Why Cleanse With Oil?

Do you want clean skin? Silly question really, we’re almost certain that your answer is yes given that clean skin is the foundation for a healthy, great-looking complexion. Knowing this, it’s surprising to learn that lots of us seem to spend less than 20 seconds washing our face but will happily scroll through Social Media aimlessly and enviously looking at flawless, photoshopped complexions for hours on end. 20 seconds is roughly the same amount of time it takes to plait your ponytail, tweet your favourite celeb, or boost your confidence and mood with an affirmation or inspirational quote. Essentially, we tend to under cleanse and over moisturize.

Our skin secretes a mixture of fat, waxes and sweat. Combine this with environmental pollution in the form of dust, chemicals and dirt, then mix in make-up, waterproof sunscreen etc., and you have the makings for some very dirty skin! The point of cleansing is to remove dirt, pollution, makeup and surface oils. But if you're using a heavier, oil-based moisturizer, water-resistant make-up and SPF it can be difficult for these to be removed with water-based cleansers.

An effective cleansing routine with an oil-based cleanser is perfect for a thorough cleanse and removal of debris. A good cleansing oil completely removes all impurities, even waterproof makeup, by using like-attracts-like technology (the cleansing oils meet the surface oils, do a little dance, and break the sebum (oil) down), all the while keeping your skin balanced and not-at-all-stripped or dry.

Cleanse With Oil? Are You Serious?

Yes, yes we are! Did you know that too little oil means your skin starts overproducing sebum and you can actually end up with oilier skin, as well as congestion, clogged pores? Cleansing oils are hydrophilic, which means they can be washed off and dissolved easily and there's no build-up or heavy film left behind.

Why Cleanse With Oil?

Now that we’ve given you some insight into why we love our Oil Cleansing Method, you might be wondering if it’s only good for those with ‘normal’ oil flow. Why would you want to use oil on oily skin right? It sounds counterintuitive but cleansing with oil is fantastic for ALL skin types! We even find it’s great for our customers with acne and blemish-prone skin as it helps reduce oil production.

Remember, what we’re doing is using a combination of gentle drawing and moisturizing oils to wash the delicate skin of the face. If your skin is tight and dry, it will love the added nourishment these carefully selected oils can provide. If your skin is oily, the oil cleanser will help to break down the surface oils and pollutants that can further congest.

To use an oil cleanser, we recommend applying the product to dry hands, and massaging into a dry face; it feels really nice. Once you feel that your face has been thoroughly covered, you can then add a bit of water. Start by wetting the hands, and then further massaging the face – giving an emulsifying effect. You’ll notice the cleanser will start to come off the skin in a nice milky colour (please, do this for more than twenty seconds! You will thank us if you do!)

Once the oil has been completely washed off, you can follow with a creamy or foaming cleanser like our Creamy Hydrating Face Cleanser, or our Gentle Foaming Cleanser to gently remove any excess oil/product. Or simply leave your skin as is and sit back and enjoy the wondrous feeling of hydrated skin, whatever you prefer. If you're looking for an even deeper cleanse, onced the oil has been rubbed in, apply a warm washcloth over your face to encourage your pores to open. This will help bring old oils, waxes and dirt to the surface, literally steaming them out of your skin so they can be washed away. Once cooled, remove the cloth, rinse or wipe off the excess product and follow with the application of an active serum to clean skin as normal. Once you feel how great your skin feels afterwards, you'll skip the Instagram scroll for this routine any day of the week.

Cleansing with oil is also an important step in double cleansing, which involves a two-step process that ensures your face is fresh and clean by removing dirt, makeup, environmental pollutants, and dead skin. Double cleansing might seem like a new trend, but it actually originated in Korea in the 14th century and has become a skincare staple since then. We highly recommend checking this out if you're not familiar with it. We even wrote a whole post about it (The Importance of Double Cleaning) so you can find out how it's done and why it's so beneficial. Enjoy!