I want a facial cleanser that removes makeup but does not strip natural oils.

If your priority is removing makeup while keeping your skin’s natural oils, I’d lean toward a cleansing balm or cleansing oil, rather than a foaming cleanser. Oil-based cleansers dissolve makeup and sunscreen effectively while generally being less stripping.Glamour+1

My picks

• Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm - $44.00 (Ulta Beauty)

• The INKEY List Oat Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm - $11.90 (Ulta Beauty)

• CeraVe Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm - $11.24 (Ulta Beauty)

• e.l.f. Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm - $20.00 (Ulta Beauty)

• Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm — My pick if you wear waterproof mascara or heavier makeup. It's fragrance-free and designed to dissolve makeup and SPF without leaving skin feeling stripped.Glamour

• The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm — A good lower-cost option if your skin tends to be dry or sensitive; it specifically targets makeup and SPF.

• CeraVe Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm — Particularly appealing if you want a barrier-focused formula with ceramides and jojoba oil.

• e.l.f. Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Balm — A more affordable balm that melts into an oil and then emulsifies into a milk for rinsing.

If you want just ONE cleanser

• La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser - $19.97 (Walmart)

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser is a good choice if you have normal-to-dry or sensitive skin and want a creamy daily cleanser. It contains ceramide and niacinamide and is designed to maintain the skin's moisture barrier.DermaPedia

The catch: a gentle cream cleanser may struggle with long-wear or waterproof makeup. For that, I'd use a balm first and then, if needed, the gentle cleanser afterward.Vogue

If you tell me your skin type (dry, oily, combination, sensitive, acne-prone) and roughly what makeup you wear (light, foundation, waterproof mascara, etc.), I can narrow this down to 1–2 options.

To remove makeup effectively without stripping your skin's natural moisture barrier, look for creamy, low-foam, or non-stripping hydrating cleansers formulated with gentle surfactants and barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramides or glycerin.[1][2]

Here are top dermatologist-recommended options that fit what you need:

CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser starts as a comforting cream and lathers into a soft foam to lift away long-wear makeup and dirt without leaving your face feeling tight or dry.

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser features a milky, lotion-like texture packed with ceramides, niacinamide, and glycerin to melt away makeup while actively protecting your natural moisture barrier.

Eucerin Gentle Hydrating Face Cleansing Gel is a low-lather, soap-free gel infused with hyaluronic acid that cleanses and removes light makeup while respecting the skin's sensitive moisture balance.

Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water is a no-rinse micellar water option if you prefer a two-step or makeup-first approach, using microscopic micelles to trap makeup like a magnet without disrupting your skin's natural oils.[1][2][3][4]

If you tell me what type of makeup you usually wear (waterproof mascara, heavy foundation, or just light daily tint/SPF) and your skin type (dry, oily, combination), I can recommend the exact best match and cleansing method for you.

Yes — for what you want, I’d look for an oil cleanser or cleansing balm, rather than a traditional foaming face wash. Oil-based cleansers dissolve makeup effectively while being less likely to remove too much of your skin’s natural lipids.Glamour+1

• CeraVe Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm - $14.99 (Ulta Beauty)
• The INKEY List Oat Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm - $17.00 (Ulta Beauty)
• BYOMA Milky Oil Gentle Cleanser - $13.99 (Ulta Beauty)
• Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm - $58.00 (Sephora)
• The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser - $10.50 (Ulta Beauty)

My top picks

• Best overall: CeraVe Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm — about $15, fragrance-free, with jojoba oil and three essential ceramides. It specifically targets long-wear makeup while helping maintain the skin barrier.CeraVe
• Best for sensitive/dry skin: The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm — nourishing and gentle, with a creamy balm texture.
• Best inexpensive oil cleanser: BYOMA Milky Oil Gentle Cleanser — an oil-to-milk formula that removes makeup while leaving skin hydrated.
• Best splurge: Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm — particularly good if you wear waterproof mascara or long-wearing foundation; it's fragrance-free and designed not to leave skin feeling stripped.Allure
• Best simple formula: The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser — a particularly nice choice if you dislike the feel of traditional cleansing balms.

If I were choosing one for your specific request, I'd start with CeraVe. It gives you strong makeup removal without the "squeaky-clean" feeling, and the ceramides + jojoba oil are a good fit for preserving the skin barrier.

Tip: Massage it onto dry skin, especially over makeup, then add water to emulsify and rinse. If you wear very heavy or waterproof makeup, you can follow with a gentle, non-foaming cleanser—but you don't necessarily need to double-cleanse every night.monadermatology.com

If your priority is removing makeup while keeping your skin’s natural oils intact, I’d favor a cleansing balm/oil or a creamy, non-foaming cleanser rather than a strong foaming wash.

My top picks

• CeraVe Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm - $14.99 (Ulta Beauty)

1. CeraVe Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm — best overall

• Melts away makeup, including long-wear makeup.

• Contains jojoba oil and ceramides.

• Fragrance-free and designed to moisturize rather than leave skin stripped.ELLE

• Around $15, making it a particularly good value.

• Skinfix Gentle Gel Ceramide + Ectoin Cleanser - $30.00 (Ulta Beauty)

2. Skinfix Gentle Gel Ceramide + Ectoin Cleanser — best one-step option

• Specifically formulated to remove makeup, SPF, and oil without stripping.

• Fragrance-free, pH-balanced, and contains ceramides and ectoin to support the barrier.Skinfix USA

• Better choice if you don't want to use a separate cleansing balm.

• BYOMA Creamy Jelly Face Cleanser - $10.99 (Target)

3. BYOMA Creamy Jelly Face Cleanser — best budget option

• About $12.
• Removes makeup while using a ceramide/cholesterol/fatty-acid complex to support the skin barrier.
• Fragrance- and alcohol-free.Target

If your skin is very dry or sensitive

• La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser - $15.99 (Target)

This is an excellent non-foaming, fragrance-free choice with ceramides, niacinamide, and glycerin. It is particularly good if your main concern is that cleansers leave your face feeling tight afterward.La Roche-Posay+1

One caveat: if you wear waterproof mascara or very long-wearing foundation, I'd use a cleansing balm first, then a gentle cleanser if needed. You don't want to compensate for an inadequate cleanser by scrubbing your skin.

My pick for you: CeraVe Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm if makeup removal is the priority; Skinfix if you want a true one-step cleanser.

A gentle cleansing balm or oil-based cleanser dissolves makeup effectively while protecting your skin barrier and keeping natural oils intact.[1][2]

Top Non-Stripping Makeup Removers

Product Name	Type	Price (Approx.)	Best For
[The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser ](https://theordinary.com/en-us/squalane-face-cleanser-100446.html)	Balm-to-Oil	$11	All skin types, budget-friendly
Farmacy Green Clean Balm	Cleansing Balm	$38	Melting heavy makeup, daily hydration
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser	Gel-to-Foam	$16	Light makeup, daily gentle wash

Why These Cleansers Work

• Balms and oils use a "like dissolves like" principle. They bond with oils and waxes in makeup and sunscreen to lift them without harsh detergents.
• Avoid harsh sulfates (like sodium lauryl sulfate) that create heavy foam and leave skin feeling tight or squeaky-clean.
• Look for hydrating ingredients like squalane, glycerin, and plant seed oils that replenish the skin while you wash.[1][2]jmalay.com

If you'd like to narrow this down, let me know:

• Your skin type (oily, dry, combination, or sensitive)
• Whether you wear waterproof makeup daily