Oil Cleansing Method: How to Do It and What the Research Shows

The oil cleansing method means washing your face with a plant oil instead of a foaming cleanser, then wiping the oil off with a warm, damp cloth. This guide covers how to do it, which oils people use, what the research does and does not show, and who should skip it.

We sell pure jojoba oil and pure castor oil, so read this with that in mind. Where the evidence is thin, or where our own listings say more than the sources support, we say so. For choosing a face oil in general, see our facial oil guide.

What Is the Oil Cleansing Method?

It is a way of washing the face with oil. Healthline describes it as applying specific oils to the face as an alternative to water-based face washes, with the oil usually rinsed away with a damp washcloth.

• The idea: Healthline explains it through "like dissolves like": oil is meant to lift excess sebum, makeup and surface debris that water alone leaves behind.
• The variants: A basic oil cleanse removes the oil with a warm washcloth or water. A K-beauty double cleanse follows the oil with a gentle water-based wash.
• The oils: Some cleansers are plain plant oils. Others are formulated cleansing oils that foam slightly when water is added, according to Healthline.

Does Oil Cleansing Actually Work?

For removing sunscreen and makeup, there is direct evidence for a cleansing oil. For the method as a whole, the research is thin. Healthline says research specifically exploring oil cleansing remains limited and that very few studies exist.

• The best direct test: A 2019 study of sunscreen removal compared water, a foaming cleanser and a cleansing oil. For waterproof sunscreen, residue was 59.3% with water, 36.8% with the cleanser and 5.8% with the oil.
• Non-waterproof sunscreen: Residue was 54.0% with water, 15.6% with the cleanser and 13.4% with the oil, so the two cleansers performed alike.
• The caveat: The abstract does not give the oil's formula, so we cannot assume a plain plant oil would match it.
• Skin barrier: A 2017 randomized trial of 60 people found a bath oil lowered transepidermal water loss by 1.9 g/m2/h and raised skin hydration versus non-oil cleansers. It tested a bath oil in mild dry skin, not a facial oil cleanse.

Which Oils Can You Use for Oil Cleansing?

Healthline says the most common DIY oils are olive oil and castor oil, with jojoba or argan suggested for oily or acne-prone skin. It names jojoba or rosehip as alternatives if castor oil is too drying.

• Dry skin: Healthline suggests starting with olive oil and castor oil in equal parts, adding coconut or avocado oil for extra moisture.
• Oily or acne-prone skin: Healthline suggests jojoba with castor, and says argan oil may also help regulate sebum. It advises choosing noncomedogenic oils for acne-prone skin.
• Sensitive skin: Healthline advises avoiding castor oil because it can dry the skin. A safety assessment summary reports ricinoleic acid, castor's main fatty acid, was nonirritating in mice and one rabbit study but caused redness in another rabbit study.
• How oils differ: A review of oils and the skin barrier says oils with more linoleic acid relative to oleic acid have better barrier-repair potential, while oleic-rich oils may be detrimental.
• Quality: Healthline recommends unscented, cold-pressed, unrefined oils made for skin rather than food-grade oils.

How Do You Oil Cleanse, Step by Step?

Apply the oil to a dry face, massage it in, then wipe it off with a warm, damp washcloth. These steps follow the Healthline method and are general information, not medical advice.

1. Patch-test first. Put a little oil on the jawline or under the ear, leave it for 24 hours and check for itching, swelling or redness before using it on your whole face.
2. Measure 1 to 2 teaspoons. Healthline suggests half a teaspoon each of two oils, such as jojoba and castor, in your palm.
3. Massage onto a dry face. Healthline says to apply the oil before wetting your face, massaging for several seconds up to a minute.
4. Wipe it off gently. Use a damp, warm washcloth without pressing or scrubbing, which Healthline says can cause irritation and breakouts.
5. Pat dry. Add moisturizer if your skin needs it. Follow with a gentle water-based wash if you want a double cleanse.

Is Oil Cleansing Better Than Face Wash?

It depends on what you are removing. The one head-to-head test we found favored the oil only for waterproof sunscreen; for ordinary sunscreen, a foaming cleanser and the cleansing oil did about the same.

• Waterproof products: The 2019 study found the oil removed far more waterproof sunscreen than the cleanser or water, which fits Healthline's point that many makeup removers include oil.
• Everyday cleansing: Healthline says traditional cleansers can irritate or over-dry some skin, and that cleansing oils may be gentler for dry or sensitive skin. It offers this as reasoning, not as a trial result.
• What we cannot say: We found no trial showing oil cleansing clears acne, shrinks pores or beats a gentle cleanser for most people.

How Often Should You Oil Cleanse?

Healthline says once a day is best, preferably at night, rather than every time you wash your face. You can also use it less often as a special treatment.

• Why at night: It clears makeup, sunscreen and the day's debris before bed.
• The limit: Healthline advises once a day, not every wash. We found no trial comparing how often to oil cleanse.

Can Oil Cleansing Cause Breakouts or Irritation?

Yes, for some people. Healthline says oil cleansing can cause an allergic reaction, irritation or clogged pores, and that a patch test will not reveal how your pores respond over time.

• Adjustment period: Healthline cites anecdotal reports that skin may take a week or two to adjust, with some extra pimples or dry, peeling skin.
• Warning signs: Itchy, raw or inflamed patches, especially in places you do not usually break out, point to a reaction to the oil rather than an adjustment, so stop.
• If breakouts rise: After a few weeks of more breakouts, Healthline suggests cleansing gently afterward, switching oils or stopping.

Who Should Skip Oil Cleansing or See a Doctor?

Ask a dermatologist before starting if you have cystic acne, and skip any oil you react to. Seek urgent care for swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or trouble breathing. This guide is information, not medical advice.

Our oils are single-ingredient products, but a single ingredient can still irritate. The Pure Castor Oil listing itself says to patch-test for sensitive skin and avoid the eyes. Keep any cleansing oil out of your eyes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the oil cleansing method?

It is washing the face with a plant oil, massaged onto dry skin and wiped off with a warm, damp washcloth. Some people follow it with a gentle water-based wash, called a double cleanse.

Do you wet your face before oil cleansing?

No. Healthline says to apply the oil before wetting your face, massage it in for several seconds up to a minute, then wipe it off with a warm, damp washcloth.

Can you oil cleanse every day?

Healthline says once a day is best, preferably at night, rather than at every wash. Less often is fine, and you should stop if your skin becomes itchy, raw or inflamed.

Which is better, cleansing oil or face wash?

A 2019 study found a cleansing oil removed much more waterproof sunscreen than a foaming cleanser, but the two did about the same on non-waterproof sunscreen.

Can oil cleansing cause breakouts?

It can. Healthline says oil cleansing may cause irritation or clogged pores in some people. Patch-test first, adjust the oil, and ask a dermatologist if you have cystic acne.

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