Hello and thank you for stopping by.
We are going to dive deep and learn about cleansing oil for face.
Cleansing oil for face has been a controversial product for many people. Some people report that it clogs their pores and that there is no need in using cleansing oil.
To be honest, I really think that people who complain about clogged pores and irritation from this type of oil just have not found “their” product yet.
There are many reasons, why a product does not suit us: we did not consider skin type, do not know our own ingredient sensitivities or we did not read product label carefully and picked up a product that, for example, contains bad alcohols.
Many people also confuse mineral oil and cleansing oil. Mineral oil has nothing to do with the other oil; and in fact, mineral oil will clog your pores and cause skin irritation and dryness.
Protective skin barrier. Why it is important and how you can damage it.
In order to understand what cleansing oil do, we first have to recall some basic skin structure. We are interested in outer protective skin barrier.
You can read this blog post to learn more about protective skin layer.
In very simple words, our skin has an outer skin layer that protects us from pathogens and other harmful organisms. It also holds in moisture and protects it from escaping the skin.
When this layer is intact, we are good. However, if it is damaged, then we get skin diseases, dryness and irritation, flaky patches and even infections.
There are many reasons why our protective barrier gets damaged. Few of them are overuse of cosmetic alcohols (using products with bad alcohols), using products that are not suitable for our skin type; over exfoliating; overuse of skin peels and skin acids and so on.
Cleansing face too often, too harsh with harsh cleansers can also contribute to outer skin barrier damage.
And this is when cleansing oil comes into play.
What is cleansing oil good for?
There are a lot of impurities accumulate on our skin through the day including our own oil (sebum).
Cleansing oil combines with your skin oil and “bad” oils from other skin care products and makeup. When you massage “good oil” into your skin, oils in your cleanser attach to dirt, pollutants, foundation, and other impurities. So once you wash cleansing oil away, you will wash off dirt and “bad” oils from your skin as well.
Many oil-free face cleansers strip off our skin’s natural oils. That makes our skin dry, irritated, have flaky patches and even micro wounds.
Cleansing oil is a surfactant meaning it reduces tension on the surface of the skin while we are trying to get rid of the dirt and impurities.
It also protects skin’s pH which is less traumatic for the skin. Every time we wash the face, we disturb skin’s normal pH balance.
To summarize
1. cleansing oil method removes well dirt and other impurities
2. keeps protective skin barrier intact
3. removes “bad” oils
4. moisturizes skin while cleaning it
5. helps to maintain skin’s pH balance
6. it also has many hydrating and moisturizing ingredients (depends on the manufacturer) that add to the benefits (whitening, brightening, exfoliating, nourishing and so on)
Can I use cleansing oil if I have oily skin?
I think many people get confused here. At least I was. My skin was oily as it was, why on earth would I add extra oil to it?
However, washing your face with oil will actually reduce skin oil products. And as a result reduce grease and shine on your skin.
Why?
When we have oily skin, we tend to wash this all oil away, we want oil free squeaky clean face.
The problem is, when we remove natural oils from the surface, we make our skin dry. Our body detects that there is not enough oil on the surface of the skin and starts producing more and more oil to compensate for removed one.
The more oil we remove, the more our body will produce. And that leads to unpleasant skin shine.
So, we actually need to introduce cleansing oil to our routine to avoid everything I just mentioned.
I think I noticed results after about a month of introducing cleansing oil into my routine. I stopped using blotching paper in the middle of the day.
Will cleansing oil clog pores?
The simple answer is NO, it should not.
In fact cleansing oil assist in removing dirt from the pores.
However, if you picked a product that is not suitable for your skin type, then it might cause more damage than good.
I also think it depends on what kind of oils were added to the cleansing oil.
We know that there are some comedogenic oil – oils that do clog pores.
Logically, if some of those oils are added into cleansing oil, then that oil will likely cause clogged pores.
Also, I read that very few people just cannot use cleansing oil. It does not matter what they do, they still end up either with allergies, or clogged pores.
So, I guess, it is like with anything – there is no universal product that will satisfy every one.
This blogger made a very nice table where she pointed comedogenic rating for an oil. The higher the number, the more likely that oil will clog your pores and cause blackheads. Babeandbeayty
Do you wash off cleansing oil?
Absolutely
It is best to wash off cleansing oil with water-based non-foamy cleanser. This method of cleansing is called double—cleansing method.
Cleansing oil will remove all “bad” oils and impurities and water-based cleanser will assist with washing them away.
Foamy cleanser are more harsh on your skin and that is why they are not recommended.
Can you use cleansing oil everyday? When should I use cleansing oil?
The best time to use cleansing oil is in the evening, after a long hard day. And yes, you should use it every day.
Just think of what collects on our skin during regular working day: smog from transportation, make up, sunscreen, dust, dirt, and other environmental pollutants.
Our skin desperately needs thorough cleansing at the end of the day. That means going extra step and using an oil. I also have a whole blog post on how to cleanse the face the right way.
You can skin double-cleansing in the morning, if you had an average uneventful night.
I find that simple lukewarm water does the job just fine.
Can I use cleansing oil without makeup?
Yes.
I always use cleansing oil in the evening regardless whether I had makeup on or not.
I just feel how my of my own skin oil, dirt and dust collected on the skin surface, and cleansing face with oil takes it all away.
Does oil cleansing remove blackheads?
Cleansing oil alone will not remove blackheads.
However, in combination with other skin care products, that are designed for blackheads removal, it can contribute to the cause.
To be honest, I would concentrate on picking the oil that :
- is very gentle and hypoallergenic
- has many surfactants
- balances pH
- brightens the skin
I would concentrate on other products to remove blackheads (AHA, BHA, peels, etc).
What is the best oil facial cleanser?
(This post contains affiliate links. That means that if you make a purchase, I might receive a small commission at no extra cost to you)
I know this is one of the most popular questions.
And I am always cautious to answer it.
Because, you see, I do not believe that anybody has an honest answer to it.
What is good for me and 100 other people, could give you allergies and clogged pores. And visa versa.
Having said that, I do understand that there are some products that many, many people tried and loved.
Cleansing oil products recommendations
Cleansing Oil Burt’s Bees – this oil has high rating by consumers. This cleansing oil contains “Coconut and Argan Oils. These natural oils combined help keep skin soft, clean, and beautifully nourished. Antioxidant rich ingredients, this facial cleanser gently removes dirt and make-up without leaving an oily residue. It is dermatologist-tested and scientifically shown to cleanse and soften skin, naturally. It is 100% natural with no parabens, phthalates, petrolatum or SLS”
Klairs – Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil – Allows mild yet effective cleansing of dirt and makeup without causing irritation. It contains natural oils extracted from black bean to control sebum production and soothe skin. Black sesame oil to provide antioxidants, and black currant seed oil to provide minerals and vitamins. Suitable for sensitive skin.
Rohto HADALABO Gokujun Cleansing Oil – is is a very good Japanese cleansing oil. It effectively removes all make up, dirt and impurities. However, leaves skin soft and moisturized. This oil is on my “to order” list once we are able to receive products from abroad due to pandemic.
DHC Cleansing Oil – has very good reviews by consumers. It removes makeup, dirt and other buildup through the day. Contains olive oil, rosemary oil and Vitamin E.
Palmers Skin Therapy Cleansing Oil – Gently deep cleanse skin with the power of Pure Cleansing Oils, Cocoa Butter and Vitamin C. Dissolves dirt, oil and make-up and rinses perfectly clean without stripping. Purifies complexion for clear, soft and brighter looking skin. Ideal for all skin types. Free of all harmful ingredients. Also this oil is quite affordable comparing to others.
Innisfree Tea Tree Cleansing Oil – I had it and I loved it. It did everything cleansing oil was supposed to do: removed dirt and left my skin soft and moisturized. I loved slightly bitter smell of this product.
What Is The Skin Barrier and Why You Should Care About It
8 Steps to Do a Facial Clean Up At Home
Stay Beautiful!!!!!