Oil cleansing has taken the skincare world by storm the last few years. People are generally turning away from harsh chemicals that strip away what your skin naturally needs and have been looking for alternatives that work with skin. Plus, we encounter more pollution, extreme weather changes, and ultra-processed foods in today's world so what used to work a few years ago isn't going to cut it anymore. Oil cleansing is effective because it mixes into the natural oils that exist on your skin.
By working with them instead of trying to strip them away as many harsher products do, oil cleansers can reach everywhere. This means oil cleansing gets into your pores to remove product and dirt build-up. Only excess oil will then be removed when you rinse your face after cleansing so it can achieve this deep clean without drying out your skin. Check out our cleansing oils collection to find the perfect match for your skincare routine.
Oil cleansing works for all skin types so now let's consider which are the best oils for cleansing dry skin and more. Our restorative face oils are specially formulated to work in tandem with our cleansing oils, providing your skin with the full benefits of our natural ingredients.
How to Identify Your Skin Type and Pick the Best oil
The best oil for you to use will depend on your skin type. If you have sensitive skin, you likely already know as your skin itches, reacts to products, and regularly cracks, swells, and/or has red patchy breakouts. If you're not sure what your skin type is, there are a couple of easy ways to find out. One's called the 'bare-faced method'.
For this one, get your hair out of the way, wash your face with a gentle cleanser then pat dry and wait half an hour. Next inspect your skin close-up in a mirror. If your skin feels tight and looks rough in places, you have dry skin. If your skin is shiny everywhere, you have oily skin. If it's shiny only on your T-zone, meaning your nose and forehead, you have combination skin. If your skin has no obvious rough or shiny patches and feels fine, you're one of the lucky few who have normal skin.
If you don't have a reliable close-up mirror, you could use blotting sheets instead. Follow the first steps and then after the 30 minutes, press the sheets on different areas. You can then hold them up to light to check how much oil they've picked up. If the sheets have virtually no oil, you have dry skin that's in desperate need of moisture. If you pick up a lot of oil from each area, you have oily skin. A lot of oil from only your T-zone area means you have combination skin, and a little oil from all over means you have normal skin.
Once you have found your skin type, it's time to find the oil that best matches it. Many companies have brought out oil cleansing ranges now and will offer oils or blends of oils specific to each skin type to make your life easier. If you have dry skin, you should look for options containing oils like coconut or hemp seed. These are moisturising and contain the right vitamins to help repair your skin's barrier. Oily or combination skin would be best with something like jojoba oil as it helps reduce your skin's oil output without drying it out or castor oil which is antibacterial to. Sensitive skin benefits from oils like rosehip or jojoba which calm as well as moisturise as sensitive skin tends to be dry too. Choosing good quality oils without added scents or dyes will give you the best long-term results. For those with oily skin, our oily skin face wash cleansers provide a deep cleanse without stripping natural moisture.
Why the Time of day Matters
Many people choose to cleanse twice a day to help keep their skin glowing, removing any sweat from overnight and then dirt that's built up during the day. If this is your routine, it's best to stick with other products in the morning and use natural oils to cleanse your face at night. This is because your skin detoxes itself as you sleep so a gentle approach is all that's needed in the morning whereas an oil cleanse goes deep into your pores. When you've been out for the day facing all the pollution and dirt of the world is when your skin needs a helping hand and that's where oil cleansing comes in. Many people find they can oil cleanse daily but for some people it's too much so every other day you can swap it out for a gentle water-based cleanser. You will figure out the best routine for your skin and when that includes oil, you'll see radiant results.
If you want the most effective natural products for your skin that will have you looking and feeling radiant from head to toe, start with our bestsellers here.