I've written about many natural beauty ideas before, but oil cleansing may be one of the simplest. It's one of the most effective natural beauty tips I've found for healthy, clear skin. Here's how to add it to yours skin care routine and why it can work so well!
I admit, I was skeptical before I first tried this oil cleansing method. My skin is naturally oily and I wasn't sure it would work for me. I too had very acne prone skin when I was younger and was afraid that a method like this would bring back the acne…I was wrong!
What is oil cleansing?
It may sound crazy, but the idea of using natural oils to gently cleanse the skin makes a lot of sense. The basic idea is to use natural oils in a specific combination to naturally cleanse and balance the skin's natural oils. This produces more nourished and hydrated skin than a detergent-based face wash.
The basic concept of oil cleansers is to use oil to massage and cleanse the skin. Licorice melts and carrier oils help dissolve dirt stuck in pores. The warm water then opens up the pores allowing blemishes and sebum to be easily removed.
Proponents of OCM claim it can help oily skin, dry skin, sensitive skin, blackheads and whiteheads. The types of oil you choose depend on your skin type.
Natural makeup remover
Many cosmetic products have oil in them and cleansing with oil can help remove that too. Use it to remove powder foundation, mascara and even eye makeup! Here are more DIY makeup remover ideas.
Does the oil cleansing method work?
This is the part I'm most excited to share! Even in my third trimester, when my skin usually goes a little crazy with hormones, I had ZERO breakouts! I've been using oil cleansers for a few months to avoid blemishes and remove makeup.
When I first started using oil cleansing, I had an adjustment period where my skin got worse for about a week. Most sources I've seen suggest that this is a detox reaction as impurities are drawn from the skin. That's definitely what it seemed to be for me. After that, my skin gradually improved and after 3-4 weeks of using only the oil cleanser, I had no excess oil, no dryness and no blackheads.
I asked several friends and family members who now use the oil cleansing method how it works for them, and seemed to have the same results. Some have even noted that the combination of oil cleansing and taking gelatin daily has been the best anti-aging treatment!
Ingredients for cleaning oil
Want to try oil cleansing and see the results for yourself? All you need are some natural oils and a clean, damp cloth!
The most common oils used are castor oil and olive oil, although you can use any natural oil. Castor oil is naturally astringent, so it helps draw impurities from the skin. This makes it ideal for oily or combination skin (and even dry skin in smaller amounts). While I use castor oil packs to help with detoxification, it can be too harsh if used undiluted as an oil cleanser.
You will mix castor oil with another carrier oil (or several) that match your skin type. The other preferred oil to use is olive oil, although sunflower, sunflower or even coconut oil can work.
What oils work best for oil cleansing?
Some oils, such as rose oil and castor oil, are more astringent (drying) than others. Others like olive oil can be too harsh for naturally oily skin. Here are some oil cleansing options and how they work:
Base oils
These are oils to be used in larger quantities along with castor oil.
- Avocado oil – Good for combination, dry or mature skin.
- Grape seed oil – Light oil that is good for oily or acne-prone skin.
- Sunflower oil – A lighter oil that is good for combination or oily skin.
- Sweet almond oil – Good for oily, sensitive or combination skin types.
- Coconut oil – This works really well for some and not so well for others. It can be very drying and pore clogging, especially for acne. However, some people love it in skin care products.
- Olive oil – My favorite oil to use. Great for mature or dry skin, but I found it worked well for my slightly oilier skin as well. Make sure you get real olive oil, as most of what you find in the store is mixed with other, cheaper oils.
Specialized carrier oils
These work great for adding a little more customization to your OCM mix. They are a more concentrated source of skin-loving nutrients. You can add just a little of these to your oil blend for great benefits.
- Rose oil – This astringent oil is great for oilier skin types, but in smaller amounts it's also a good antiaging oil. Full of vitamins A and C to help with scar tissue, blemishes and wrinkles.
- Argan oil – Filled with vitamins A and E, antioxidants and linoleic acid. It is emollient, helps protect against free radical damage, is anti-aging and hydrating.
- Jojoba oil – Similar to skin sebum, jojoba has vitamins E and B as well as minerals. It won't clog pores and is great for all skin types.
- Essential oils – Although these are not carrier oils, they deserve to be mentioned. They provide additional skin benefits to help fight aging, inflammation and blemishes. Some of my favorites are lavender, tea tree, frankincense, sweet orange, and cedarwood. Just add a drop or two to your OCM mixture (but make sure to avoid the eyes!).
Want to buy it?: Don't want to buy the oils yourself and make it yourself? This is handmade oil cleaning mixture it smells divine and works well for oil cleansing.
Oil cleaning mixture
If you are new to oil cleansing, it may take a few tries to figure out which oil blend works best for you. I used a mixture of 3/4 olive oil and 1/4 castor or hazelnut oil and it is perfect for my skin. You can also try the following:
- Oily skin: 1/3 castor oil OR hazelnut oil and 2/3 sunflower, grapeseed or sweet almond oil.
- Combination skin: 1/4 castor oil or hazelnut oil and 3/4 olive, sweet almond, sunflower or other oil
- Dry skin: All nutritious oils such as avocado or olive oilor a very small amount of castor/hazelnut oil added to nourishing oils.
Start with the amounts suggested above for your skin type and adjust if necessary. When I started, I mixed very small batches until I found the right mix for me.
I've also found that pure coconut oil can also work well once the skin has been conditioned, although it can be drying on some skin types. A friend uses a mixture of half and half coconut oil AND olive oil that she mixes in a blender to create a cream, and it works perfectly for her.
Oil Cleansing Tutorial
Now that you know which oils to use, here's how to make OCM!
- Pour a quarter amount of the oil mixture into your hand and massage into your dry skin. Use gentle circular motions to massage it for 1-2 minutes. If you have makeup on, you don't need to wash it off first!
- Optional: Leave the oil on for up to 10 minutes to deeply cleanse skin cells and pores.
- Dampen a clean washcloth in very hot water and place the wet washcloth over your face for a minute or so. This creates steam to remove any oil and dirt from the skin. Repeat if necessary.
- Use the cloth to gently remove any remaining oil. There will still be a thin layer of oil on the skin and this is helpful.
- Most people do not need a moisturizer after the adjustment period. However, if you still have dry skin, try reducing the castor oil in your mixture and using it some lotion to hydrate.
Frequently asked questions of the oil purification method
Acne Oil Cleansing
It is normal for the skin to adjust in about a week. You may even see more oily skin or breakouts during this time as impurities are removed from the skin. If you can, resist the urge to use harsh soaps or facial cleansers, as this will make the adjustment period last longer.
You can also speed up the detoxification process by using one clay face mask once or twice a week.
Oils are not working for me
Even if you don't have acne-prone skin, you may still have an adjustment period. And you'll likely have to experiment with different oils to find your perfect oil ratio. If your skin is very dry afterwards, then reduce the castor oil (or rosehip oil if using). If it's too oily, try a lighter weight oil or increase the castor oil you use.
If you find that your skin really doesn't like it after a month (and you've already tried different oils), then OCM may not be a good option for your skin.
Cleaning up afterwards
If you do this in the shower, make sure you clean the shower floor regularly so it doesn't slip! Some readers have also asked how to clean the cloth afterwards. I do a separate load of laundry for them and wash on hot. You can also follow washing with a vinegar rinse before drying.
Have you ever tried oil cleansing? Did it work for you? Share below!
