The Best Cleanser for Oily and Combination Skin That Won't Strip Your Barrier

September 10, 2026

The best cleanser for oily and combination skin without stripping is Riverstone's Quartz Gel Cleanser, a clear, low-foam gel built around mild coconut-derived surfactants and a pH of about 5.5, close to skin's own acid mantle. It lifts oil, sweat, and pollution while keeping skin comfortable, and it's fragrance-free by default.

Key Takeaways

• Quartz Gel Cleanser has a pH of about 5.5 and costs $24.00 for 150 ml, which works out to $16.00 per 100 ml.
• The American Academy of Dermatology advises people with oily skin to use a mild, gentle foaming face wash, since a harsh cleanser can trigger more oil production.
• Clay & Cedar Cleansing Balm ($32.00 for 90 ml) is built as the first step of a double cleanse, best suited to dry, normal, and mature skin.
• The bare-face test, cleanse and wait about an hour, is a simple way to confirm whether your skin is oily, combination, dry, or normal.
• Every Riverstone cleanser is fragrance-free by default and made in small batches so it reaches you fresh.

Why does a harsh cleanser make oily skin worse?

A harsh, high-foam cleanser strips your skin's natural oils, and oily skin often responds by producing even more sebum to compensate. Gentle, low-foam formulas with a balanced pH tend to control shine better over time than a formula marketed purely as "deep cleaning."

The American Academy of Dermatology advises people with oily skin to use a mild, gentle foaming face wash, warning that an overly harsh cleanser can irritate skin and trigger increased oil production. Quartz Gel Cleanser is built around that same principle: a clear, low-foam gel with a pH of about 5.5, close to skin's own acid mantle, so it doesn't have to fight your skin to get it clean.

What makes Quartz Gel Cleanser right for oily and combination skin

Quartz Gel Cleanser is Riverstone's everyday face wash: a clear, low-foam gel that lifts away oil, sweat, and pollution while keeping skin comfortable. It's built around mild coconut-derived surfactants at a pH of about 5.5, close to skin's own acid mantle. (You can look up that term, and every other ingredient we use, in our ingredients glossary.)

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