These Facial Cleansing Oils Won't Dry Out Your Skin and are Rated by Dermatologists

Dry, sensitive skin types: Meet your oil cleanser era. It's the time to dash makeup wipes and let makeup (even waterproof) melt right off once it's time to call it a night. Sure, cleansing oils may sound a bit counterintuitive, but this facial cleanser type combines with the oils on your skin and in your makeup, breaking them down so they're actually easier to remove," says cosmetic chemist Perry Romanowski. Just massage into dry skin and wash off with a few splashes, et voilà!

If the word "oil" summons visions of clogged pores and rampant breakouts, don't fret: "every skin type can benefit from cleansing oils — even oily," says pro makeup artist Tati Westbrook. "A cleansing oil replenishes skin so it doesn't feel dry or tight," says Lisa Vela, a medical aesthetician in Santa Monica, CA. Unlike traditional face washes, cleansing oils keep your skin moisturized while purifying and are less likely to irritate sensitive skin. Dermatologists recommend oil cleansing since they "are specially formulated to take away impurities in the skin while leaving a layer of moisturizing oils to prevent skin irritation," explains Julia Tzu, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City.

To give you the cream of the crop, we rounded up our expert and dermatologist-recommended picks — including Good Housekeeping Beauty Award winners — that remove makeup and gently cleanse acne-prone, dry and sensitive skin types, and everything in between.