Sometimes washing your face, just won’t help get rid of those blemishes and sometimes your favorite facial wash could even be the reason as to why you are breaking out. So when incidents like this happen what are you to do? Have you thought of giving oil cleansing a try?
We all have different skin types, and if you have oily skin you might think that cleansing your skin with more oil is a bit absurd. On the contrary, using a specific blend of natural oils to help cleanse the skin and naturally balance your skin’s sebum production can actually nourish and moisturize the skin more than traditional and detergent-based facial cleansers can.
If you’re faithfully using your store-bought cleansers and haven’t noticed any improvements in your skin, maybe it’s time to give your facial wash a break and try cleansing your face with natural oils instead. If you don’t know where to start, don’t worry, there are plenty of oil combinations you could use for all skin types.
Oil Cleansing 101
If you have never heard of oil cleansing, the phrase you should always remember is “like dissolves like.” Scientifically speaking, it is a proven fact that oil dissolves oil. The best way to dissolve a non-polar solvent like sebum or natural facial oil is by using another non-polar solvent like a carrier oil that imitates your skin’s natural oil. By doing this you’ll dissolve any dirt and impurities that your face has accumulated throughout the day and replace it with clean oils.
Oil cleansing is a great method for oily and acne-prone skin because it doesn’t strip the skin of its natural oils, but it is also useful for dry skin, sensitive skin and eczema as well.
When you formulate your cleansing blend, you should do so in three parts. Castor oil, carrier oil and a few drops of essential oils.
Castor oil would serve as your cleaning agent because it breaks up and cleanses out the sebum stuck in your pores. The carrier oil helps replenish the oil that the castor oil has removed and essential oils have skin promoting benefits that’ll help you maintain that glowing complexion.
There are plenty of combinations you can use to help support your skin’s needs, and we’ve gathered recipes that might be useful for each skin type.
Oil Cleansing Blend for Sensitive Skin
- Apricot kernel oil
- Hexane-free castor oil
- Argan oil
- Sweet almond oil
- Avocado oil
- Geranium essential oil
- Lavender essential oil
- Helichrysum essential oil
Oil Cleansing Blend for Dry Skin
- Rosehip seed oil
- Sea buckthorn oil
- Sunflower oil
- Grapeseed oil
- Hexane-free castor oil
- Cedarwood essential oil
- Clary sage essential oil
Oil Cleansing Blend for Acne and Oily Skin
- Hemp oil
- Hexane-free castor oil
- Jojoba oil
- Apricot kernel oil
- Grapeseed oil
- Lemongrass essential oil
- Rosemary essential oil
Oil Cleansing Blend for Normal and Combination Skin
- Hexane-free castor oil
- Jojoba oil
- Grapeseed oil
- Avocado oil
- Geranium essential oil
- Lavender essential oil
Recipes inspired by Blooming in Bedlam.
Mix these oils together and add a few drops of the essential oils. Make sure you perform a skin test before you use it on your face to prevent any allergic reactions.
To use, apply a generous amount to your face while you’re in the shower. Steam the oil into your skin using a wet facial cloth, wipe your face, rinse the cloth and repeat. Follow up with a toner and a light moisturizer if you choose to do so.
