Oil cleansing 101: Why this beauty technique will change your skin

Foaming cleansers, cream cleansers and hot cloth cleansers are undoubtedly terms that you have seen floating around the beauty world. Oil cleansing on the other hand, usually has people second guessing every piece of expert advice there is out there.

Oily skin is a huge problem area for a large percentage of people and for years, we have been told to clean our faces as thoroughly as possible to remove the possibility of bacteria and excess sebum. The main word people with oily skin look for is ‘matte’, whether it’s in a cream, toner or foundation. The last thing anyone wants their face to feel is oily as not only is it uncomfortable but highly embarrassing, too. Oil usually emphasises the pores on the skin and although this is completely natural, it is incredibly frustrating.

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However, oil is not always bad and in terms of cleansing, it may actually be the best thing you can do for your skin. Yes, oily skin, too. This is because oil dissolves oil and when there is so much dirt and sebum trapped in and on our skin, we need to soften it in order for it to be removed with ease. As oil trapped in the skin is also the cause of many skin issues such as blackheads and whiteheads, consistent oil cleansing can drastically improve your skin.

The correct way to oil cleanse is rather simple. Simply pour your preferred oil into your hands using a pure carrier oil such as olive, jojoba or almond oil. Alternatively you can use an actual cleansing oil such as the Biossance Squalane + Antioxidant Cleansing Oil or The Body Shop Chamomile Silky Cleansing Oil. Gently massage the oil into your skin using circular motions and taking extra time with problem areas. Then, soak a washcloth in warm water, leaning more towards the hot side and press this against the skin to allow the steam from the cloth to open your pores. Be careful not to use water that is too hot as you don’t want to damage your skin. Wipe off all of the oil with this washcloth until your face is smooth and clean.

When using the oil cleansing method to remove makeup, you can double cleanse by using another gentle cleanser after. The same rules still apply, although the last step changes and instead of rinsing off the oil with a cloth, this is where you would use a face wash or balm instead. Ultimately, it's all down to preference.

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This may seem like a pretty straight-forward, standard procedure that does not provide many benefits to the skin but the aim is to slowly release the dirt and bacteria that lead to skin issues and not scrub or wash them away with abrasive exfoliators and harsh cleansers. This causes the skin to become inflamed, which quickly leads to an array of skin issues. Instead, slowly decongest your skin with oil until you have achieved visible results.