This year I’m all about getting my skincare game up to 200% which is why I introduced the best Japanese cleansing oil to my skincare routine. Include one of these best Japanese cleansing oil in your skincare routine and you’ll see the difference in just a few days.
| Best Japanese Cleansing Oil | Best For |
| Senka All Clear Cleansing Oil | All Skin Types |
| FANCL Mild Cleansing Oil | Sensitive Skin |
| DHC Deep Cleansing Oil | Oily Skin |
| Shiseido Tiss Deep-Off Face Cleansing Oil | Sensitive Skin |
| KOSE SOFTYMO Speedy Cleansing Oil | Acne-prone Skin |
| Minon Amino Moist Milky Cleansing Gel | Dry Skin |
| DHC Olive Concentrated Cleansing Oil | Dry Skin |
| Shu Uemura Anti/Oxi + Pollutant & Dullness Clarifying Cleansing Oil | All Skin Types |
| ROHTO Hadalabo Gokujun Cleansing Oil | All Skin Types |
| Attenir Skin Clear Cleanse Oil | Waterproof Makeup |
Japanese cleansing oil is great for removing makeup. It comes off so easily – just rub the cleansing oil over your face and then wipe it off.
Then use your regular cleanser to get rid of any impurities left behind. But before that do take pictures of your raccoon face when all that eyeliner and eye-shadow have smudged around your eyes. I do it all the time! Also yes, Japanese oil cleansers just as easily get rid of the stubborn eye makeup as well.
Japanese focus quite intensely on cleansing their faces. Japan follows the famous ‘double cleansing’ method, which honestly, I love quite a lot. The first step is loosening up your makeup using a cleansing oil as an emollient. It dissolves all your makeup, even that pesky eye makeup that refuses to leave. And then, you follow it up with a foaming face wash for a completely clean palette.
Which is the best Japanese cleansing oil?
My team and I tested 20+ best Japanese cleansing oils on the basis of ingredients, after effects and prices. We found Senka All Clear Cleansing Oil to be the best in the list.
The cleansing oil from Senka is a great first step to your skincare routine. It effectively helps you to remove makeup and give your pores a proper cleanup. The cleansing oil uses rice bran oil, which is a huge part of Japanese skincare. The consistency of the product is perfect to gather up dirt, makeup, and residue without drying out the skin. The cleansing oil also consists of the miraculous hyaluronic acid and silk essence.
If you are somebody who does not use makeup products on your face, you will still benefit from using cleansing oils. The best Japanese cleansing oils are amazing at cleaning your pores and giving you that clean and clear skin you have always wanted. If you do not clean your skin properly, you might end up with clogged pores because of residue and dirt, which can then lead to breakouts. Ugh.
- Related: Best Japanese Face Wash
- Related: Best Japanese Moisturizer
- Related: Why Japanese Skin Is Flawless
So now let’s check out the best Japanese cleansing oil!
Top Japanese Cleansing Oil
Senka All Clear Cleansing Oil
Best Japanese Cleansing Oil For All Types Of Skin
The cleansing oil from Senka is a great first step to your skincare routine. It effectively helps you to remove makeup and give your pores a proper cleanup. The cleansing oil uses rice bran oil, which is a huge part of Japanese skincare.
It has been used by Japanese for centuries, thanks to all the goodness it holds for the skin. The lightweight and nutritious rice bran oil in the cleansing oil leaves your skin feeling ultra-soft. I really like how Senka cleansing oil locks in moisture and also cleanses my makeup so well. It doesn’t leave anything behind.
The consistency of the product is perfect to gather up dirt, makeup, and residue without drying out the skin. The cleansing oil also consists of the miracles hyaluronic acid and silk essence. These two ingredients help lock in moisture and give you that supple skin you always dreamt of.
Pros:
- Nutritious ingredients
- Lightweight
- Leaves the skin soft
- Locks in moisture
- Affordable
Cons:
- Not suitable for sensitive skin
Ratings:
- Ingredients: 10/10
- Effectiveness: 9/10
- Affordability: 9.5/10
FANCL Mild Cleansing Oil
Best Japanese Cleansing Oil For Sensitive Skin
FANCL cleansing oil is one of the best Japanese cleansing oils out there. It is mild and gentle and it works its magic without being too harsh on the skin. The product has no parabens, preservatives, fragrances, or colors, and yet it has a miraculous shelf life of three years.
However, you need to make sure to finish using this product 120 days after opening it. Since there are no preservatives added, the cleansing oil remains fresh due to sterile-clean manufacturing and an advanced sealing process, you cannot keep the oil long after opening it.
FANCL cleansing oil has a very gentle effect on the skin. It leaves your skin feeling soft and smooth. But do not go by that, when it comes to deep cleaning your skin, this cleansing oil does not hesitate. I have been using FANCL to remove heavy makeup from my skin and I love how it cleanses even the slightest bit perfectly. It suits my skin and makes it super soft and plumpy.
It effectively loosens every dirt, grime, residue, as well as heavy makeup that your skin has had to endure. Even without any makeup, this cleansing oil works as a great face cleanser.
Pros:
- Deep cleansing results
- Suits sensitive skin
- No fragrance
- Mild ingredients
Cons:
- No value for money
Ratings:
- Ingredients: 9.5/10
- Effectiveness: 9.5/10
- Affordability: 7.5/10
DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
Best Japanese Cleansing Oil For Oily Skin
DHC is one of the most popular Japanese brands and its cleansing oil is well-known. And once you use it, it is easy to see why it is the go-to choice of so many women around the world. The key ingredient used in this oil is highly refined and purified olive oil. It is because of this ingredient that the oil gets its rich color.
Olive oil used in the DHC cleansing oil binds to your makeup, even those pesky mascaras and eye shadows. It effectively cleans every residue, makeup, grime, and dirt without clogging your pores. So, if you are worried about this cleansing oil causing breakouts, do not worry.
I love DHC because of how well it takes care of my pores and my skin is dirt free after removing makeup from it. I also like how it suits so well on my sensitive skin.
Apart from the magical olive oil, this cleansing milk has other skin-loving ingredients as well. The Vitamin E present in it protects the skin from free radicals and helps maintain the optimum moisturization level. It also contains rosemary leaf that creates a refreshing aroma.
Definitely one of the best Japanese cleansing oil!
Pros:
- Pore care
- Suits all skin types
- Nourishes and hydrates skin
- Deep cleansing oil
Cons:
- Might cause breakouts
Ratings:
- Ingredients: 9.5/10
- Effectiveness: 9/10
- Affordability: 7.5/10
Shiseido Tiss Deep-Off Face Cleansing Oil
Best Japanese Cleansing Oil For Sensitive Skin
Shiseido is known to create innovative products that target your skin concerns and help you achieve the skin you always wanted. The cleansing oil from Shiseido is lightweight but effective. The best part about this cleansing oil is that it is suitable for all skin types since it uses mineral oil as the base.
Now, I know there is a lot of debate about the use of mineral oil on skin products. However, the mineral oil used by Shiseido is a cosmetic-grade mineral oil that is free of fragrance and that very rarely causes any allergic reactions.
KOSE SOFTYMO Speedy Cleansing Oil
Best Japanese Cleansing Oil For Acne-prone Skin
The cleansing oil by Kose works wonders for your skin. It is one of the most effective Japanese cleansing oils that you can get your hands on. It works very well to remove all the makeup that you have on your face, including waterproof makeup.
It unclogs your pores while removing every last ounce of dirt and residue from them. You can use this oil just by yourself, which means that you do not need to follow with a foaming cleanser.
Use the oil to remove every trace of makeup, dirt, and grime from your face. Rub your face gently and then wash off well using warm water. You will get clear skin that is smooth to touch.
Minon Amino Moist Milky Cleansing Gel
Best Japanese Cleansing Oil For Dry Skin
Packed with skin hydrating amino acids, this cleansing oil is an oil-based cleanser combined with a milky gel in its formula. Formulated with 8 amino acids, it strengthens the skin’s natural moisture barrier and provides the balance your skin needs. The milky gel loosens up the dirt and makeup without irritating the skin. It also doesn’t strip your skin of the natural but effectively gets rid of excess sebum. The cleansing oil is strong enough to get rid of makeup and sunscreen but is also gentle enough to be used on sensitive skin.
DHC Olive Concentrated Cleansing Oil
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.
Shu Uemura Anti/Oxi + Pollutant & Dullness Clarifying Cleansing Oil
Shu Uemura is one of the luxurious skin care brands and so is its range of cleansing oils. It’s 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.
ROHTO Hadalabo Gokujun Cleansing Oil
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.
Attenir Skin Clear Cleanse Oil
Best Japanese Cleansing Oil For Waterproof Makeup
The Attenir skin clear cleansing oil effectively removes dirt and waterproof makeup. This Japanese cleansing oil is formulated with rockrose oil that is extracted from natural flowers. The cleansing oil deeply refreshes and purifies your skin. It has a gentle formula and yet can remove all makeup easily.
How to Choose a Cleansing Oil:
Skin Type
- Dry Skin: moisturising ingredients work best for dr skin types like olive oil, avacado oil etc. Also look for hydration, vitamins and antioxidants work the best.
- Oily skin/acne prone skin: Go for ingredients that can regulate sebum and give clearer skin results like argan oil or jojoba oil. Another ingredient, marula oil is great as it’s non greasy.
- Sensitive skin: Go for ingredients with anti-bacterial properties but make sure they’re non-drying. Go for rosehip oil or jojoba oil.
Free of toxic ingredients: avoid ingredients that might cause breakouts, drying or allergies. Artificial fragrances, colour, parabens, sulfates are some of the toxic ingredients that should be avoided.
Lightweight: Make sure the ingredients are not too heavy on your skin and doesn’t make your face feel too much about it. Choose lightweight oils like argan oil, rosehip oil etc.
Benefits of Japanese Oil Cleansers
- If you have oily skin, you will benefit from using the cleansing oil. It is lipophilic, and so it effectively dissolves other oils.
- Most Japanese cleansing oils are non-comedogenic so it’s good for acne-prone skin as well
- Oil-based cleansers are better at locking in moisture in your skin, as compared to other types of cleansers.
- The best Japanese cleansing oils are clinically-tested and safe to use
- You will find oils that are a part of the double cleansing method, but there are also oils that are to be used by themselves.
Here are some of the best Japanese cleansing oils that you will surely benefit from. So, without any further ado, set your attention to the maximum, and check out the best Japanese cleansing oils down below!
Best Japanese Cleansing Oil: FAQs
How do you use Japanese cleansing oil?
The correct way of using Japanese cleansing oils is to take about 1-2 pumps and rub it using your fingers on dry skin. Gently massage your face in circular motions. If you have excess or waterproof makeup in any particular area, spend a little more time massaging that area so that the oil can dissolve the makeup effectively.
Make sure that you massage at least for a minute so that the oil can break and remove dirt, grime, and residue from your face. Once done, wash it off and then use your cleanser if you are following the double-cleansing method. If not, you can proceed to the next step of your skincare regime.
How much is DHC cleansing oil in Japan?
The cost of DHC cleansing oil in Japan is around 800 JPY for a 150 ml bottle.
Do you need to wash off cleansing oil?
After you have massaged the oil well, you have to rinse off the cleansing oil. The oil breaks down sweat, dirt, and residue on your face and it is important that you wash it off well. Not doing so can clog your pores and cause breakouts.
How often should you use Japanese cleansing oil?
Cleansing oils are really gentle and can be used every day, even if you are not wearing any makeup. It helps to unclog your pores and remove any trace of dirt, grime, sweat, or residue. It is a great product to remove the impurities of your face.
Make changes to your face cleansing method to make your skin happy…
Japanese cleansing oils have become extremely popular in the past few years, and we can now see why. These miracle oils can really clean your face to reveal that glowing and soft skin. So, without any further ado, make cleansing the number one priority in your skincare regime and get one of these best Japanese cleansing oils today!
Now that you have found out the five best Japanese cleansing oils for your face, let us look at some of the common questions that might be nagging you.
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Erika is the main author of the website. She is obsessed with Japanese products and always looks for an opportunity to share her love for Japanese products with everybody around her! She combined her love for writing, research and testing products to create Best Japanese Products. When she’s not reviewing latest Japanese products, you’ll find her pampering her cats. Erika is the definition of ‘The Crazy Cat Lady’.