MOISTURIZING & CLEANSING FACE OIL

I’ve historically cleansed the traditional way - with some kind of cleanser followed up with toners, serums, lotions and creams. Now I have a new solution.

SKIN CARE REGIME

For most of my 45 years I’ve cleansed the traditional way - with some kind of cleanser followed up with toners, serums, lotions and creams. I have sensitive skin so I was usually spending a lot of money every month on whatever it was I was using (I have never been consistent with my brands - probably because I was never satisfied with anything). Even though I was spending a lot of money I was still purchasing products that had toxic substances. It was hard to figure out what was ok to put on my skin and what wasn’t - there were too many chemicals with long names and they were hard to keep track of. This was before awesome apps like Yuka and Think Dirty were around and you could just scan something and get a rating and a suggestion of what to use instead. If you aren’t familiar with these apps - try them! They’re free and very helpful. When my stepdaughter first introduced me to Yuka, I was scanning everything in my house!

MAKING THE SWITCH

When I figured this out initially I wasn’t really sure what to do. How do I make sure that I’m properly taking care of my skin - especially my face - if I’m not using these products I was trained to use and have spent hundreds of dollars a month on? As I started diving into essential oils I looked for a solution there. When I came across oil cleansing initially I was worried it would make me break out! I had blemishes from age 13 to 35, so I had some concern that this would make me break out too. Those were just wasted worries - I haven’t had any breakouts since using this method, and the quality of my skin has (subjectively) improved. Through research, I’ve learned most breakouts are caused by many different things including hormonal imbalances, bacteria, dead skin and toxins, not because you moisturized with something oily (fats and oils have really been villainized over the last 50ish years!).

WHAT IS OIL CLEANSING?

Oil cleansing is a method of cleaning that uses only oil (and hot water) to cleanse the skin. This was a difficult concept for me initially - because I thought that something had to foam in order to cleanse. This just isn’t true! In fact, the foaming cleansers I’d been using were stripping my skin of good oils and bacteria (did you know your skin has a microbiome?). Once your skin’s oil has been stripped it is triggered to overproduce oils which then messes with the balance of your skin’s microbiome and (you guessed it) can cause a breakout!

Oil cleansing is a great way to remove makeup, handle sensitive skin, and can reduce breakouts! This works because oil dissolves oil. So the oil that you put on and massage into your skin will break down oils in your skin that have hardened and have trapped impurities (bacteria, pollution, sweat). After the oil has been massaged into your face, take a washcloth with the hottest water your skin can stand, wring it out and place it on your face for 15-30 seconds, then wipe it over your face to take off anything that may be excessive. If you need additional moisture after you wipe with a washcloth, feel free to apply more oil and gently rub it in.

THE RECIPE

INGREDIENTS:

1 T sweet almond oil
1 T jojoba oil
½ dropper of Seabuckthorn Oil
20 drops Young Living Neroli Essential Oil
20 drops Young Living Frankincense Essential Oil
1 Dropper bottle

THE OILS

This skin cleansing method can work for any skin type at any age, but you may need to change the oil mixture! Sweet almond oil and jojoba oil are moisturizing and nourishing, but you may want to use different oils based on what you’re trying to achieve with your skin. If you are acne prone, you may want to use an astringent oil - like this castor oil, and combine it with a nourishing oil that you already have around the house, like olive oil or maybe even avocado oil. Don’t be afraid to experiment, and always use oils that smell fresh.

The essential oils that I add are two of my very favorite: Neroli and Frankincense! Both smell wonderful and have terpenes that support skin health. Sandalwood is another well known skin supporter and has a wonderful sensual aroma. Rose also has an amazing smell that will leave you feeling pampered and luxurious. If these oils aren’t in your budget - lavender is affordable and is the swiss army knife of oils! Manuka is also a lovely oil for skin support and has a subtle, earthy aroma. Experiment with whatever oils you’re drawn to, but be careful with citrus oils and the sun - they can cause photosensitivity.

Here is the recipe that I use every day, twice a day (and it works really nicely with gua sha). The recipe below helps my 45 year old skin glow!

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1

Combine all oils in dropper bottle or re-use another appropriate container (that’s what I did and is pictured here).

Step 2

Squirt a dropper full of oil onto your hands and rub onto your face. There’s no need to take your makeup off first - it will remove makeup, too!

Step 3

Use a wrung washcloth with the hottest water your skin can stand and place it over your face for 15-30 seconds.

Step 4

Wipe clean. You want to wipe off enough that you leave your skin feeling smooth and supple, not oily. If you feel you’ve taken too much off you can always apply more of this mixture for moisture (which is usually what I do).

That’s it. It’s that simple. One step. This has taken all of the toxins out of my routine and leaves my skin feeling and smelling great! Let me know if you’ve tried this and what your thoughts are!

Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes only, and is not intended to be a substitute for a therapeutic relationship or medical advice. This post may contain affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission when you click on the links and purchase something, at no additional cost to you.