Oil Cleansing for Clear Skin
Do you suffer from acne, blackheads, clogged pores or irritated skin? Or maybe your skin is relatively problem-free, but you want it to look dewy and glowified. (um, who doesn’t?).
Then consider nixing harsh cleansers and trying the oil cleansing method. Not only will you have radiant, clear skin, you’ll save money– and gain peace of mind knowing that you’re putting less chemicals in your body.
Though the mainstream beauty industry tells us that the road to clear, blemish-free skin is paved with foaming cleansers and exfoliating scrubs, the oil cleansing method offers an effective-yet-gentle alternative. This is because the synthetic ingredients in many cleansers (whether they’re the spendy ones sold at Sephora or the cheaper ones at Walgreens) can dry out your skin and damage its acid mantle, thereby worsening existing skin conditions like acne or blotchiness.
Oil Dissolves Oil
It may seem counter-intuitive to douse your skin with oil, but it’s not. The idea behind the oil cleansing method is that oil dissolves the oil and impurities that have hardened and lodged in your pores.
For deep cleansing, use a mixture of castor oil (excellent for penetrating the skin and drawing out impurities) and an unprocessed oil like extra-virgin olive (almond, jojoba and sunflower oils are also effective).
For more info on oil cleansing go to http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com/
Here are some guidelines (based on skin type):
- Oily Skin: Try a blend of 30% Castor Oil to 70% Olive Oil (or your choice of oil).
- Normal Skin: Try a blend of 20% Castor Oil to 80% Olive Oil.
- Dry Skin: Try a blend of 10% Castor Oil to 90% Olive Oil.
What You’ll Need:
An unprocessed oil like extra-virgin olive oil, jojoba oil or almond oil
- Castor oil
- Hot water
- A clean wash cloth
Get Started
- Massage oil mixture in the into your face and neck. Do this over your makeup or any visible grime.
- Soak washcloth in hot, steamy water, wring it out and drape over your face. As the it cools, wipe off the oil. Rinse washcloth in warm water and continue wiping away the oily residue.
- Splash face with cool water and apply moisturizer (if your skin feels tight).
To be clear, the oil cleansing method I’ve described is best for deep cleansing. Therefore, you probably don’t want to do it every day. Depending on your skin type, you may want to try this a couple times a week or a few times a month. However, you can still incorporate oil into your daily skincare routine. I use jojoba oil to remove my eye makeup and also as amoisturizer for my face and body. Experiment with different oils to find what works best for you.
