The Best Non-Toxic Cleansing Oils for Sensitive Skin

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Dry, itchy skin is what gets to me most in the summer. During the warm months, it’s a non-stop moisturization process for many of us out there with skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Even with perfectly balanced skin, the hot sun and dry air can still cause flakiness and excess oil production, which leads to other issues that require a little extra care.

It’s this time of the year I tend to stick to moisturizing skincare, especially for cleansing. Using harsh oil-stripping cleansers not only breaks down our skin’s natural barrier, but also causes redness and inflammation, opens up our pores to clogging and infections, and overall damages the sensitive areas of our face that are most frequently exposed to the sun’s harsh rays. 

So, cleansing oils are my go-to solution for summer’s heat. They help to maintain an active skin barrier, replenish natural oils, and nourish dry skin to provide a supple, radiant glow all summer long. The key is in knowing how to find the right oil cleanser, and how to avoid those that are just as damaging to your skin and health as non-toxic options. 

How can you tell if you would benefit from a cleansing oil?

Cleansing oils can be used anywhere in your skincare routine, whether you’re using them to break up makeup before a full wash or replacing your regular foaming cleanser. 

I realized that I needed something more moisturizing and nourishing than a typical foaming wash when my skin was producing too much oil on its own, a common side effect of using oil-stripping cleansers without replenishing the moisture my skin needs. My eczema would flare up, leaving red, inflamed patches around the more sensitive areas of my face.

There are other signs to look for. Acne-prone and oily skin is often treated as though oil is the underlying cause; however, experts have found that the excessive cleansing and stripping of the skin’s natural oil barrier can actually aggravate and inflame these issues. It’s no wonder that old-school, abrasive facial scrubs and drying acne creams have fallen out of favor in recent years. Cleansing oils, on the other hand, help to remove impurities while actively supporting your skin’s natural oil barrier, which is essential for healthy, balanced skin.

If you’re struggling with acne and oil production, dry, flaky patches, or sun-damaged skin, you may benefit from adding a cleansing oil to your skincare routine.

What to look for in a cleansing oil

Here’s where things get tricky: there are countless cleansing oils on the market, many of which contain harsh and toxic chemicals including preservatives and artificial fragrances. 

Natural ingredients are the key to naturally balanced skin. A 2018 study found that many natural plant oils, including common ingredients such as sunflower seed oil, coconut oil, and several botanical extracts, can reduce oxidative stress, help repair your skin barrier, and soothe inflammation.

Look for oil cleansers that start with a base of plant oils, such as sunflower, coconut, jojoba, or argan oil. The supporting ingredients should be natural, botanical extracts, and should be free of preservatives and synthetic fragrances. 

I reviewed a curated list of our favorite non-toxic oil cleansers on my sensitive skin to help you find the perfect oil cleanser for summer.

What we love: There’s nothing but clean, plant-based ingredients in One Love Organics’ Botanical B Enzyme Cleansing Oil + Makeup Remover. This formula, based on sunflower oil, includes papaya seed oil, pumpkin seed oil, and lecithin to help skin retain its natural moisture. Free of synthetic fragrances, One Love Organics uses natural essential oils to fragrance its products. 

Our review: This oil cleanser is my favorite. The pineapple citrus scent smells like a tropical vacation, and the oil goes on smooth and massages in well. It left my face feeling smooth and exfoliated, without being overly greasy or weighed down. It rinsed well under warm water, though rinsing isn’t required, and the soft scent remained all day.

Price: $42

What we love: Always on our radar is Activist Skincare, which created its Botanical Cleaning Oil starting with a refined coconut oil and olive oil. Alongside a strong plant oil base, the blend contains grapefruit, rosemary, and lavender essential oils to remove skin impurities without drying out your skin. It’s finished off with vitamin E oil for anti-aging benefits.

Our review: I’ve tried quite a few Activist Skincare products, but its Botanical Cleansing Oil is one of the best. I loved this cleansing oil for its gentle, natural spa-like scent, and the light, clean feel it leaves. It also rinsed well, which I love, because I like to use a light moisturizer after oil cleansing. 

Price: $42

What we love: 100 Percent Pure’s Argan Oil is intended for all skin types, and naturally contains vitamin E, phenols, carotene, and essential fatty acids, all of which support a healthy skin barrier. The brand’s pure Argan Oil is free of fragrances and preservatives.

Our review: Our editor-in-chief, Alden, loves using argan oil for cleansing, so I had to try it. With a naturally nutty, light scent, I loved the smooth feel of this argan oil. I used it as a makeup remover using a bamboo cotton round, which was super effective –– it even removed the tinted SPF underneath my makeup. I did feel the need to rinse with warm water after cleansing, which helped to remove some of the excess, but rinsing isn’t required if you like the finished feel.

Price: $34

What we love: Kari Gran’s Essential Cleansing Oil uses a blend of castor seed oil, sunflower seed oil, and avocado oil, alongside lavender essential oil and vitamin E tocopherols from sunflower. This unique blend offers antioxidant benefits, cleanses skin, and nourishes with naturally anti-inflammatory properties.

Our review: I like the smooth texture of this cleansing oil, and it performed well in clearing my skin from the day’s makeup and dirt. However, I found it to feel a little heavy, even after rinsing in warm water, so I followed up with Kari Gran’s Luxe Facial Cleansing Bar, which cut some of the oil away and left a smooth, slightly moisturized finish. The bottle itself is huge, and while the instructions suggest using 8-10 pumps, I’ve found that I’m good to go with only 4-5 pumps per use.

Price: $49

What we love: This brand’s philosophy closely follows the therapeutic benefits of natural ingredients just as much as their physical benefits, so naturally, its Dream Oil Cleanser formula contains aromatherapeutic essential oils including frankincense, ylang ylang, and rose added to a base of sunflower, camellia, and castor seed oils for naturally cleansed and moisturized skin.

Our review: While the texture of this cleansing oil is smooth and melts right into the skin, I found the scent of the essential oils to be quite strong and even linger after applying the rest of my skincare. Unlike some of the other cleansers I tested, this one left a thicker layer of oil behind, which I was able to remove with a regular foaming cleanser. This might be a useful feature for very dry skin, but I couldn’t get past the strong scent of frankincense. 

Price: $45