Oil to Clean the Skin? Yes! Cleansing Oil Does MORE

As counter intuitive as it sounds, facial cleansing oil is an incredible multi-tasker that delivers more skin benefits than old school makeup remover.  Oil cleansing myths- busted!

If you’re like us, when you first heard about using oil to clean your face and remove makeup, one thought came to mind. Hell, no. Putting oil on your face just sounds like a recipe for clogged pores, right? It seems like oil would attract dirt rather than remove it. If you are still clinging to that belief, you are missing out big time. Especially if you are a fan of long-wearing makeup, a simple cleansing oil works better and faster than any other makeup remover. Read on to learn about how this actually works.

What is a Cleansing Oil?

Skin care cleansing oils are specially formulated to remove makeup and acne causing excess oil.  Traditional oil-free or water-soluble cleansers that typically come as a gel or foam work thanks to what scientists call surfactants, which is short for “surface active agent.”  These agents essentially absorb dirt and oil on the skin’s surface and then wash away with ease. While most of these formulas work well, if you have sensitive skin, you may have experienced some redness, drying and irritation. Watch out for sodium lauryl sulfate in the ingredients, it is one of the usual suspects.

How Do Oils Clean Skin?

Oils in a facial cleansing oil dissolve makeup and facial oil so the good oil takes the dirt and bad oil with it when it is washed off. Certain oils work as solvents, meaning that they can dissolve similar types of substances. Oils are by their nature attracted to other oils, like the oils used in makeup and sebum, the oil our skin produces. In addition, because the oil ingredients bind to the surface impurities, they pull the dirt out without clogging the pores.

How to Use Cleansing Oil

1. Add just a few drops of of oil to the palm of your hands. Massage into your skin for a minute or two. Remove your eye makeup last.
2. Wipe the oil off with a warm, wet washcloth  

You’re DONE! Your skin will be moisturized, super soft, squeaky clean and not tight, dry and irritated like it might after using a harsh cleanser.

Is Cleansing Oil Good for Your Skin? Benefits of Oil Cleansing Method

Oil cleansing method is a way of deep cleansing your skin without stripping it of all of its natural moisture. According to aesthetician Kayla Causey  “A lot of oil-free cleansers strip our skin of natural oils, leaving it unbalanced and causing it to produce more oil to rebalance it. Excess production equals more problematic skin. Oil cleansers keep the skin’s natural pH balance, and prevents it from having a production overload. Plus, essential oils are naturally antibacterial.”The main benefits of cleansing oils are:

1. One of the best makeup removers out there. Removes the indelible and long-wear makeup quickly and effectively.
2. Super moisturizer to maintain the skin’s moisture barrier
3. Anti-oxidants to protect against environmental damage & free radicals
4. Anti-aging benefits

Cleansing Oil & Skin Types. The Right & the Wrong Oils

While simple cleansing oil is an excellent option for all skin types, the many different types of oils have different structures. Pick wisely. Not every oil is for everyone.

Oily – Grapeseed, pumpkin seed, sunflower

Combination skin– safflower

Cleansing oil for acne – Jojoba, olive, hemp, castor oil

Sensitive – Olive, camellia (for inflamed skin)

Cleansing oil for dry skin – Avocado, extra virgin olive oil, almond

Coconut Oil Cleanser. A Word of Warning!

Coconut oil’s popularity has exploded and many are touting it as the great found-in-your-kitchen skincare panacea. But you should know that it can be drying and it’s very high on the comedogenic scale which means it can can definitely clog pores and lead to more breakouts. It does have awesome anti-bacterial properties and works well for some skin types but just know it is not for everyone.

What to Avoid in Makeup Removers & Cleansing Oils

Here are our top tips for makeup removers in general and oil cleanser:

1. Avoid fragrance. This includes fragrant essential oils! Its not needed and its not running the risk of redness, irritation or breakout.

2. DIY Oil Cleanser. Cleansing oils that are composed of a single oil or oil blend without surfactants or emulsifiers are not recommended for combination to oily skin, as they only add to skin’s oiliness issues. Look for a solid non-comedogenic (non-clogging) oil product.

3. Baby oil is a great makeup remover, but it’s not an effective skin cleanser. It contains mineral oil, fragrance and lanolin and excludes the botanical oils with all of their beneficial properties outlined above. In other words, it will wipe some of it away and moisturize but because it does not allow the skin to breath, it can block pores.

Best Cleansing oil Recommended by Dermatologists