Having oily, acne-prone skin can be extremely frustrating. No matter how much we try to control shine and breakouts during the day, without the right face wash to cleanse your pores at night, you can kiss clear skin goodbye!
Choosing the best face wash for oily skin is critical to control excess sebum production, prevent clogged pores and treat acne and pimples. But with so many face washes in the market claiming to be the magical cure, how do you pick the right one for your skin?
I’ve compiled this list of the 15 best face washes available in India specially formulated for oily, acne-prone skin types after extensive research and testing. These face washes are suitable for both men and women and cover a range of formulations like gels, foams, creams, exfoliators, soap-free cleansers etc.
Discover the best face wash from brands like Cetaphil, Clean and Clear, Himalaya, Plum, Minimalist, Dot & Key and more to take your oily skin from greasy and pimply to fresh and clear!
This face wash from Minimalist contains 2% salicylic acid which is great for oily and acne-prone skin. It helps deep clean pores, remove excess oil, and prevent breakouts. The formula is free of sulfates making it gentle. It also contains lipohydroxy acid (LHA) and zinc which combat acne.
This Minimalist face wash is one of the best salicylic acid face washes available in India. The 2% concentration of salicylic acid is enough to unclog pores and remove excess sebum without being too harsh on the skin. The addition of acne-fighting LHA and zinc make this a complete product to combat oily, acne-prone skin. Itdeep cleans skin while still being gentle enough for daily use.
The Plum Green Tea face wash is specially formulated for oily and acne-prone skin. It contains glycolic acid which exfoliates dead skin cells and deeply cleanses clogged pores. The green tea soothes inflammation and controls excess sebum production.
We highly recommend this face wash from Plum for oily and acne-prone skin types. The glycolic acid works very effectively at keeping pores clear of debris and sebum which is key for oily skin types prone to breakouts. The green tea is a hero ingredient that calms inflammation and oil production. This dermatologically-tested formula is also suitable for sensitive skin.
The Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser is a foaming face wash that removes excess oil and treats acne-prone skin. Its gentle cleansing action retains skin’s natural moisture.
The Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser is a reliable, dermatologist-recommended face wash for oily and acneic skin. We like its super gentle formula that washes away grease and impurities without stripping the skin. It cleans pores effectively and also has moisturizing properties to prevent dryness or irritation.
The Dot & Key CICA face wash is an oil control cleanser for acne-prone skin. It contains 2% salicylic acid to cleanse congested pores along with centella and green tea extracts to soothe inflammation. This sulfate-free formula also has zinc to combat acne.
Dot & Key’s face wash is a hard-hitting yet skin-friendly solution for oily, acne and sensitive skin types. We especially like the combination of salicylic acid to exfoliate, anti-inflammatory botanicals to calm irritation, and oil-controlling actives. This gives a complete regimen to unclog pores, treat acne, reduce oiliness and redness in one wash.
This foaming gel cleanser from The Face Shop contains rice water which is known to brighten dull skin and even out skin tone. It gently cleanses oily skin without over-drying.
We like this K-beauty pick as it gives oily skin a super clean feel without stripping moisture, thanks to the creamy foam texture. Rice water offers gentle exfoliation to reveal glowing skin. It removes excess sebum effectively while enhancing radiance. The small travel size is great to test out this cult favorite face wash.
This Derma Co cleanser is specially designed for oily and acne-prone sensitive skin. It contains niacinamide, salicylic acid, green tea extracts that cleanse congested pores, remove excess sebum and soothe inflammation without irritation.
We highly recommend this face wash for anyone struggling with sensitive yet oily, breakout-prone skin. Its soap-free pH balanced formula with niacinamide, salicylic acid and green tea target the root causes of acne gently without causing any dryness or irritation. Skin feels super clean yet soft and comfortable after use.
This foaming gel cleanser by Mamaearth contains vitamin C which brightens dull oily skin and turmeric which has antibacterial properties to treat acne. It also has willow bark extracts to exfoliate dead skin cells clogging pores.
Mamaearth’s face wash is a fabulous chemical-free option for oily, acne-prone skin. The vitamin C gently exfoliates and evens out skin tone while turmeric calms inflammation to clear up acne. The gel formula also dissolves excess oil without stripping the skin. It gives clean, smooth and glowing skin.
Himalaya’s Oil Clear face wash contains lemon and cinnamon extracts that cleanse excess sebum and prevent acne breakouts. It has antimicrobial neem which heals existing pimples as well. The soap-free gel formula is gentle on oily sensitive skin.
Himalaya’s face wash is an affordable, natural everyday cleanser for oily, acne-prone skin. We like its soap-free gel base with herbal oils and botanical extracts that wash away dirt and excess grease without disrupting the skin barrier. Lemon and cinnamon make it an ideal prevention therapy for acne while neem speeds up healing.
This Foxtale face wash contains a powerful combination of 2% salicylic acid to deep cleanse pores, niacinamide to control oil production and hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin without causing dryness.
Foxtale face wash is one of the most well-formulated salicylic acid cleansers for acne-prone oily skin. The 2% salicylic acid provides enough exfoliation to keep pores clear and prevent breakouts without irritation. Niacinamide tackles excess oil production while hyaluronic acid ensures optimal hydration. This gives clean, clear, shine-free skin.
Re’equil’s oil control face wash is specifically formulated for extremely oily and acne-prone skin. It contains oil-absorbing zinc PCA and skin soothing blackberry extracts to cleanse sebum and calm breakouts without drying the skin.
This face wash is a game-changer for oily acne-prone skin struggling with most cleansers. It contains targeted ingredients like zinc and blackberry specially chosen to tackle root causes of excessive oil production and acne while still maintaining the skin barrier. The soap-free formula won’t aggravate sensitive skin unlike many face washes.
Earth Rhythm’s face wash contains 2% salicylic acid which deeply cleanses clogged pores and removes excess oil from acne-prone oily skin. It also has tea tree essential oil which prevents acne breakouts and heals blemishes faster.
This face wash is a great natural option for oily acneic skin types looking for chemical exfoliation benefits of salicylic acid. The 2% concentration provides enough exfoliation to keep pores clear without disrupting the skin. Tea tree oil offers antimicrobial protection from pimples. The formula is free of harsh sulfates, fragrances making it suitable for sensitive irritated skin as well.
Clean & Clear’s classic face wash for oily skin deeply cleanses pore-clogging dirt, impurities and excess oil with its foaming action. The soap-free formula rinses clean without drying out the skin.
This budget buy foaming face wash is a cult favorite among teenagers and adults alike for its ability to keep oily acneic skin clean without being harsh. It forms a nice lather to wash away grease and environmental gunk clogging pores and provides a refreshing clean feeling. The formula is soap-free making it suitable for daily use.
This Cetaphil face wash is a medicated foam cleanser that removes excess oil from acne-prone oily skin without drying or irritating. It contains zinc gluconate to soothe inflammation and niacinamide to control sebum production.
Cetaphil Pro face wash is a great everyday cleanser if you have sensitive yet extremely greasy acneic skin. What we really like is the foam texture that eliminates even waterproof makeup without too much rubbing and discomfort. Key ingredients like niacinamide and zinc provide oil and acne-fighting abilities making this suitable for teenage to adult oily skin.
This simple face wash soothes easily irritated sensitive skin prone to oiliness and acne outbreaks. Its soap-free, non-foaming jelly formula with skin-loving vitamins gently cleanses without disrupting the protective skin barrier.
Simple’s kind-to-skin face wash makes a fabulous gentle cleansing option for those with sensitive skin type that experiences breakouts and oiliness due to harsh skincare. Enriched with vitamins and skin-loving ingredients, it cleanses effectively without causing dryness or irritation that can trigger more acne.
The mcaffeine tan removal face wash is an oil control cleanser suitable for normal to oily skin types. It contains coffee bean extracts that brighten dull skin and deeply cleanse clogged pores along with pro vitamin B5 to moisture skin.
This face wash is a great morning cleanser for those with normal to oily skin living in hot, humid weather conditions. Coffee bean gently exfoliates and removes tan revealing brighter, even-toned skin while pro vitamin B5 provides lightweight moisture without any greasy feel. It leaves skin looking fresh and healthy.
Product | Key Features |
---|---|
Minimalist 2% Salicylic Acid Face Wash | 2% salicylic acid, LHA & zinc, Sulfate-free |
Plum Green Tea Pore Cleansing Face Wash | Glycolic acid, Green tea, Vegan |
Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser | Gentle foaming cleanser, Retains moisture |
Dot & Key CICA Face Wash | 2% salicylic acid, Green tea, Sulfate-free |
The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Foaming Face Wash | Rice water, cleanses oil, Foaming gel |
The Derma Co 2% Niacinamide Oily Skin Cleanser | 2% niacinamide, 0.1% salicylic acid, Soap-free |
Himalaya Oil Clear Lemon Face Wash | Lemon, cinnamon, neem, Soap-free |
Mamaearth Vitamin C Face Wash | Vitamin C, turmeric, natural exfoliants |
RE’ EQUIL Oil Control Face Wash | Zinc PCA, blackberry, no sulfates |
Earth Rhythm 2% Salicylic Acid Face wash | 2% salicylic acid, Tea tree oil |
Clean & Clear Foaming Face Wash | Foaming cleanser, soap-free |
Cetaphil PRO Oil Control Foam Face Wash | Medicated foam, niacinamide, zinc |
Simple Kind To Skin Refreshing Facewash | Soap-free jelly, vitamins |
mcaffeine Tan Removal Face Wash | Coffee bean extracts, pro vitamin B5 |
Oily, acne-prone skin needs a face wash that can dissolve excess sebum, deep cleanse clogged pores, remove acne-causing bacteria and gently exfoliate dead skin cells without disrupting the skin barrier.
Look for these ingredients when choosing the best face wash for oily skin type:
Salicylic Acid – Clears pores, controls oil production
Niacinamide – Regulates oily skin and heals acne
Green Tea, Centella – Soothe inflamed, irritated skin
Zinc PCA, Gluconate – Fights acne
Vitamin C – Brightens oily skin
Avoid sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) as it can aggravate acne. Fragrance-free formula is best for sensitive oily skin.
There are 3 main types of face washes suitable for oily acne-prone skin:
Gel/Cream Cleansers: Light, water-based formulas that dissolve oil without drying skin. Great for everyday use.
Foaming Face Washes: Form a rich lather to eliminate dirt from pores. May contain acne medication.
Exfoliating Cleansers: Chemically exfoliate with AHAs/BHAs or physically scrub with beads. Deep cleanse clogged pores. Use 2-3 times a week.
Use morning and evening or as required if using exfoliating face washes. Always apply sunscreen during daytime after cleansing.
Some of the best face washes available in the Indian market for oily, acne-prone skin types are:
These face washes tackle the root causes of pimples like excess oil, clogged pores, dead skin buildup through ingredients like salicylic acid, glycolic acid, turmeric etc. along with natural soothers like green tea and centella.
Some of the best face washes from Mamaearth for oily skin include:
So the Vitamin C face wash and Oil Free face wash from Mamaearth are good options to control shine and clear blemishes on oily skin when used regularly.
Yes, choose a gentle cream, gel or foaming face wash with ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to remove excess oil and treat acne without stripping your skin’s natural oils. Avoid sulfate-laden and soap-based formulas.
Oily skin types should wash face twice daily – morning and evening – to prevent acne-causing bacteria buildup. Use oil control face wash containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.
Yes, face wash is an essential oily skin care step as it removes dirt, impurities, makeup residue, dead skin cells and excess oil clogging pores which lead to blackheads, whiteheads and pimples. Skip harsh cleansers and use oil control face wash instead.
Yes, Cetaphil cleansers are highly recommended for oily, acne-prone skin due to the gentle, non-comedogenic formulas that cleanse skin without irritation or over drying. The Cetaphil daily cleansers as well as the medicated acne range are great to control oil and acne breakouts.
Oily, acne-prone skin needs specialized care and the right face wash makes all the difference between worsening breakouts and clear skin. Always opt for oil control face washes specially made for your skin type and avoid anything too stripping or harsh.
I hope this comprehensive guide to the 15 best face washes available for oily, acne-prone skin helps you pick your perfect match. Do share your favorites from this list and any other holy grail face wash recommendations for oily skin in the comments!
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