- Please note, the oils mentioned in this article are specific for my skin type. Please research the oils that will best suit your skin**
As a very frequent makeup wearer, I take great pains to make sure my face is clean at the end of the day. Makeup not properly cleaned off can wreak havoc on my skin and it often takes more than one time to get it sufficiently clean. Oil cleansing has been the best thing I’ve added to my skin care routine in ages. My skin is dry/combination and I get hormonal acne on my chin and jaw line. Finding the right way to clean my skin and what oils work best for me was an uphill battle. Every oil someone mentioned online, I went to try it and only ended up irritating my skin. It took research, patience and trial and error before I finally figured out what worked for me.
What is oil cleansing?
Oil cleansing is simply using an oil instead of a soap or foaming cleanser on your neck and face to remove dirt, makeup, and excess oil. You may think, why would I put oil on my skin to cleanse it? Won’t that make my skin more congested? I thought that as well and was skeptical about trying this for years. My esthetician had me think of it as “like attracts like”, putting a nourishing oil on your skin can help lift the dirt, makeup and other pollutants and is still gentle enough that it will not cause irritation. You may consider the oil cleansing method if you suffer from frequent breakouts, have mature or aging skin, or have dry skin that needs extra hydration. Some cleansers have harsh ingredients which can strip the skin of helpful barriers and that can often cause even further skin issues.
What kind of oil do I need?
As noted above, the oils I use are suited for my dry combination skin, and also for maturing skin as well. The three oils I use most frequently are sweet almond and apricot or avocado. I will also use RoseHip oil when I am having an acne moment. Apricot and almond oil assist my skin with it’s moisture and elasticity. Not only do they cleans and help remove the excess makeup, but leave my skin feeling supple as well. DHC Deep Cleansing oil is one that I picked up from Ulta as an alternate. It has worked wonderfully with removing excess makeup and still keeping my skin from feeling stripped. Again, please research oils for your skin type or reach out to a skincare expert for further assistance.
How do I oil cleanse? What do I need?
All you need is the oil that is best suited for your skin and a nice warm or even steam towel to wipe the oil off. I use about 2-3 pumps of oil and massage my face, neck and décolletage with the pads of my fingers in a circular motion for at least 60 seconds. Once it is massaged in well, I take a steam washcloth and put it over my face for about 20 seconds, or however long you need and then wipe my face with the warm towel. It’s like a quick spa session a few nights a week 🙂 On days when I have worn makeup, I’ll do a double cleanse. Meaning, I’ll use a makeup wipe first, oil cleanse, then go in with a mild soap cleanser. It really ensures that all of the makeup is gone and my skin can restore itself after a long day. After you cleanse, still follow up with your normal routine, toning, moisturizer, sunscreen etc.
Have you tried the oil cleansing method before? Is it something that you regularly incorporate into your skincare routine? How has it impacted your skin, and what oils do you regularly use? Leave a comment or suggestion below.
Until next time, here’s to happy and healthy skin.
XOXO-Lydia Marie
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