Oil cleansers may sound ridiculous to a sensible skincare regimen because most people try to get rid of oil, not put it on. We’ve all heard the warning that only oil-free products will keep our skin clear and gorgeous.
But researchers are starting to uncover the incredible benefits of oils for skin, and soothing, healing ingredients that have been used for hundreds of years are seeing a resurgence in popularity.
Now, cleansing the face with oil is going mainstream. Many women have turned to oil cleansing as a way to gently remove makeup, soothe sensitive skin, and tame unrelenting breakouts.
Using oils instead of traditional soap or detergent cleansers can also help protect the natural lipid layer of the skin and the good bacteria that live there.
How can oil be used as a cleanser?
For many people, “cleansing” makes you think of soapy lather and rinsing with water. Harsh smelling chemicals even seem more likely to cleanse than oils.
The basic idea behind cleansing your face with oils is that “like dissolves like.” In other words, putting clean, nourishing oils on your skin does the following:
- It lifts excess sebum, the oily substance produced by glands on your skin.
- Using oils cleans out clogged pores like blackheads and whiteheads.
- It removes dead skin, pollutants, and makeup.
- Makeup removers often include oil because it’s well-suited for lifting oil-free, oil-based, and waterproof formulas off the skin and lashes.
Traditional cleansers can irritate the skin, cause excessive dryness, and exacerbate acne. Ultimately, they result in the skin overproducing oil after washing. Oil cleansing, on the other hand, can help balance the skin and lock in hydration.
Oils used for cleansing may also have healing properties, important nutrients, or other skin-boosting benefits. Skin experts studied adults and children who used bath oils every other day for a month. They discovered that they had better skin barrier function and fewer symptoms of dry skin than those who don’t.
There is no one oil that is good for everyone. However, you can determine the type of oil you can use to cleanse your skin depending on what results you want.
