A cleansing oil is the first step of cleansing: it dissolves sunscreen, make-up and sebum, then rinses away with water. There are many of them, and they do differ — by skin type, texture and price. We have gathered six popular options (four Korean and two Japanese) and set out which suits whom. How the step itself works and how to use it is covered in a separate guide on cleansing oils; here we compare the products alone.
In brief: for oily and blemish-prone skin — Anua Heartleaf or SKIN1004 (light, non-comedogenic). For dry and mature skin — Beauty of Joseon Ginseng or Ma:nyo (more nourishing). On a tighter budget or for a large volume — the Japanese Kose Softymo and DHC. All six emulsify well and remove sunscreen; the choice comes down to skin type, texture and price.
01How to read this comparison
Three things to look at: skin type (lighter oils for oily and blemish-prone skin, richer ones for dry), texture (fluid versus dense) and price per volume. All of these oils do their job; there is no single best for everyone, only the one that suits you. Below is a look at each: who it is for, what it is known for, and a short verdict.
02The Korean options — four of them
Anua Heartleaf Pore Control. A popular product built on heartleaf (houttuynia) extract, which soothes and calms. A light texture and a non-comedogenic formula; it is marketed for all skin types, but suits oily and blemish-prone skin especially well, helping with enlarged pores and blackheads. It has a strong reputation and a great deal of positive feedback.
Beauty of Joseon Ginseng. Based on soybean oil and ginseng seed oil, with a light, fluid texture and an emphasis on anti-ageing care and radiance. It emulsifies quickly. It suits normal and combination skin better, and anyone who values a little extra nurture from the step.
Ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil. A time-tested product, with more than ten million bottles sold and an Olive Young Award to its name. Fourteen plant oils and botanical extracts cleanse thoroughly and dissolve congestion in the pores while keeping the skin hydrated. It is on the nourishing side, and suits normal and dry skin.
SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Light. Built on centella, it is light — removing even heavy make-up in a single step without weighing the skin down. It suits sensitive and oily skin (centella calms), and is often the most affordable of the Korean options.
03The non-Korean options — two of them
DHC Deep Cleansing Oil (Japan). One of the best-known products in the category, with more than eighty million bottles sold. It is based on Spanish olive oil and vitamin E, and is free of fragrance, parabens and mineral oil. It removes waterproof sunscreen and make-up. The texture is dense and rich — comfortable on dry and sensitive skin.
Kose Softymo Deep (Japan). One of the most popular options in Japanese stores and the most affordable of the six. It has a light texture, rinses away easily and contains a blend of nourishing oils (olive, jojoba, sesame, safflower and shea). One thing to note: the formula includes mineral oil. A good choice for everyday use and a large volume at a modest price.
- Choosing by popularity rather than by your own skin type. Anua is well known, but dry skin often finds Ma:nyo or DHC more pleasant.
- Looking only at the price of the bottle, not the price per millilitre. Kose is cheaper, but on a per-ml basis a Korean product can sometimes work out better value.
- Overlooking mineral oil if it triggers a reaction. Kose Softymo contains it — worth bearing in mind for blemish-prone skin.
- Expecting pronounced skincare benefits from the cleansing step. Ginseng and centella are a pleasant extra, but the oil rinses away regardless; serums and creams do the main work.
04What to buy for your concern
Oily / blemish-prone / pores
Dry / mature / sensitive
Normal / combination / radiance
Budget / large volume
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05Common questions
Which cleansing oil is best for oily skin?
Light, non-comedogenic ones — Anua Heartleaf or SKIN1004 Centella Light. They remove sebum and sunscreen well without weighing the skin down. With Kose Softymo, keep the mineral oil in mind if it tends to cause you a reaction.
And for dry or sensitive skin?
Nourishing, denser ones — Ma:nyo Pure or DHC Deep. They feel gentler and are less drying. DHC is fragrance-free, which is a plus for reactive skin.
Korean or Japanese — which to choose?
It is not about the country of origin but about skin type and price. Korean products (Anua, SKIN1004) tend to be lighter and to contain active ingredients such as centella; the Japanese ones (DHC, Kose) are time-tested, with Kose the most affordable. Judge by the price per millilitre rather than per bottle.
Details of formulas and positioning are drawn from openly available sources and brand pages:
This material is educational and does not replace a consultation with a dermatologist.