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You might feel like you got the short end of the stick when you realized you have what they call “an oily skin type”. But try to find comfort in knowing that oily skin types have a sea of options to choose from when it comes to finding the right skincare products. And the most important of them all, your facial cleanser, is no exception. From cleansing oils to foaming facewashes, every single brand has a cleanser for oily skin. But if you pay attention, you’ll see that the best gel cleansers for oily skin have an advantage.
Because gel cleansers have a unique texture. This makes them highly convenient to accommodate key ingredients that reduce excess oil without stripping the skin. Gel cleansers are perfect for gentle cleansing that doesn’t leave the skin feeling tight, dry, or dehydrated.
Below are some of the best gel-based cleansers for oily and acne-prone skin to thoroughly remove makeup, dirt, and dust while also keeping the skin hydrated.
The Best Gel Cleansers For Oily Skin
1. iS Clinical Cleansing Complex
This gel cleanser is perfect for keeping the oil and pores in check with the added benefits of keeping the skin youthful. Salicylic acid, derived from willow bark, and glycolic acid, derived from sugar cane, speed up skin turnover. That way, you get to improve your skin texture with every wash.
Plus, the cleanser has antioxidant-rich botanicals as well as vitamins C and E to reduce free radical damage. They also guard the skin against further damage. The cleanser is super gentle and offers a thorough cleansing action to remove makeup and the day’s dirt. In addition, vitamin A (retinyl palmitate) stimulates skin turnover and targets acne, making this one the best gel cleanser for oily skin.
Key Ingredients: Willow bark extract, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A
Size: 6 oz/180 ml
Good To Know: Paraben-free
2. Murad Clarifying Cleanser
This is another super effective gel cleanser for oily and acne-prone skin all thanks to the unique formulation. The cleanser contains salicylic acid that uproots the dirt trapped inside pores. In doing so, salicylic acid decongests clogged pores and purifies the skin. But the impressive part is that it also contains an encapsulated version of salicylic acid.
It means that salicylic acid is released gradually into the skin. So, even after your cleansing routine is over, it still keeps dissolving the dirt inside the pores. The cleanser thoroughly washes away any makeup, dirt, and acne-causing bacteria. It leaves the skin feeling fresh by infusing it with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant green tea extract.
Key Ingredients: 1.5% salicylic acid, amino acid blend
Size: 6.75 oz/200 ml
Good To Know: Cruelty-free
3. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta AHA/BHA Daily Cleansing Gel
This multi-acid gel cleanser works amazingly well for oily skin with enlarged pores. It’s made with a combination of AHAs and a naturally-derived BHA. With glycolic and mandelic acids, the cleanser exfoliates the top layer of the skin while removing makeup and gunk.
And with salicylic acid, it gets rid of the oils inside the pores. That way, it prevents congestion that might lead to the formation of breakouts and blackheads. By keeping the pores clean, the cleanser makes them look smaller in size. Also, with hyaluronic acid and aloe, the cleanser leaves the skin nourished and replenished.
Key Ingredients: Willow bark extract, lactic acid, glycolic acid
Size: 7.5 oz/225 ml
Good To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free
4. Dermadoctor Kakadu C Brightening Daily Cleanser
This foaming gel cleanser is brimming with skin-brightening and antioxidant-rich vitamin C derived from Kakadu plum. In case you’re not familiar, Kakadu plum is incredibly rich in vitamin C.
Combining that with lactic acid, the vitamin C cleanser gently exfoliates while hydrating the skin, thanks to lactic acid’s unique mechanism of action. Additionally, it has skin toning witch hazel and skin-replenishing hyaluronic acid. Plus, it has skin-renewing retinyl palmitate to target scarring, dullness, and acne as well.
Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, lactic acid, Kakadu plum extract
Size: 7.10 oz/210 ml
Good To Know: Cruelty-free
5. Ole Henriksen Truth Juice Daily Cleanser
For an even gentler exfoliation, polyhydroxy acids are amazing. They’re known to have additional hydrating benefits for the skin. This one contains gluconolactone, a potent PHA that resurfaces the skin while also boosting hydration.
Energizing citrus fruit extracts make the cleanser the perfect step to achieving fresh and renewed skin. Plus, the cleanser contains nutrient-rich extracts like rosehip and goji berry to make sure your cleansing routine is as gentle as possible.
Key Ingredients: Gluconolactone, orange water
Size: 5 oz/148 ml
Good To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free
6. Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel
If you prefer a gel cleanser that doesn’t contain chemical exfoliants, enzymes are the next best thing. This gel cleanser has enzymes derived from papaya. Enzymes are natural exfoliators.
Also, it has grapefruit extract, which is anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory. It helps to balance oil and control blemishes. The cleanser is super refreshing and leaves the skin smooth, matte, and pure.
Key Ingredients: Papaya enzymes, grapefruit extract
Size: 8 oz/236 ml
Good To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free
7. La Roche Posay Effaclar Medicated Acne Face Wash
This one has a well-deserving name for being the best drugstore gel cleanser for oily and acne-prone skin. It’s formulated with salicylic acid as well as a more gentle version of it; lipo-hydroxy acid.
This balances the formulation and makes it less irritating and suitable for sensitive skin as well. The oil-free cleanser is perfect for an oil control skincare regimen to target active breakouts, blackheads, oiliness, and acne scars.
Key Ingredients: 2% salicylic acid, lipo-hydroxy acid
Size: 6.76 oz/200 ml
Good To Know: Oil-free, fragrance-free
So these are some of the best gel cleansers for oily skin. Again, gel-based cleansers stand on that sweet spot where they’re not as drying for the skin as foaming cleansers may be but they’re still effective in removing excess oil, cleaning up pores, and preventing congestion and blemishes.
Read Next: The Best Salicylic Acid Body Washes
