The best cleansing oils to survive monsoon breakouts and barrier drama

Monsoon skin is chaos in slow motion; sweat, sebum, sunscreen and the sneaky return of that one chin breakout you thought you’d outgrown. But the fix isn’t foaming it all away. It’s choosing the right oil. The best cleansing oils don’t just remove makeup or SPF, they dissolve urban grime, help calm congested pores and leave your skin soft, not stripped.

Whether you’re breakout-prone, barrier-conscious or just tired of sticky serums sitting on unwashed skin, these are the best cleansing oils to use when the weather won’t cooperate but your skin still has to.

From luxurious blends backed by botanical science to K-beauty staples and minimalist picks that won’t trigger breakouts, here are the best cleansing oils for every skin type this monsoon.

M·A·C Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil

Powered by Japanese peony and a cocktail of Tsubaki, jojoba and sunflower oils, M·A·C’s luxe formula lifts waterproof mascara, SPF and microdust without so much as a tug. It glides like silk, rinses like a dream, and leaves zero residue behind. Even sensitive skin types get a soft, soothed finish—no tightness, no breakouts.

Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil

Infused with Sulwhasoo’s Korean Herbal Oil Complex, this cleansing oil melts down layers of sunscreen, city grit and long-wear base with a texture that transforms from light oil to silky milk. There’s no lingering film, no tightness post-rinse—just skin that feels clean, calm and ready for actual skincare.

iUNIK Calendula Complete Cleansing Oil

If your skin tends to throw tantrums (or acne), this minimalist blend is the skincare equivalent of a patient therapist. With 94% plant-based oils and just eight ingredients—including calendula, jojoba and macadamia nut oil—it lifts grime while quietly hydrating and decongesting. No fragrance, no irritants, no over-cleansing guilt.

Caudalie Vinoclean Makeup Removing Cleansing Oil

What do you get when you mix sweet almond, castor and grapeseed oil in a bottle? A French pharmacy favourite that dissolves makeup in seconds, nourishes lashes, and smells faintly like someone who owns a vineyard. Caudalie’s bestselling cleansing oil emulsifies clean with water and leaves zero film behind. Great for waterproof everything.

Guerlain Abeille Royale Intense Cleansing Oil

Guerlain’s Abeille Royale cleansing oil isn’t just pretty packaging; it’s built to remove the city’s worst (pollutants, SPF, sweat) without drying you out. The royal jelly complex helps nourish and rebalance, while the oil texture flips into milk with water. Think of it as the softest way to end a long, humid day.

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Cleansing Oil

Elizabeth Arden’s Ceramide Cleansing Oil removes the day—mascara, eyeliner, sweat, pollution—while restoring what your skin actually needs: essential lipids. Apricot, safflower and olive oils support the skin barrier without triggering oiliness or breakouts. You’re left with clean, hydrated, grown-up skin that doesn’t feel stripped or squeaky.

Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil

Kiehl’s cult favourite emulsifies into a milky wash that melts sunscreen, long-wear makeup and emotional baggage, too. With evening primrose oil, squalane and lavender, it calms both face and mood. Bonus: it’s soap-free, mineral oil-free, and doesn’t trouble your barrier.

CHANEL L’HUILE Anti-Pollution Cleansing Oil

Leave it to CHANEL to turn cleansing into a ceremony. This silk-like oil formula removes even waterproof makeup, breaks down SPF, and rinses off without a trace—no oily film, no eye sting. Formulated with blue microalgae and salicornia, it detoxes without disturbing the skin’s pH or balance. For those who double-cleanse like it’s self-care (not punishment).

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil

A cult classic for a reason. This olive oil–based formula uses the “like dissolves like” logic to cut through sebum, SPF and longwear makeup with the ease of a hot knife through butter. No residue, no clogged pores—just a soft, dewy post-cleanse glow that feels less like an oil and more like a silky reset.

L’Occitane Immortelle Precious Cleansing Oil

Made for days when your skin feels as dull as the sky, this cleansing oil lifts away impurities with its immortelle flower extract and signature oil blend. It melts makeup on contact but leaves skin feeling plump, not parched. If your monsoon ritual needs a gentle, nourishing reboot—this one’s it.

Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Cleansing Oil

A standout for stressed, sensitised skin. This formula leans on 50% soybean oil and a hint of ginseng seed oil to nourish as it purifies. Micellar particles lift grime and SPF without harsh surfactants, and the ginseng adds a subtle anti-inflammatory boost. Humid-weather perk: it leaves skin clean, soft and not the least bit sticky.

Also read:

11 face mists with real skincare credentials

The best clarifying shampoos to beat monsoon buildup and greasy roots

12 monsoon perfumes that bloom on rainy days