Oil Cleansing Method 101: What is it, Why it Works, and How to Start
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Switching to the oil cleansing method as my daily skincare regime has changed my life! It helped me to finally get clear skin after over five years of struggling with severe acne (which you can read more about here).
However, most people are confused when they hear the term ‘oil cleansing’. They are either intimidated by it or they hear the word oil in relation to their skin and immediately think NOPE.
As women we have been trained from a very early age that oil = bad when it comes to our skin. It turns out that oil may have been demonized too quickly. It’s just a matter of the right oils with the right methodology!
In this post I’m going to go over oil cleansing 101 including:
What is oil cleansing
Why oil cleansing works for almost any skin type or condition
My experience with oil cleansing
How to start oil cleansing
So let’s get into it!
What is Oil Cleansing?
The oil cleansing method uses beneficial plant oils (whether single oils or oil blends) in combination with gentle exfoliation via a cotton round or wash cloth to cleanse the face. The oil cleansing method is based on one of the basic principles that we were taught in our high school chemistry class (lol). That ‘like’ dissolves (or is attracted to) ‘like’. So oil dissolves oil.
It seems like such a common sense thing, but oils have been demonized for so long that I never thought twice about oil being the bad guy.
The best part about oil cleansing is you get the best of both worlds. Not only does the oil dissolve dirt, grime and makeup buildup from your pores, but it also does this while nourishing and moisturizing your skin. Leaving behind the beneficial plant oils as well as some of your skin's natural oil.
Traditional cleansers that you find at the store are often harsh and they strip your skin of ALL of its oils - both the bad and beneficial. Doing this twice a day everyday leads your skin to overcompensate and produce more oil, often leading to more breakouts. That’s because your skin’s moisture barrier and microbiome have both been disrupted by overcleansing. In addition, water-based cleansers use surfactants and other harsh chemicals to clean.
In contrast, when you oil cleanse, your skin senses you have plenty of oil and moisture; so it doesn’t have to over-produce oil to keep your skin moisturized.
Why Oil Cleansing Works for Almost Any Skin Type or Condition.
Oil cleansing works for almost any skin type because it maintains the skin’s natural moisture barrier and doesn’t disrupt the skin’s unique microbiome profile. Just like each person has their own unique gut microbiome based on their genes, diet, lifestyle, medication use, etc, each person also has a unique skin microbiome.
So, while each person may be dealing with their own skin type (acne prone, dry, flakey), oil cleansing works to balance the microbiome and promote healthy bacteria to reduce those skin conditions.
In addition, there are different oils that target different skin types! Because there are many different oils made from different types of plants, they each have their own unique properties that can target different skin conditions or types. For example, for my acne prone skin, jojoba and pumpkin seed oils have been beneficial for me. Whereas for someone with dry skin, a thicker oil such as avocado or olive oil may produce better results.
My Oil Cleansing Experience
I first heard of the oil cleansing method early on in my journey with trying to cure my cystic acne. My mom had sent me an article describing what it was and how to do it. I was desperate so I decided to give it a try. The article told me I needed to use microfiber wash cloths and pumpkin seed oil. Both of which I’ve never heard of. So, I went to Amazon to buy my microfiber wash cloths. But then I was like “where do I find pumpkin seed oil…?”. Turns out it’s not very easy to find in a small(ish) city.
After checking at all of the grocery stores (because I was a broke college student), I ultimately ended up at my local health foods store. Even THEN, I couldn’t find it. Finally, I (very embarrassed) asked the supplement lady at the health foods store if they had any. I was in luck! She was hiding it in a mini fridge at the end of one of the supplement aisles. In that mini fridge there were two bottles of cold pressed pumpkin seed oil. I found it! So, I take one of the two bottles and buy it (not cheap by the way).
Once I finally had the products in hand, I began trying it over the next few weeks. I did notice that it slightly improved my acne, which I was very happy about! I liked the ritual of washing my face this way because it almost felt like a spa treatment.
The method was to use the wash cloth and run it under hot water. Then, you put the hot wash cloth over your face for a few seconds to open up your pores. Next, you put the oil directly on the wash cloth and gently buff your face in circular motions. You then repeated the process three times. The result left you with a clean feeling while at the same time, feeling moisturized due to some of the leftover oil residue. I used this method of oil cleansing for a few months and I did notice an improvement in my acne.
Unfortunately, after about six months I began to see a stall in the improvements. I also began to see new textured bumps appearing in some of the areas where my acne had started to clear (such as my forehead). I eventually gave up this way of oil cleansing.
Years later, I found oil cleansing again. But, I learned that the way I was doing it with washcloths wasn’t optimal. That’s when I found a better way of oil cleansing that helped me clear up my acne for good. For me, the traditional practice of using a washcloth to oil cleanse was counterintuitive due to the surfactants used in laundry detergent I was cleaning the washcloths with. It was causing irritation when I was using the washcloth on my face. That’s why I prefer to use disposable organic cotton rounds to oil cleanse. Or you can try both and see which method works best for your skin!
How to Start Oil Cleansing?
What I recommend to start oil cleansing is doing a skin reset. This is what I did and it ended up helping me clear up my acne after years of struggling.
You want to do a skin reset of seven to ten days but the longer the better! The best way to see the fastest results is to do the skin reset using the oil cleansing method alone, meaning no other skincare OR makeup products (this is the hardest part). The oil blend you choose will be your cleanser and moisturizer all in one.
The oil blend that I use is from the brand Living Libations called Best Skin Ever - Sea Buckthorn Oil. It has been a game changer for me. I love it so much that I haven’t strayed from it to try many other oils, but as my skin continues to improve and regain balance I would like to try some of their other amazing looking blends. An added bonus is that the oil itself smells AMAZING; the aromatherapy is very calming and luxurious.
The Method
The method I started with and that I still use everyday is the method I learned from Danna Omari of NOY Skincare. I will write a brief overview but I highly encourage you to watch her tutorial video of how to properly oil cleanse using her technique.
Using a fresh organic cotton round, rinse the cotton round with warm water and ring it out.
Pump 3-4 pumps of the oil onto the cotton round.
Gently rub the cotton round all over your face in circular motions. Making sure to get your neck and chest as well.
Rinse the cotton round again with warm water and ring it out.
Repeat steps 2-4 twice more for a total of three rounds.
Once you have done your three rounds, using the cotton round, rinse your face with warm water.
Next, turn the faucet to cold water and run your hands under the cold water. After a few seconds, press your cold hands on your face.
Using your hands, give yourself a gentle massage to massage the water and oil residue into your skin.
Finally, gently press a little bit of cold water onto your skin. Then pump 2-3 pumps of the oil onto your hands and massage that into your skin.
This process has not only drastically improved my skin but it makes my skincare protocol super luxurious and relaxing!
Conclusion
I am so grateful to have found the oil cleansing method and learned the benefits of using oils in my skincare regime to achieve clear, glowing, healthy skin. The best part is this method uses beautiful, all-natural oils which have all kinds of amazing properties and are not only good for your skin, but your body as a whole. If you have never tried oil cleansing, I would encourage you to give it a try and see how it works for you!
References
McDaniel, B. (n.d.). Oil Cleansing Method (How To Do It And Why It Works). Primally Pure. https://primallypure.com/blogs/blog/oil-cleansing-method-how-to-do-it-and-why-it-works?g_acctid=100-956-7096&g_adgroupid=&g_adid=&g_adtype=none&g_campaign=us_google_conversion_prospecting_pmax_na_pmxallproducts_troas&g_campaignid=18192394504&g_keyword=&g_keywordid=&g_network=x&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-pyqBhDmARIsAKd9XIPU3y3ZxY4dY15scLpdSRu5aI20sQxFUK58sunVFzSUL9mI_FGv-zUaAjCoEALw_wcB
Ferreira, M., & Bennett, E. (2022, January 28). Everything You Need to Know About the Oil Cleansing Method. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/oil-cleansing-method#What-is-the-oil-cleansing-method?
Maed. (n.d.). Choosing the Right Facial Oil for Your Skin Type. https://maed.co/best-face-oils-by-skin-type/