Facial Cleansing Oil with Coconut & Argan

The oil cleansing method has a problem. Pure oils don't mix with water. You can massage the finest argan oil into your skin for minutes, dissolving every trace of sunscreen and makeup, but when it's time to rinse — nothing happens. The oil clings. You reach for a washcloth. The washcloth doesn't quite get it all. You reach for a regular cleanser anyway. Suddenly oil cleansing feels less like a luxurious ritual and more like extra homework.

This is the problem that emulsifiers solve, and it's the reason Burt's Bees' Facial Cleansing Oil works where a bottle of plain argan oil wouldn't. The formula includes polyglyceryl-2 sesquioleate and polyglyceryl-2 caprate — plant-derived emulsifiers that bridge the gap between oil and water. Massage the oil on dry skin, add water, and the clear golden liquid transforms into a milky emulsion that rinses away cleanly. It's a small technical feat that transforms the user experience from fussy to elegant.

The oil blend is where Burt's Bees' natural formulation philosophy actually adds value rather than just marketing points. Caprylic/capric triglyceride — a coconut-derived emollient — provides the lightweight base that carries everything else. Crambe abyssinica seed oil is the interesting choice here: Abyssinian oil is naturally rich in erucic acid, a long-chain fatty acid that gives exceptional slip during the cleansing massage without the heaviness of thicker oils. It's not an ingredient you see in most oil cleansers, and its inclusion signals a formulator who looked beyond the obvious options.

Coconut oil and argan oil handle the marketing-friendly and functionally important roles simultaneously. Coconut oil's medium-chain fatty acids, particularly lauric acid, are excellent at dissolving sebum and oil-based makeup — the like-dissolves-like principle that makes oil cleansing work in the first place. Argan oil adds oleic and linoleic acid emolliency with a side of vitamin E, conditioning the skin during a step that many traditional cleansers would leave dry and tight. Sunflower seed oil rounds out the blend with linoleic acid support for the skin barrier, ensuring the cleansing process doesn't strip what the moisturizer step will then need to replace.

Eleven ingredients. That's the entire formula. In a product category where some Korean and Japanese oil cleansers list thirty or forty components — including multiple synthetic emulsifiers, preservatives, and sensory agents — this minimalism is refreshing. It also means there's genuinely nothing hiding in the formula: six oils, two emulsifiers, one fragrance, one antioxidant (vitamin E), and one botanical extract (rosemary). You can understand every ingredient's purpose in under a minute.

The texture is thinner than many oil cleansers, which is both a strength and a practical challenge. It spreads easily across the face — two to three pumps cover the full face and neck — and doesn't require heavy massaging to dissolve makeup. But it's thin enough to drip if you're not careful, particularly around the jaw and neck. The pump dispenser contributes to this: it's functional but occasionally inconsistent, and multiple reviewers report leaking issues with the bottle. For a fifteen-dollar product, the packaging could be more reliable.

Performance on makeup is excellent. Waterproof mascara, long-wear foundation, mineral sunscreen — all dissolve within thirty to sixty seconds of gentle massage. The oils break down even stubborn products without the tugging and rubbing that makeup wipes require. For anyone who's been removing their sunscreen with a foaming cleanser alone — spoiler, you probably aren't removing all of it — an oil cleanser like this will be a revelation.

The fragrance is the one ingredient that feels unnecessary. It's subtle — a mild herbal note that you notice during the massage and forget about once the product is rinsed off. But this is a rinse-off product. Whatever sensory pleasure the fragrance provides lasts approximately ninety seconds. The irritation risk, while small, persists. For a brand that makes a specific Sensitive Daily Moisturizing Cream without fragrance, choosing to include it in a cleanser that contacts every inch of the face seems like an inconsistency.

Coconut oil also warrants honest discussion. It's comedogenic for some people — not everyone, but a meaningful minority. If coconut oil has previously caused you breakouts in other products, this cleansing oil may do the same, particularly if any residue remains after rinsing. The emulsifiers help mitigate this by allowing more complete removal, but the risk exists. Acne-prone skin types should patch test before committing.

Value is strong. The six-ounce bottle lasts three to four months with nightly use, putting the per-cleanse cost around fifteen cents. That's less than a single cleansing wipe from most brands, and dramatically less than premium oil cleansers that charge thirty to fifty dollars for similar volumes. The ingredient quality — real argan oil, real coconut oil, real sunflower oil — justifies the pricing without straining it.

As a first-step cleanser in a double cleansing routine, this product fills its role admirably. Dissolve everything with the oil, rinse, follow with a gentle water-based cleanser, and your skin is clean without being compromised. For dry skin types who find even gentle foaming cleansers too stripping, this oil cleanser provides cleansing that actually feels like skincare rather than skin stripping. And at eleven ingredients in a clear bottle from a forty-year-old American brand, there's a simplicity to the whole proposition that more complicated products can't match.

Formula

The Science

Oil cleansing operates on the fundamental chemical principle that like dissolves like. Sebum, sunscreen, and most makeup products are lipophilic (oil-loving) substances that water-based surfactants struggle to dissolve completely. Applying a lipophilic solvent — in this case, a blend of plant oils — allows these substances to dissolve into the cleansing oil through miscibility, which can then be removed from the skin.

The emulsification system is where the formulation science becomes critical. Polyglyceryl esters (polyglyceryl-2 sesquioleate and polyglyceryl-2 caprate) are non-ionic surfactants derived from vegetable glycerin and fatty acids. When water is added to the oil-laden skin, these emulsifiers reduce the interfacial tension between oil and water phases, creating a milky emulsion (an oil-in-water dispersion) that can be rinsed away. A 2019 study in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science examined the efficacy of oil-based cleansers versus traditional surfactant-based cleansers and found that oil cleansers removed sebum and particulate matter more effectively while causing less disruption to the stratum corneum lipid structure.

Argan oil (Argania spinosa) contains approximately 45% oleic acid and 35% linoleic acid, along with tocopherols, sterols, and polyphenols. Research published in Clinical Interventions in Aging (2015) demonstrated that daily topical application of argan oil improved skin elasticity and hydration, with the linoleic acid content specifically supporting barrier function. In a cleansing context, these conditioning properties help prevent the barrier disruption that can occur during the cleansing step.

Sunflower seed oil, with its high linoleic acid content (approximately 65%), has been shown to enhance skin barrier function. A randomized controlled trial in Pediatric Dermatology (2013) found that topical sunflower seed oil improved barrier integrity compared to olive oil, supporting its role as a non-disruptive cleansing vehicle.

References

1. The effect of Argan oil on skin elasticity, hydration and the role of dietary fat intake — Clinical Interventions in Aging (2015)

Dermatologist Perspective

Dermatologists increasingly recognize oil cleansing as a valid first step for removing lipophilic substances like sunscreen and makeup, particularly for patients with dry or sensitive skin who find traditional surfactant-based cleansers too stripping. Board-certified dermatologists would view this formula's emulsifier system favorably — the plant-derived polyglyceryl esters allow adequate removal without the barrier disruption caused by harsh surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate. They would caution acne-prone patients about the coconut oil content and recommend patch testing for those with known comedogenic sensitivities. Most dermatologists would recommend following this oil cleanser with a gentle water-based cleanser to ensure complete removal of all impurities and oil residue.

Guidance

Burt's Bees developed this cleansing oil as their answer to the K-beauty-inspired oil cleansing trend, using only natural-origin ingredients. The challenge was creating an oil that would emulsify and rinse clean without synthetic surfactants — a technical feat that the plant-derived polyglyceryl emulsifiers accomplish elegantly. The result is a cleanser that bridges Burt's Bees' natural ethos with the Korean double-cleansing method that transformed Western skincare routines.

About Burt's Bees Legacy Brand (20+ years)

Burt's Bees was founded in 1984 in Maine by Burt Shavitz and Roxanne Quimby, pioneering the natural beauty movement in America. Acquired by Clorox in 2007 for $925 million, the brand maintains its commitment to natural-origin formulations and is Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free.

Brand founded: 1984 · Product launched: 2015

Myth vs. Reality

Myth

Oil cleansers make oily skin worse by adding more oil to the face.

Reality

Oil dissolves oil — the cleansing oils bind to and lift away sebum, sunscreen, and oil-based impurities more effectively than water-based cleansers. However, if coconut oil specifically triggers your breakouts, this particular formula may not be the right oil cleanser for you.

Myth

You need to use a hot washcloth to remove oil cleansers properly.

Reality

This formula contains plant-derived emulsifiers that allow it to mix with water and rinse away cleanly. Simply add lukewarm water, massage to emulsify, and rinse. A washcloth is optional, not necessary.

FAQ

Common Praise

"Dissolves makeup and sunscreen effectively, including waterproof formulas"

"Leaves skin soft and nourished rather than stripped or dry"

"Pleasant natural scent from the plant oils"

"Good value for a 6 oz bottle that lasts months"

"Emulsifies well and rinses cleanly without heavy residue"

Common Complaints

"Pump mechanism can leak or malfunction"

"Contains fragrance that some sensitive skin users react to"

"Coconut oil may cause breakouts for acne-prone skin"

"Can feel too oily if not followed with a second cleanser"

"Fragrance seems unnecessary in a rinse-off product"

Appears In

best natural cleanser best oil cleanser best cleanser for dry skin best makeup remover

Related Conditions

dryness dullness

Related Ingredients

argan oil sunflower oil vitamin e