6 Best Korean Cleansing Oils to Start Your Double-Cleanse Routine

12.12.2025, 16:01 allure.com

When we talk about the best Korean cleansing oils, we’re talking about the products that basically redefined what a good first cleanse should feel like. These formulas are lightweight, silky, and ridiculously good at melting off makeup, sunscreen, and grime—without leaving skin tight or greasy.

What makes these cleansing oils distinctly Korean? K-beauty cleansing oils usually rely on plant-derived oils and streamlined ingredient lists, so they feel gentle even if you’re wearing waterproof mascara or have sensitive or acne-prone skin. “They tend to have a lighter consistency and fewer ingredients,” which makes them easier on the skin than some heavier Western formulas, says Justine H. Park, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Westlake Village, CA. And when you follow them with a water-based cleanser (the classic double-cleanse), your pores get a deeper, more satisfying clean.

Whether you like fragrance-free options, formulas that target blackheads, or oils that leave your skin feeling extra nourished, Korean cleansing oils are one of those rare categories where almost everyone finds a favorite—and beauty editors, derms, and even TikTok, all agree.

Haruharu Wonder

Amazon

Nordstrom

Allure commerce editor Sarah Han applying the Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture Cleansing Oil

Why it’s worth it: In Korean culture, rice is deeply tied to comfort, health, prosperity, and home, so when a brand puts it front and center in your skin care, you know it’s intentional. The fermented black rice in Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture Cleansing Oil delivers a surge of antioxidants, minerals, and proteins that help keep skin elastic and resilient from step one. Alongside rice bran extract, the formula blends olive oil (to whisk away makeup and excess sebum), sunflower seed oil (to soothe and moisturize), macadamia seed oil (to strengthen your barrier), jojoba seed oil (to balance and refine), and tocopherol for an extra antioxidant boost. There’s not much else in the formula, and that’s exactly why TikTok is obsessed with its short, sweet, no-fluff ingredient list.

Han before applying the Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture Cleansing Oil

Han after applying the Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture Cleansing Oil

Tester feedback from Allure commerce editor Sarah Han

“The key characteristic of a good cleansing oil? A super silky formula that breaks down your toughest makeup with tugging—especially around the eyes—and washes away without an ounce of residue. Oh, and it doesn't hurt when they're fragrance-free for my sensitive girlies. The Haruharu Black Rice Moisture Cleansing Oil is one of my top recs for cleansing oils for these reasons, and because it just... delivers. There's nothing complicated about it, which is exactly what I need as I'm beginning my loaded nighttime skin-care routine. It melts away shimmer eye shadow, long-lasting gel liners, and every type of mascara in 10 seconds. It's a must even on my no-makeup, sunscreen-only days, too. A mainstay, as they say.” —Sarah Han, commerce writer

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Skin1004

Amazon

Nordstrom

Ulta Beauty

Allure contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai applying the Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil

Why it's worth it: If the makeup-melting, calming ability of Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil feels almost heaven-sent, it tracks—“1004” is pronounced cheon-sa, meaning “angel,” in Korean. The entire brand centers its formulas around Centella asiatica (a.k.a. cica) sourced specifically from Madagascar, where the plant grows with exceptional purity and potency thanks to the island’s untouched environment. This cleansing oil’s featherlight texture works beautifully for all skin types, including our tester with oily, acne-prone skin and Joyce Park, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Washington, who calls it “a new favorite for my sensitive, rosacea-prone skin. The cica is extremely soothing, and the formula has a super-lightweight texture.” Staying true to Skin1004’s pared-back formulas, it keeps things streamlined with just four key oils: bergamot, sunflower seed, olive fruit, and jojoba seed.

Pai before applying the Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil

Pai after applying the Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil

Tester feedback from Allure contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai

"I don't want to be dramatic, but this has capital-T transformed by cleansing routine. I got it in a set paired with the brand's Cleansing Ampoule Foam, but this is a non-negotiable first step for melting all of my makeup off before I go in with the lather. It has a generous slip, little to no scent, and a lightweight texture that's easy to emulsify and rinse. My only complaint is that I will need a jumbo size made." —Deanna Pai, Allure contributing commerce editor

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Sulwhasoo

Amazon

Nordstrom

Allure contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee applying the Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil

Why it's worth it: You may know Sulwhasoo for its 500-hour ginseng creams and tech-packed serums, but don’t sleep on this quieter overachiever. The Gentle Cleansing Oil, a 2024 Best of Beauty winner, happens to be waterproof makeup’s worst enemy, melting through long-wear formulas without drying out skin. Its secret isn’t ginseng this time, but a cushiony blend powered by the brand’s Hydra Capture Complex, which uses four proprietary herbal extracts to help skin stay hydrated as you cleanse. Mulberry leaf and mountain yam extracts soften and nourish, while the silky oil-to-milk texture leaves skin feeling clean but not tight. While it’s on the pricier side for a cleanser, one pump does more heavy lifting than most double-cleanse duos combined.

Lee before applying the Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil

Lee after applying the Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil

Tester feedback from Allure contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee

“I’m pretty heavy-handed with waterproof eye products (my go-to liner is basically budgeproof), so finding a makeup remover that melts down every last bit of mascara and liquid liner in seconds is wildly satisfying. Even better, it rinses off feeling completely hydrating—and while it doesn’t claim any brightening benefits, my skin somehow always looks a little glowier afterward.” —Christa Joanna Lee, Allure contributing commerce writer

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Ma:nyo

Amazon

Ulta Beauty

Allure commerce writer Lily Wohlner applying the Ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil

Why it’s worth it: Don’t just take our word for it—we’re pretty sure you know one of the 20 million (and more) people worldwide who’ve grabbed a bottle of Ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil. This best seller uses 14 plant-derived oils to cleanse without clogging pores, transforming into a milky wash that dissolves makeup and restores your skin’s natural moisture and pH balance. It’s suitable for all skin types (yes, even acne-prone). “Its tea tree and melaleuca oils help combat oily skin and bacterial overgrowth, making it great for people with blackheads and whiteheads,” says Dr. Justine Park. With nourishing argan, moisture-replenishing jojoba, and vitamin E–rich olive oil, it’s no wonder this cleanser has a global fan base.

Wohlner before applying the Ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil

Wohlner after applying the Ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil

Tester feedback from Allure commerce writer Lily Wohlner

“By the time I’m ready to take off my makeup, I’ve usually had it on all day—so the moment I walk through the door, it needs to come off fast and easily. This cleansing oil melts off my makeup in just a few swipes without irritating my acne-prone skin, and although it’s fragrance-free, the natural scent from the oils gives off a subtle, spa-like vibe that makes for the perfect way to unwind after a long day out and about.” —Lily Wohlner, Allure commerce writer

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Round Lab

Amazon

Nordstrom

Ulta Beauty

Why it’s worth it: The 1025 Dokdo line gets its name from the waters around the Ulleungdo and Dokdo islets in the East Sea—an area known for mineral-rich deep-sea water, which Round Lab uses to create some of its calmest, most balancing formulas. Their Dokdo Cleansing Oil pairs that soothing water with plant-derived oils like meadowfoam, grape seed, avocado, evening primrose, and macadamia to melt makeup without leaving skin tight or greasy. It’s especially great for sensitive or dry skin thanks to barrier-loving ingredients like allantoin, and panthenol. “The addition of hyaluronic acid and ceramides helps soothe dry, sensitive skin while adding hydration as it cleanses,” says Dr. Justine Park.

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Beauty of Joseon

Amazon

Sephora

Why it’s worth it: Beauty of Joseon’s Ginseng Cleansing Oil takes the brand’s hanbang roots (traditional Korean herbal medicine) and turns them into a cleansing step that feels practically therapeutic for mature skin. The stars are “glycine soja (soybean) oil, which melts makeup while giving mature skin nourishing omegas, as well as ginseng seed oil for natural antioxidant power,” says Dr. Justine Park. With olive, camellia, coconut, and black cumin oils in the blend, this silky formula transforms from an oil into a soft foam cleanser, keeping skin supple and hydrated rather than tight. It’s the kind of gentle face wash that leaves mature, often-dry skin feeling soft, calm, and cared for.

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First, skip the water. “Apply cleansing oil to dry skin and massage into the skin to dissolve dirt, grime, oil, sunscreen, makeup, etc.,” says Dr. Justine Park. Working it in dry allows the oils to properly break everything down. Once it’s had a moment to do its job, “rinse with warm water or use a warm wet washcloth to wipe away and then rinse with warm water,” she says. Only after that step should your skin be wet.

What makes these cleansing oils distinctly Korean comes down to texture, simplicity, and the types of oils used. In general, Korean beauty products, especially cleansing products, skew lighter and more streamlined, favoring plant-based oils over the denser,