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These Organic Facial Cleansing Oils Feel So Luxe — & There's One For Every Skin Type
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Cleansing oils are fantastic for removing sunscreen or makeup gently and effectively and do so without stripping your skin’s protective layers. It can be tricky finding the right oil cleanser for your skin type (but know even oily skin can benefit from the right one) and when you’re shopping for the best organic facial cleansing oil, there’s even more to consider.
When it comes to beauty products, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t have an official definition for what “organic” means, which leaves plenty of room for interpretation — or false advertising entirely. However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees something called the National Organic Program (NOP), which focuses on regulating the agricultural products that go into your favorite cleansing oil. Looking for a USDA Organic Seal can help you find a great organic product, but it's not always necessary if you're willing to do a bit of label-reading to see which ingredients in your skincare product are explicitly organic. (Products without the seal can still contain 70% organic ingredients, they just might lack an official stamp of regulatory approval.) This handy chart helps you decode the different types of organic labels, so you can decide what’s best for you.
From there, a few simple guidelines will help you find the best oil for your skin type. Certain face oils can actually be considered lightweight and are well-suited for oily skin: jojoba oil is #1 (it is nearly identical in chemical profile to skin’s natural sebum and well-tolerated by almost everyone) but you may also consider trendy argan or apricot seed. On the heavier end of the face oil spectrum, you’ll find coconut, olive, and sweet almond oil. These are good picks for dry, parched skin.
Whether you’re looking for USDA-Certified everything or just want a short ingredients list you can actually pronounce, these are some of the best organic facial cleansing oils for working into your skincare routine.
1This Cult Classic With Organic Olive Oil
Just eight ingredients make up this best-selling oil cleanser, which flies off the shelves every ten seconds, according to the brand. Its base is olive oil — and while the olives used for the olive oil come from an organic farm in Baena, Spain, this pick is not certified organic. It's infused with a touch of moisturizing vitamin E and invigorating rosemary; and it comes without any added fragrance, colors, parabens, phthalates, and mineral oil. "I've been using this product for almost 10 years!" one dedicated customer raved.
2A Lux Organic Cleansing Oil With A Built-In Silicone Brush
Though it comes with a more premium price, what you’re getting with this INIKA oil cleanser is a premium face washing experience. There’s a silicone brush head built into the tube that gives you a more sanitary (and gentle) way to apply and massage the product onto your skin. And the Australian-made formula itself is also lush— it includes organic camellia seed oil, which is a lightweight and non-comedogenic oil that’s known for its hydrating properties; rose of Jericho, which an ancient herb known for its antioxidant properties; and a handful of other rich organic ingredients, like shea butter, avocado oil, and argan oil.
3A Balancing Cleansing Oil For Glowy Skin
Era Organics strives to offer USDA-certified products whenever possible and opts for a nontoxic, GMO-free alternative when they can't. This lavender vanilla cleansing oil features a balanced blend of lightweight and heavier oils — including argan oil, apricot oil, jojoba oil, sunflower oil, and rosemary extract — giving you a nourishing cleanser without heavy pore-clogging residue. The brand says this hydrating oil is formulated with natural and organic ingredients, although it doesn't come with any certifications. Several shoppers noticed their skin started producing less oil after switching to this cleanser, with one raving: "I have been using this for over a year now and have seen a massive change in my skin and acne! I just love it and it’s so affordable!" What's more, reviewers love the glowy complexion it created, with one noting, "LOVE! Leaves skins so soft and clear! Someone told me I was ‘glowing’ afterward."
4A Vegan Oil Cleanser With Carrot Seed And Jojoba For Acne-Prone Skin
Although this find isn't back by hundreds of reviews on Amazon, this Sailor Gentle Tides Cleansing Oil has plenty of noteworthy ingredients, starting with a blend of rich organic oils, including sunflower seed oil, castor oil, and jojoba seed oil, the latter of which is well tolerated by breakout-prone skin. Plus, there’s carrot seed oil, which not only gives the skincare product a deliciously sweet scent but also has antioxidant properties and it can help with oil regulation. Finally, chamomile is an anti-inflammatory that will act as a skin-soother. Just note, it’s more of a straightforward oil, which means it won’t emulsify like a traditional cleanser, but that thicker texture allows it to be more multipurpose— some reviewers reported adding drops to moisturizer and or even using it as hair oil. It’s vegan, certified cruelty-free, and doesn’t contain parabens, sulfates, or artificial fragrances.
5A Drugstore Oil Cleanser For Dry Skin With Natural Ingredients
Although not strictly organic, this drugstore oil cleanser for dry skin hails from a trusted brand and is formulated with 100% natural ingredients. It features coconut oil, which is chock full of fatty acids and saturated fats, so although it’s likely too heavy for acne-prone skin, it's exactly the kind of care parched skin craves. "I have very dry skin...this literally gets all your makeup OFF," one reviewer gushed. Another added that it "makes skin feel wonderfully hydrated and clean. I've purchased this three times so far."
6Also Great: This USDA Certified Organic Foaming Cleanser Loaded With Nourishing Oils
If you love the idea of an oil cleanser but haven't found one that works with your skin and comes back with organic certifications, this award-winning organic face wash with natural oils offers the best of both worlds. It's USDA certified and has a formula infused with Bulgarian rose otto, as well as coconut, olive, and sweet almond oils. Since they're lower down on the ingredients list and it's a gel formula, these moisturizing oils are more likely to be tolerated by a wide range of skin types without clogging pores. And indeed, the reviews were packed with raves about how it made dry skin measurably softer and even helped clear up one reviewer's hormonal cystic acne: "[I] find that this cleanser not only calms the skin but does not cause me any more breakouts - quite the opposite actually!"
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