Patch testing is one of those things that everyone knows they should do and almost nobody does. The instructions are always there, usually in small print, always easy to skip. Here’s why they’re worth following — and how to do it properly.
What patch testing is for.
A patch test is a small, controlled exposure to a new product designed to identify a potential skin reaction before you apply it to a large area. Reactions to skincare are not rare. Even well-formulated, fragrance-free products can cause reactions in people with specific ingredient sensitivities — and identifying those sensitivities before they become a problem on your whole face is considerably preferable to the alternative.
How to do it.
Apply a small amount of the product — a drop of oil or a pea-sized amount of balm — to the inside of your wrist or the crook of your elbow. These areas have thinner skin and are relatively sensitive, which makes them a reasonable proxy for facial skin.
Leave it for 24 hours without washing the area. Then assess: if you see redness, swelling, itching, or any change in the skin, that’s a reaction. If the area looks and feels normal, you can proceed with using the product more broadly.
For a more thorough test, repeat once daily for 3–4 days before introducing the product to your face. This catches delayed reactions, which are more common with leave-on products than with rinse-off ones.
What a reaction means.
A reaction to a patch test does not necessarily mean the product is ‘bad’ or poorly formulated. It means your skin is sensitive to one or more of its ingredients. This is individual and specific — another person may use the same product without any issue.
If you react to an Oath Co product, email us at hello@oathco.com.au. Tell us which product and what you observed. We can identify which ingredient is most likely responsible and suggest whether another formula in the range might be better suited to your skin.
Who should patch test.
Everyone, before introducing a new product. But particularly: people with known skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis, rosacea), people with a history of cosmetic reactions, people who are pregnant or postpartum, and anyone introducing a new product to a child’s skin.
Two minutes of patch testing is worth considerably more than the inconvenience of a reaction.