October 20, 2026
Oil Cleansing 101: How to Wash Your Face With Oil (Without Breaking Out)
By Ivory Clay
It sounds backwards, but washing your face with oil is one of the gentlest ways to get it truly clean. Oil dissolves oil — makeup, sunscreen and the day's buildup — without the tight, squeaky feeling that harsh foaming cleansers can leave behind.
How to oil cleanse in two minutes
- Start with a dry face and dry hands. Oil grabs onto makeup best before water is involved.
- Massage a few drops of cleansing oil over your face for about a minute, including eye makeup if you wear it (keep your eyes closed).
- Soak a cloth in warm water, wring it out and hold it over your face for a few seconds.
- Gently wipe the oil away. Our reusable Makeup Remover Pull Cloth is made for exactly this step.
- Follow with moisture. Mist, then a pea-sized amount of tallow face cream.
Choose the right oil for your skin
Our Cleansing Oils come in three formulas:
- Oily skin
- Normal skin
- Dry skin
Pick the one that matches your skin today; you can switch with the seasons.
Will oil cleansing make me break out?
Oil cleansing is generally gentle, but every skin is different. A few tips:
- Always remove the oil with a warm cloth — do not leave a heavy layer on.
- Pick the formula for your skin type.
- Patch-test before switching your whole routine, and give your skin two to three weeks to adjust.
Do I need to double cleanse?
Most people do not. If you wear heavy, long-wear makeup or water-resistant sunscreen, you can follow oil cleansing with a quick splash of water or a gentle cleanser.