Cleansing Oil for Sensitive Skin | 3 Products Reviewed

Why Use a Cleansing Oil for Sensitive Skin?

A facial cleansing oil is a great way to thoroughly cleanse the skin, especially if you wear makeup or sunscreen that can be difficult to remove with other types of cleansers. If you are looking for a cleansing oil for sensitive skin, the right formula can help remove makeup, sunscreen and excess oil without leaving the skin feeling stripped or irritated. The effectiveness of oils lies in the chemistry principle of “like dissolves like”: oil helps dissolve sebum, grease and makeup on the skin.

Cleansing oils often contain an emulsifying ingredient, such as Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, which allows the oil to emulsify on contact with water and rinse away more easily. How well a cleansing oil rinses away depends on its formulation. If you do not enjoy the slightly oily feeling that some cleansing oils can leave behind, you can follow with a second cleanse using a water-based cleanser.

Personally, I have been committed to double cleansing for several years, and lately I have been trying out a few different cleansing oils. For my sensitive skin, a facial cleansing oil is often gentle enough while still being effective. Below, I share my experiences with three different cleansing oils.

1. Djusie Liquid Silk Perfect Cleansing Oil

Price: around €39.00, depending on the retailer
Size: 100 ml

Product claim

Djusie’s Liquid Silk cleansing oil is described as a luxurious and refreshing facial cleansing oil that effectively cleanses both dry and oily skin, leaving the complexion bright, breathable and balanced. The formula contains sunflower seed oil, squalane, blackcurrant seed oil and, for example, lingonberry seed oil.

The cleansing oil is said to be suitable for those who appreciate practicality as well as those who enjoy a more pampering skincare ritual, regardless of age or skin type. The oil rinses off easily with water and also removes waterproof makeup.

The scent comes from essential oils of lime, red grapefruit, jasmine and geranium, which are also said to bring radiance to the skin. Djusie’s product philosophy is that their formulas do not contain ingredients that are unnecessary for either the skin or the product’s performance.

My experience

The first thing I have to mention is the product’s distinctive scent. For me, it took a little getting used to, but I soon found it very pleasant. The fragrance is strong, surprising and refreshing.

The oil itself is, true to its name, silky and soft. It rinsed off my skin extremely well and left my complexion feeling smooth. However, the oil also has a rich feel to it, and I had to massage it into the skin very gently.

For my skin, the fairly thick texture of this cleansing oil is slightly challenging, because the product should be massaged into the skin, as Djusie recommends, for up to a minute. My skin often reacts to mechanical irritation. That said, the product does exactly what it promises: it removes makeup and leaves the skin feeling comfortable.

I had high expectations for this product, as so many people seem to love it. Unfortunately, my sensitive skin reacted slightly with redness after use, so it was not the perfect cleansing oil for sensitive skin for me personally.

Pros and cons

Pros:

Beautiful packaging design
Excellent rinse-off
Made in Finland, which I appreciate as a Finn myself

Cons:

The texture feels a little too rich for my personal preference
It did not fully suit my sensitive skin

2. Pai Light Work Cleansing Oil for Sensitive Skin

Price: around €39.90, depending on the retailer
Size: 100 ml

Product claim

Pai Light Work Cleansing Oil is described as gentle yet highly effective. It is designed to quickly remove makeup, sunscreen and the impurities that build up on the skin throughout the day.

The cleansing oil helps prevent blemishes and dryness, and is suitable for all skin types. The product contains essential oils, and its key ingredient is rosehip oil. The omegas — 3, 6, 7 and 9 — are said to help repair the skin, while carotenoids help protect it from further damage.

The product is said to effortlessly melt away impurities and eye makeup without rubbing, stinging or irritation.

My experience

This was an interesting product to try. I got it through the Pai Skincare Try Pai Kit travel set. Pai Skincare is a particularly interesting brand because it specialises in skincare for sensitive skin.

The products are made in London, and the brand avoids synthetic fragrances as well as ingredients known to irritate sensitive skin. Pai’s cleansing oil felt pleasant, although I also had to massage this product into my face quite gently.

The oil melts away makeup and emulsifies well with water, meaning it rinses off easily. It really does leave the skin with a subtle, healthy glow. The scent is interesting here too, but not overpowering.

My sensitive skin was left feeling moisturised and nourished, but this product also seemed to cause a little redness on my cheeks.

Pros and cons

Pros:

The entire brand is designed with sensitive skin in mind
Leaves the skin glowing
Also available in a travel size

Cons:

For my personal preference, a slightly more fluid texture would make it easier to work into the skin
It did not fully suit my sensitive skin

3. Novexpert Cleansing Oil with 5 Omegas

Price: around €24.50, depending on the retailer
Size: 150 ml

Product claim

Novexpert’s Cleansing Oil with 5 Omegas is described as a multifunctional 5-in-1 product: it removes makeup, cleanses the skin, protects against pollution, moisturises and smooths the complexion.

The oil contains Omegas 3, 5, 6, 7 and 9, which together are said to soothe, renew and nourish the skin, while helping to prevent premature ageing. Novexpert’s unique blend is promised to give the skin the protection and moisture it needs.

The product is marketed especially for dry and sensitive skin. The soft and moisturised feeling is said to last for up to eight hours. It does not contain essential oils.

My experience

This is my favourite <3. I always come back to it after trying other products, although the two mentioned above have been very good contenders.

This has suited my sensitive combination skin perfectly, and my skin has not reacted to it in any way. The product does not contain essential oils, which may be one factor behind this.

Another reason this cleansing oil works so well for my sensitive skin is that it spreads very pleasantly over the face. The texture is slightly more fluid than the two products reviewed above — not too runny, but not too thick either. I can massage it into the skin gently enough without causing irritation.

This oil also rinses off easily and leaves behind a delicate oily yet caring feel on the skin. The feeling is wonderfully nourishing, although I always do a double cleanse, so it almost feels like a shame to wash that feeling away.

I think those with dry skin could really enjoy the nourishing finish. For combination or oily skin, it is understandable that you may not want to leave any oily feeling on the skin, even if it does feel conditioning. For me, this is the best cleansing oil for sensitive skin out of the three.

Pros and cons

Pros:

The perfect texture for my personal preference
Leaves the skin feeling cared for
Suits my sensitive skin extremely well, with no reactions such as redness or stinging

Cons:

No cons

Best Cleansing Oil for Sensitive Skin | Final Thoughts

Although not all of the products I tested were a perfect match for my sensitive skin, I still think they are high-quality and worth recommending depending on your skin type.

From the perspective of my skin, I can conclude that products containing essential oils may not be the best fit for me. Both Djusie Liquid Silk and Pai Light Work contain essential oils, whereas Novexpert’s cleansing oil does not.

In my opinion, Novexpert has the best texture and the gentlest feel on my skin. It is an excellent cleansing oil for sensitive skin, and I can warmly recommend it based on my own experience.

Of course, skin is individual, and the only way to find your own favourite is by trying different products.