The Oil Cleansing Method

I was first introduced to cleansing with oil while I was in Aesthetics school. Before this point, I had never even heard of cleansing with oil, and the mere thought of it made me cringe. I already had somewhat oily skin and was prone to developing breakouts, so putting oil on my face was the last thing I had wanted to do. This was of course until I received my first Babor facial in clinic. Babor was the product line we used for the major of our facials on clients, and their primary cleanser is Hy-Ol, which is a hydrophilic oil cleanser, containing soybean, sesame, and peanut oil. The second part to the Babor cleanse included a product called Phytoactive, which was an activator that was to be put on after the Hy-Ol, and is used to address specific skin types such as those with sensitive or mature skin. These are GREAT products, although somewhat pricey ($36 for the Hy-Ol and $29 for the phytoactive) and they are a GREAT introduction to oil cleansing. (Note: Other oil cleansers do not require an activator, and are usually more affordable.) 

After my first Babor facial, I immediately purchased this 2-step cleanser because of the amazing results I got from just ONE use. My skin instantly looked dewy and healthy, and it felt even better. The usual oil buildup in my t-zone was barely noticeable, my pores appeared much smaller, and my complexion was glowing. From that point forward, I would never go back to cleansing with anything but oil.

Here is how the oil cleansing method works: 

No matter what the skin type, cleansing oil mixes with the preexisting oils already on your face. These oils can either be caused by naturally produced sebum, or buildup from makeup or other products left on your face. When you rinse during cleansing, the “good oil” from the cleanser, takes the “bad oil” as well as dirt/makeup with it. Cleansing oil basically acts like a magnet by binding to surface impurities, and rinsing them away without clogging your pores. Your skin is then left feeling clean, soft and hydrated. (Oil cleansers are GREAT for removing stubborn eye makeup as well, and may eliminate your need to use an additional makeup remover during your daily regimen. The fewer steps the better!)

Many other types of cleansers are often too harsh for our skin, and while they too will work to remove impurities, they also strip skin of all of its natural oils. This leaves skin unbalanced and dry, causing it to then OVERPRODUCE oil, to compensate. This excess oil production causes clogged pores, oily t-zones, and breakouts, which is what we are always trying to avoid! Oil cleansers essentially maintain the skin’s natural pH. Another added bonus – essential oils are also naturally antibacterial, thus helping to prevent future breakouts or infections.

After school (and my free facials and product discounts) had ended, I was back on a budget and had to do a little research on my own to see which oil cleansing product alternatives (to the pricey Babor line) were out there. Oil cleansing is a fairly new trend in the skincare industry, so there aren’t a TON of products out there yet, but there are a few great ones that I’ve tried, that I was very impressed with.

Here are some of my favorites:

Babor Hy-Ol ($36) and Phytoactive ($29)

Murad Cleansing Oil for Face Eyes and Lips – $32, Murad.comBare Minerals Mineralixirs Facial Cleansing Oil – $21 – BareMinerals

Shu Uemura High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil ($67, Sephora)

Tell Me: Have YOU ever oil cleansed? Do you have any tips or product recommendations? Good/Bad experiences?