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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I have mature skin so can I rotate oils to cleanse my skin or should I stick to one.
You can always rotate between oils, but I’ve found for myself that once I found my 2 favorites, (jojoba and coconut oil) I’ve just stuck to them and it’s been working wonders. For mature skin, it’s usually recommended to go with deeply moisturizing oils like Argan, but you can also just moisturize if needed after the oil cleansing. It will really depend on your individual skin type because even mature skin can be oily. I sure hope this helps!
Hi … I have facial hairs specially chin upperlips how I reduce that or change colour of hairs of facial hair please give some suggestions
I would suggest visiting a salon, and they might be able to give you some tips!
Thank you for being so prompt at replying! I just want to double check with you about the order of things and how often. Splash face with cold water, then massage it with oil for 2 minutes. Place a warm towel and remove it gently. Then, rub pineapple and rinse with cool water and follow with moisturizer. I understand that using pineapple or baking soda is twice a week correct? whenever i don’t do them i don’t need moisturizer due to the effects of oil. Do you use Hazel after the oil cleansing and if your do, what kind of moisturizer do you use? Thank you and have a blessed day!
Actually I almost always use all three treatments individually and mix them up on different days. I’ve started using the baking soda less and less because I find the build up on my face isn’t as bad after a few years of being diligent with the oil cleansing. Right now what really seems to be working for me is 2 days in a row with oil cleansing then 1 day with a pineapple facial, then I just repeat the process. Once in a while, about 2x per month I use the baking soda, it just depends on how my face feels or how much I’m traveling (it’s much easier to take baking soda with you than fresh pineapple). I always try to apply Witch Hazel after whichever kind of facial treatment I’m using. I don’t usually use a moisturizer at all on my face because I have oily skin and it seems to moisturize itself. Sometimes after a long day outside when we’re hiking in the mountains and I feel like my skin could use a little extra TLC, I’ll use my Easy Buttercream Lotion after applying the Witch Hazel and letting it dry on. I hope this answers your questions, and be sure to let me know how it goes and if you have anymore questions! 🙂
https://getinspiredeveryday.com/lifestyle/easy-buttercream-lotion/
Hi I really enjoyed reading your blog. I started getting facial skin problems in my mid twenties. I have lately purchased the Mia Clarisonic, yet I still break out and have blackheads on my nose. I am excited to use your healthy routine such as the pineapple mask following with the baking soda. I definitely agree that your skin does best when eating lots of veggies and fruit. Thanks again.
One thing that might really help you is using Humphrey’s Witch Hazel as an astringent, when I was a full time gardener I notice that the skin around my nose started turning black from touching my face too often with dirt caked hands. After I started using natural methods of cleaning my face, (quitting soap for good) and using Witch Hazel, my skin started looking normal again. The other thing I’ve found that is absolutely essential is raw Apple Cider Vinegar, I drink it diluted with water and it really helps with breakouts because it rebalances your pH. It also works as a great astringent but you need to dilute it before putting it on your skin, the normal ratio is 1 part vinegar to 10 parts water. I would avoid using baking soda when your skin is broken out because it can aggravate it due to the abrasion factor, but pineapple is perfect because there’s no abrasion and it actually helps with inflammation. I hope this helps, and be sure to let me know how it goes!
YES! This is a great habit to get into.
I firmly believe that stripping my skin with soap takes away a lot of the good with the bad, and after the experience I’ve had with oil cleansing, we only use soap to wash our hands.
I’m fortunate to have a Greek friend who has cold pressed pure virgin olive oil sent from Crete in barrels for us. I keep a bottle in the bathroom and use it for cleansing my skin, and moisturising my belly through two pregnancies. Any good quality oil though, makes a brilliant eye makeup remover, perks like zero breakouts, blackheads disappearing and generally healthier feeling skin are duly noted.
I’ve also found that the simplest of sorbolene creams makes a really effective moisturiser along with a total body cleanser. It outperforms the majority of really expensive ones I’ve trialled. Do you know of any recipes to DIY your own sorbolene?
ALSO: Have you heard of ‘oil pulling’ for dental care? That’s another good one to get into if you can keep a good habit up! Thanks for posting such excellent content!
Thanks for all your great tips and experience! I just started oil pulling so I don’t feel like I know enough to write about it yet, but I’ve loved how clean my teeth feel afterwards! I don’t know what a sorbolene cream is, I’m going to look it up and see if we can’t get a DIY version in the works! 🙂
this is very good method. I just hope it has good results when used on long term basis. I prefer this better than chemicals for cleansing.
I think you’ll be happy with the long term results, I haven’t used soap on my face in 5 years and it’s really helped my skin!
thanks…I have started already and so far it is ok 🙂 u are right, soap dries the skin.
I love this method because my skin has never been cleaner, and I don’t have to moisturize after cleansing my face!
I am very interested in trying your cleansing methods but have a couple questions. I wash my face twice a day with store bought exfoliating cleansers and then apply moisturizer. How often do you cleanse your face, and if you use your treatments 2-3 times per week, what do you use if you cleanse more often than that?
Thank you!
I use the oil cleansing method, baking soda exfoliation, and the pineapple facial alternating between them. I always use the oil cleansing more than any of the other treatments, about 2-3 times per week, but I’m trying to increase to 4-5 times per week. Oil cleansing can be used everyday, some people even use it twice a day (I’m too lazy). In between treatments, I splash my face 20 times with cold water (really great in the morning of after working out), and then moisturize. Since I quite using any kind of soap on my face, I don’t need to cleanse it more than 1x per day.
Hi Kari,
Just want to say that your skin looks great and I love reading your blog! I would like to try the oil cleansing, but does it remove make up too, or do you need to use something to remove make up first?
Thanks for the compliment, I don’t wear makeup, but I’ve heard that oil cleansing works well as a makeup remover. I’m just guessing, but I think you would want to do the oil cleansing again after the makeup is gone so that you could get the full benefits.
Hi there! Just found your blog and love it! I live in Paradise Valley, Montana so it’s good to see someone from the same state blogging green 🙂
Anyway, I just looked into the Humphrey Which Hazel on Amazon and it appears to have alcohol in it. So I’ll probably pass on that. But I’ve been oil washing for about 2 months now and love it. I use jojoba oil and it’s wonderful. I also make my own toner (so I probably don’t need which hazel anyway) out of 1:1 combination of apple cider vinegar and brewed (and cooled) organic chamomile and lavender tea. Pour it into a spray bottle and it feels great. Just be careful not to spray yourself in the eye.
It’s good to hear from you! I use apple cider vinegar as a toner too, but I’ve never combined it with something else – it sounds like a good idea. The witch hazel only contains a small amount of alcohol and I haven’t had any problems with drying. It makes a really good face toner when traveling because it doesn’t spoil!
Thanks so much for this info! Just stumbled on your blog today and I love it!
This is probably one of your best posts yet. It seems kind of counter productive — washing your face with oil — but I might have to try it. I’ve had good luck with Neutrogena products, but this sounds easier.
It’s so weird ‘washing your face with oil’ but it never leaves my face oily.
Hey Kari,
I just tried your home made deodorant and love the idea its all natural! Where do you buy your witch hazel from?Thanks!
Glad you like the recipe! I buy my witch hazel from our local health food store, but you can order it online as well.