Oil Cleansing?
I was recently doing some reading about facial cleansing. As some of you may know I'm in the trial phase of a new facial cleanser. So, while I love to read and learn about all kinds of new things I was very interested in a blog related to Facial cleansing, truths and myths! I was also intrigued by learning about something called Oil cleansing Method, say WHAT? oil on your face? NO WAY!
I think we have many issues with mainstream skin care products, two reasons stand out the most. These products strip the natural oil out of our skin, leaving our largest organ trying to repair itself by replacing the oils stripped away. This leaves our skin tight and dry followed by a major oil slick. Each time we strip the oil away, our skin over-compensates for the lack of moisture by creating more oil. On top of the drying effects, these products are highly-scented. Fragrance is one of the top skin irritants and strangely enough, even the so-called "unscented" products usually contain fragrance. See for yourself and check the labels. Dry, irritated skin replaced by oily skin, inflamed and trapping debris?
When cleansing and moisturizing your skin, it is imperative that you keep in mind that oil dissolves oil. Your skin naturally lubricates itself with oil. Many people have this belief that if you add anything oily to your skin that it will clog your pores and make you breakout?
Do not be afraid of applying oil to your face. Oil, alone, will not bring you blemishes. Pimples, cysts, zits, blackheads, whiteheads...these are a result of several different factors including hormones, bacteria, dead skin cells and the buildup of these factors. Your skin naturally produces oil because it needs it. This oil is needed for the benefit of your skin, allowing your largest organ to function properly. It is naturally occurring. Properly functioning skin is beautiful, clear, and glowing.
We all want healthy skin!
Sometimes the reason you have oily skin isn’t because your body is naturally trying to turn itself into an oil slick…it’s because you scrub, cleanse, or strip away your natural oils so much that your skin has gone into overdrive to try and fix the damage. It can take time for your skin to balance out again, but a gentle, non-comedogenic moisturizer can be a huge help in making your skin less oily.
When cleansing your face with water, keep in mind that hot water is a bad thing and will remove the natural protective oils and other naturally occurring protective barriers in your skin. Believe it or not, a little oil on your skin is a good thing – even a healthy thing! Hot water also can cause broken capillaries, especially when combined with harsh scrubbing. Try to wash your face with cool water.
The oil cleansing Method can work with all skin types as well as many types of acne.
Start with dry skin – oil and water don’t mix, so rinsing your face first can interfere with how well the oils work. In addition, start simple. Use one type of carrier oil, plain, for at least a week before adding additional carrier oils or essential oils for their benefits.
For Acne prone skin use these Carrier oils:
- Argan oil
- Rosehip seed oil
- Almond oil
- Grapeseed oil
- Evening Primrose oil
For Non-acne prone:
- Soybean oil
- Avocado oil
- coconut oil
- Jojoba oil
- Apricot Oil
- Olive oil
- Castor oil
After you’ve tested the primary carrier oil to be sure your skin responds well to it, you can add a small amount of other essential oils for their benefits as well. For the acne prone, you can consider adding tea tree oil in a small amount (5 – 10% dilution) to help fight the acne causing bacteria. Other beneficial oils to include in your cleansing mix are Cedar wood, Lavender, Cypress, Frankincense spearmint.
Gently Massage your face in small, circular motions, being sure to be gentle and let your fingertips glide over your skin. Don’t massage for too long, you’ll have to experiment to see what your skin does best with, but start with at least 30 seconds, and try not to massage for longer than a couple minutes. Next, using a clean washcloth with cool water, wipe away the oil. Not Necessary to use Moisturizer if you want. Its like a all-in-one product! TA-DAH!
Be Gentle to your skin, Friends! Your skin shouldn't feel tight or dry. It should be healthy, nourished and Soft.
Medical disclaimer- All the information and product descriptions contained within this site are for reference purposes only and are not intended to substitute for advice from a licensed health care professional.
You should not use any of this information for the purpose of self-diagnosis or for treating a health problem or disease.
