The Right Way To Cleanse Your Face With Oil
Oil Cleansing is all the rage! But do you know how to do it right? Here's a guide on how to Cleanse Your Face With Oil From A Holistic Skin Therapist.
Magdalena Tomczak is the founder of Woman Divine Skincare and a Holistic skin & facial therapist. We asked her to share her foolproof, expert-approved technique for oil cleansing.
This post is in collaboration with Woman Divine Skincare. I only promote what I love and use myself.
What is a holistic skin therapist?
Currently, most beauty professionals focus on reducing wrinkles, managing acne, and diminishing redness and these are all worthy goals. As a holistic skin therapist, my focus is to look beyond the surface of the skin and address the underlying problems. When focusing on the underlying problems, as a holistic skin therapist I will analyze and address skin health, diet and nutrition, lifestyle and stress, health and beauty practices, and skincare product use.
By using this comprehensive holistic skincare approach not only do people’s wrinkles, acne and redness improve but many clients experience better sleep, clarity of mind, relief from headaches and sinus problems, and an overall improvement in their health and wellbeing, just to mention a few.
How important is cleansing?
Cleansing is a basic and fundamental skincare practice that lays the foundation for other steps in our daily face care. You can say that is the starting point to healthy skincare. The fact is that most don’t know how to properly cleanse their skin and are drawn to harsh, stripping chemically-laden facial cleansers. Thankfully we are seeing a shift and women are reaching for plant-based skin cleansing products that effectively remove impurities and pollution and support the healthy function of our skin.
What is oil cleansing?
The oil cleansing method has been practiced for a very long time by women around the world (particularly within East Indian and Asian cultures) and is now gaining recognition and popularity in the West. This simple method of cleansing does a wonderful job at removing dirt and makeup whilst protecting our skin’s precious microbiome. A well-balanced microflora, which lives on the surface of our skin, is crucial to the health and beauty of our skin.
Will oil cleansing make my skin more oily?
There is a natural inclination to think that applying oil to our face will make our skin oily but this is not the case. When appropriate oils are used in a proper manner, every skin type including oily will benefit from oil cleansing. Oil cleansing actually helps to balance sebum production and your skin.
How do I wash my face using the oil cleansing method?
I love oil cleansing at the end of my day. It feels soothing and relaxing and it leaves my skin soft and glowing. Oil cleansing will take a few minutes of your time but it will be time well spent. You will need cleansing oil, a soft face cloth, and water.
Water temperature will depend on your skin type. Dry and oily skin likes very warm water for cleansing, while sensitive skin will prefer warm but definitely not hot water.
Ideally, you will use purified or at least previously boiled water to wash your face. Chlorine in tap water is very drying to our skin and strips our natural oils. It may cause irritation and itchiness, especially for sensitive skin.
How to Cleanse Your Face With Oil?
- Rinse your face with warm water.
- Put cleansing oil in the palm of your hand (a quarter-size amount will do).
- Apply cleansing oil to your face, neck, and decollete and massage it gently into your skin. Take your time (2-3 minutes).
- Place your face cloth in warm water, wring it out and apply it to your face.
- Compress your face with the cloth for a couple of minutes allowing yourself and your face to relax.
- Now wipe the oil off your face with gentle strokes. You may want to rinse the cloth and repeat the compressing process.
Up the benefits of oil cleansing by staying very present during this process. Focus on cleansing your skin but also on letting go and ‘washing’ the stress away from your face. Make sure that your face cloth is clean for each use.
Which are good oils to use?
If you want to use a single oil, jojoba would be my #1 pick. It is suitable for all skin types and it’s very similar to human sebum in its biochemistry which means that jojoba is bio-compatible with our skin.
What kind of results will I see?
If you have been using harsh, stripping cleansers for many years, this will be an adjustment for both you and your skin. Give it a couple of weeks to see more clarity, softness, and glow to your skin. Your skin will become healthier, more resilient, and well-balanced.
How do you choose an oil for your skin type?
I am tempted to ask first, are you sure that you know what your skin type is? I see so many new clients at my studio who are unclear about this.
Maybe their make-up-covered skin was once assessed by a salesperson at the drug or department store… obviously, this is not an ideal way to learn about your skin.
Whenever unsure, reach for jojoba oil. You can jazz it up with a few drops of essential oil and you will have a beautiful cleansing oil.
German chamomile, geranium, or sandalwood will make a lovely addition to sensitive skin.
Dry skin will benefit from ylang-ylang, rosemary, or immortelle.
Oily skin will like Eucalyptus, Lavender, or Tea tree.
Ideally, you can find a holistic skincare professional who will take the time to properly assess your skin and advise you on the best oils for your skin. But one thing is for sure, oil cleansing is here to stay and you ought to give it a try!
Briggy Stum
says:Hi there! Is doing the oil cleanse method enough to remove water resistant spf, make up and dirt? Or would you suggest a double cleanse using the jojoba oil twice and if so, how would that look? Thanks
Candice Batista
says:Hi Briggy,
he oil cleanse method can indeed be very effective in removing water-resistant SPF, makeup, and dirt, as oil can help to dissolve these substances. However, it might not always be sufficient, especially for heavy makeup or highly water-resistant sunscreens. In these cases, the double cleanse method might be more suitable.
The double cleanse method typically involves first using an oil-based cleanser, like jojoba oil, to break down and remove oil-based debris like SPF and makeup. Then, a second cleanse is performed, usually with a water-based cleanser, to clean away any remaining impurities.
However, if you’re considering a double cleanse using only jojoba oil, here’s what it would look like:
First cleanse: Apply a generous amount of jojoba oil to dry skin. Massage the oil into your skin in a circular motion for about a minute. This will help to break down the makeup, SPF, and dirt. Once you’re done massaging, rinse off the oil with lukewarm water.
Second cleanse: Repeat the process by applying a smaller amount of jojoba oil to your skin, massaging it in, and then rinsing it off. This second round of cleansing ensures that any residual makeup or SPF is fully removed.
Remember, whether you’re using the oil cleanse method or double cleansing, always be gentle with your skin, especially around the sensitive eye area. And finish your cleansing routine with a good-quality moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated and healthy.
If you find that double cleansing with jojoba oil isn’t completely removing your makeup or SPF, or it’s leaving your skin feeling too oily, you might want to consider incorporating a water-based or gel-based cleanser into your routine for the second cleanse.
hope this helps,
best
Candice
Lo
says:Thanks for the post. Great info. I do want to know should I cleanse my face with oil only after using makeup through out the day? Or also in the morning after waking up? And last but not least … Can I use any wash cloth?
Candice
says:Hi Lo, you can cleanse your face either in the morning or evening, I tend to do it at night, before bed. And I use a soft, organic cotton cloth from Oko Creations.
best,
Candice