I often hear my “skin breaks out when I put oil near it, so oil cleansing definitely won’t work for me”

Sound like something you are thinking, right now? 

I do get it. I used to be the same.

I worked in the Cosmeceutical industry for many years, and I believed that if the product wasn’t a Cosmeceutical, it just didn’t work.

I was one of the original users of the word Cosmeceutical – people used to look at me as if I couldn’t speak English – but it was the best way to describe the bridge which was developing between cosmetics and pharmaceutical products – so it was the perfect name!

But I digress……..

But the longer I worked with them, and the longer I used them I started to notice that there were side effects to many of these products.

They would work for a short period of time – but would cause other side effects which then meant the client would have to spend even more money fixing this problem – like an addiction.

Everything also came/comes in non-sustainable packaging, and non-environmentally friendly  ingredients – actually some ingredients are toxic, which I wrote about in my last blog – how do you know which chemicals to avoid in skincare

So, I started looking at cleaner and healthier ways to improve the skin.

But back to oil cleansing – I am here to put your mind at ease. You are here looking for answers, and hopefully all-natural, non-toxic, animal-friendly, sustainable answers!

Let’s dive in.

Oil cleansing is not a new notion. In fact, it originated in Asia in the 14th century!

Oil cleansing is the method of cleansing your skin with a unique blend of natural oils in order to create a healthy, well-balanced skin, no matter what your skin type. But how does this work? 

Let’s talk about how oil cleansing works.

Fact: Oil dissolves oil. One of the most basic principals of chemistry is that “like dissolves like.” By using the right oils, you can cleanse your pores of dirt and bacteria naturally, gently and effectively, while replacing the dirty oil with beneficial ones extracted from natural botanicals that heal, protect and nourish your skin. 

The benefits of oil cleansing

There are so many benefits of oil cleansing, but here are just a few of the main ones, I will go into more detail in a later blog.

One of the biggest, but also least known, benefits of oil cleansing is the protection and maintenance of the skin’s acid mantle.

But what is the acid mantle do I hear you ask – and why should I worry about it?

The acid mantle lies on the surface layer of skin, and is a very thin, natural protective film that’s made up of sebum (skin oils), amino acids, fatty acids, lactic acid, water (from perspiration), and skin’s own natural moisture. 

This layer is naturally acidic, with a pH level between 4.5 and 5.5. However, most cleansers are alkaline, containing soap or detergent. This can initially help your skin to feel squeaky clean, but also tight and dry, as it strips away the acid mantle, thus destroying the natural balance of your skin and causing it to go into overdrive to produce sebum, or leaving it dry and unprotected, open to bacteria and dirt.

Oil cleansing breaks down excess oil, but does not completely strip away all oil from the skin. The oil that makes up the acid mantle is therefore still able to do its job and protect your skin.

 As I mentioned above, you use ‘good oils’ on your skin to remove the ‘bad oils’.

The cleansing oil will bind with the oils on your skin, either naturally produced sebum or those from makeup and other products. So, when you remove it all with a muslin cloth of face washer, the ‘good oil’ takes those ‘bad oils’ and dirt along with it.

In addition, when massaged into the skin, oils in the cleanser bind to surface impurities pulling out dirt without clogging pores and allow them to be comfortably rinsed away leaving the skin clean, soft and hydrated.

A good cleansing oil contains antioxidants and anti-aging ingredients that improve the texture and appearance of your skin.

Oil cleansing is for all skin types. That’s right! From oily to dry skin, a combination of both, sensitive skin, blocked pores, rosacea, young and aging skin, I have seen it all and been wowed by the results!

Why are some oil cleansers better than others?

I get asked this a lot – along with, “I use an oil cleanser followed by a foaming cleanser to clean my skin”

Some oil cleansers contain foaming agents to make them easier to ‘rinse off’. If your oil cleanser is a rinse off one, then it will still strip the skin – so unfortunately it is not the real deal.

You might as well use a foaming cleanser – it will harm the skin just as much.

If you use a foaming or soap-based cleanser post oil cleanser – you are still stripping the skin – yes, it will feel cleaner, but you are still stripping the acid mantle – so you are again wasting money and time.

A good oil cleanser can be used on its own with a muslin face cloth or a face washer, it must always be removed with warm water and a cloth – water alone will not rinse it off because oil and water don’t mix! (Which is why moisturisers with a water base need lots of binders to bind the oil with the water!)

Oil cleansing will work for both dry skin and oily skin.

Want to know more? Watch Britta Plugg show you how to oil cleanse holistic beauty therapist style.

Massage your skin with the Everything Skin Oil for 15 minutes and watch the oil plugs, blackheads and pimples pop out – (yukky but fascinating…. In a weird way!)

The Everything Skin Oil has been carefully formulated to dislodge dirt, bacteria, makeup, and excess sebum whilst healing the skin – avocado oil, calendula oil, lavender essential oil, orange essential oil and vanilla extract. Killing the bacteria – calendula oil, lavender essential oil, olive oil. Anti – ageing camellia oil, almond oil, avocado oil, olive oil and vanilla extract.

Dislodging dirt makeup and excess sebum – all the oils do this well as they vary in density, therefore, they are able to reach different areas of the pores and the essential oils are absorbed by the body to work from inside as well as out.

If you battle with your skin and need some extra help – book a glowing skin consultation with me!

Yvette x