.
What We Like:
- Great for all skin types
- No fragrance, parabens, or phthalates.
- Contains glycerin (hydrating) and vitamin E
- Not oily or drying
- Non comedogenic
- Good consistency
What We Don’t Like:
- Can sting a bit
Price: ~RM140 | Size: 200ml
5. Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil
Of 6 different plant-based oils, centella oil from Madagascar is the main star in the Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil!
To balance all that oil, there are emollients like ethylhexyl stearate and cetyl ethylhexanoate!
What We Like:
- Inexpensive
- Lightweight
- With antioxidants
- Suitable for all skin types
- Minimal ingredients
- No alcohol, silicones, parabens, sulfates
- Removes make up
What We Don’t Like:
- Nothing!
Price: ~RM70 | Size: 200ml
6. Hada Labo Hydrating Cleansing Oil
No traces of makeup are left with the Hada Labo Hydrating Cleansing Oil. It’s suitable for all skin types too!
Even for sensitive skin, since it has no fragrance, coloring, mineral oil or alcohol.
What We Like:
- Not pricey
- Has beneficial oils (olive oil, macadamia ternifolia seed oil, jojoba seed oil and rose canina fruit oil)
- Lightweight and not sticky
- Does not dry out the skin
What We Don’t Like:
- Nothing
Price: ~RM50 | Size: 200ml
7. Dermalogica PreCleanse
Dermalogica PreCleanse has a blend of non comedogenic oils (rice bran, apricot kernel, sunflower seed oil, etc) that suit most skin types.
It’s even ideal for oily skin!
What We Like:
- Main ingredient, capric triglyceride is a non greasy and gentle emollient made from coconut oil and glycerin
- Contains vitamin E
- Melts off makeup
- Smells great (citrus and lavender)
What We Don’t Like:
- Pricey
- Strong smell
- Has oils that may irritate sensitive skin (e.g. lemon peel oil and lavender oil)
Price: ~RM200 | Size: 150ml
8. Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil removes make up and sunscreen effortlessly.
Emulsifying and rinsing off completely with water too!
What We Like:
- Lightweight
- Free from sulfates and mineral oils
- Alcohol-free
- Smells nice (herbal/ lavender)
- Pump dispenser
- Does not leave skin dry
What We Don’t Like:
- Contains fragrance and essential oils that are known skin irritants (e.g. lavender oil)
- Can sting your eyes
- Not completely non comedogenic (e.g. evening primrose oil, soybean oil, etc)
Price: ~RM150 | Size: 175ml
9. Origins Clean Energy™ Gentle Cleansing Oil
Another gentle cleanser that uses olive oil as its main ingredient:
Origins Clean Energy™ Gentle Cleansing Oil will not sting your eyes! Or leave your skin parched!
What We Like:
- Alcohol, silicon and sulfate free
- Antioxidant properties from olive oil, rosemary leaf oil, sunflower seed oil, grape seed oil, and vitamin E
- Full cleans off makeup
What We Don’t Like:
- Has essential oils that may irritate sensitive skin (e.g. orange peel oil)
- Strong scent
Price: ~RM140 | Size: 200ml
10. Eau Thermale Avène Xeracalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cleansing Oil
If you’re a fan of the benefits from Avène Thermal Spring Water:
You’ll be pleased to know that is the main ingredient in the Eau Thermale Avène Xeracalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cleansing Oil!
Note: Thick gel-like consistency
What We Like:
- Reasonable pricing
- Calms itchy and irritated skin
- Does not dry the skin out
- Repairs damaged skin with vitamin E and evening primrose oil
- No scent
- No greasy residue leftover
- Alcohol free
What We Don’t Like:
- Nothing
Price: ~RM110 | Size: 400ml
11. Klairs Gentle Black Fresh Cleansing Oil
A very lightweight oil cleanser (watery texture) for everyday use and for oily skin types:
Klairs Gentle Black Fresh Cleansing Oil may have a minimal ingredient list (main ingredient is sunflower seed oil).
Yet it still nourishes your skin with vitamin A, B, C and antioxidants (grape seed oil)!
What We Like:
- No fragrance
- Does not irritate sensitive skin
- Cleans off make up and sunscreen
- No oily residue
- Easy to rinse off
- In a pump dispenser
What We Don’t Like:
- A bit pricey
Price: ~RM100 | Size: 150ml
12. Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil
Not the same as the previous product:
Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil incorporates anti-inflammatory black sesame seed oil and black current oil.
This cleansing oil works best when in a double cleansing routine.
What We Like:
- Alcohol free, silicone free, sulfate free, paraben free
- With vitamin E
- Don’t have to use much to remove makeup
- Does not irritate eyes or dry out skin
- Herbal scent (not unlike eucalyptus)
What We Don’t Like:
- Comedogenic ingredients used (e.g. shea butter, sesame seed oil, soybean oil, etc)
- Slightly difficult to wash off
- Not very effective in removing eye make up
Price: ~RM100 | Size: 150ml
13. Hanskin Cleansing Oil & Blackhead
Hanskin Cleansing Oil & Blackhead prevents breakouts withpolyhydroxy acids (PHAs) for light exfoliation.
And treats existing breakouts with tea tree leaf oil!
What We Like:
- Affordable
- 3 versions available (PHA, AHA and BHA)
- Cleans off makeup
- Improves skin texture
- Thick but washes off easily
- Alcohol free
- Mild herbal fragrance
- One bottle lasts quite long
What We Don’t Like:
- Not suitable for sensitive skin (e.g. orange oil, lemon peel oil and tea tree leaf oil)
- Causes breakouts in some people (it does have some comedogenic ingredients)
Price: ~RM80 | Size: 300ml
14. Neutrogena Deep Clean Cleansing Oil
Not for acne-prone skin with some comedogenic ingredients:
The Neutrogena Deep Clean Cleansing Oil is a balanced compromise for effectiveness and price!
What We Like:
- Inexpensive
- Alcohol, silicon and paraben free
- Able to remove most makeup
- Lightly scented
- Rinses clean
- Hydrating with butylene glycol
What We Don’t Like:
- Contains fragrance (not for sensitive skin)
- Not efficient for removing heavy eye make up
Price: ~RM50 | Size: 200ml
15. Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil
Working the Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil onto your face is a pleasant experience. As it is light but not runny! It smells nice too.
All you need is a few quick passes to remove both makeup and sunscreen!
What We Like:
- Alcohol free (Great for dry skin)
- Rinses off completely
- Does not dry skin
- Subtle herbal scent
- Skin brightening benefit (citrus unshiu peel extract)
What We Don’t Like:
- Pricey
- With fragrance and citrus ingredients (not for sensitive skin)
- Comedogenic ingredients (isopropyl palmitate)
Price: ~RM160 | Size: 200ml
16. Nutox Cleansing Oil
Bird nest collagen is one of the selling points of the Nutox Cleansing Oil. Which targets dry and mature skin.
It also has alpha bisabolol to repair and brighten the skin.
And glycerin to hydrate the skin!
What We Like:
- Not expensive
- Does not have fragrance, silicones or alcohol
- Removes heavy make up
- Skin does not feel dry after using it
What We Don’t Like:
- Has comedogenic ingredients (e.g. sweet almond oil)
- Leaves some oily residue (better with double cleansing)
- No obvious anti-aging results
Price: ~RM45 | Size: 200ml
17. Biore Cleansing Oil
No doubt that the Biore Cleansing Oil gets the job done at a fraction of the cost!
It emulsifies and washes off like a dream, effectively removing any make up or sunscreen from your face.
What We Like:
- Cheap
- Paraben and sulfate free
- Has vitamin E
What We Don’t Like:
- Contains alcohol, fragrance and citric acid
- Strong smell
- Can sting your eyes
Price: ~RM20 | Size: 150ml
What Is Double Cleansing?
This method of washing your face twice has been traced back to 14th century China, Japan and Korea.
Ladies used cleansing oil to remove heavy face makeup first. Before going in with a foaming facial cleanser to wash off remaining impurities!
Today, the method remains popular as it provides a surer way to remove all makeup, sweat, dirt and impurities that can potentially cause a break out! Especially important before you go to bed!
The added benefit is that products you put on after you wash your face (like your eye cream or whitening cream), will absorb better.
How To Use Cleansing Oil
Step 1: Start with a dry face. Massage cleansing oil over your face for 20-30 seconds. Or until the makeup melts off.
Step 2: Rinse the oil cleanser off with water.
Step 3: Follow this with a foam cleanser, massaging it lightly over your face as well. Around a minute is optimum.
Step 4: Rinse that off your face too. Skin should feel fresh and clean! Ready for toner and serum!
Can I Skip Face Wash If I Use A Cleansing Oil?
If you have only been in your house all day, and your skin is already very dry and make up free:
Then using a cleansing oil will suffice. Along with some moisturizer after!
Final Verdict
Best facial cleansing oils in Malaysia 2021 are as follows:
- All-round Winner – Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil
- Gentle – Eau Thermale Avène Xeracalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cleansing Oil
- For Oily Skin – Klairs Gentle Black Fresh Cleansing Oil
- To Treat Acne – Hanskin Cleansing Oil & Blackhead
- Value For Money – Hada Labo Hydrating Cleansing Oil
