What is Oil Cleansing? Everything You Need to Know

What is Oil Cleansing? Everything You Need to Know – Angie Cruise Blog

What is Oil Cleansing? Everything You Need to Know

It might sound crazy, but oil cleansing has totally changed my skincare routine! Read on to learn why I’m putting oils on my face, and why I think you should give it a try, too.

I’m no stranger to clean beauty and natural skincare. If you follow along with this blog, you’ve probably read all about my green beauty, non-toxic skincare, and natural living tips. But, one thing I haven’t talked a lot about is the oil cleansing method!

I gave oil cleansing a try for the first time a few years ago when several of my favorite green beauty gurus started recommending it. If I’m being totally honest, I was

skeptical of the whole thing.

I naturally have oily, acne prone skin, so the idea of putting

oil on my face just didn’t make sense! I was sure I was setting myself up for more acne and skin troubles by giving this a try, but it turns out, I was wrong. Now, cleaning my face with oil is my go-to method, and my skin has never been happier!

Want to learn more about the crazy idea of cleaning your face with oil? Read on for my experience, learn how it works, and how

can give it a try yourself.

How Does Oil Cleansing Work?

I’m a big believer in the idea that our bodies wouldn’t do certain things if they weren’t important. If the concept of evolution is true in

sense, that means that our bodies have adapted to our environment over time. With that said, I don’t think our skin would produce oil if it wasn’t necessary for protection.

But, when you look at how traditional face washes work, they

your skin of the oil it naturally produces. Ever felt like your face was dry and irritated after you wash it? This is why! As a result, your skin creates even more oil (

because it needs it)

, and a vicious cycle is started. We strip our skin daily by washing away all the oil, thus telling our skin it needs to create more oil as a result.

Now, I didn’t pay much attention in high school Chemistry class. The subject bored me, and I just didn’t think I’d ever need

of that information. (Can’t we

relate to thinking that in school? Pretty ironic that the topic fascinates me, now!)

tell you though, is that “

like dissolves like

.” It’s one of the most basic principles of chemistry. When you apply that concept to our skin, that means that

will gently dissolve away any unnecessary oil on our skin, taking the impurities along with it.

What you’re left with is clean, nourished skin that’s healthy and radiant and protected, because it hasn’t been stripped bare.

Does Oil Cleansing Work?

As I mentioned above, I’ve always had really oily, acne prone skin. It’s also

sensitive, which means a lot of the harsher cleaners popular among those with acne would leave my skin painfully raw and irritated.

I can’t even tell you how much money I’ve spent over the years on different skincare regimens. I read recently that the skincare industry is a multi-billion dollar industry, and I believe it! Most of us are willing to try anything to have clear, healthy skin, and these companies know it.

And so, like everything else, I gave this a try. Like I said, I’ll try

to stop the breakouts and irritation. I wasn’t optimistic at first, but guys. My skin felt

Within the first wash, I noticed that my skin didn’t feel irritated, but it felt actually

. I didn’t need to apply heavy moisturizers, either, because it didn’t feel dry at all.

Within a couple of weeks, I noticed that my breakouts were becoming less severe, and the redness I’d

dealt with was fading.

Within a month, I had no excess redness and irritation, my skin wasn’t oily, and I had no breakouts.

It’s now been about three years of consistently cleaning my face with oils, and I can honestly say that this method has revolutionized my skincare.

Looking back, I cringe at how many harsh chemicals I used on my face, and how much money I spent trying to make my skin healthy. Who would have known that the simplest, most inexpensive solution would end up being the best?!

How to Oil Cleanse

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I think the best part about oil cleansing is that unlike so many multi-step systems, it’s

and takes almost no time to do. Seriously. It always blows my mind when I suggest oil cleansing to someone and they reply with “I need something easy.”

Ya’ll. It literally can’t get any easier, unless you’re just plain not washing your face. I like to think that since you’re reading this,

To clean your face with oil, you’ll need:

a soft, clean wash cloth

your oil mixture of choice (see below)

Pour (or scoop, if it’s a solid) a generous amount of oil into your hand. You’re looking for about a quarter sized amount of oil. Rub it together in your hands to warm it up.

Massage oil to your dry face. This is what will clean off dirt, makeup, and other impurities, so make sure to be thorough in this step. Be sure to focus on problem areas while you massage the oil in.

Let the oil sit on your face for about a minute.

Run your washcloth under hot, steamy water. You want it hot enough to soften pores and and remove the oil, but not so hot it burns.

Lay the washcloth over your face and let it sit as it cools. This will soften and release any impurities. Then, gently wipe your face, rinse the wash cloth in hot water again, and repeat once or twice again. Avoid the temptation to scrub your face, as it’s completely unnecessary!

Typically, you won’t need to moisturize after oil cleansing, since you haven’t stripped your skin, but if you find that you need a little something, you can take a small amount of your cleansing oil and pat it gently into your skin until there is no residue left.

How Often to Cleanse Your Face With Oil

Just like with any regular face washing routine, oil cleansing needs to be done regularly to really see the benefits. I use my oil nightly to take of my makeup, or just the daily dirt and grime that accumulates. If you don’t want to use it that often, feel free to skip days! My only advice is to not swap back and forth with a more traditional (read:

cleanser because you’ll really confuse your skin.