I’m often met with a look of surprise when I talk about how fabulous cleansing the skin with oil is – especially for those with oily, acneic or even combination skins. However, far from clogging the skin and making it even more oily, oil cleansing is an incredibly gentle and effective way of making the skin squeaky clean.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
We know from simple chemistry that oil dissolves oil. When it is applied and massaged into the skin, it clings to excess oil, dirt and general grime of the day, gently but effectively dissolving and lifting it all away.
Of course, just like the plants and seeds they come from, oils all have their own unique structure and therefore their own features and benefits and some oils are more suitable for certain skin types and conditions than others. The cleansing oils I always formulate with are created with 100% natural, non-comedogenic botanical oils, which means they won’t clog pores or strip the skin of its own natural oils – whatever your skin type may be.
In fact when the right oils are chosen, they will hydrate, soften and nourish the skin while performing their natural cleansing job leaving skin deep cleansed and without any greasy residue. Organic Jojoba is a good choice for this as its structure is very similar to the skins natural sebum, but organic Olive, Apricot and Camellia oils are great for cleansing too.
HOW DO I OIL CLEANSE?
Follow these 4 simple steps
Step 1
Start with dry skin. Take a small amount of oil, 2 – 3 pumps if you’re using my Cleansing Oil or scoop an amount the size of a 20p piece if you’re using a cleansing balm or my Cleansing Melt, and massage it into your dry skin. You may be used to wetting your skin before cleansing, but a cleansing oil or balm should always be applied straight to dry skin - and there’s no need to remove make-up first! Make-up is oil based and the oil will simply dissolve and lift it away for you.
If you’re not in a hurry, do try to take some time with this step. Gentle facial self massage, using small circular movements not only relaxes the mind but also has fabulous benefits for the skin. Creating this mini night time ritual will encourage blood flow to the area, boosting cell regeneration, supporting muscle tone and increasing collagen production leading to healthy, glowing skin.
Step 2
Take a clean face cloth (I provide a complimentary muslin cloth with every Cleansing Oil or Cleansing Melt as they are super soft but still provide gentle exfoliation) and rinse it under hand hot water, wring it out and hold it over the face for up to a minute, before wiping the oil away. Rinse the cloth and repeat. By removing the oil with a warm, damp cloth you are gently steaming, exfoliating and brightening the skin aswell as cleansing it. Win-win!
Step 3
Use a toner or spritz the face with a natural aromatic water Aroma Mist to remove any last traces of oil and to provide the skin with the moisture it needs for Step 4 …
Step 4
It's time for your Facial Oil. Apply 3 – 5 drops into the palm of your hand, gently rub your hands together, cup over the face and inhale the relaxing aroma. Then gently massage the oil into your skin.
Note: Don’t forget your decollete! The skin over the neck and chest is often overlooked in favour of the face, however this area is prone to premature aging. So pay some attention to it and use a few drops extra of botanical love here too.
TOP TIP!
Double cleanse! If you’re not a fan of wearing make-up or only use light make-up products then once may well be enough. However if you tend to wear a foundation, or have used heavier make-up for a night out, then you may want to double cleanse - once to remove the make-up, twice for a deeper cleanse and to unclog those pores.
As with any new skincare regime, give your skin a couple of weeks to adjust, but once it does, you may very well find that it will be hard if not impossible to go back to harsh, drying cleansers again.