When I first heard about the idea of oil cleansing, I thought it was crazy. As someone who’s struggled with oily/combination skin and breakouts most of my life, the thought of washing my face with oil made no sense to me. But after learning more about it (and finding a brand I really like), I’ve been converted. Here is a little info about oil cleansing and why I’m now using oil to wash my face.
What is Oil Cleansing and Why Should I Do It?
While many of us have tried to combat acne by using products that dry out our skin, those products ultimately make our skin more oily as it tries to compensate. Oil cleansing, on the other hand, works on the premise that “like dissolves like.” Natural cleansing oils work by binding to impurities and dissolving the dirty oils from the face without clogging pores. Instead of stripping the natural moisture from your face, oil cleansing replaces the dirty oils with clean, nourishing oils that leave your skin balanced. And yes, some of these oils actually combat acne. You simply massage the oil into your skin and gently wipe it off with a warm dampened washcloth, and you’re done! No rinsing needed. After oil cleansing, my skin feels perfectly clean and moisturized. With conventional cleansing, my skin used to be either too oily or too dry. Now it’s balanced at all times.
Oil cleansing has also helped eliminate the eczema on my hands. Conventional cleansers (and rinsing) used to dry out my hands which, in turn, irritated my eczema. The switch to oil cleansing has ended this cycle, and I haven’t had a hint of eczema on my hands since. Yes!
While I used to dread the act of washing my face before (I just never liked the process), now I find it enjoyable. It’s kind of like having a quick, mini spa facial every night. Plus, there are no messy pools of water to have to clean up around the sink afterwards (am I the only one that gets super annoyed with water being spilled and splashed everywhere?).
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What Kind of Oil Should I Use to Cleanse my Face?
Of course, oil cleansing is only going to work if you’re using the right blend (and quality) of oils for your skin type. Some people make their own blends, but I prefer to use a trusted brand that has already created a successful blend. I’m madly in love with the products from Primally Pure, which use only real ingredients found in nature, therapeutic grade essential oils, and no synthetic chemicals, preservatives, or fragrances. I switch off between their Cleansing Oil for Normal Skin and their Cleansing Oil for Oily Skin. (Both work well for me…I just like to switch it up.)
I also like to finish off the process by spritzing on a toner, like Primally Pure’s Everything Spray (which I’m kind of obsessed with!), and a touch of their Fancy Face Serum. Some may feel they don’t need to use anything after cleansing, but with my sensitive skin, I enjoy the added benefits of these additional products. Plus, I feel confidant that I’m applying only the best quality ingredients to my skin.
What Else Should I Know About Oil Cleansing?
You can expect to go through a “detox” period as your skin adjusts from the use of conventional cleansers. In my case, it was a few small blemishes, but nothing too scary. The detox period usually lasts about 2-3 weeks, but mine lasted about a month. It wasn’t bad at all and was totally worth it!
Anytime I do experience minor blemishes, I spritz on a little bit of Everything Spray and by the next morning, my skin is calm again.
What Other Factors Contribute to Clear Skin?
Of course, sticking to a nutritious Paleo diet is a key factor in maintaining a clear complexion. And when I veer from my Paleo path, my skin shows it. Stress and poor sleep also play a role in my breakouts.
Most recently, I’ve had to switch to a low histamine diet because I discovered that I’ve developed a histamine intolerance. In a nutshell, this means I’ve had to omit many gut-healing foods that I typically rely on — such as long-simmered bone broth and fermented foods — as well as several vegetables and fruits (such as avocados) because they are high in histamine. With these temporary food restrictions, I’ve been able to keep my histamine-induced hives and skin rashes under control, but my complexion has been rebelling a bit with some minor acne breakouts. Once again, I’ve been relying on my oil cleansing and my Everything Spray to manage it all. (By the way, after bringing down my histamine levels, I hope to be able to start reintroducing many of these foods again…more on all of this at a later time.)
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Have you tried oil cleansing? What was your experience with it? Please comment and share!
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