The Oil Cleansing Method: Benefits and How-To Guide

I was trying to think back on what got me so excited about green beauty and making more of my own beauty products using simple, safe ingredients. I realized the Oil Cleansing Method (also known as OCM) first got me excited about it. The oil cleansing method was life-changing for me in the skin care department for both its effectiveness and how much it transformed the look and feel of my skin. If you are not familiar with the oil cleansing method, it is precisely how it sounds; a method of cleansing your skin with oil in place of your traditional face cleansers and makeup removers.

As someone who suffered with acne for most of my life, I had been taught to avoid anything with oil. Little did I know, using oil on my face was going to be one of the keys to helping me finally clear up my skin and keep it clear. I am not exaggerating as someone who started getting acne in elementary school and had it consistently into my early 30s, until I began using oil to cleanse my face. Oil cleansing via. the traditional oil cleansing method was the only thing I ever did from a topical perspective that ever cleared up my skin and kept it clear. Over a decade later, of only using oil to cleanse my face, not only do I very rarely get a breakout (even before my period, which used to always result in several big ones on my chin). But I also attest to it being one of the main reasons people tend to mistake me for being much younger than I actually am.

I originally wrote and posted this on April 5th, 2018. At the time, the now infamous double cleanse, where people cleanse first with an oil—or balm-based cleanser and then a traditional cleanser, was not a thing. Now, because the double cleanse has become so popular, people are well aware of how effective oil is at cleansing the skin to remove dirt, excess oil, sunscreen, and makeup.

However, I think people get it wrong when they feel they need to use a traditional skin cleanser after their oil-based cleanser. I plan on writing a whole other blog post soon on why using facial cleansers, no matter how gentle, actually does more harm than good to your skin.

In the meantime, I wanted to update this post to hopefully help repopularize the traditional oil cleansing method where there is no need to do a second cleanse or use a more conventional face cleanser.

With that said, let’s dive into the benefits and how to do the traditional oil cleansing method.

Oil Cleansing Method Benefits 

• Natural and non-toxic—Using oils to cleanse is a great natural way to avoid harmful ingredients in skincare. Just steer clear of mineral oil, which is an unnatural petroleum-based oil that gives oils in skincare a bad name.
• Removes makeup—Oil cleansing is seriously the best method I have found for removing makeup. The mixture of oil and steam removes makeup like a dream, and it is great for both water and oil-soluble makeup products.
• Dissolves dirt and impurities—Oil is insoluble in water, which helps it bind to substances and dislodge dirt and other impurities that could clog your pores.
• Balances oil production—You know the saying ‘like dissolves like,’ and that is the same concept here. Oil dissolves oil, so it is great at removing excess oil that would be responsible for clogging your pores. However, it does so without stripping the skin of its sebum, keeping the skin in a balanced state.
• Hydrates the skin – It is oil after all, so it helps keep the skin moist and supple.
• Doesn’t ruin the pH balance or acid mantle on your skin—So many traditional cleansers have harsh ingredients that throw off your skin’s delicate pH balance and remove the acid mantle, which protects your skin from bacteria and other contaminants. Oil has no pH level, so it won’t affect your skin’s pH level or strip it of its protective coating. Learning how to care for your skin without altering the pH or removing the precious acid mantle is vital to your skin’s overall health.
• Anti-aging – Plant-based oils are full of antioxidants which are good at neutralizing free radicals that can damage the skin and cause premature aging.
• Acne-clearing – Because oil cleansing removes dirt and bacteria and regulates oil production, it is great at fighting acne.
• Customizable – Based on your skin type and needs, the oil or oil combination used when oil cleansing can be customized for what works best with your skin.
• Relaxing – Massaging your skin with oil and steaming your face clean with a warm washcloth is an extremely relaxing ritual to do at the end of the day.

How to Oil Cleanse 

Oil cleansing is very simple. Just pick the oil or oil combination of your choice (more on this below). Put a little less than a teaspoon in the palm of your freshly washed hands. Then, on a dry face (don’t wet your skin first), massage the oil into your face and closed eye area if you are removing eye makeup.

Once you have massaged the oil into your skin, wet a clean washcloth with hot but not scalding water. Wring it out and place it over your skin. This will create a heated steam effect and help to remove the oils and impurities from your skin. You can leave it on for 30 seconds or until it cools. Then, use the same washcloth to gently rub your skin to remove any remaining oil or makeup. This will provide a very gentle exfoliating effect at the same time.

If you like low-maintenance skin care, you may decide this is the only step you need in your nighttime skincare routine, as it will leave your skin clean and hydrated. If your skin feels a little dry, add a little bit more oil. Otherwise, just complete your skincare routine as you normally would after any cleansing step.

If you would like a visual demonstration on how to oil cleanse, this is my favorite demonstration video on YouTube, which was made by the CloudyApples channel.

How to Pick Oils for Oil Cleansing Method

Another thing that happened when the double cleansing method became popular is that the market became flooded with different oils and cleansing balms, most consisting of a variety of various oils, emulsifiers, preservatives, and fragrances. You don’t need any of those fancy cleansers to cleanse your skin. In fact, you are probably going to be way better off picking one or two pure oils to reduce the risk of irritation or to at least have a better chance of identifying the culprit should your skin get irritated.

That’s why, when it comes to oil cleansing, I believe it is far better to make your own. That way, you can also customize it based on your skin type and what your skin best reacts to by having complete control over the ingredients. However, if you have an oil cleansing product that you absolutely love and that does no harm to your skin, you can continue to use it for the traditional oil cleansing method as well.

Making your own oil-based cleanser can be as simple as using one oil or a mixture of oils. It is best to pick oils based on your skin type, and here are some suggestions on how to do that.

One thing to take into consideration when choosing an oil for oil cleansing is the oil’s comedogenic rating. A comedogenic rating refers to how likely the oil is to clog your pores. Another thing to take into consideration when picking oils for your skin is the linoleic acid content vs. oleic acid. People who are acne prone tend to have low levels of linoleic acid in their skin’s surface lipids, so using an oil with high linoleic acid content can help balance the ratio out for clearer skin.  If your skin is on the drier side and not acne prone, you may want to choose oils that are higher in oleic acid.

This is a great resource for finding not only the comedogenic rating of oils but also their linoleic and oleic acid content.  https://www.holistichealthherbalist.com/complete-list-of-comedogenic-oils/

It may take some trial and error to find the best oil or oil combination for your skin but don’t give up! The benefits will be well worth it.

Popular Oil Choices for Oil Cleansing

*This post contains affiliate links. Click here to read my affiliate disclosure. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• Castor Oil – Castor oil is popular in oil cleansing. Castor oil is considered the most cleansing and dissolving oil, which is why it is so popular in the oil cleansing method. Castor oil can be drying and must always be used alongside another oil. If you use castor oil, use less if you have dryer skin and more if your skin is oilier. (Side note: It is funny to me how insanely popular castor oil is currently when I am updating this post. And for good reason, it is a fantastic oil with very unique properties. However, whats throwing me off is how everyone is acting like it does such a great job moisturizing their skin when it is the most drying oil on this list and acts more as an astringent. That said, its skin benefits are still numerous). Make sure any castor oil you purchase is organic, hexane free and stored in glass.

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• Hazelnut Oil—Some people use this oil as a replacement for castor oil in oil cleansing. It is also an astringent that cleans pores, but it’s more hydrating than castor oil.

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• Avocado Oil –Is great for dry skin as it is very moisturizing and has a high oleic acid content. However, it does have a comedogenic rating of three, so it may be an oil to avoid if you are very acne-prone.

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• Sweet Almond Oil – Sweet almond oil is suitable for most skin types, making it a popular option. It has a low comedogenic rating of two.

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• Jajoba Oil – Jajoba is technically a wax not an oil but it is very popular in oil cleansing because it so closely matches skin’s natural sebum.

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• Olive Oil – A popular choice in oil cleansing probably because most people already have it on hand. Some people complain of breakouts when using it, so it is not one I personally recommend. Most olive oil on the market is also fake or cut with other less quality oils, even if it’s not disclosed on the packaging. Which is one of the reasons I believe so many people experience adverse reactions to it. However, breakout-prone people are still advised to avoid this oil even if they know their bottle is pure.

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• Hemp Oil – This is what I use by itself for my oil cleansing process as it has a comedogenic rating of 0 and is high in linoleic acid, both which are great for acne-prone skin. The one disadvantage is it is not shelf stable so it is best kept in the fridge. Or at least leave the big bottle in the refrigerator and only decant small amounts to keep in your bathroom.

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• Coconut Oil—Some people swear by it because of its antibacterial properties, but with a high comedogenic rating of 4, other people may find it more pore-clogging. If you are acne-prone, you may want to stay away from using coconut oil on your face.

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• Grapeseed Oil—Grapeseed oil has a comedogenic rating of 1 and a high linoleic acid content, so it is also suitable for acne-prone skin.

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Additional Tips for the Oil Cleansing Method 

• It is important to always use a clean washcloth when using the oil cleansing method. Your washcloths may get stained, especially if you are removing eye makeup, so you may want to have a set specifically for oil cleansing. Be mindful of what you wash them with, so it is not harsh and irritating to your skin. These are the ones I love to use.

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• A glass dropper bottle is great for making your oil cleanser. Even if you only use one oil, it is easier to dispense oil from a glass dropper bottle than a large oil bottle.

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• Just as you want to make sure your washcloth is clean, wash your hands before oil cleansing or applying any skin care products.
• Oil cleansing is best done at night to remove makeup, dirt, and grime from your face for the day. In the morning, there is no need to cleanse your skin again; just splash your face with water, use a toner or hydrosol, and complete your morning skin care routine as usual.
• Oil cleansing can be done nightly, but some people only do it a few times a week, or when they want to remove a full face of makeup. Do what works best for you.
• Finding the right oil or oil combination can take some trial and error. It is not uncommon for your face to purge a little in the first week so you may experience some breakouts. After a week or two, your face should start to calm down, but it may take about a month to see the full benefits of oil cleansing. If you suspect that your skin is reacting negatively to an oil you are using, it is best to switch right away to another oil. Usually an adverse skin reaction is associated with a specific oil, not the cleansing method itself.
• You can also add essential oils to your cleansing mixture if you want, but I don’t recommend doing so until you have found the oil cleansing mixture you like and know works well on your skin. Be careful if you do use essential oils: Do not overdo it (less is more), avoid the eye area, and follow all essential oil cautions. I personally avoid the use of essential oils in most of my facial skincare as they can be a big culprit for irritation.
• After oil cleansing I recommend not drying your face. Products absorb better on damp skin. If you feel you need to dry your face, make sure to use a clean towel or washcloth, and just dab your face to dry, don’t rub.
• Also, after oil cleansing, I like to go in with an organic or reusable cotton round with some kind of pH-balanced alcohol free toning type solution on it. This keeps the skin from being dripping wet but still damp vs. drying with a towel. It also will give you assurance the oil cleanse removed everything. The products I like to use for this are rose hydrosol/water or an aloe spray as they are pH-balanced and mildly astringent. Hypochlorous acid can also be good at this stage if you have active acne or other skin issues you are trying to treat. However, you can use any pH-balanced alcohol free toner you want for this step.
• Do a patch test with the oil or oil combination you are going to use before applying all over your face for the first time.

I hope you enjoyed this updated post on the oil cleansing method and its benefits, as well as how to properly do it. If you did, please take the time to get the word out and share this post with others. If you have problematic skin or even if you don’t, I promise it is at least worth it to give it a shot for a month, and if you don’t see an improvement, you can always go back to the method you were doing beforehand. But it has the potential to forever benefit your skin and your skincare routine like it did mine. Comment below your thoughts on oil cleansing and let me know if you give it a try!

Here are some other blog posts you may enjoy! 

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