Cleansing oils can be one of the most effective ways to remove makeup, grime and sweat and it can be done by all skin types and complexions of all ages. It equally benefits oily skin prone to breakouts and dry, irritated or mature skin. 

Cleansing oils nourish and moisturize your skin, while keeping your skin’s delicate barrier and microbiome healthy and intact. Traditional cleansing methods that lather and cleansing products that contain a lot of acids like glycolic or salicylic can disrupt the skin barrier and microbiome, leading to redness, irritation, and potentially breakouts. Because oil dissolves oil, the best way to remove oil-based makeup, SPF, excess sebum, sweat, and pollutants is of course, through using oil to break down these compounds and remove them from the skin. 

The best cleansers contain hydrating and nourishing plant oils that help to replenish what the skin needs to stay soft and moisturized. 

Benefits of using the oil cleansing method

Barrier protecting

Oil cleansing preserves your skin barrier. It does this by not stripping your skin of its protective lipids and not disrupting your skin’s microbiome, which is crucial for skin health. Read more about the importance of a healthy skin microbiome here. 

If your skin feels tight and squeaky clean after cleansing, that’s a strong sign that your skin barrier has been disrupted. If this becomes an ongoing issue, this can make your skin prone to redness, irritation, breakouts, and increased sensitivity. 

Oil balancing

Many people fear that cleansing with oil will cause breakouts. This is a myth. In fact, using a cleansing oil usually helps acne-prone skin through balancing sebum production. Cleansing products that dry the skin can actually contribute to blemishes, because they lead to overproduction of sebum as the skin attempts to combat dryness. 

Anti-inflammatory

For the most part, the majority of oil cleaners contain hydrating and soothing ingredients that reduce irritation, redness and inflammation. If your skin is prone to inflammation look for oils that have minimal to zero scent. Most plant oils, with their high content of omega-6 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties and are very soothing and softening to irritated and rough skin. 

Improved hydration and moisturization of the skin

Plant oils keep the skin barrier healthy and properly functioning. As a result, your skin will be less dehydrated because it will be able to hold onto water better. This is why oil cleaning is such a great choice for mature skin. As we age, our dermis thins and our skin has a harder time holding onto water. Maintaining hydrated and well moisturized skin will improve elasticity, overall suppleness, and will help to minimize the signs of aging. To read more about how to keep our skin healthy as we age, read this. 

What you can expect with oil cleansing

Your skin is a creature of habit and it responds best to regular use of products and routine. When starting to use cleansing oil, give your skin a few weeks to adjust. After a few weeks you can expect:

• Balanced oil production and fewer blemishes
• Better hydrated and moisturized skin
• Soft and supple skin
• Potentially reduced redness and irritation stemming from a more resilient skin barrier

Oil cleansing: the method

Apply one to two pumps of cleansing oil to dry skin (when applied on dry skin it breaks down waterproof makeup, sunscreen and dirt) . Massage gently and thoroughly into the skin in a circular, upward direction. Rinse off with lukewarm water or wipe away with a soft muslin cloth. 

Our Eight Flowers Enzyme Cleansing oil is infused with moisturizing ingredients, soothing herbs and gently exfoliating plant enzymes. For a deeper cleansing and exfoliating experience, you can leave Eight Flowers Enzyme Cleansing Oil on for 10-15 minutes, then wash off with water to reveal bright, resurfaced, and smooth skin. Shop Eight Flowers Enzyme Cleansing Oil.