8 Best Face Washes for Oily Skin to Help Address Excess Sebum and Breakouts

20.05.2026, 19:33 allure.com

If you experience frequent breakouts or produce excess sebum, it’s important that you start your skin-care routine with one of the best face washes for oily skin. This sets the foundation for the rest of your breakout-fighting products—like clarifying toners, salicylic acid serums, and lightweight moisturizers—to work more efficiently. Here’s the deal, though: Not all cleansers are created equally. Those formulated with oily skin in mind (think: alpha hydroxy and beta hydroxy acids) cut through sebum without creating further congestion, says Divya Shokeen, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in California. Reach for them in the morning to create a clean canvas for your skin care and makeup, then again at the end of the day to rinse off layers of dirt, oil, and sunscreen. Below, we’ve rounded up our favorite face washes to keep your complexion calm and clear.

Tatcha

Amazon

Ulta Beauty

Sephora

Allure senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin using the Tatcha The Matcha Cleanse

Why we love it: As the name—and pastel green tube—implies, the key ingredient in Tatcha’s The Matcha Cleanse is Japanese Kyo matcha sourced from Uji, Kyoto. Besides fueling your mornings, antioxidant-packed matcha has plenty of skin-care benefits, like defending against skin-aging free radicals and soothing redness. Along with green tea comes anti-inflammatory Japanese mugwort and coix seed to decrease inflammation, plus willow bark extract to gently exfoliate (thanks to salicin, a chemical similar to salicylic acid) and balance oil production. The results? A mattified T-zone and less visible redness. Tatcha’s silky gel formula transforms into a lush lather with a little water, shrinking the appearance of pores and laying the foundation for sunscreen and makeup or your nighttime skin-care routine.

Felbin before using the Tatcha The Matcha Cleanse

Felbin after using the Tatcha The Matcha Cleanse

Tester feedback from senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin

“I have sensitive combination skin and a chronically oily (and therefore acne-prone) T-zone. I had pretty much given up all hope of ever finding a face wash that would help cut down on my greasiness, until I tried this one from Tatcha. It's a light gel cleanser that emulsifies into a rich foam after you add water. As I scrub, it feels super-gentle and doesn't leave my face with that annoying squeaky-clean feeling. But I notice the biggest change after I rinse—my perpetually (too) glowy skin actually looks matte. (You can see it a little in my before and after photos!) After I use it, I notice my T-zone is slower to get shiny and actually does stay matte for a few hours. It's pricey for a face wash, but if you're really oily, this gets the job done better than most other cleansers I've tried. It's a great first step before applying any makeup. Definitely worth the investment!” —Sarah Felbin, senior commerce editor

Tester feedback from senior director of creative programming and development Natalie Campbell

“The Tatcha Matcha Cleanser is my daily go-to face wash. Although it’s made for oily skin, it thoroughly cleans my acne-prone, dry-leaning skin without stripping. Since putting in my daily rotation, I've noticed a reduction in my acne and an increase in moisture without shine. The wonderful smell is an added bonus!” —Natalie Campbell, senior director of creative programming and development

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SkinMedica

Dermstore

Why we love it: Derms will always remind you that regular exfoliation keeps oily skin clear and radiant, and few face washes are more beloved by experts than SkinMedica’s AHA + BHA Exfoliating Cleanser. Joyce Park, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Mountain View, Washington, recommended this formula for its powerful “blend of AHAs (lactic, glycolic, citric, and malic), BHA (salicylic), and jojoba spheres to gently exfoliate and polish, while lavender helps to soothe the skin." That BHA is key, Dr. Park adds, as it’s lipid-soluble, blasting through your skin’s natural oil barrier to deeply cleanse your pores and even out your texture.

If all of these mentions of acids freak you out, worry not: To balance out the exfoliating actives, there’s anti-inflammatory, redness-reducing bisabolol to keep your skin calm.

P.S. Lucky you: SkinMedica's AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser (sale price reflected above) is 20% off at Dermstore from May 16 to May 25!

Allure contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai using the SkinMedica AHA + BHA Exfoliating Cleanser

Pai after using the SkinMedica AHA + BHA Exfoliating Cleanser

Tester feedback from contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai

"This exfoliating cleanser does the impossible: It leaves my skin super-soft and smooth, even when I'm dealing with hormonal breakouts, but never feeling squeaky-clean or overly tight. That's a big deal, considering the potent ingredients in its lineup. Plus, the combo of AHAs and BHA targets my two primary concerns, hyperpigmentation and acne, respectively." —Deanna Pai, contributing commerce editor

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Medicube

Amazon

Nordstrom

Ulta Beauty

Allure contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee applying the Medicube Zero Pore Capsule Cleansing Foam

Why we love it: Pesky bumps are no match for the triple threat of acids—citric and mandelic (AHAs), salicylic (a BHA), and gluconolactone (a PHA)—in Medicube’s Zero Pore Capsule Cleansing Foam. This deeply effective combo breaks down sebum and gently removes dead skin cells that can clog your pores, causing unwelcome blackheads and overall texture. The formula starts out thick but quickly foams up once you add water, according to our tester. Also satisfying, texture-wise: Tiny capsules filled with Centella asiatica (a.k.a. cica)—a super-soother—burst upon contact with your skin. True for most of Korean skin care, this Korean cleanser costs less than $20 a tube, so you can stock up on a year’s worth without making your bank account suffer.

Lee before applying the Medicube Zero Pore Capsule Cleansing Foam

Lee after applying the Medicube Zero Pore Capsule Cleansing Foam

Tester feedback from contributing commerce writer Christa Lee

“I always kick off my skin-care routine with the Medicube Zero Pore Capsule Cleansing Foam—it’s gentle enough for my sensitive skin yet still gives me that fresh, just-polished feel. The formula itself is quite thick, so I have to squeeze it a bit hard to get it out of the tube, but once it lathers, the micro-blue exosome capsules provide gentle physical exfoliation. Medicube also relies on chemical acids, utilizing AHAs like mandelic acid and BHAs like salicylic acid to prevent breakouts by keeping pores clear, along with cica to soothe irritation and green tea extract for an antioxidant boost. This cleansing foam never fails to leave my skin feeling clean, comfortable, and ready for the rest of my routine.” —Christa Lee, contributing commerce writer

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Tata Harper

Amazon

Nordstrom

Sephora

Pai using the Tata Harper Clarifying Cleanser

Why we love it: Sure, a single cleanser won’t erase breakouts (or completely prevent future ones from popping up—though it’ll certainly help!), but choosing a formula that centers around exfoliation is the best course of action. It’ll also boost the efficacy of the rest of your acne-fighting products. With a bright green, mint-scented formula, Tata Harper’s Clarifying Cleanser stars prickly pear enzymes, willow bark extract, lactic, citric, and salicylic acids to speed up skin cell turnover and balance oil production. Also at work are soothing honey and chlorella, to keep redness and irritation in check. Although this face wash is a bit of a splurge, our acne-prone tester can vouch for its impressive hyperpigmentation-fading abilities.

Pai before using the Tata Harper Clarifying Cleanser

Pai after using the Tata Harper Clarifying Cleanser

Tester feedback from Pai

“I've had breakouts for years—they're a fact of life (and hormones). But I've found that washing with this cleanser (after removing my makeup with an oil-based formula) really helps dispatch both large cysts and smaller whiteheads more quickly. It smells herbal and fresh, builds to a nice lather, and doesn't leave my skin feeling stripped of moisture. I really concentrate massaging it in around my problem areas, like around my nose, chin, and jawline, and feel like it's made a difference in my acne's lifespan and, as important, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (as in, there's less).” —Deanna Pai, contributing commerce editor

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Hanyul

Amazon

Sephora

Why we love it: We’ve long sung the praises of Korean cleansers for their accessible price points and innovative formulas, and Hanyul’s Artemisia Soothing 2-in-1 Mask to Foam Cleanser kicks it up a notch with a delightful, mochi-like texture that makes cleansing, well, fun. The bouncy, stretchy formula can be left on for a few minutes as a quick mask, lathered up as a cleanser, or both. Reliable salicylic acid gently exfoliates dead skin cells and tightens the look of pores while time-tested, calming K-beauty favorites, such as cica, mugwort, and artemisia powder—which can kill off acne-causing bacteria—help leave skin looking softer and smoother. Lastly, hyaluronic acid and glycerin deeply hydrate, canceling any squeaky clean feeling here. A cleanser that’s fun to use and effective? Music to our ears.

Allure commerce editor Sarah Han using the Hanyul Artemisia Soothing 2-in-1 Mask to Foam Cleanser

Han after using the Hanyul Artemisia Soothing 2-in-1 Mask to Foam Cleanser

Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han

“I haven't been this excited about a water-based cleanser in years, I tell you! The Hanyul Artemisia Soothing 2-in-1 Mask to Foam Cleanser has this extra-satisfying gooey, mochi-like texture that lets you really slather it on evenly, like you would with a mask. Due to its two-in-one nature, I usually leave it on for about two minutes because I find that it goes above and beyond my usual cleansers and truly helps clear out my clogged pores without causing dryn