Fear not, if adding oils to an already oily face has you gasping in shock. We’re about to blow your mind. There are myths a-plenty about how oil cleansing will lead to clogged pores and overly oily skin, when the truth is this is just isn’t the case. Oil cleansing has been huge in the beauty community for a while now, and it turns out it may be just what your skin was longing for.

The 101:

Since your skin naturally secretes oil, and that oil exists as a protective layer to prevent the skin from drying out, it stands to reason that we’re cleansing our skin the wrong way if we’re actually removing the skin’s natural defenses.

Enter oil cleansing.

A basic principle of organic chemistry is the “like dissolves like” solubility rule. To put that into laymen’s terms, this means the best thing to remove the oily build up on our faces would naturally be oils similar to the composition of the sebum (said face oils) would do the best job of removing impurities, while maintaining the natural balance of oils already present on our skin.

The how to:

Regular oils will usually not rinse off, which is why you need to rinse with a cloth. This action adds some very gentle exfoliation, which is an added bonus. If this is too much, there are skincare companies that make oils that emulsify and break up with water so they rinse clean. They usually smell nicer too, since they are blends of oils and other ingredients. Try cleansing once a week or once at night and learn what your skin responds to.

1. Place the hot, damp washcloth on your face for 20 seconds, allowing the steam to loosen any dirt and oil.
2. Take a tiny amount of oil in the palm of your hands. Massage into your skin for a minute or two. Remove your eye make-up last.
3. Take a soft washcloth wet with warm water, and lightly rub on your face to remove the oil.
4. Use the washcloth to gently wipe away the oil, and voila!
5. Lightly dry your skin, or let it air dry to avoid drying it with a towel, which can be harsh on skin. Your skin will feel super soft, and not tight and irritated like it might after using a harsh cleanser.

Selecting per skin type:

Oily skin:

The same way you should avoid traditional foaming cleansers that leave your skin feeling squeaky clean because what’s actually happening is that you’re likely stripping your skin and causing it to go into overdrive, in turn producing more oil – it’s important to note that cleansers that contain oils with astringent properties can help reduce greasiness, while not diminishing hydration.

Dry skin:

If your struggles sit here, oil cleansing is going to be the dream for you, girlfriend. Your problem is likely that your skin may not be producing enough sebum to adequately hydrate it. Facial oil can act as both a cleanser and a leave-on moisturiser to rebalance your skin.

Acne-prone skin:

Oils like castor contain anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties, which can help, alleviate acne.

Combination skin:

Treat the areas of your face rather than applying the same method over-all. For example, you can follow the directions for oily skin on the areas of your face that oil builds up, and spot moisturise with additional oil on dry areas of your face.