We tried, tested and reviewed the best Japanese cleaning oils. Check it out the detailed reviews here!
Calling all makeup lovers and skincare enthusiasts! Japanese cleansing oils are renowned for their gentle yet effective way to melt away makeup and impurities.
Discover our top picks for these cult-favorite cleansers, perfect for leaving your skin soft, hydrated, and ready for the next step in your skincare routine.
Which is the Best Japanese Cleansing Oil?
I tested several Japanese cleansing oils to find the best one. I tested them based on their cleansing power, hydration, moisturization, ingredients, and application.
I found that DHC Olive Concentrated Cleansing Oil is the best Japanese cleansing oil.
DHC Olive Concentrated Cleansing Oil is great for most skin types and especially recommended for dehydrated skin. Formulated with concentrated olive oil, this cleansing oil doesn't feel greasy. It is gentle on the skin and yet powerful enough to get rid of all the makeup, sunscreen, dirt, and grime. It can also be used on sensitive skin.
Best Japanese Cleansing Oil: Quick Summary
| Best Japanese Cleansing Oil | Best For | Link |
| MUJI Cleansing Oil | All skin types | Shop on Japan Truly |
| Senka All Clear Cleansing Oil | All Skin Types | Shop on Japan Truly |
| FANCL Mild Cleansing Oil | Sensitive Skin | Shop on Japan Truly |
| DHC Deep Cleansing Oil | Oily Skin | Shop on Japan Truly |
| Shiseido Tiss Deep-Off Face Cleansing Oil | Sensitive Skin | Shop On Japan Truly |
| KOSE SOFTYMO Speedy Cleansing Oil | Acne-prone Skin | Shop on Japan Truly |
| Minon Amino Moist Milky Cleansing Gel | Dry Skin | View On Amazon |
| DHC Olive Concentrated Cleansing Oil | Dry Skin | Shop on Japan Truly |
| Shu Uemura Anti/Oxi + Pollutant & Dullness Clarifying Cleansing Oil | All Skin Types | Shop on Japan Truly |
| ROHTO Hadalabo Gokujun Cleansing Oil | All Skin Types | Shop on Japan Truly |
Our Top Picks for Best Japanese Cleansing Oil
- DHC Deep Cleansing Oil - Doesn’t clog pores, best for oily skin type
- KOSE SOFTYMO Speedy Cleansing Oil - Removes excess sebum, best acne-prone skin
- DHC Olive Concentrated Cleansing Oil - Good for all skin types including sensitive skin
Best Japanese Cleansing Oils
MUJI Cleansing Oil
Japanese Oil Cleanser for All Skin Types
MUJI cleansing oil is suitable for all skin types. It's an amazing Japanese oil cleanser for everyday use cause it's pretty lightweight and mild.
It is formulated with apricot and peach extracts that act as hydrating agents. The formulation also includes a combination of jojoba oil and olive oil that breaks down any makeup, dirt, and old skincare.
Key Features:
- Lightweight and mild
- Formulated with apricot and peach extracts
- Hydrating formula
- Contains jojoba oil and olive oil that breakdowns makeup
Senka All Clear Cleansing Oil
Best Japanese Cleansing Oil For All Skin Types
The Senka All Clear cleansing oil is lightweight and has an oil-to-milk texture that will get rid of any dirt and oil from the skin.
However, it’ll leave your skin feeling hydrated and moisturized. This best Japanese cleansing oil is formulated with hyaluronic acid and naturally derived silk cocoon essence that helps plump the skin with moisture.
It also contains rice bran oil that deeply cleanses the pores and removes any dirt, blackheads, and excess sebum.
Key Features
- Lightweight formula
- Oil-milk texture
- Hydrates the skin
- Formulated with hyaluronic acid, silk cocoon essence and rice bran oil
- Plumps skin with moisture
- Effectively removes dirt, blackheads, and excess sebum
- Suitable for most skin types
FANCL Mild Cleansing Oil
Best Japanese Cleansing Oil For Sensitive Skin
The FANCL mild Japanese cleansing oil is formulated with a unique blend of oils like meadowfoam seed oil and soybean oil that instantly dissolves and removes any dirt and makeup that might clog the pores.
The cleansing oil makes the skin feel soft and moisturized. The cleansing oil effectively removes any makeup, dirt, or grime without completely getting rid of any skin's natural oils.
The cleansing oil doesn’t contain any preservatives, fragrances, or artificial colors.
Key Features
- Formulated with a blend of light oils like meadowfoam seed oil and soybean oil
- Leaves skin feeling soft and moisturized
- Effectively removes stubborn makeup, dirt and grime without stripping skin of its natural oils
- No preservatives added
- Fragrance-free
- No artificial colors added
- Suitable for sensitive skin
DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
Best Japanese Cleansing Oil For Oily Skin
This is one of the best selling Japanese cleansing oil, not only in Japan but all over the world. The skincare giant is a cult-favorite by itself and this Japanese cleansing oil is too.
The DHC cleansing oil melts away and dissolves makeup, dirt, and other impurities. It makes your skin soft, radiant, and clean. The cleansing oil binds with mascara, makeup foundation, UV sunscreen, or any other dirt and comes off easily when rinsed with warm water. It leaves zero residues behind.
This best Japanese cleansing oil is formulated with organic olive oil, rosemary leaf oil, and Vitamin E.
Olive oil is a rich antioxidant that helps fight skin damage by free radicals without clogging the pores. It also helps maintain skin’s moisture barrier and lock in moisture.
The Rosemary leaf oil lends a refreshing fragrance to the cleansing oil and the Vitamin E protects the skin against free radicals.
The cleansing oil free of parabens and artificial fragrances.
Key Features
- Formulated with olive oil, rosemary leaf oil, and Vitamin E
- Melts away and dissolves stubborn makeup, sunscreen, dirt and grime
- Leaves zero residue behind
- Rich in antioxidants
- Fights skin damage due to free radica;s
- Helps protect skin’s natural moisture barrier
- Refreshing natural fragrance due the rosemary leaf oil
- Doesn’t clog pores
- Paraben-free
- Free of artificial colors
- Suitable for oily skin type
Shiseido Tiss Deep-Off Face Cleansing Oil
Best Japanese Cleansing Oil For Sensitive Skin
Shiseido is another Japanese skincare giant that is loved by many. It’s one of the best Japanese skincare brands and so is this cleansing oil by the same brand.
The Shiseido Tiss Deep-off Face Cleansing oil is lightweight but effective. The cleansing oil is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin type.
However, a patch test is still recommended before trying the product. The cleansing oil doesn’t contain any fragrance.
Key Features
- Lightweight formula
- Effectively removes makeup, dirt and grime
- Suitable for most skin types
- Cosmetic-grade mineral oil used as base
- Fragrance-free
KOSE SOFTYMO Speedy Cleansing Oil
Best Japanese Cleansing Oil For Acne-prone Skin
Here’s another one of the best Japanese cleansing oil. It effectively removes all the most stubborn makeup, dirt, grime, and excess sebum ensuring that your pores aren’t clogged. Kose Softymo Speedy Cleansing oil was voted the best Japanese oil cleanser for acne prone skin by our in house skin specialists team.
You can do this cleansing oil just by itself which means that you do not need to additionally use a face wash or cleansing foam.
Rub your face gently with the oil and rinse well with warm water. The oil will easily get rid of all impurities and makeup and leave your skin feeling soft and smooth to touch.
Key Features
- Removes stubborn makeup, dirt, and grime
- Removes excess sebum
- Prevent clogging of pores
- Doesn’t need to be followed by additional cleanser
- Makes skin smooth after wash
Minon Amino Moist Milky Cleansing Gel
Best Japanese Cleansing Oil For Dry Skin
The Minon Amino Moist Milky Cleansing gel is an oil-based cleanser combined with a milky gel that’s packed with skin hydrating amino acids that nurture the skin.
The cleansing gel is formulated with 8 amino acids that not only strengthen the skin’s natural moisture barrier but also balance the skin.
The milky gel loosens the makeup, dirt, and excess oil without irritating the skin. The cleansing oil is strong enough to remove any make up and dirt while keeping the skin hydrated.
But it is also gentle enough to be used on sensitive skin.
Key Features
- Oil-based cleanser combined with a milky gel
- Formulated with 8 amino acids
- Hydrates skin
- Protects skin’s natural moisture barrier
- Loosens stubborn makeup, dirt and grime without irritating the skin
- Suitable for all skin types
DHC Olive Concentrated Cleansing Oil
The Best Japanese Cleansing Oil For Very Dry Skin
Here’s another best Japanese cleansing oil by the Japanese skincare giant DHC. Specially recommended for dry or dehydrated skin, this cleansing oil by DHC is packed with concentrated olive oil.
The formula is richer than the other cleansing oil by DHC. The consistency and feel of this DHC olive concentrated cleansing oil is like olive oil but without the greasiness.
The cleansing is extremely effective but also gentle enough to be safely used on sensitive skin.
Key Features
- Formulated with concentrated olive oil
- Richer than the normal DHC cleansing oil
- Rich formula
- Suitable for sensitive skin
Shu Uemura Anti/Oxi + Pollutant & Dullness Clarifying Cleansing Oil
Best Japanese Cleansing Oil For All Skin Types
Shu Uemura is one of the luxurious skin care brands and so is its range of cleansing oils.
This one, in particular, is infused with ingredients that are rich in antioxidants like green tea and moringa extract. This gets rid of external impurities sitting on your skin to reveal brighter skin.
The cleansing oil is also formulated with botanical extracts that tones your skin, giving you a brighter radiance.
The cleansing oil effectively removes makeup, sunscreen and grime by breaking it down, leaving you skin feeling soft and smooth to touch.
Key Features
- Infused with antioxidant-rich ingredients like green tea and moringa extract
- Formulated with botanical extracts
- Brighten skin tone
- Removes makeup. Sunscreen and daily grime
- Makes skin smooth
- Suitable for all skin types
ROHTO Hadalabo Gokujun Cleansing Oil
Best Japanese Cleansing Oil Suitable For All Skin Types
Here’s another cult-favorite Japanese cleansing oil. This Japanese cleansing oil works great on dry skin, sensitive skin, oily and acne prone skin. It has no added fragrance either. It has a slightly thicker consistency that glides over really well but won’t clog your pores. Also, if it gets in your eye when removing your stubborn eye makeup - it doesn’t tsing!
Key Features
- Suitable to use for dry, sensitive skin and oily, acne-prone skin
- Slightly tucker consistency
- Gentle on the skin
- Doesn't clog pores
- No added fragrance
Biore Make-up Remover Perfect Oil
Biore Make-up Remover Perfect Oil is a Japanese beauty product that promises to quickly and effectively remove all traces of makeup, even waterproof mascara, while also nourishing and moisturizing the skin. Here are my thoughts after trying out the product
Firstly, I was impressed with the packaging of the product. The bottle had a pump that made it easy to dispense the oil without making a mess.
The instructions were also easy to follow, and I appreciated that the product had both English and Japanese instructions.
The oil had a pleasant scent and felt lightweight on my skin.
When I applied it to my face, it effectively removed all traces of makeup, including waterproof mascara, without leaving any oily residue behind. I was surprised at how quickly and easily it removed all my makeup.
After rinsing off the oil, my skin felt clean and smooth. I also noticed that my skin felt more moisturized than it did before I used the product.
I have combination skin, and I was happy to see that the oil did not cause any breakouts or irritation.
Overall, I would highly recommend Biore Make-up Remover Perfect Oil to anyone looking for an effective and gentle makeup remover that also moisturizes and nourishes the skin. The product is easy to use, affordable, and widely available.
The only potential downside is that the product may not be suitable for those with very oily skin, as it contains oil-based ingredients.
Key Features
- Quickly and effectively removes all traces of makeup, even waterproof mascara
- Nourishes and moisturizes the skin
- Lightweight and easy to apply
- Pleasant scent
- Does not leave an oily residue
- Suitable for all skin types, including combination skin
- Affordable and widely available
- Comes with a pump dispenser for easy use
- Contains oil-based ingredients, which may not be suitable for very oily skin
How to Choose the Best Japanese Cleansing Oil?
Check The Type Of Oil Used In The Japanese Cleansing Oil
Japanese cleansing oils are made up of 3 different types of oils - esters, mineral oils and natural oils and fats. Some Japanese cleansing oils will also be a combination of three.
The first type of oil that’s listed in the ingredients list is the highest in content. This way you can figure out which is the type of cleansing oil you’re looking at.
Esters:
Ester cleansing oils are not too harsh but not too gentle either. It’s not as strong as a mineral oil-based cleaning oil. Even though esters do strip natural oils off the skin to a certain extent, it still doesn’t completely dehydrate the skin. As long as you apply a moisturizer right after, you should be good. Why some people prefer ester-based cleansing oil is because you don’t have to follow it up with a face wash.
Here are some common esters. If you see one of these ingredients at the top of the list then you can safely say that it’s an Ester-based cleansing oil:
- Triethylhexanoin
- Isopropyl Palmitate
- Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
- Ethylhexyl Palmitate
- Isopropyl Myristate
Mineral Oils:
If you often put on heavy makeup then cleaning oils with mineral oils is your best bet. These get rid of even waterproof makeup easily.
However, if you have dry skin, mineral oils is not a good option for you as mineral oils can be dehydrating. Most mineral oils are tough to rinse off completely so you’ll have to follow it up with a face cleanser.
Here are some common mineral oils. If you see one of these ingredients at the top of the list then you can safely say that it’s an Mineral oil-based cleansing oil:
- Squalane
- Mineral OIl
- Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
- Isohexadecane
Naturally Occurring Oils and Fats are Gentle
Natural oils like horse oil and olive oil and derived from plants and animals. These oils are just like the sebum our skin glands produce so it’s easy for it to blend in the skin. Japanese cleaning oils with natural oils can be slightly more expensive when compared to esters and mineral oils.
But you can rest assured that they’re worth it (especially for those with dry, and sensitive skin) as Japanese oils with natural oils are easy and extremely gentle on the skin.
In fact it’s so sensitive that even if you don’t rinse it off properly and some of the cleaning oil is left behind it’ll simply blend in your skin and act as an extra source of moisturizer.
If you see any of these ingredients at the top of the list then you know it’s Japanese cleaning oil with natural oils:
- Avocado Oil
- Olive oil
- Meadowfoam Oil
- Sunflower Seed Oil
- Macadamia Nut Oil
- Rice Bran Oil
- Corn Germ Oil
Check if the ingredients of the Japanese cleansing oil suit your skin type
Steer clear of cleaning oils with harsh ingredients. Especially if you have sensitive skin as your skin’s barrier is already weak. This means that those with sensitive skin are prone to reactions, triggers.
Even if the product label says ‘additive free’ it doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re free of all harsh chemicals. Which is why it’s extremely important to check through all the ingredients.
Make sure that the following ingredients are not part of the formulation:
- Preservatives (like Parabens and benzoic acid)
- Ethanol (Alcohol)
- Synthetic dyes or colors
- Artificial fragrances
Does it require double cleaning?
Though double cleansing is extremely popular in Japanese skincare routine, not all Japanese cleansing oils require to be followed by a face wash. Why some people prefer Japanese cleansing oils that don’t require to be followed by a face wash is that it saves money, time, and you only have to wash your face once. Which also means lesser moisture loss that could be caused due to the face wash.
But if you’re using heavy Japanese oil cleansers like the ones with mineral oils then you have to follow it up with a face wash. Your skin might feel greasy because of the leftover residue. This can also lead to breakouts due to clogged pores.
Some Japanese oil cleansers can’t be used with water
When you mix cleansing oil with water, it loses its efficacy. So if you’re someone who prefers to remove their makeup while in the shower then specifically look for oil cleansers that can be used with water.
With most oil cleansers, your hands have to be dry when you apply the cleansing oil onto your face so that it can turn into an emulsion. If you apply it with wet hands then it’ll be difficult for it blend in and break your makeup.
How do you use Japanese cleansing oil?
The right way using Japanese cleansing oil is to:
Step 1: Take 1-2 pumps on your dry palms and gently rub it on your face in circular motion.
Step 2: If you’re removing waterproof makeup or have multiple layers of makeup on then you might have to use more of the cleanser.
Step 3: Massage for a minute or two until you see the makeup dissolving.
Step 4: Rinse thoroughly with warm water. Follow it up with a foaming cleanser if you follow the double cleansing method. If not, follow your regular skincare routine after.
How We Tested the Japanese Cleansing Oils
Our skincare experts at Japan Truly came to a conclusion that the best Japanese cleansing oil should be light enough to not cause dehydration but also strong enough to clear waterproof makeup like mascara or foundation.
Our skincare experts tested the Japanese cleansing oil based on three factors - Cleansing power, Hydration, Ingredients.
To test the cleansing power we used the Japanese oil cleansers to wash off waterproof mascara, waterproof eyeliner, lip tint, eyeshadow and liquid foundation.
To test its hydration power, we used moisture meter to check the skin’s water levels before and after the cleansing using the Japanese oil cleanser. And we rated the cleansing oil on a fove point scale.
Our skincare experts looked at the ingredients label and rated the products based on the harshness of each ingredient.
Do you need to wash off the Japanese cleansing oil?
After applying a Japanese oil cleanser, wash it off using warm water. Rinse thoroughly to get rid of all makeup, dirt or grime dissolved by the oil cleanser. Make sure you rinse thoroughly to avoid clogging your pores.
How often should you cleansing oil?
As a basic rule, use a cleansing oil everytime you remove your makeup. Cleansing oil efficiently remove all makeup without leaving any dirt behind. However, Japanese oil cleansers are gentle enough to be used every day but also strong enough to remove any dirt.
Can I use Japanese cleansing oil everyday?
It's recommended to use cleansing oil everyday, especially if you wear makeup. Cleansing oil ensures that there's no residue left on your face and deeply cleanses your face. Follow it up with a face wash or cleanser for double cleanse!
Does oil cleansing remove blackheads?
Oil cleansing is not going to directly remove blackheads, but it will remove sebum and dead skin cells from the face - both of which do cause blackheads. Over time, using a cleansing oil could reduce the amount of blackheads, but for a full removal of blackheads, we suggest using a strong peel, exfoliant, or nose strip for the best results.
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