Did you know oil cleansing can totally transform your skin?
At Sana, our skin healers always encourage muses to start by breaking down buildup, removing makeup, and melting it all away with an oil cleanse. If you’ve been loyal to gel or foaming cleansers, switching to an oil can feel counterintuitive. But that tight, “just-scrubbed” feeling you get afterward? It’s usually your skin telling you it’s been stripped.
Oil meets oil, gently. It’s less about removing and more about restoring. A way to cleanse without damaging the skin. Honoring the skin’s natural way.
the 411 on oil cleansing
Why You Should Try It:
Oil cleansing works on the principle that ‘like dissolves like.’ The oils in the cleanser bind to excess sebum, makeup, sunscreen, and impurities lodged in your pores, lifting them away without stripping your skin. It’s an effective first step in your routine that supports your skin barrier, maintains hydration, and preps your face so your serums and moisturizers can work harder.
How To Do It: Start with dry skin and dry hands. Massage 2–3 pumps of your favorite oil cleanser (ours is Pai Rosehip's Cleansing Oil) into your face for about a minute, really working it over areas with makeup or SPF. Add a splash of warm water to emulsify (it’ll turn milky) then rinse thoroughly. Follow with your second cleanse to remove any last traces and leave skin fresh, balanced, and ready for the rest of your routine.
But wait, oils break me out.
Here’s the thing—when you strip your skin of its natural oils with harsh cleansers or ‘oil-free’ moisturizers, it pushes back. Your skin starts producing even more oil to protect itself, which can mean clogged pores, breakouts, and extra shine. Over-cleansing or using strong formulas can chip away at your skin barrier, leaving it feeling tight, thirsty, and looking a little dull.
So...it does work?
Yes, and not in a trendy, “everyone’s doing it” way, but in a your-skin-will-actually-feel-the-difference way. Oil cleansers are designed to bond with excess sebum, makeup, SPF, and all the invisible buildup that clings to your skin, so when you rinse, it all goes with it—without that tight, squeaky aftermath.
Why Oil Cleansing Wins
Even Vogue calls oil cleansing “the gentlest way to get the deepest clean,” noting research that shows oil cleansers leave a fraction of the residue compared to standard face washes. Dermatologists agree: the soft, emollient texture works with your skin’s barrier instead of waging war against it, meaning less irritation, less dehydration, and more balance.
If you’ve ever thought “but I have oily skin, won’t this make it worse?”— it’s actually the opposite. Stripping oils with harsh cleansers only tells your skin to produce more, which is how you end up with clogged pores and more shine. A good oil cleanser interrupts that cycle, melting away what doesn’t belong and keeping what your skin needs.
This is why oil cleansing has been a cornerstone in K-Beauty for years. That milky emulsification moment? It’s not just satisfying, it’s barrier care, hydration support, and glow prep all in one step. The result: skin that’s clean but still supple, ready to drink in the rest of your routine.
Oil cleansing works. The proof is in the skin that doesn’t just look better—it feels healthier.
Which oils clog and which ones keep pores clear?
Some oils are more likely to clog pores — these are called comedogenic oils. Examples include coconut, mineral, wheat germ, and flaxseed oil, which are best kept for body care since the skin on your body can tolerate heavier textures better than the skin on your face. On the other hand, non-comedogenic oils like safflower, sunflower, hemp seed, grapeseed, and squalane are lightweight, skin-friendly options that cleanse without clogging.
Our Favorite Oil Cleansers At Sana
These are the cleansers we’ve tried, tested, and loved for years. Finding your perfect match depends on your skin type, but these are the ones we keep coming back to.
Pai Lightwork Rosehip Cleansing Oil: A Sana classic. Gentle enough for sensitive skin but tough on stubborn mascara, with rosehip oil to calm, heal, and brighten. It’s that rare cleanser you’ll actually look forward to using every night.
Dr. Dennis Gross Vitamin C Lactic Creamy Cleansing Oil: A brightening first cleanse that feels more like skincare than makeup remover. Vitamin C works on dullness and uneven tone, while lactic acid gently smooths without stripping. The creamy-oil texture melts down SPF and makeup, leaving skin soft and fresh.
Manuka Honey Cleansing Balm: (Not an Oil cleanser but a mighty powerful balm) This is the cleanser you reach for when you want your skin to exhale. Manuka honey feeds and soothes, while the balm’s buttery texture melts into skin before transforming into a light, milky wash the second water hits. Makeup, SPF, and the day’s buildup? Gone. Skin? Soft, calm, and thriving.
The Ritual of Oil Cleansing
Make oil cleansing the part of your routine that feels less like a chore and more like a little ritual. Some nights it’s a 60-second massage to melt off SPF and city air, other nights you have more time, perhaps you find your gua sha in hand—letting the slip of the oil work deeper before you rinse. Listen to your skin. If it’s thirsty, slow down. If it’s feeling congested, give it that extra minute. The beauty of oil cleansing is that it works with you, adapting to what your skin needs that day, and making the process just as good as the results.
Happy cleansing, muses!
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