Facial Oil Cleansing Method

This post may include affiliate links from brands we've partnered with. Please read our affiliate poilcy.

This Facial Oil Cleansing Method has been absolutely incredible for my skin! I’ve been using it now for over 7 years and I will never go back to normal face wash.

Facial Oil Cleansing Method | Get Inspired Everyday!

This is the third post in a 3-part series of facial care, and it is perhaps, the most important. Steps 1 and 2, the Pineapple Facial and Baking Soda Exfoliation are primarily exfoliation with some cleansing. This Oil Method Cleansing is not only cleansing but also mildly exfoliating and moisturizing. (You can skip straight to the bottom of the post for oil recommendations and the cleansing method.)

If I had to choose just one facial treatment to use every single day, it would be this one because it does a little bit of everything. Right now I tend to do either or both of the Pineapple Facial and Baking Soda Exfoliation at least 1x per week, maybe 2x. But I’ve been using this Oil Cleansing Method every other day, and sometimes when I’m ambitious 2x per day. And I have to say, I’ve noticed a significant improvement in my skin since I started these treatments on a regular basis.

I haven’t used a drop of soap on my face in over a decade now; soap just wasn’t working for me on many different levels. It didn’t matter how many times I washed my face, I just couldn’t get the deep dirt out. Although that might have had something to do with my years of gardening as a business where I really struggled with constant dirt on my skin.

I’ve always had oily skin, and for years I tried one cleanser after the next. It seemed that every time I would change products, my skin would have a little freakout. Then, it would seem to settle in for a little while only to start acting up again, and the whole process would start over again.

I haven't used a drop of soap on my face in four years now; soap just wasn't working for me. It didn't matter how many times I washed my face, I just couldn't get the deep dirt out. After a few years of gardening as a business, I noticed the pores around my nose had become a permanent black color. It was at that point I really started struggling with my skin. I've always had oily skin, and for years I tried one cleanser after the next. It seemed that every time I would change products my skin would have a little freak out. Then, it would seem to settle in for a little while only to start acting up again, and the whole process would start over again.

So what is actually happening? Every time I would strip my face with cleansing products, my skin would go into overdrive trying to restore it’s oils and balance. It is this overdrive mode that seems to create all the problems.

In addition, I now know that every time that I switched products, I totally upset the balance of my skin. Since I’ve learned about the ph balance of skin and hair, I’ve been experimenting with things that help create balance. 

Your skin is an organ that needs oil to properly function. So, the best way to keep it healthy is by whisking away the dirty surface oil without upsetting the balance, and causing your skin to overproduce too much of it’s own oils.

I’ve tried several different options over the last few years, and this oil method of facial cleansing is absolutely amazing. From the get go it just made sense to me. The science behind it is that ‘like removes like’ in other words, oil is removing facial oil.

And since I’ve started this cleansing method, my skin has been the best I’ve seen since childhood. Also, it’s the strangest thing, but my face doesn’t get super oily in the afternoon anymore and the breakouts are very minor.

Facial Oil Cleansing Method | Get Inspired Everyday!

Oil cleansing is by far the most effective way of cleansing my face I’ve ever tried. And as a bonus, it seems to moisturize my skin on a deeper level. As you are cleansing you get a mini face massage, pretty good right? It creates a deep cleansing as well as deep moisturizing, leaving you with a rosy glow.

One thing to be aware of is it may take a little time for all things to be sunshine and roses. You see, balance has to be restored and there can be an adjustment period depending on how many products you are currently using.

It’s recommended that you use only the oil cleansing method for a time to get through that adjustment stage, to the place where your skin quits overproducing oils. If you are using soap at all your skin is going to get confused.

Facial Oil Cleansing Method | Get Inspired Everyday!

What Kind of Oil to Use?

Jojoba: Great all around oil for all skin types. This is by far my favorite oil for oil cleansing and I use it almost exclusively!

Almond: All skin types but especially for oily skin.

Argan: Works really good for all skin types, it’s really expensive and all the rage right now, (I used it for a while and it worked really well, but the $30 a bottle price tag has kept me from buying another one).

Avocado: For dry and or aging skin.

Sunflower Seed: All skin types, with the benefit of additional Vitamin E which protects and repairs your skin.

Castor Oil: The most cleansing and antibacterial but can be drying (I know, weird right, ‘drying oil’?). You want to mix castor oil with one of the above ‘carrier oils’. They say to use up to 30% castor oil for oily skin. I haven’t used it personally because I usually use this treatment at night, and want the more moisturizing benefits of the other oils.

Facial Oil Cleansing Method | Get Inspired Everyday!

What To Do:

  • Rinse your face in cool water.
  • Pick the type of oil that works the best for you.
  • Massage about 1-2 Teaspoons into your face for 2 minutes. (This is nice in theory, but really even 30 seconds works wonders.)
  • Place a warm washcloth over your face. Hold it there for a few seconds, and then begin to gently wipe off the oil in gentle circles. Take extra care around the delicate eye area.

That’s all there is to it. This always leaves my face soft, moisturized, and glowing! You may also enjoy my Honey Facial Massage.

Bonus Tip: Try infusing your favorite cleansing oil with an herb.

43 thoughts on “Facial Oil Cleansing Method”

    • I don’t have any personal experience using the oil cleansing for makeup removal, but I have heard it works for others. I think you’d need to do the treatment separately from the makeup removal again to get the benefits of the cleansing/exfoliating. This is just my best guess, but be sure to let me know how it goes if you try it!

      Reply
    • You should be able to, but just be aware that anytime you mix things it does create a different end product and there’s no guarantee how it will work for you as an individual. I have tried mixing these 2 oils myself and wish I had a better answer for you, but I hope you’ll let me know how it goes if you do try it out!

      Reply
  1. Hi, would you believe I only just found this. So we are allergic to coconut oil and I know sunflower is safe for us. Do I just buy it from the supermarket or do I need to buy from a health food store. I’m assuming that a health food store with a good quality oil is best.
    Thanks,
    penny

    Reply
    • I’ve never bought oil for cosmetic sake at the grocery store, so I’m not sure if it’s all the same, and that might even differ from brand to brand. So I would agree with you to go to a health food store and buy something that is definitely meant for your skin would be best. You might also want to look into jojoba oil, I’ve been using it lately and loving how well it perfectly cleans and moisturizes my skin! I hope you enjoy this method, and be sure and let me know if you have anymore questions!

      Reply
  2. Hello Kari please advise me on this.i have this constant pimples with white heads on my face and dark spots which really dont seen to go and am dark skin I really need you to help me.

    Reply
    • I don’t have the qualifications to give you advice on your skin, but I would recommend seeing a professional that could advise you on diet/hydration/and skin care for you.

      Reply
    • I’m not sure as I haven’t tried it myself, but I have had other readers say they’ve mixed olive oil with baking soda with good results. I personally don’t like to use baking soda on my face more than once a week because I have very sensitive skin. Instead I stick mostly to oil cleansing, but everyone is so different, it’s hard to say what might work best for you!

      Reply
      • I am a convert to oil cleansing. I use olive oil with a little castor oil but I think I’ll try some of the other oils you recommend. The rationale for cleaning your skin with oil is that oil dissolves oil, and it really works. In fact, surprisingly, the first commercial dish washing liquid, Palmolive, was formulated with palm oil and olive oil. I’m sure the formula has probably changed over the decades to include a lot of chemicals, but many soaps are in fact oil based.

  3. I’ve resisted oils on my face for so long but just started and love it. I need to try cleaning with them too so thanks for the inspiration.

    Reply
    • I resisted it too, it just seemed counter intuitive until I learned the ‘like removes like’ principle. And once you start to understand that it’s all about your ph and not stripping the natural oils from your face it starts to make sense!

      Reply
      • Hi Kari,
        I’m just wondering if you ever use toner after any of your cleaning or exfoliating rituals? Also on the days you use the pineapple facial or baking soda what do you moisturise with?
        I’m desperate to get this right and have much better skin!
        Thanks, Carina x

      • I do use an astringent sometimes when I’m not being lazy! I always use Humphrey’s Witch Hazel, it’s the best one I’ve found without extra scents and such added in. For moisturizing my face, I always keep it super simple – I just add 1-2 drops jojoba oil into the palm of my hand. Then I get my other hand barely wet and rub them together before rubbing both hands over my face. This makes a really light ‘lotion’ of sorts which has worked really well for me.

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.