Cleansing your face using oil might seem contradictory, even strange. After all, you are trying to get rid of oil when you cleanse your face so why should you put on more oil, right?
But more and more people are turning to oil cleansing to gently but thoroughly remove all traces of makeup, reduce breakouts, and calm sensitive or irritated skin. Using oils rather than conventional soap or cleansers can also help safeguard your skin’s natural lipid layer and good bacteria needed for balance.
Natural and Gentle Ingredients
Oils are very effective makeup removers because they can melt makeup very easily—yes, even waterproof mascara. However, you need to be cautious when you wear contact lenses, as the oil could come in contact with the lenses, forming deposits.
Cleansing oils have more natural and gentler ingredients. Plenty of cream and gel cleansers, as well as makeup removers and wipes, contain ingredients that can easily dry out the skin. Oils, on the other hand, are paraben-free and devoid of harsh ingredients that can strip away your face’s essential natural oils, leaving it dry, clogged and irritated.
Cleansing oils likewise hydrate exceptionally well, especially if you follow it up with a hydrating and moisturizing skincare regimen right after. Take the Facial Cleansing Oil from Kedma Skincare, for example. This oil formula contains olive oil, borage seed oil and jojoba seed oil to cleanse, smoothen, moisturize and regenerate your skin. It also contains cocoa butter for maintaining your skin’s natural moisture levels and Dead Sea water for revitalizing dull-looking skin.
Application of Oil
With dry hands, place two to three drops of cleansing oil onto your palms and massage your face in circular motion for a minute or two. Depending on the product you are using, you might need to apply it on damp skin or dry skin. After your facial massage, remove the oil using a warm, damp washcloth or just lukewarm water. You can also opt to follow up with a gentle cleanser or go straight to applying your skincare regimen.
Benefits of Oil Cleansing
Skincare experts agree that all skin types—oily, normal, dry, sensitive and combo—can benefit from oil cleansing. Contrary to popular belief, your skin will not become oilier when cleansing with oil.
Standard cleaners and soaps are even more likely to cause breakouts since they strip your skin’s natural oils, which make your skin to produce more oil to compensate for the loss. Additionally, they can be especially beneficial for individuals who have psoriasis, eczema or chronic dry skin.
If you are interested in trying oil cleansing but are wary of how your skin might react, start by incorporating it into your regular skincare routine without adding or removing anything else for two weeks to a month. If you experience breakouts or other adverse effects, it might be the oil—you can pick another oil to see which works best for your skin. Otherwise, oil cleansing could be a gentle and more hydrating way to cleanse your face.
