01 Nov 2020
Anuji Gunasekara
Skincare 101
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All about facial cleansing oil

and how to deep cleanse using cleansing oil and a cloth

Not so long ago, ‘oil’ was a creepy word in the skincare. But because of the concept called double cleansing, starting the beauty routine with a gets-it-all off approach, cleansing oil has become a wildly popular beauty trend now.

Cleansing oils do a stellar job at melting away surface debris, excess oil, sunscreen, makeup including waterproof mascara to leave your skin extra clean. Slathering oil into the skin is in contrast to washing with water, which repels from oil. And, the theory behind cleansing oils is different compared to water-soluble cleansers.

How does cleansing oil work?

Oil cleansers are lipophilic (oil naturally attracts one another) that act as solvents to dissolve sebum or oil-like ingredients in makeup and sunscreens quickly. Cleansing oil also contains surfactants that help rinse impurities dissolved in oil, removing without disturbing the skin barrier.

Benefits of Cleansing Oil

The oils are the stars of the show; the surfactants give additional cleansing power. Moreover, oil cleanser cleanses gently but thoroughly, and has no risk of stripping or over-drying the skin, unlike their foamy, gel or soapy face wash counterparts. Besides, they balance and soften the skin.

Thanks to the characteristic of cleansing oil, it prevents accumulation of sebum in pores and clogging by melting blackheads and whiteheads, and removing clogged or plugged oil when pairing it with proper exfoliation. We will dive deep into the topic of exfoliation in the future post.

Wrapping up

Easily and quickly removes all types of oil-soluble ingredients in makeup and sunscreens
Lifts excess oily substance (sebum) produced by glands on the skin.
Cleans out clogged pores like blackheads and whiteheads when pairing with proper exfoliation.
Compatible with any other type of cleanser that you incorporate into double cleansing.
Leaves skin feeling supple and smooth.

What skin types can benefits from cleansing oil?

While cleansing oil is an excellent pick for dry, mature or sensitive types, they work well on all skin types, including acne-prone skin. Traditional cleansers can stress the skin, cause excessive dryness, and worsen acne, ultimately resulting in overproducing oil after washing. On the other hand, oil cleansing can help balance and hydrates the skin.

Recent research has shown that using oils instead of traditional soap or cleansers can also help preserve the natural lipid barrier of the skin and the friendly bacteria that live there in turns protecting against infection like acne. Furthermore, oils used for cleansing feature healing properties, vital nutrients, and other skin-boosting benefits that promote the overall health of the skin.

How to deep cleanse with cleansing oil and a cloth

Apply 2-3 pumps of oil on dry hands and massage gently over dry face in circular motions. (Enjoy this part)
Hold your face cloth or muslin under the warm water and get it nice and warm.
Drape the warm, steamy cloth over your face for 5-10 seconds.* (Optional)
Gently wipe the face clean with the steamy wet muslin cloth.
Rinse the cloth and repeat the steaming/wiping process as needed.

*The steam from the warm water helps soften and loosen dead skin cells, and the cloth gently buffs them away! This is a super-gentle way to exfoliate your skin without causing irritation.

After all, cleansing oil is a lovely addition to your skincare routine, whether used as part of a double cleanse or alone.

Let us know if you use cleansing oil and if you double cleanse or not.

Reference:

Anuji Gunasekara

Cosmetic / Formulation Chemist

M.Sc. in Medical Microbiology, B.Sc. in Applied Science (major in Chemistry and Botany) and more than 8 years of industrial experience. In her career, she has formulated 600+ new products, reformulated existing products and created experimental studies to resolve problems during projects.