Believe it or not, the oil cleansing method just might give you the soft, acne-free skin you’ve always wanted. It is a chemical-free cleansing method that solves all of your skin issues. Most of the skin-related articles recommend the water cleansing method as a substitute to over-the-counter cleansers but it hasn’t gained popularity since people feel like it only causes skin dryness and it doesn’t get rid of dirt and other impurities from the skin’s surface.
The oil cleansing method cleans and moisturizes the face. It helps improve the skin’s complexion, restore its suppleness and radiant glow. It takes some getting used to, especially for people with oily skin because of the misconception that it will only increase the skin’s oil content and cause acne. Unhealthy diet, pollution, hormonal imbalances, and stress are usually the suspects behind acne, blackheads, and whiteheads.
What sets the oil cleansing apart from conventional skin cleansers is that the latter is notorious for removing the natural oils of the skin. Ergo, the squeaky, tight feeling that you feel after washing your face is actually a bad thing! Your dermatologists will probably say otherwise but the thing is, you need those natural oils to maintain your skin’s moisture and pH balance if you want to keep bacteria and acne away.
More often than not, foaming facial cleansers don’t do what they’re supposed to do and end up contributing to the increase acne and blemishes on your skin. Moreover, you should not be happy if your facial cleanser is foamy or soapy because that causes damage to your skin. Add to that the fact that since it dries out your skin, it becomes easy for wrinkles and fine lines to form. You also end up having flaky skin which is too much of a hassle to deal with.
Here’s how the oil cleansing method works:
According to studies, oil has the ability to dissolve oil. It simply follows the logic that “like dissolves like”. The most effective way to nourish the natural oils of your skin is to cleanse it with oils that have the same composition. Having the perfect blend of oils for this cleansing method will effectively get rid of bacteria, dirt, and other impurities that are inside your pores. It removes acne, whiteheads, and blackheads while moisturizing and nourishing the skin. It also maintains the skin’s pH balance so there’s no need to use other cleansers, toners, and moisturizers.
How to choose your oils:
To maximize the benefits of the oil cleansing method, it’s important to identify what oil suits your skin type. Hemp seed oil and jojoba oil are often used to remove waterproof makeup. These oils also remove dark circles and puffiness around the eye area.
You can also try the following oils:
- Sweet Almond Oil– for people with oily, normal, or dry skin.
- Apricot Kernel Oil– for dry, sensitive, aging, or normal skin.
- Avocado Oil– for itchy, aging, sensitive, or dry skin.
- Jojoba Oil – for oily, acne-prone, normal, or sensitive skin.
- Kukui Nut Oil – for normal or dry skin.
- Grape Seed Oil – for oily or acne-prone skin.
You can also use coconut oil but if you don’t like how it smells, you can try extra virgin olive oil. It’s a gentle moisturizer that can heal, support, and nourish different skin types. You may also opt to use castor oil, but be warned that it can be quite harsh for people with acne-prone or sensitive skin. If you really want to use it, however, it’s fine for as long as you use the correct ratio between the carrier oil and the castor oil. If you’re skin feels too dry after application, reduce the amount of castor oil.
Here are some castor oil ratios depending on your skin type:
- Normal Skin – 80% carrier oil (coconut oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil) and 20% castor oil
- Oily Skin – 70% carrier oil and 30% castor oil Dry Skin – 90% carrier oil and 10% castor oil
- Very Dry Skin – 100% carrier oil and zero castor oil
