Ask the Experts: Oil Cleansing

This month, beauty expert Carol Aplin has been teachings us about the benefits of oil cleansing.

What is Oil Cleansing?

Did you know that you can use oil to remove makeup and wash your face; even if your skin is oily? It’s true! This involves washing your face with.... well, you guessed it: oil.

That bottle of Pink&Green’s peach kernel cleansing oil is about to be your new best friend. 

Though it sounds somewhat crazy at first, the notion of using natural oils to cleanse the skin gently actually makes a lot of sense. The idea of oil cleansing is to use natural oils to cleanse the skin and naturally balance the skin’s natural oils. This produces much more nourished and moisturised skin than traditional soap and detergent based facial cleansers.

Using oil to wash your face means that it will naturally dissolve the dirty oils on your skin without stripping it, or using harsh chemicals. Not only is this method simpler, more affordable, better for your skin, and eco-friendly, but the oil-cleansing method is the best make-up remover I've ever found. It removes mascara, eyeliner, foundation, everything—all in one step! 

Most facial cleansers are “oil free”.  Here's the problem, though: when our skin is stripped of its natural oils, it produces more oil to compensate. For those with oily skin, this means more breakouts, blackheads, and aggravated skin. For those with dry skin or sensitive skin, it means the skin is going to get even drier and more irritated.

By using your facial cleansing oil, you can cleanse your pores of dirt and bacteria naturally, gently and effectively, while replacing the dirty oil with beneficial ones extracted from natural botanicals, vegetables and fruit that heal, protect and nourish your skin. When done properly and consistently, the Oil Cleansing Method can clear the skin from issues like oily skin, dry skin, sensitive skin, and other problems–while leaving your skin healthy, balanced and properly moisturised.

To Wash Your Face Using the Oil Cleansing Method

Dispense about 3 drops of the oil blend into your hand and massage into the skin on your face (don’t wet skin first).

Use smooth circular strokes and let this also be a gentle facial massage. Massage for at least a minute (two minutes is better) or until you are sure that the oil has saturated your skin. This will also remove make-up very effectively, so there is no need to remove make-up first. You can even leave the oil on the skin for up to 10 minutes to really deep clean pores.

Place a clean washcloth under very hot tap water until it is completely soaked and quickly wring it out (Pink&Green’s 100% organic muslin cloth is perfect for this). Open it and place over your face. This will create steam against the skin to remove the oils and any impurities in the skin. Leave the wash cloth on for about a minute, or until it cools. Repeat if needed with the other side of the washcloth and then use the corners of the washcloth to gently remove any remaining oil. There will still be a thin layer of oil on the skin and this is beneficial.

Note

It is normal for it to take a week or so for skin to adjust, and you may even see more oily skin or more breakouts during this time as impurities leave the skin. If you can, resist the urge to use harsh soaps or facial cleansers during this time, as it will make the adjustment period take longer.