9 Top Korean Cleansing Oils For Healthier Skin
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Double-cleansing has taken the beauty world by storm, and a crucial part of this routine is using cleansing oils.
Traditionally, facial soaps and foaming cleansers are used to get rid of the dirt and grime on our faces. However, these products can also dry out our facial skin as they remove natural oils along with the dirt and grime.
Ensure your face is completely clean while avoiding stripping it of essential oils and moisture. Use cleansing oils!
Apart from being non-stripping, a cleansing oil also adds a layer of nourishment to your skin, depending on the type you use.
Ready to try one out for yourself? Read on for our list of the top Korean cleansing oils you can try today!
- Cleanses skin effectively
- Keeps skin moisturized and hydrated
- Brings nourishment to the skin
- Provides effective skin cleansing
- Keeps skin moisturized
- Provides nourishment for the skin
- Effectively cleanses skin
- Provides nourishment
- Helps keep skin smooth and even in complexion
Table of Contents
Why Do Double-Cleansing?
Double-cleansing is a gift from the heavens! There are so many reasons why anyone who wears makeup and applies skincare products must double-cleanse.
Here’s a list of its skin benefits:
- Removes all impurities, dirt, makeup residue, and oil buildup on the skin
- Helps in brightening the skin
- Deeply cleanses without stripping the skin of its natural oils
- Boosts skin’s absorption of skincare products
- Helps in unclogging pores and preventing acne
What Are Cleansing Oils?
While it may sound unbelievable, cleansing oils aren’t greasy when applied. These oils are specifically formulated to melt makeup and remove residue, dirt, oils, and other impurities from the skin.
However, they work differently than other face-cleansing products like creams and gels. Other facial cleansers usually rely on surfactants, which cleanse the skin by lifting the dirt off the skin and removing them after rinsing with water.
On the other hand, oil cleansers work as an emulsifier, cleansing the skin as a solvent. It dissolves the oils from makeup and the extra sebum our skin produces, easily getting rid of them.
Cleansing oils also have surfactants. This and the added cleansing provided by the emulsified oils give a deeper cleanse while keeping the skin smooth and supple.
Why Korean Cleansing Oils?
South Korea has been a leader in developing amazing skincare products. With double-cleansing popularized in the same country, there’s a wide array of cleansing oils manufactured here.
But what sets these cleansing oils apart?
The Korean skincare industry is partial to making products with natural ingredients.
As such, most of the cleansing oils produced here are either mainly made with natural oils or are chock-full of natural oils as additives to the formula. Usually, these are gentler to the skin.
While they usually make gentle formulas, Korean cleansing oils are still guaranteed to work for their intended purpose, which is to cleanse the face and melt away the dirt, makeup residue, and other impurities from your skin.
Additional natural ingredients found in Korean cleansing oils also add a layer to the skincare formula and its use.
Not only do they clean the skin, but with these added ingredients, they also nourish the skin, moisturize it, and reinforce the skin’s protective barrier.
How to Choose the Top Korean Cleansing Oil?
When choosing which cleansing oil to buy for your double-cleansing routine, you have to consider the following things:
Your Skin Type
Knowing your skin type is crucial when choosing any skincare product. There are four main skin types.
Normal skin has the perfect balance of moisture and dryness. On the other hand, dry skin has less sebum and may often seem parched if no moisture is added to it.
Oily skin is usually associated with the overproduction of sebum on the skin. Lastly, combination skin is when one has an oily T-zone while the rest of the face is dry.
Other skin types also worth noting include sensitive skin, acne-prone skin, and mature skin.
Form
When choosing a cleansing oil, you need to consider its form.
These products come in two different forms: liquid oil and balms. Korean cleansing balms come in a pot, and the product melts into an oil when it comes in contact with the skin.
Meanwhile, liquid oils have an oil-like form that can be runny when applied to the skin.
Ingredients
When choosing a cleansing oil, you still need to consider its ingredients. Usually, Korean cleansing oils are made either with plant-based oils or synthetic cleansing oils.
Plant-based oils come au-naturel, and some more commonly used ones include sunflower seed, grapeseed, jojoba, and black currant seed oils.
Synthetic oils used in producing these skincare products are safe and can be used in tandem with plant-based oils.
When looking at the ingredients, the factor you need to think about is your skin’s sensitivity. Some people are easily irritated by synthetic oils, while others are more sensitive to certain plant oils.
9 Top Korean Cleansing Oils for Healthier Skin
Ready to start double-cleansing or looking to make a switch? Check out our curated list of the top Korean cleansing oils and balms in the market today!
This Korean cleansing oil is lauded by many for its gentle and nourishing yet powerful cleansing formula.
Key Benefits: Cleanses skin effectively, keeps skin moisturized and hydrated, brings nourishment to the skin
Features:
- Powerful cleansing capability that claims to get rid of 99.74% of impurities on the skin
- Formulated with nourishing ingredients like argan kernel and jojoba seed oil
- Can be used by all skin types, including acne-prone skin
Cleanse and nourish your skin with Man:yo’s Pure Cleansing Oil!
Many believe Man:yo’s Pure Cleansing Oil is the top Korean oil-based cleanser you can buy, and it’s easy to see why. This product gets the job done and more!
This cleansing oil is known to have powerful cleansing capabilities. The brand claims it can remove up to 99.74% of germs on the skin’s surface.
On top of that, the cleansing oil is formulated with both argan kernel and jojoba seed oils, two highly nourishing and moisturizing ingredients that you can get.
The best part is, despite being oil-based, the formula is gentle and non-comedogenic, making it a contender for being the top Korean cleansing oil for acne-prone skin.
Cleanse your skin and give it the nourishment it needs with Man:yo’s Pure Cleansing Oil!
This product has gained a following, thanks to its gentle, deep-cleansing benefits.
Key Benefits: Provides deep-cleansing with a gentle formula, helps control oil production on the face, reinforces the skin’s protective layer, promotes healthy skin turnover
Features:
- Formula provides deep cleansing benefits but is gentle enough for sensitive skin
- Contains black bean oil, black sesame oil, and black currant seed oil
- Nourishing formula is perfect for people with dry skin
Let your skin drink up all the nourishment Klairs’ Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil provides!
If you’re looking for a highly nourishing and moisturizing cleansing oil that can deeply clean your pores, look no further than this product by Klairs.
While it mainly uses synthetic oils, the formula also contains a significant amount of black bean oil, black sesame oil, and black currant seed oil.
With these ingredients, this oil cleanser from Korea brings antioxidant benefits to your skin. As such, on top of hydrating your skin, it has anti-aging properties since it promotes healthy skin cell turnover.
This cleansing oil is on the thicker side when it comes to texture, making it arguably the top Korean cleansing oil for dry skin!
Many rave about this Korean cleansing balm for its effectiveness and nourishing ingredients.
Key Benefits: Provides effective skin cleansing, keeps skin moisturized, provides nourishment for the skin.
Features:
- Quickly and effectively removes impurities from the skin
- Contains botanicals, vitamins, and spring water for added nourishment
- Can be used by all skin types but is best suited for oily skin
Start your cleansing routine with an amazing first step using Banila Co’s Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm!
One of the first cleansing balms to make waves internationally is Banila Co’s Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm.
Given how effective and nourishing it is for your skin, it’s not a mystery why this product has maintained its popularity throughout the years.
Apart from a terrific, quick cleansing formula, this product also contains numerous nourishing ingredients like botanicals, spring water, and vitamins to keep your skin healthy and glowing.
It also has added royal jelly, ginseng jelly, and other antioxidants, helping your skin become radiant.
This product is one of the top Korean oil cleansers for oily skin and is free from harmful additives, such as parabens. However, all skin types can choose to use it too.
We love this cleansing oil for its effective cleansing power and nourishing ingredients.
Key Benefits: Effectively cleanses the skin, provides nourishment, helps keep skin smooth and even in complexion
Features:
- Formula contains many nourishing ingredients, such as black sugar and rice wine
- Also contains vitamins, minerals and botanical oils
- Perfect for people with dry skin
Keep your skin nourished even after cleansing with Skinfood’s Black Sugar Cleansing Oil!
If you want to ensure that your skin gets beneficial nourishment even while cleansing, Skinfood is the brand to go to. Many skincare lovers recommend its Black Sugar Cleansing Oil for its cleaning power and nourishment.
Other than deep-cleaning, this cleansing oil also delivers the vitamins and minerals from its many rich ingredients, including botanical oils, black sugar, and rice wine.
While it cleanses your skin, this oil helps maintain its healthy and supple appearance. It is one of the top Korean cleansing oils for combination skin out there.
Try out Skinfood’s Black Sugar Cleansing Oil today and see what many are raving about!
Recommended by many, this cleansing oil is effective in removing impurities and taking care of sensitive skin.
Key Benefits: Deep-cleanses the skin, reinforces the skin’s protective barrier, moisturizes and nourishes skin
Features:
- Formulated with natural chamomile that helps protect the skin
- Consistency is non-greasy and doesn’t leave a sticky residue
- Best for those with sensitive skin
Help your skin stay clean and protected with Nature Republic’s Forest Garden Chamomile Cleansing Oil!
If you’re looking for the top Korean cleansing oil for sensitive skin, you don’t have to look too far.
Nature Republic’s Forest Garden Chamomile Cleansing Oil has one of the gentlest formulas around, but its effectiveness is just as impressive.
This product contains chamomile, which reinforces the skin’s protective barrier, keeping your skin protected from external and environmental stressors.
When you use this product, it dispenses as oil but turns into a creamy cleanser when it mixes with water. It easily removes dirt, oil, makeup, and other impurities on your skin.
Need a gentle yet effective cleansing oil for your sensitive skin? Try out Nature Republic’s Forest Garden Chamomile Cleansing Oil!
Many love this cleansing oil because it easily removes impurities that are usually hard to eliminate.
Key Benefits: Provides deep cleansing, keeps your skin moisturized and nourished, quickly gets rid of makeup and other hard-to-remove impurities
Features:
- Provides impressive cleansing power
- Contains nourishing oils, including grapeseed, apricot kernel, and coconut oil
- Light, non-greasy formula
ETUDE HOUSE’s Real Art Moisture Cleansing Oil is an easy must-have for heavy-duty skin cleansing.
ETUDE HOUSE’s cleansing oil should be your go-to product to remove stubborn makeup residue, dirt, pollution, and other impurities. It contains natural oils that easily melt away any impurities on the skin.
Besides its powerful cleansing, this product is rich in nourishing ingredients, including grapeseed, apricot kernel, and coconut oil. On top of that, it has a light, non-greasy formula after emulsifying with water.
Residue-free and non-greasy, you are guaranteed to feel fresh after cleansing with this product from ETUDE HOUSE!
Many swear by this product because it's a gentle cleanser and exfoliator all in one!
Key Benefits: Effectively cleanses the skin, provides gentle exfoliation, keeps the skin hydrated, soothes irritated skin
Features:
- Formulated with sunflower oil, which provides gentle yet effective cleansing
- Contains gluconolactone, a gentle PHA that helps exfoliate and hydrate skin
- Also contains lavender oil, which helps soothe red, irritated skin
Cleanse and exfoliate without worrying about skin irritation by using Hanskin’s Pore Cleansing Oil PHA.
Looking for a cleansing oil and exfoliator all in one? Look no further than Hanskin’s Pore Cleansing Oil PHA.
With sunflower seed oil, this product provides gentle cleansing that effectively removes dirt, oil, and other impurities from the skin. It also has lavender oil, which helps soothe any redness and irritation.
What sets this product apart is that it has gluconolactone, a polyhydroxy acid that helps exfoliate the skin, effectively melting away dead skin cells while promoting healthy skin regeneration.
Many love this cleansing oil for removing dirt, makeup, and pore-clogging impurities.
Key Benefits: Deep-cleanses the skin, keeps skin moisturized and nourished
Features:
- Contains apricot seed oil for removing impurities and cleansing the skin
- Also formulated with the oils of pomegranate seed, jojoba seed, macadamia seed, and meadowfoam seed for added hydration and nourishment
- Best used for dry skin
It’s time to deep-clean your skin with TonyMoly’s Wonder Apricot Deep Cleanser!
Another Asian cleansing oil that you can easily add to your skincare arsenal is this one from TonyMoly.
It gets the job done, and it does it well since it quickly provides deep-cleansing for your skin. Apart from removing impurities in your skin, it also helps remove pore-clogging dirt and excess oil beyond the skin’s surface.
For cleansing, it uses apricot-seed oil. It is also formulated with oils of pomegranate seed, jojoba seed, macadamia seed, and meadowfoam seed to keep your skin hydrated, moisturized, and nourished.
Rich in mineral and botanical oils, this cleansing product is best used by those with dry skin.
This cleansing oil is a holy grail for others, thanks to its cleansing and moisturizing properties.
Key Benefits: Offers deep cleansing, keeps your skin moisturized, nourishes the skin, soothes irritated skin
Features:
- Removes dirt and other impurities from both on the surface and inside pores
- Contains Saponaria leaf and Portulaca oleracea extracts for added cleansing properties
- Also contains jojoba and sunflower seed oil, hyaluronic acid, and panthenol
Make sure your skin is clean using Pyunkang Yul’s Deep Cleansing Oil!
Are you in search of a great Korean oil cleansing product? If you’re looking for a deep-cleansing oil that won’t strip your face of the moisture it needs, look no further than Pyunkang Yul’s offering.
This cleanser is primarily formulated with jojoba and sunflower seed oil, which not only melts the impurities on the skin’s surface but also reaches and cleanses the inside of your pores.
It also has Saponaria leaf and Portulaca oleracea extracts for added cleaning power.
Other than these, the product is formulated with other botanical oils, including avocado and olive oil, among others, as well as hyaluronic acid and panthenol to keep your skin moisturized.
While this product has a lot of oils in its ingredient lists, it’s a product that can be used by all skin types!
Keep Impurities Away With Korean Oil Cleansing Oils
Double-cleansing has become an integral part of the Korean skincare routine, and taking the extra step to do so is well worth it. However, besides making the extra effort, you also need the right product to keep your skin in tip-top shape.
The top Korean cleansing oil for each individual may be difficult to find, and hopefully, our list has helped you narrow down your choices in your search for what works best for you.
Start double-cleansing today with the help of superb Korean cleansing oils!
Want to know more about Korean skin care?
- 9 PURITO Products for Every Skin Type
- Innisfree Sunscreen Review: Is Daily UV Defense Sunscreen Worth It?
- The Only Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder Review You Need