Current cleanser too drying? Try the best cleansing oils in Malaysia 2021!
Even if you have oily skin, you can find an oil based cleanser that is suitable! And if you want to try the Korean beauty ritual of double cleansing, cleansing oil is the first step!
With that said, you can’t just grab any cleansing oil from the drugstore! Here are some guidelines and recommendations!
How To Choose An Oil-Based Cleanser
1. Sensitive Skin
Go for natural formulas without fragrances (including any scented with essential oils)! Or simply make your own cleansing oil with organic cold-pressed coconut oil!
2. Oily Skin
There are certain oils to avoid if you have this skin type:
Such as avocado, olive or coconut oil. Which may block your pores (i.e. comedogenic).
Stick to oils with astringent or drying properties. Like peppermint, lemon, rosehip or tea tree oil! Sunflower seed oil is fine too.
3. Dry Skin
On the other side of the spectrum, dry skin needs oils that moisturize! Like shea, camellia or argan oil! Don’t use oil cleansers with citrus oils. Or castor oil, which is drying.
4. Combination Skin
A safe bet for this skin type is sunflower seed oil or olive oil. If the formula has vitamin E too, that’s even better!
5. Acne-Prone Skin
To prevent acne breakouts, stay away from mineral oils and fragrances! And ingredients like salicylic acid are always good to have!
And you can use your cleansing oil in conjunction with an acne treatment product too!
15 Best Cleansing Oils In Malaysia 2021
- Best For Sensitive Skin – Hada Labo Makeup Remover Hydrating Cleansing Oil
- Best For Dry Skin – Innisfree Olive Real Cleansing Oil, DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
- Best For Oily/ Acne Prone Skin – Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil
- Best For Little To No Makeup – Laneige Cream Skin Milk Oil Cleanser
- Best Drugstore Cleansing Oil – Hada Labo Makeup Remover Hydrating Cleansing Oil
- All-Round Winner – Hada Labo Makeup Remover Hydrating Cleansing Oil
1. Hada Labo Makeup Remover Hydrating Cleansing Oil
Best For Sensitive Skin, Best Drugstore & All-Round Winner
It removes makeup, dirt, sunscreen and even blackheads according to reviews! One user found it to be better than the cleansing balm by Banila & Co!
Perhaps the best cleansing oil you can get in most drugstores in Malaysia as it suits most skin types! It’s gentle enough for sensitive skin types too!
Need more moisture? You may want to invest in the best serum for glowing skin!
- Size: 200ml
- Suitable For: All Skin Types
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, Olive Oil, Jojoba Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
- Price: ~RM50
Pros:
- Free of harmful alcohols, mineral oil, allergens, gluten, sulfates, parabens, silicones and synthetic fragrances
- Pump dispenser
- Ok for sensitive skin
- No greasy after feel
- One bottle lasts for months
- With 350+ ratings, this cleansing oil scores 4/5 on Hermo
- Not drying
- Rinses off easily
- No strong smell
Cons:
- Does contain ethylhexyl palmitate (comedogenic but reviews did not mention it causing breakouts)
- Need to use more to remove stubborn mascara
2. Simple Kind To Skin Hydrating Cleansing Oil
Simple’s oil-based cleanser utilizes 100% pure grapeseed oil. Which is also really great at taking off make up (even waterproof make up)!
Featured on goodhousekeeping.com for its ability to clean and remove make up without irritating. Or leaving behind any residue!
A decent cleansing oil for most skin types that you can pick up in the drugstore. Not a fan of the packaging though (no pump)! Works best if you use it dry. Avoid if you have acne prone skin.
- Size: 125ml
- Suitable For: All Skin Types
- Key Ingredients: Grape Seed Oil, Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E)
- Price: ~RM44.5
Pros:
- Paraben-free, sulfate-free, alcohol-free, silicone-free
- No artificial perfume or colors
- Affordable
- No greasy after feel
- Not drying
- Makeup melts away
- Does not sting the eyes
Cons:
- Has isopropyl palmitate which is bad for oily skin (comedogenic)
- No pump (messy)
- You may need to use more than what the directions suggest
- Some find the smell weird (like olive oil)
3. Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil
Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil is a Korean product that is cruelty free and vegan! The name comes from the 3 of its oils – black bean, black current and black sesame oil!
As far as reviews go, some sensitive, combination, or oily skin users experienced breakouts. While most users find it gentle, effective, and pleasant to use!
Suitable in a double cleansing routine (as the first step) for normal, combination and dry skin types. 2-3 pumps will suffice to remove make up and sunscreen! Leaving your skin clean without drying it out!
- Size: 150ml
- Suitable For: All Skin Types (Not For Oily Skin)
- Key Ingredients: Jojoba Seed Oil, Soybean Oil, Sesame Seed Oil, Black Currant Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Shea Butter, Carapa Guaianensis Seed Oil, Cranberry Seed Oil
- Price: ~RM90
Pros:
- Paraben-free, sulfate-free, alcohol-free, silicone-free
- Smells nice/ neutral
- Pump dispenser
- Removes both make up and sunscreen fairly easily
- Not drying
- Skin feels softer afterwards
- Does not sting the eyes
- 4/5 stars from ~250 reviews on sokoglam.com
Cons:
- Contains fragrance (not for sensitive skin)
- Comedogenic ingredients like shea butter may cause milia and whiteheads
- Expensive
- Takes considerable effort to remove full makeup (e.g. full coverage foundation or mascara)
- There may be a thin film leftover so most users use this as part of a double cleansing routine
4. Innisfree Olive Real Cleansing Oil
Best For Dry Skin
Featuring extra virgin olive oil from Greece:
One user called this a dupe for the more expensive DHC Deep Cleansing Oil! It has a thick texture but you’ll still need ~3 pumps to remove a full face of make up!
Best used with a surfactant cleanser afterwards, the Innisfree Olive Real Cleansing Oil will remove most of your make up! It’s moisturizing enough for dry skin types!
- Size: 150ml
- Suitable For: All Skin Types
- Key Ingredients: Olive Fruit Oil, Lemon Peel Oil, Orange Peel Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E)
- Price: ~RM76
Pros:
- Paraben-free, sulfate-free, alcohol-free, silicone-free
- Pleasant citrus smell
- You’ll be surprised how long the bottle lasts too!
- Not drying
- Feels nourishing on the skin
- With vitamin E (antioxidant)
Cons:
- Has fragrance and citrus peel oils (not recommended for sensitive skin)
- Expensive
- Can sting the eyes
5. Innisfree Green Tea Cleansing Oil
Sunscreen and waterproof make up will melt away with one pump! Plus, it smells like green tea!
Removes make up with no leftover greasiness. Hydrating too! There are users with sensitive skin who said that this cleansing oil did not irritate their skin!
Normal and combination skin types can give the Innisfree Green Tea Cleansing Oil a go! Wait for a sale and you can snatch it up at a more appealing price point!
- Size: 150ml
- Suitable For: All Skin Types (Not For Oily Skin)
- Key Ingredients: Fresh Green Tea Water, Bergamot Fruit Extract, Orange Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Tangerine Extract, Grapefruit Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
- Price: ~RM83
Pros:
- Paraben-free, sulfate-free, alcohol-free, and silicone-free
- Smells good
- 89% Ingredient safety score on SkinCarisma
- Green tea is an antioxidant and soothing ingredient
- Doesn’t leave the skin dry
Cons:
- Contains isopropyl palmitate (comedogenic, potentially bad for oily skin)
- Contains fragrance
- Expensive
6. Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil
Best For Oily/ Acne Prone Skin
Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil is another cleansing oil product from Korea. It is a blend of 6 different plant oils.
Users like that it can take off make up while hydrating the skin! And recommend it for combination and oily skin types that have large pores or are prone to acne.
Besides the citrus bergamot fruit oil (may irritate sensitive skin), its main oils are fine for most skin types! If you’re unsure, you can pick up the smaller version first!
- Size: 200ml
- Suitable For: All Skin Types
- Key Ingredients: Centella Asiatica Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Olive Fruit Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Bergamot Fruit Oil
- Price: ~RM72
Pros:
- Paraben-free, sulfate-free, alcohol-free, silicone-free
- Just need 1 pump (more than 3 for heavy makeup)
- Can remove waterproof make up
- Pump dispenser
- Water-like consistency that spreads smoothly on skin
- No greasy after feel
- Not strongly scented
- Does not sting the eyes
Cons:
- Expensive
- It foams a lot (which can make it too drying for dry skin types)
- Fragrance is from flower and fruit oil which may irritate sensitive skin
7. DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
If you can get past the price tag, DHC Deep Cleansing Oil from Japan may become your new go-to oil based cleanser made with quality olive oil.
It’s a cult-favorite for a reason! Emulsifying easily, while leaving skin soft and clean with no greasy residue! It is mostly olive oil so some users have reacted negatively to it.
This rich oil cleanser is particularly good for dry skin types! For oilier and acne prone skin types, refrain from using a lot as olive oil can clog up your pores!
- Size: 100ml, 200ml
- Suitable For: All Skin Types (Not For Sensitive Skin)
- Key Ingredients: Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Rosemary Leaf Oil, Olive Fruit Oil
- Price: ~RM77 – 125
Pros:
- Paraben-free, sulfate-free, alcohol-free, silicone-free
- 1 bottle lasts long
- Easy to spread
- Skin feels softer
- Has a pump
- Rating of 4.2 from ~1,500 reviews on makeupalley.com
- Consistency is between thin to thick
- 88% Ingredient Safety score on SkinCarisma
- Minimal ingredient list
- Rosemary leaf oil (antioxidant)
Cons:
- Not cheap
- Waterproof mascara is better removed with an eye make up remover first
- Rosemary leaf oil and fragrance may be irritating to sensitive skin
8. NUTOX Cleansing Oil
NUTOX Cleansing Oil can also be found in a Malaysian drugstore:
Users of normal, combination, dry and oily skin types rate it 4 stars or higher on Hermo. You don’t need a lot of the product (or time) to get make up off!
It is affordable and does the job of melting away your make up at the end of the day without making your skin dry.
- Size: 200ml
- Suitable For: All Skin Types
- Key Ingredients: Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Alpha-Bisabolol, Sweet Almond Oil, Glycerin, Grapefruit Peel Extract, Hydrolyzed Swiftlet Nest Extract
- Price: ~RM30-35
Pros:
- Paraben-free, sulfate-free, alcohol-free, silicone-free
- Bottle with a pump
- Affordable
- Hydrating
- Removes makeup
- Doesn’t sting eyes
- Little scent
Cons:
- Contains ethylhexyl palmitate and sweet almond oil (bad for oily skin)
- Chemical smell
- No visible anti aging improvements
9. Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil
One of the most expensive cleansing oils you can find in Malaysia:
Users that bit the bullet and bought this cleansing oil find it to be great. It completely removes make up (waterproof mascara too) and yet, is more moisturizing than other cleansing oils! Even for dry skin!
Great but not worth the money – It’s unfortunate that this oil cleanser has such a steep price tag. However, the Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil is dependable as a daily oil cleanser!
- Size: 30ml, 200ml
- Suitable For: All Skin Types
- Key Ingredients: Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Alpha-Bisabolol, Olive Fruit Oil, Jasmine Flower Wax, Glycerin, Aleurites Moluccana Seed Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Lavender
- Price: RM60, RM185
Pros:
- Paraben-free, sulfate-free, alcohol-free, silicone-free
- Smells good and mild
- Removes make up
- No greasy after feel
- 83% Ingredient safety score on SkinCarisma
- Not drying
- Doesn’t sting the eyes
- Don’t have to use a lot (1 bottle lasts for 3 months)
Cons:
- Contains isopropyl palmitate (bad for oily skin)
- Contains fragrance (Linalool) – not for sensitive skin
- Expensive
- There are cheaper cleansing oils that are comparable (e.g. DHC cleansing oil)
10. Neutrogena Deep Clean Hydrating Cleansing Oil To Foam
Neutrogena Deep Clean Hydrating Cleansing Oil To Foam has a cost-effective price. Unlike the DHC Cleansing Oil.
Users like the smell and the fact that it doesn’t cause any dryness – it’s comfortable for combination to dry skin types.
Since it doesn’t completely dissolve waterproof eyeliners, this is more suitable in a double cleansing routine. Or for someone who doesn’t wear heavy make up every day!
- Size: 142ml
- Suitable For: All Skin Types
- Key Ingredients: Citric Acid, Cucumber Oil, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol
- Price: ~RM45
Pros:
- Paraben-free, sulfate-free, alcohol-free, silicone-free
- Not drying
- Fresh apple-like scent
- Gives skin a fresh feeling
- Skin looks brighter with continuous use
Cons:
- Contains fragrance and citric acid (not suitable for sensitive skin)
11. Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil
Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil has a strange herbal smell to it. 2 pumps will get your face clean in no time!
Removing sunscreen and eye make up is no issue according to users! Dry skin types feel comfortable using this oil cleanser!
Expensive but good (leaves skin soft and supple) for normal, combination and dry skin types. It feels luxurious too! And is agreeable in any double cleansing routine.
- Size: 200ml
- Suitable For: All Skin Types
- Key Ingredients: Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Sesame Seed Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil
- Price: ~RM160
Pros:
- Paraben-free, sulfate-free, alcohol-free, silicone-free
- Softens skin
- Removes most of your make up (including waterproof makeup)
- Keeps blackheads under control
- Subtle herbal fragrance
- Doesn’t feel gross on the skin
- A little goes a long way
- Lightweight
- Washes off easy
Cons:
- Contains isopropyl palmitate and coconut oil (comedogenic)
- Contains fragrance
- Expensive
12. Laneige Cream Skin Milk Oil Cleanser
Best For Little To No Makeup
A water based cleansing oil? The main ingredient in the Laneige Cream Skin Milk Oil Cleanser is not an oil, but water! Although it has jojoba oil too. And meadowfoam seed oil further down the ingredient list.
Rated 4.5/5 from 230+ reviews on Sephora, the best thing that users say about this oil cleanser is the way it feels on the skin! It is lacking cleansing power so double cleansing is advisable.
Laneige Cream Skin Milk Oil Cleanser runs quite watery. And if you wear heavy make up or sunscreen daily, this cleanser may seem too mild to take off anything!
We recommend it to normal or combination skin types.
- Size: 200ml
- Suitable For: All Skin Types
- Key Ingredients: Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Citric Acid, Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
- Price: ~RM130
Pros:
- Paraben-free, sulfate-free, alcohol-free, silicone-free
- Close to your skin’s natural pH
- Makes your skin soft
- Free from essential oils
- Light scent
- Has a pump dispenser
- 100% Ingredient Safety score on SkinCarisma
- Milky consistency
- Does not irritate the skin
- Neither drying or oily for combination skin types
Cons:
- Expensive
- Contains citric acid (bad for sensitive skin)
- Has some slight comedogenic ingredients (glyceryl stearate and hydrogenated polyisobutene)
- Not great at taking off makeup compared to other cleansing oils
- Doesn’t moisturize dry areas
- Can’t see how much is left
13. Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Oil
Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Oil acts as a gentle make up remover. Your skin will feel soft and moisturized after too!
Recent reviews from Sephora suggest that this oil cleanser is suitable for sensitive skin types. Along with oily and acne prone skin types! It feels almost like water too but cleans well!
Even though it functions well with none of the usual disadvantages, it can be hard to justify the price! It is a viable option for sensitive skin types though since it is fragrance free.
- Size: 200ml
- Suitable For: All Skin Types
- Key Ingredients: Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Glycerin
- Price: ~RM142
Pros:
- Paraben-free, sulfate-free, alcohol-free, silicone-free
- No fragrance
- Lasts a long time
- Suits sensitive skin
- Dissolves make up fast
- Minimal ingredient list
- With vitamin E (antioxidant)
- Easy to wash off with no lingering residue
- Non comedogenic
- Lightweight
- Not drying
- Does not sting the eyes
Cons:
- Expensive
- No additional benefits for oily skin
14. Mamonde Petal Spa Cleansing Oil
Watch your make up melt away with the Mamonde Petal Spa Cleansing Oil! This is another dual function cleansing oil that becomes foamy upon contact with water.
Highly rated on multiple platforms (4.6/5 for ~200 reviews on Aritaum, 4.1/ 5 from ~270 reviews on sokoglam, and 4.7 from 650+ reviews on Amazon). But users note that it does not really suit dry skin types.
Aside from dry skin types, other skin types (normal, combination, oily) may really enjoy a rose-smelling cleansing oil such as this one!
- Size: 200ml
- Suitable For: All Skin Types
- Key Ingredients: Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Nelumbo Nucifera Germ Extract, Butylene Glycol, Coconut Oil
- Price: ~RM84
Pros:
- Paraben-free, sulfate-free, alcohol-free
- Pump dispenser
- Smells like roses
- Does not dry out the skin
- Creates a nice foam texture
- Dissolves sunscreen
- Feels light on the skin
- One bottle lasts long since you don’t have to use a lot of product
- Oily skin types feel less oily with this
- 94% Ingredient safety rating on SkinCarisma
Cons:
- Contains silicone and fragrance (unnecessary ingredients)
- Comedogenic (coconut oil which is however, not one of the top 10 ingredients in the cleanser)
- Fragrance is quite strong
- Not hydrating enough for dry skin
- Not that effective for removing waterproof make up
15. THE FACE SHOP Rice Water Bright Cleansing Oil
At first glance the main ingredient, isopropyl myristate will raise red flags for anyone who has done their research on comedogenic ingredients:
But surprisingly, both sensitive skin types and oily skin users do not experience breakouts or negative reactions with this cleansing oil that has fragrance! Oily skin actually get less oily!
If you can’t do without fragrance, this is still a gentle alternative for most skin types. Including dry skin, combination skin, and oily skin!
- Size: 150ml
- Suitable For: All Skin Types (Not For Oily Skin)
- Key Ingredients: Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Jojoba Seed Oil, Rice Bran Oil, Rice Extract
- Price: ~RM35
Pros:
- Paraben-free, sulfate-free, alcohol-free, silicone-free
- Affordable
- Bottle lasts a long time
- Smells good
- Removes make up (including waterproof mascara) and sunscreen
- Rinses off with little effort
- Helps with sebum reduction (jojoba seed oil)
- Lightweight and not sticky
- You can use it alone or in a double cleansing routine
- No greasy residue
- Scores 4.4/5 from over 3,000 ratings on YesStyle
Cons:
- Contains isopropyl myristate, linalool, limonene (which are comedogenic)
- No extra benefits for acne prone skin
- Contains quite a strong fragrance (floral)
- Tendency to leak if you travel with it
- Stings eyes
What Is A Cleansing Oil?
An alternative to your regular facial cleanser:
Where in place of surfactants (that lift dirt, make up or oil from your skin so you can rinse them off), there is a mixture of oil and an emulsifying ingredient.
These cleansers work because oil can dissolve other oils (i.e. lipophilic)! That includes excess oil from your skin and make up, or sunscreen! At the same time, the oil can moisturize your skin.
While the emulsifier keeps the cleansing oil together with the gunk from your face, so that they can be rinsed off!
Benefits Of Cleansing Oil
- Suitable for all skin types
- Effective at removing dirt, make up or sunscreen
- Softens skin
- Doesn’t leave your face greasy
- Easy to use
- Does not affect your skin’s oil balance
- Can be more gentle than surfactant cleansers
How To Use Cleansing Oil
It’s the same way you would use a normal cleanser! Although some work better before you wet your face!
Also, don’t rinse off immediately:
Move the cleansing oil around your face until it gets a milky look to it. Then, you rinse!
And after you pat your skin dry, you may apply your toner.
Followed by other products in your daily skincare routine (in this order):
Double Cleansing
If you wear a lot of make-up or have exceptionally oily skin:
Using a water-soluble cleanser after an oil cleanser ensures that you do not miss anything!
Have dry skin? Double cleansing may not be for you!
Conclusion
The best cleansing oil in Malaysia 2021 can be categorized according to skin types.
And to make the most of your cleansing oil, massage it on your face in circles to give it time to soak up all the grime. Before you splash your face with water!
