How many of you have tried an Oil Cleanser? It truly is a game changer!
If you haven’t explored oil cleansing yet, here are a few key questions answered:
What is oil cleansing?
It’s essentially what it sounds like: using a blend of oils to cleanse your skin. And specifically, your face. It’s both gentle and highly effective at dissolving makeup, excess sebum, and the random dirt and sweat of the day. All without stripping and drying the skin. And it leaves your skin beautifully soft and clean.
What are the benefits?
Oil cleansing doesn't interfere with the skin's natural moisture level, meaning it doesn’t ‘over-cleanse’ like many harsh cleansers do. (One of the more common foaming agents in foaming cleansers and soaps is sodium laureth sulfate - a cheap chemical and a known skin irritant.)
Oil cleansing also helps balance oil production, prevent clogged pores, and maintain a healthy skin barrier. It leaves the skin soft and clean, without the dried-out crispy feeling. What I found (having a combination skin) was that switching to oil cleansing actually helped reduce the amount of oil and acne my face was producing.
Who is oil cleansing helpful for?
Because it’s both gentle and effective, it works beautifully for most skin types, including dry, oily, combination, and sensitive skin.
Directions?
Starting with a dry face, apply the oil/balm with your fingertips and palms. Gently massage it over your entire face using circular motions, paying attention to areas with makeup or buildup. It won't foam or change color or texture - you simply move it around and over your skin.
Then, using a warm, damp washcloth (or our magic cloth), wipe off the oil.Rinse the washcloth and repeat a few times to get everything off. And sometimes before wiping the oil off, you can lay the warm cloth across your face and have a little 'mini-steam' moment.
How often to use it?
Because it's so gentle, oil cleansing can be used any time you wash your face, depending on your skin's needs: In the morning to freshen up and wake up. After a sweaty workout. As part of your makeup removal routine.
*For a really light freshen up, like first thing in the morning before a walk or the gym,you can sometimes just use Witch Hazel & Rose Water Toner on a cotton pad, swiped across my face. Then follow the workout with oil cleansing.
Are all oils the same/useful for cleansing?
Different oils have different properties and benefits, so it's important to choose a botanical oil or blend of oils (botanical = comes from a plant) that’s suited to cleansing. Jojoba, grapeseed, almond, olive, castor, and coconut oils are all beneficial - and botanical and vegan. And there are a variety of essential oils that are helpful as well.
Most important? Avoid petroleum-based oils, mineral oils, and paraffin, which are NOT botanical and can clog pores and irritate sensitive skin.