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The 20 Best Korean Oil Cleansers Reviews & Guide

by  Doris Harris -  Last Updated On 17th December 2020
Best Korean Oil Cleansers

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How do you remove makeup and wash your face? Are you satisfied with the results?

Maybe it’s time to try one of the best Korean oil cleansers.

Cleansers are an efficient way to remove sunscreen, makeup, dirt, and excess oil from the skin.

They won’t dry out your complexion, but rather leave it soft and fresh.

Surprisingly, they also help manage skin that is oily.

Korean cleansers are trending because they offer a variety of benefits not found in most Western products.

They are the first step in the K-beauty skin-care regimen, which has taken the beauty world by storm.

Now, let’s review the best Korean cleansers so that you can find one to try today.

Quick Comparison

If you don’t have time to read the complete article, here are our top picks.

20 Best Korean Cleansers In 2021

1. AROMATICA Natural Coconut Cleansers

Harper’s Bazaar featured the AROMATICA coconut cleansers. But that’s not the only recommendation.

It’s EWG-verified for having pure, safe natural ingredients. Plus, it’s very kind to sensitive, dry skin.

The vegan cleanser doesn’t feel greasy, nor does it leave a residue. It’s based on certified organic coconut and sunflower seed oils that leave the skin smooth and supple.

The light scent comes from citrus and lavender essential oils.

2. [Innisfree] Green Tea Cleansers

Innisfree has a series of green tea skin-care products that repair damage from UV rays and pollution. This anti-aging cleansers fit right into the lineup and also contains hyaluronic acid

It’s also excellent for oily and acne-prone skin. We feel this is the best Korean cleanser out there.

3. [Laneige] Perfect Pore Cleansers

I’ve found that pure coconut oil easily removes waterproof makeup. It’s one of the main ingredients in this oil cleanser.

There’s also mugwort extract to purify the pores. It’s full of antioxidants that fight premature aging.

Moreover, there is no mineral oil in the bottle. Some cheap oil cleansers rely on mineral oil, but you’ll rarely find it in a Korean-made brand.

4. Nature Republic Forest Garden Chamomile Cleansers

Here’s a cleansing product to calm inflamed complexions.

It’s based on jojoba oil. Jojoba is similar to the skin’s sebum, which makes it an effective Korean moisturizer as well. Happily, it’s non-comedogenic and won’t cause pimples.

Meanwhile, chamomile is soothing to an acne-prone skin type and sensitive skin type. It has antimicrobial and anti-aging properties.

Finally, there’s Jeju sparkling water full of minerals to tranquilize irritation and rehydrate the skin and it also includes green tea leaves.

The lightweight liquid can be applied with a cotton pad and doesn’t need to be rinsed.

5. The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Light Cleansers

Use this Korean cleanser first, then follow up with the foaming cleanser below. Both are suitable for dry skin.

That’s because both have rice water, an ancient remedy for softening the skin and brightening the complexion. It’s full of B vitamins, amino acids, and antioxidants that promote a healthy glow.

This oil based cleanser also contains moringa oil, which is anti-inflammatory and very nourishing and are perfect for sensitive skin types.

If you hope to have a more even skin tone, these cleansers may help fade hyperpigmentation and it also includes green tea.

6. [THEFACESHOP] Rice Water Bright Foaming Cleanser

Although it’s not strictly a cleanser, it’s the next step in the Korean beauty skin-care routine. This foaming cleanser is the companion product to the cleanser above.

While the cleanser removes makeup and impurities, the foam removes any leftovers and rehydrates dry skin.

This foam cleanser also continues the process of brightening the skin and reducing discoloration and is one of the finest skin-care products out there.

The formula has both moringa oil and soapwort. It’s packed with vitamins and minerals plus ceramides to restore moisture and are perfect for sensitive skin types.

7. MISSHA M Perfect BB Deep Cleanser

At nighttime, use this Deep Cleanser to thoroughly remove long-wear and waterproof makeup.

Massage two pumps of the thick oil across your face with your fingers. Work in circular motions to dissolve impurities.

While it’s on your skin, tea tree oil and botanicals purify without stripping moisture from your skin.

Then, simply rinse with water, and you’re done. Your face will feel soft and clean, never greasy.

What makes this product works so well? I checked the label to find out.

This foam cleanser contains a variety of plant oils like olive, sunflower, jojoba, meadowfoam seed, and macadamia nut.

I was sad to see that it also has mineral oil and parabens. If you have oily skin, you might be better served by a lightweight product instead, and is one of the finest Korean skin-care products out there.

8. Tonymoly Wonder Apricot Deep Cleanser

I like this affordable cleanser because of its fruity scent and the way it leaves the skin refreshed.

Use it to remove all types of makeup and cleanse your pores. Then when you rinse, it emulsifies or turns to lather when it touches water.

The lightweight cleanser contains apricot seed, pomegranate seed, jojoba, meadowfoam, and macadamia oil. It’s suitable for all skin types.

9. Hanskin Pore Cleanser

If you have a sensitive skin type, and you’re prone to acne, you should take a look at this product.

It contains poly-hydroxy acid, also known as PHA. It’s a gentle chemical exfoliant and also contains hyaluronic acid

The PHA removes dead skin cells and excess oil while it clears up blackheads.

At the same time, This K-beauty product moisturizes to keep the skin young and healthy.

Other natural ingredients of this foam cleanser include tea tree oil, jojoba, grapeseed, and olive, plus aloe. It’s suitable for all skin types.

Pump the cleanser into your hands and clean your face with circular motions. It’s safe to use it by your eyes as it won’t sting.

Then add water. The oil will foam up and rinse clean.

10. NEOGEN DERMALOGY REAL CICA Micellar Cleanser

If you have sensitive skin or blemishes, this cleanser is made for you.

Have you heard of Centella Asiatica? It’s a plant that’s linked to faster healing of the skin.

This Korean oil cleanser contains cica essence, which blends Centella with other exotic ingredients that repair damaged and irritated skin.

It also has micellar water. Tiny molecules called micelles to combine oil and water. The oil draws out impurities and sebum while the water improves the skin’s moisture levels.

Apply this cleanser to dry skin and add a few drops of water. Instantly, the oil turns milky white. It rinses without leaving a residue.

11. [KLAIRS] Gentle Black Deep Cleanser

This oil cleanser is a blend of black bean, black sesame, and black currant seed oils.

It balances sebum production and deep-cleans pores.

The anti-aging benefits come from beta-carotene, linolenic acid, Vitamin E, sesamin, and more. These boost elasticity and stimulate cell regeneration. It’s suitable for all skin types.

What’s more, it’s pH-balanced and free of irritants to protect sensitive skin. It doesn’t have ethanol, parabens, silicone, artificial dye, or perfume.

It’s also vegan and cruelty-free.

12. DHC Deep Cleanser

DHC says that one bottle of their cleanser is sold every 10 seconds around the world.

It’s ideal for all skin types and offers multiple advantages.

For one, it’s not greasy, but rather water-soluble. It hydrates while it cleans, unlike some makeup removers.

Over 90% of participants in one clinical study were pleased with how well the DHC deep cleanser performed compared to a competitor’s product.

It’s water-soluble to rinse quickly with just water.

The formula is simple: it’s based on olive oil with 7 other ingredients. These include vitamin E and rosemary.

Vitamin E is an essential antioxidant that conditions the skin. It defends against free radicals from environmental pollution and sun damage.

Rosemary, meanwhile, acts as a toner and provides a refreshing scent.

Lastly, this product is made without added colors or fragrances, parabens, phthalates, and mineral oil. We feel these are the best Korean cleansers out there.

13. DHC Pore Cleansing Oil

The DHC Pore Cleanser is best for oily and combination skin. The texture is lightweight, more like a serum than an oil.

The formula purifies the skin with Vitamin C, arginine, and citrus oils. The citrus extracts give it an energizing grapefruit scent.

At the same time, zinc PCA manages oil production. It’s suitable for all skin types.

We feel this foaming cleanser is one of the finest Korean cleansers out there.

14. DHC Olive Concentrated Cleanser

For normal to dry skin, try this DHC oil instead. It exfoliates, removes makeup, and prevents blackheads.

It doesn’t upset the pH balance or dehydrate the face. That’s because it uses olive, rich in oleic acid.

After you massage it in and start to rinse, the oil emulsifies to a milky white color. This lather carries away impurities, leaving the skin conditioned and clean. It has a low pH level to help protect the natural moisture.

Similar to other products from the same manufacturer, it’s free of artificial colors, fragrances, and parabens. We feel these are the best Korean cleansers out there.

15. Etude House Real Art Cleanser

Etude House’s oil cleanser has a slight lemony scent. It powers away waterproof and long-wearing makeup with minimal effort.

This cleansing foam is specially formulated with coconut, apricot kernel, and grapeseed oils to dissolve residue and to get rid of dead skin cells without leaving any residue. That’s because it interacts with water to foam away impurities.

16. SKINFOOD Black Sugar Perfect Cleanser

This particular cleansing foam from SKINFOOD is geared toward dry to normal skin. It doesn’t just remove makeup, but it also gently exfoliates.

The exfoliating action comes from the tiny particles of organic black sugar mixed in with the rice wine and plant oil. It also minimizes the appearance of pores and also controls excess sebum throughout the day.

The nutrients in the blend feed the skin and hydrate it. It also reaches deep into the pores to leave the face refreshed and smooth.

The only downside is that it contains mineral oil. We feel these are the best Korean cleansers out there. It’s suitable for all skin types and this is much better than the cleansing balm that is available out there.

17. SKINFOOD Egg White Perfect Pore Cleanser

On the other hand, this oil cleanser is targeted at oily skin. It helps balance oil production and reduces pore size.

It’s free of mineral oil and ultra-lightweight.

What’s interesting is that it contains egg yolk, egg white, and thermal spring water. It also helps clear away all the dead skin cells. It has a low pH level to help protect the natural moisture.

We feel this foaming cleanser is one of the finest Korean cleansers out there that leaves your skin feeling rejuvenated.

To get the most from it, let it sit on your skin for at least 30 seconds before you rinse. We feel this one of the finest Korean beauty products out there and it goes a long way.

18. Julep Love Your Bare Face Age-Defying Cleanser

When Julep surveyed their customers, they found that over 90% were pleased with the results. They had softer, more moisturized skin after just one wash, with no oily residue.

Moreover, this water based cleanser or cleansing foam is a crowdpleaser as it’s 5-free. It has no parabens, sulfates, or animal ingredients. It also minimizes the appearance of pores and also controls excess sebum throughout the day.

Instead, this cleansing foam is made with green coffee bean, rosehip seed, pink grapefruit, grapeseed, witch hazel and olive oil and will give you a healthy skin and a glowing skin.

This cleansing foam promotes healing, brighten skin tone, and repair damage and this is much better than the cleansing balm that is available out there.

19. Manyo Factory Pure Cleanser

Skip all the artificial ingredients and go back to nature with this oil cleanser.

This double-cleansing foam is surprisingly lightweight and non-greasy. It’s good for all skin types.

Instead of clogging pores, this water based cleanser enters them and pushes out impurities. Then, it fortifies the skin’s natural barrier and smooths fine lines. We feel these are the best Korean cleansers out there that leaves your skin feeling rejuvenated.

The label lists several goodies including grapeseed, lavender, tea tree oil, argan, and rice bran oils and this is much better than the cleansing balm that is available out there and are suitable for dry and sensitive skin.

20. Wandering Seoul No.35 Camellia Cleanser

If you check every ingredient in this oil cleanser, you’ll see that each has the safest rating from the EWG.

What’s more, it’s not just kind to your skin, it’s also good for the animal kingdom. This oil based cleanser is vegan and cruelty-free.

Thirty-five percent is camellia oil. But there’s also olive fruit and coconut oil plus bergamot. As you might imagine, it smells delicious. We feel this foaming cleanser is one of the finest Korean cleansers out there.

This cleansing foam absorbs quickly into the skin and delivers crucial nutrients like omega fatty acids and vitamins that helps prevent bacteria and keep skin tone even and will give you a healthy skin and a glowing skin.

This double-cleansing foam dissolves makeup and oil to remove impurities and leave the skin soothed and hydrated and is suitable for sensitive skin and acne-prone skin.

How do you use Korean cleansing oil?

In the 12-step skin-care routine, Koreans double-cleanse. They use a cleansing oil followed by another face wash.

The first thing to do is to use cleansing oil to remove makeup, impurities, and sebum.

In most cases, you can use your fingers to massage the oil into your face. Use a circular motion.

But check the specific directions for the product as it may recommend applying it to dry or wet skin. And some brands recommend using a cleansing pad.

Next, rinse with warm water.

It’s that simple.

How to choose the right Korean cleansing oil for your complexion

There are Korean oil cleansers for all skin types, as well as those that target a specific need, like oily skin.

Those with single oils are best for dry skin, while those with surfactants and emulsifiers are good for combination and oily skin.

Here’s more detail.

Oils rich in linoleic fatty acids, like jojoba, hemp, and rosehip, are lightweight. These are good cleansing oils for oily skin and acne. Keep in mind a consistent cleansing routine removes impurities giving you a smooth skin.

Meanwhile, thicker oils with oleic fatty acid like olive, almond, and avocado, are suitable for conditioning dry skin.

Conclusion

It’s time to try something different.

I’m sure you’re going to love your new Korean oil cleanser. It will help you maintain a healthy complexion.

Come back soon and tell us about your experience using it.

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