Cleansing the dirt and grime of the day from your face is an essential nighttime ritual for many. Most people use a facial cleanser to get the job done. But cleaning the face using oil-based cleansers has recently become popular in skin care because of its benefits for the skin.
Our skin produces oil, and it needs oil to keep the skin hydrated and protected. Although too much oil mixed with bacteria and other impurities can cause acne and breakouts. So, there be a good balance between oil production and getting rid of oil from your skin completely.
Using oil-based cleansers is based on oil attracting oil and providing a gentle, thorough cleanse. Oil-based cleansers gently dissolve makeup, excess sebum, and sunscreen from the skin and, at the same time, deeply penetrate the pores to dissolve the “bad” oils and bacteria, as well as infuse the skin with essential vitamins.
Continue reading to find out which oils are suitable for your skin type and how to maximize the benefits of oil-based cleansing.
What Is Oil Cleansing?
Oil cleansing clears away dirt, excess sebum, makeup, and sweat from your skin using cleansing oils, helping maintain the natural oil balance of your skin. Based on your skin type, you can clean and nourish your skin using one or a combination of oils.
According to ancient practices, natural oils help clear your skin pores, remove harmful toxins, hydrate your skin, and balance your skin’s sebum secretions. It also helps your skin stays safe from bacterial, viral, and fungal infections due to anti-microbial compounds like phenols, terpenes, and aldehydes.
Oil cleansing is entirely safe and natural, unlike soaps and face washes that contain harmful and often carcinogenic chemicals. According to Ayurveda, oil cleansing balances your Vata and pitta doshas to stimulate good Kapha to keep your skin moisturized.
How Does it Work?
The main idea of the oil cleansing method is that oil dissolves oil. As a result, oil cleansing can easily remove dirt, excess sebum, and even waterproof makeup. Cleansing oils are used to soften the dirt and makeup residues and remove the dirty lipids from your face. The excellent oil replaces the bad oil and keeps your skin hydrated.
What Are The Benefits Of Oil Cleansing?
Anti-Aging Properties
The cleansing oils contain antioxidants that prevent oxidative stress and prevent wrinkles, lines, and other signs of aging. These oils also promote collagen production and help new cell growth, keeping your skin young and tight.
Balances Sebum Secretions
Recent research has proven that the widespread belief that usual cleansers keep your skin oil-free is wrong. Harsh cleansers strip the natural lipids, leaving your skin to overdry. It will stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum to counter the effect of the cleanser, leaving your skin more oily.
Controls Acne Conditions
The most significant benefit of oil cleansing is preventing the two primary causes of acne-clogged pores and acne bacteria. Our skin pores usually get blocked by excess sebum, dirt, and dead skin. When bacteria get trapped in pores, it leads to infection and inflamed acne conditions.
Oil cleansing softens the impurities, making it easy to remove the plug. The antibacterial oils help reduce the spread of bacteria, ensuring quick healing of the acne condition and preventing it from coming back.
Control Chronic Skin Conditions
Oil cleansing effectively prevents eczema and psoriasis flare-ups usually triggered by dryness, weather changes, and skin irritants in skincare products. The healing properties in the oil cleansing method soothe your skin and protect it from external damages.
Gently Cleanse Your Skin
Cleansing oils are devoid of sulfates, parabens, and other harmful chemicals. They prevent skin damage from abrasion and chemical exposure. These oils gently dissolve dirt, makeup, and excess sebum that clogs the pores.
Improves Blood Circulation
Massaging oil on your skin improves blood circulation under your skin during oil cleansing. It ensures a better in-flow of oxygen and nutrition to the skin cells and keeps your skin young and healthy.
Prevents Dryness
Skin experts advise against conventional cleansing products containing high amounts of sulfates because it causes dryness on your skin. These conventional cleansers also remove your skin’s natural oil that keeps it moisturized as it removes superficial dirt. On the other hand, the cleansing oils prevent dryness and add hydration to your skin.
Prevents Infections
Oil cleansing uses various oils such as castor oil, frankincense oil, lavender, tea tree oil, and others with excellent anti-microbial properties. Those oils help prevent skin conditions like ringworm, folliculitis, and yeast infections.
Protects Acid Mantle
The acid mantle formed by sweat, sebum, and the naturally occurring microbiome on your body acts as a protective barrier for the skin. It prevents pathogen invasion, keeping your skin free from infections. Regularly using harsh cleansers removes essential sebum and kills the good bacteria on your skin.
Once your skin’s acid mantle is too low, your skin becomes vulnerable to fungal and bacterial skin conditions. Oil cleansing is a natural cleansing method that keeps your skin healthy by fostering the growth of good bacteria on your skin.
Removes Harmful Toxins
Based on Ayurveda, dust, exposure to the sun, and other environmental damages aggravate your doshas or life energies. It causes the accumulation of harmful amatoxins, which cause various skin conditions. The herbal oils in oil cleansing help balance your doshas and remove toxins from your skin.
How To Use Oil Cleanse
To oil clean your face, you can choose one or a combination of oils depending on your skin needs. To achieve maximum benefit from cleansing oils, follow the steps below:
- Pour about 5 to 10ml (1-2 teaspoons) of oil into your palm.
- Apply it all over your face.
- Gently massage your face using your fingertips in an upward clockwise direction to remove impurities and prevent your skin from sagging.
- Leave the oil on your face for 3-5 minutes so your skin can absorb the goodness of the oil.
- Use a warm damp cloth or towel to wipe off your face’s dirt and excess oil.
Note: You may use a gentle cleanser to remove excess oils on your face. If your skin feels dry, you may also use moisturizer.
Choose A Cleansing Oil Based on Skin Types
To know your skin type, consult your Ayurvedic doctor. It will help you decide which oils are best suited for your Prakriti or body constitution.
Best Oils For Dry Skin
Avocado Oil – is a known remedy for dry skin. Oil cleansing your face daily with castor and avocado oil can heal skin peeling. With fatty acids, vitamins, and other essential nutrients, avocado oil protects your skin from sunburns and damage from oxidative stress. It also displays anti-inflammatory abilities, which help in healing acne conditions.
Olive Oil – Olive oil nourishes dry skin. It soothes, softens, and hydrates your skin. It is also known for antioxidant properties that keep your skin young. It can heal skin damaged by over-exposure to the sun.
Rosehip Seed Oil – gives your skin Vitamin A, C, and essential fatty acids like linoleic acid and oleic acid that help prevent skin aging and collagen depletion. Rosehip oil also helps heal scars and hyperpigmentation caused by acne or skin conditions like eczema.
Sweet Almond Oil – nourishes and heals dry skin because it is rich in Vitamin E and other skin benefitting compounds. Its soothing properties help seal moisture within your skin and keep it hydrated for long hours. The fatty acids in almond oil also prevent chronic skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis flare-ups.
Best Oils For Oily, Acne-Prone & Combination Skin
Clove Oil – is widely used for its excellent medicinal properties. The main component of clove oil is Eugenol which reduces skin irritations and pain during inflamed acne and other skin conditions.
Its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties prevent bacterial growth in your skin pores, reduce inflammation, and prevent acne aggravation. Clove oil in oil cleansing regulates sebum secretions and keeps your oily skin healthy.
Jojoba Oil – Being very similar in composition to the sebum naturally produced by your sebaceous glands, jojoba oil helps balance your skin’s oil secretion. It is an excellent moisturizer for oily skin, as it locks in essential moisture without making your skin feel greasy. Jojoba also has anti-inflammatory properties, which keep acne conditions at bay.
Tea Tree Oil – is an irreplaceable ingredient in an oily skin care routine. It has astringent, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory properties that help regulate most oily skin problems. It is also rich in antioxidants that slow down skin aging.
Peppermint Oil – prevents greasy skin and clogged pores, controlling acne problems. Because of menthol, this oil gives your skin a relaxed, refreshing feel after every use. It also enhances blood circulation, which keeps your skin healthy.
Geranium Oil – is an excellent option for those with oily or combination skin. It is also famous as an anti-aging agent because it reduces the appearance of fine lines and prevents skin sagging.
Hibiscus Oil – acts as a natural botox for skin facing aging issues because it boosts collagen production and prevents wrinkles and lines. Hibiscus oil acts like magic on oily, acne-prone, or combination by balancing the sebum secretions. Because of its high mucilage content, this herbal oil likewise provides the right amount of hydration to your skin while keeping it oil-free.
Eucalyptus Oil – This therapeutic oil has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Eucalyptus oil in an oil cleansing regime prevents the bacteria from the spread and helps control inflammatory acne conditions in oily skin.
Best Oils For Sensitive Skin
Calendula Oil – extracted from marigold flowers, has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antibacterial properties that soothe allergy-prone-skin. It keeps you hydrated and protected from various skin conditions.
Grapeseed Oil – is a safe oil for all skin types and does not clog your pores. Grapeseed oil keeps your skin moisturized without irritating it.
Sunflower Oil – is gentle on sensitive skin. It keeps sensitive skin protected from allergic reactions and sun damage because it is an excellent source of vitamin E.
Best Oils For Normal Skin
Argan Oil – is an excellent choice for people with normal skin who prioritizes anti-aging. Its antioxidant components keep your skin wrinkle-free and enhance your skin’s elasticity. It can also block UV rays and promote wound healing.
Almond, avocado jojoba, olive, rosehip, and sunflower are good options for oil cleansing normal skin.
The oil cleansing method usually leaves your skin soft, well-hydrated, clear skin that feels nourished and damage-free. It also reduces wrinkles and improves acne conditions. Try including oil cleansing in your daily skincare routine and see the difference in just a few weeks.