Choosing a clean facial cleanser isn't as straightforward as it might seem. While water-based cleansers remove dirt, sweat, and lingering impurities, oil-based cleansers are specifically designed to dissolve makeup, water-resistant sunscreen, excess sebum, and other oil-based buildup. They're often used as the first step in a double cleansing routine, helping prepare the skin for a gentle water-based cleanser to finish the job. If you're looking for a second cleanser to pair with these products, be sure to read our Best Clean Water-Based Cleansers guide to complete your routine.

To help simplify the process, we researched and compared three popular clean oil-based cleansers using The Clean Beauty Lifestyle Rating System. Rather than relying on marketing claims alone, every product is evaluated using the same transparent criteria for Ingredient Quality, Fragrance Transparency, Organic Ingredients, and Overall Rating.

If you're new to our reviews, we recommend reading How We Rate Products to see exactly how products earn their scores. You can also visit Ingredients to Avoid in Clean Beauty to learn more about the ingredient categories commonly discussed throughout our reviews and why some consumers choose to avoid them.

For this comparison, we evaluated each cleanser for ingredient quality, formula transparency, cleansing performance, emulsification, skin type suitability, texture, and overall value. While each product takes a different approach to removing makeup, sunscreen, and excess oil, all three earned high ratings and avoid many of the ingredients that clean skincare shoppers commonly choose to skip.

Let's take a closer look at how they compare.

Toups & Co. Seabuckthorn Cleansing Oil

Toups & Co. Seabuckthorn Cleansing Oil is designed to gently dissolve makeup, water-resistant sunscreen, excess oil, and daily buildup while helping support the skin's natural moisture barrier. Its minimalist formula combines a small number of thoughtfully selected botanical oils that effectively cleanse while leaving skin feeling soft, balanced, and comfortable.

After reviewing the formula and comparing it with other clean oil-based cleansers, I found it offers one of the simplest ingredient lists of any cleansing oil I've reviewed. While no cleanser is perfect for everyone, it's one of the highest-rated oil cleansers I've reviewed thanks to its ingredient quality, transparency, and straightforward approach to cleansing.

The Clean Beauty Lifestyle Rating

Ingredient Quality ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Fragrance Transparency ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Organic Ingredients ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Overall Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What I Like

Ingredient Quality: A Minimalist Formula That Focuses on the Essentials

The first thing that caught my attention about Toups & Co. Seabuckthorn Cleansing Oil was how simple the formula is.

Rather than relying on a long list of ingredients, the cleanser combines just a handful of botanical oils, each serving a clear purpose. The result is an easy-to-understand formula that effectively dissolves makeup, sunscreen, and excess oil while helping maintain the skin's natural moisture barrier.

Key Ingredients

• Organic Jojoba Oil – Closely resembles the skin's natural sebum, helping dissolve makeup and excess oil while supporting the skin's moisture barrier.

• Seabuckthorn Oil – Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and beneficial fatty acids that help nourish the skin during cleansing.

• Castor Oil – Helps lift away makeup, sunscreen, and excess oil while contributing to the cleanser's silky texture.

• Organic Virgin Olive Oil – Helps soften and condition the skin while supporting healthy-looking skin during cleansing.

Fragrance Transparency: Complete Ingredient Disclosure

Added fragrance is one of the first things I evaluate when reviewing skincare.

Toups & Co. fully discloses every ingredient used in the formula and contains no synthetic fragrance. Instead, the light botanical scent comes from magnolia, neroli, and grapefruit essential oils, all of which are clearly listed on the ingredient label.

I always appreciate brands that make it easy to understand exactly what you're putting on your skin.

Cleanses Without Leaving Skin Feeling Stripped

One of the biggest concerns people have with cleansing oils is whether they'll leave the skin feeling greasy or overly dry.

What impressed me about Toups & Co. Seabuckthorn Cleansing Oil is that it strikes a nice balance. It effectively dissolves makeup, sunscreen, and excess oil while leaving skin feeling clean, comfortable, and nourished without a heavy residue.

Pairs Well With

If you follow a double cleansing routine, I recommend pairing this cleanser with the Toups & Co. Activated Charcoal Face Bar. You can read about it in the Water-Based Cleansers article. The cleansing oil removes makeup, sunscreen, and excess oil, while the cleansing bar provides a gentle second cleanse to remove any remaining impurities.

Best For

Toups & Co. Seabuckthorn Cleansing Oil is best suited for normal, combination, oily, and blemish-prone skin or anyone who prefers a simple, easy-to-understand ingredient list. It's an excellent option for people looking for a traditional cleansing oil that effectively removes makeup and sunscreen without unnecessary complexity.

Things to Consider

Contains Essential Oils

Although this cleanser contains no synthetic fragrance, it is naturally scented with magnolia, neroli, and grapefruit essential oils. Many people enjoy naturally scented skincare, but those with highly sensitive skin or who prefer completely fragrance-free products may want to consider whether essential oils fit their personal preferences.

It's Designed as a First Cleanser not a Stand-Alone Cleanser

Oil cleansers are formulated to remove makeup, sunscreen, and other oil-based impurities. While some people choose to use them alone, they're often followed with a gentle water-based cleanser as part of a double cleansing routine.

Those With Very Dry Skin May Prefer a Richer Formula

While this cleanser leaves skin feeling soft and comfortable, people with very dry or mature skin may prefer a cleansing oil with a heavier emphasis on deeply nourishing oils.

My Overall Thoughts

After comparing several clean oil-based cleansers, Toups & Co. Seabuckthorn Cleansing Oil stands out for its refreshingly simple approach to cleansing.

What impressed me most is that every ingredient serves a clear purpose. The formula effectively removes makeup, sunscreen, and excess oil while avoiding unnecessary complexity and maintaining excellent ingredient transparency. If you're looking for a traditional cleansing oil with a minimalist ingredient list that works especially well for normal, combination, oily, or blemish-prone skin, I think Toups & Co. Seabuckthorn Cleansing Oil is an excellent choice.

Primally Pure Balanced Skin Cleansing Oil

Primally Pure Balanced Skin Cleansing Oil is designed to gently dissolve makeup, water-resistant sunscreen, excess oil, and daily buildup while nourishing the skin with a blend of certified organic botanical oils. Its thoughtfully formulated ingredients effectively cleanse while helping maintain the skin's natural moisture barrier, leaving skin feeling soft, balanced, and hydrated.

After reviewing the formula and comparing it with other clean oil-based cleansers, I found it offers one of the highest-quality organic ingredient lists of any cleansing oil I've reviewed. While no cleanser is perfect for everyone, it's one of the highest-rated oil cleansers I've reviewed thanks to its ingredient quality, transparency, and exceptionally nourishing formula.

The Clean Beauty Lifestyle Rating

Ingredient Quality ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Fragrance Transparency ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Organic Ingredients ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overall Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What I Like

Ingredient Quality: A Premium Organic Formula That Nourishes While It Cleanses

The first thing that caught my attention about Primally Pure Balanced Skin Cleansing Oil was the quality of the ingredient list.

Rather than relying on inexpensive filler oils, the formula combines certified organic botanical oils selected to cleanse the skin while providing additional nourishment. Each ingredient serves a clear purpose, creating a cleanser that effectively dissolves makeup, sunscreen, and excess oil while helping support healthy-looking skin.

Key Ingredients

• Organic Jojoba Oil – Closely resembles the skin's natural sebum, helping dissolve makeup and excess oil while supporting the skin's moisture barrier.

• Organic Castor Oil – Helps lift away makeup, sunscreen, and daily impurities while contributing to the cleanser's silky texture.

• Organic Avocado Oil – Rich in beneficial fatty acids and vitamins that help nourish and soften the skin during cleansing.

• Organic Pomegranate Seed Oil – Provides antioxidant support while helping maintain healthy-looking skin.

• Organic Rosemary Extract – Helps preserve the freshness of the botanical oils while providing naturally occurring antioxidant benefits.

Fragrance Transparency: Complete Ingredient Disclosure

Added fragrance is one of the first things I evaluate when reviewing skincare.

Primally Pure fully discloses every ingredient used in the formula and contains no synthetic fragrance. Instead, the light botanical scent comes from organic orange, lavender, geranium, and peppermint essential oils, all of which are clearly listed on the ingredient label.

I always appreciate brands that make it easy to understand exactly what you're putting on your skin.

Leaves Skin Feeling Soft and Nourished

One of the biggest concerns people have with cleansing oils is whether they'll leave the skin feeling greasy or overly dry.

What impressed me about Primally Pure Balanced Skin Cleansing Oil is how nourishing it feels without becoming heavy. It effectively dissolves makeup, sunscreen, and excess oil while leaving skin feeling soft, hydrated, and balanced after rinsing.

Pairs Well With

If you follow a double cleansing routine, I recommend pairing this cleanser with the Primally Pure Cleansing Bar. You can read about it in the Water-Based Cleansers article. The cleansing oil removes makeup, sunscreen, and excess oil, while the cleansing bar gently removes any remaining impurities.

Best For

Primally Pure Balanced Skin Cleansing Oil is best suited for normal, dry, mature, and sensitive skin or anyone looking for a nourishing cleansing oil made with certified organic botanical ingredients. It's an excellent option for those who want an effective first cleanse while giving their skin additional moisture and antioxidant support.

Things to Consider

Contains Essential Oils

Although this cleanser contains no synthetic fragrance, it is naturally scented with organic orange, lavender, geranium, and peppermint essential oils. Many people enjoy naturally scented skincare, but those with highly sensitive skin or who prefer completely fragrance-free products may want to consider whether essential oils fit their personal preferences.

It's Designed as a First Cleanser, Not a Stand-Alone Cleanser

Oil cleansers are formulated to remove makeup, sunscreen, and other oil-based impurities. While some people choose to use them alone, they're often followed with a gentle water-based cleanser as part of a double cleansing routine.

May Feel Richer Than Lightweight Oil Cleansers

Because the formula is designed to nourish the skin with richer botanical oils, people who prefer an extremely lightweight cleansing experience may gravitate toward an oil-to-milk cleanser instead.

My Overall Thoughts

After comparing several clean oil-based cleansers, Primally Pure Balanced Skin Cleansing Oil stands out for its exceptionally high-quality organic ingredient list.

What impressed me most is that the formula combines certified organic botanical oils that cleanse while nourishing the skin. It effectively removes makeup, sunscreen, and excess oil while supporting the skin's natural moisture barrier and maintaining complete ingredient transparency. If you're looking for a premium cleansing oil with certified organic ingredients that works especially well for normal, dry, mature, or sensitive skin, I think Primally Pure Balanced Skin Cleansing Oil is an excellent choice.

OSEA Ocean Wave Cleanser

OSEA Ocean Wave Cleanser is designed to gently dissolve makeup, water-resistant sunscreen, excess oil, and daily buildup while leaving skin feeling soft, refreshed, and balanced. Its lightweight oil-to-milk formula transforms into a silky milky cleanser when water is added, allowing it to rinse away cleanly without leaving behind a greasy residue.

After reviewing the formula and comparing it with other clean oil-based cleansers, I found it offers one of the most unique cleansing experiences of any product I've reviewed. While no cleanser is perfect for everyone, it's one of the highest-rated oil cleansers I've reviewed thanks to its ingredient quality, transparency, and lightweight oil-to-milk formula.

The Clean Beauty Lifestyle Rating

Ingredient Quality ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Fragrance Transparency ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Organic Ingredients ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Overall Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What I Like

Ingredient Quality: A Modern Oil-to-Milk Formula

The first thing that caught my attention about OSEA Ocean Wave Cleanser was how different the formula is from traditional cleansing oils.

Instead of relying primarily on botanical oils, OSEA combines lightweight emollients, nourishing plant oils, marine ingredients, and gentle cleansing agents to create an oil-to-milk cleanser that effectively dissolves makeup, sunscreen, and excess oil while rinsing away cleanly with water.

Key Ingredients

• Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride – A lightweight coconut-derived emollient that helps dissolve makeup, sunscreen, and excess oil while leaving skin feeling silky.

• Sunflower Seed Oil – Rich in essential fatty acids that help nourish the skin while supporting its natural moisture barrier.

• Camelina Seed Oil – A lightweight botanical oil that provides antioxidant support while helping soften the skin.

• Undaria Pinnatifida (Seaweed) Extract – OSEA's signature marine ingredient that helps support hydration while providing antioxidant benefits.

• Bisabolol – A soothing ingredient that helps calm the skin during cleansing.

Fragrance Transparency: Complete Ingredient Disclosure

Added fragrance is one of the first things I evaluate when reviewing skincare.

OSEA fully discloses every ingredient used in the formula and contains no synthetic fragrance. Instead, the light botanical scent comes from orange, bergamot, lime, juniper, cypress, and jasmine oils, all of which are clearly listed on the ingredient label.

I always appreciate brands that make it easy to understand exactly what you're putting on your skin.

Rinses Clean Without Feeling Heavy

One of the biggest concerns people have with cleansing oils is whether they'll leave behind an oily residue.

What impressed me about OSEA Ocean Wave Cleanser is how easily it transforms into a milky cleanser when water is added. It effectively removes makeup, sunscreen, and excess oil while rinsing away cleanly, leaving skin feeling refreshed instead of greasy.

Pairs Well With

If you follow a double cleansing routine, I recommend pairing this cleanser with the OSEA Ocean Cleanser. You can read about it in the Water-Based Cleansers article. The cleansing oil removes makeup, sunscreen, and excess oil, while the Ocean Cleanser gently removes any remaining impurities.

Best For

OSEA Ocean Wave Cleanser is best suited for normal, combination, and mildly dry skin or anyone looking for a lightweight alternative to a traditional cleansing oil. It's an excellent option for people who want the benefits of oil cleansing without the heavier feel that some cleansing oils can leave behind.

Things to Consider

Contains Essential Oils

Although this cleanser contains no synthetic fragrance, it is naturally scented with orange, bergamot, lime, juniper, cypress, and jasmine oils. Many people enjoy naturally scented skincare, but those with highly sensitive skin or who prefer completely fragrance-free products may want to consider whether essential oils fit their personal preferences.

It's Designed as a First Cleanser, Not a Stand-Alone Cleanser

Oil cleansers are formulated to remove makeup, sunscreen, and other oil-based impurities. While some people choose to use them alone, they're often followed with a gentle water-based cleanser as part of a double cleansing routine.

Less Traditional Than Other Cleansing Oils

Because Ocean Wave Cleanser is an oil-to-milk formula, it feels lighter than traditional cleansing oils. If you prefer the richer feel of a classic botanical oil cleanser, another option may be a better fit.

My Overall Thoughts

After comparing several clean oil-based cleansers, OSEA Ocean Wave Cleanser stands out for its innovative oil-to-milk formula.

What impressed me most is how effectively it removes makeup, sunscreen, and excess oil while rinsing away cleanly without leaving skin feeling greasy. The combination of lightweight plant oils, marine ingredients, and soothing botanicals creates a refreshing cleansing experience that's noticeably different from traditional cleansing oils. If you're looking for a clean oil cleanser with a lightweight feel that works especially well for normal, combination, or mildly dry skin, I think OSEA Ocean Wave Cleanser is an excellent choice.

My Clean Beauty Bottom Line

After comparing all three oil-based cleansers, one thing became clear to me: each one effectively removes makeup, water-resistant sunscreen, excess oil, and daily buildup, but they each take a different approach to doing it.

The best choice comes down to your skin type, the cleansing experience you prefer, and whether your priority is a minimalist ingredient list, certified organic botanicals, or a lightweight oil-to-milk formula.

Choose Toups & Co. Seabuckthorn Cleansing Oil if you want...

• A minimalist cleansing oil with a short, easy-to-understand ingredient list

• A traditional botanical oil cleanser that effectively removes makeup and sunscreen

• A formula featuring organic jojoba oil, seabuckthorn oil, castor oil, and organic olive oil

• A great option for normal, combination, oily, or blemish-prone skin

• Complete ingredient transparency with no synthetic fragrance

• A simple, effective first cleanser that pairs perfectly with the Toups & Co. Activated Charcoal Face Bar

Skip it if: You have very dry or mature skin, prefer fragrance-free products without essential oils, or want a richer, more nourishing cleansing oil.

Choose Primally Pure Balanced Skin Cleansing Oil if you want...

• A cleansing oil made with certified organic botanical ingredients

• A nourishing formula that helps leave skin feeling soft, hydrated, and comfortable

• Gentle cleansing supported by organic jojoba, avocado, castor, and pomegranate seed oils

• A cleanser that's especially well suited for normal, dry, mature, or sensitive skin

• One of the strongest organic ingredient profiles I've reviewed

• A premium botanical cleansing oil that pairs well with the Primally Pure Cleansing Bar

Skip it if: You prefer a very lightweight cleansing oil, want a completely fragrance-free formula, or have oily skin and prefer a simpler cleansing routine.

Choose OSEA Ocean Wave Cleanser if you want...

• A lightweight oil-to-milk cleanser that rinses away easily

• A formula that combines cleansing with marine, botanical, and skin-supporting ingredients

• An effective first cleanse without the heavier feel of a traditional cleansing oil

• A cleanser that's ideal for normal, combination, or mildly dry skin

• A modern oil cleanser that transforms into a milky texture when water is added

• A refreshing first cleanser that pairs well with the OSEA Ocean Cleanser

Skip it if: You prefer a traditional botanical cleansing oil, want a minimalist ingredient list, or are sensitive to essential oils.

My Final Thoughts

If I had to describe each cleanser in one sentence, here's how I'd sum them up:

• Toups & Co. is the minimalist cleansing oil, proving that a simple botanical formula can effectively remove makeup and sunscreen while supporting the skin's natural moisture barrier.

• Primally Pure is the premium organic cleansing oil, combining certified organic botanical ingredients with a rich, nourishing formula that leaves skin feeling soft and comfortable.

• OSEA is the modern oil-to-milk cleanser, pairing lightweight cleansing with marine-inspired ingredients for an easy-to-rinse, refreshing cleansing experience.

The good news is that all three earned high marks for ingredient quality and fragrance transparency while avoiding many of the ingredients clean skincare shoppers commonly choose to skip. Each cleanser offers a different approach to oil cleansing, so there isn't a single option that's objectively better than the others. The right choice depends on your skin type, your cleansing preferences, and the type of cleansing experience you'll enjoy using consistently.

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner of other brands, I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my links, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products that meet my research criteria and that I believe are worth considering.

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