Transitioning to Non-Toxic Skin Care: Oil Cleansing
Switching to natural-based skincare can be daunting at first. Will it work for me? Will it stand up to the products that I am currently using? How is it better for my skin? These are typical questions that probably have run through your head at some point when considering the switch. I had these same questions too.
Transitioning to “cleaner” ingredient-based products is definitely something that takes time, but is worth it.
Where do I start?
Depending on your skincare routine, you may want to begin with switching your facial cleanser as your first step. This is generally (in my opinion) the easiest place to start, and you can slowly transition to additional products in the future.
Often traditional facial cleansers are full of ingredients that strip away the natural oils on your skin, leaving it dry or irritated. Sometimes these cleaners can make your face break out (although they are meant for helping to prevent breakouts). As a result, these do more harm than good.
If your skin is sensitive or tends to break out easily, certain ingredients you can eliminate using will help your skin in the long run. These include *coconut oil (see note), cottonseed oil, PEG’s, sodium Laureth sulfate/lauryl sulfate, and carrageenan/moss/chondus/Crispus (to name a few; there are many more).
The facial cleanser type that I personally love is oil cleansing. This method is gentle on the skin helps to provide moisture/hydration and is suitable for acne-prone skin.
It is often believed that oil cleansing will cause breakouts (because you are cleansing with oil). However like dissolves like. By using the right oils, you are removing the dirt, and make-up with oil that provides nourishment for your skin, supporting the prevention of breakouts. When first transitioning to an oil-based cleansing method, you may experience some breakouts, but this is simply your skin adjusting to the new method (the oil itself may not be making your skin break out).
What are the best oils to use?
The best oils to use for cleansing contain oils known to be supportive of cleansing the skin: jojoba oil, sunflower oil, and sea buckthorn oil are great options (these are usually in combination with other oils). These oils are best for all skin types.
How do you oil cleanse?
Begin with a quarter-sized amount of oil in the palm of your hand and gently rub the oil all over your face (when your face is damp) in circular motions for at least 30 seconds.
With a warm washcloth, place the washcloth onto your skin, and let it cool. Then, gently wipe the oil off your skin, making sure to remove it completely. Oil cleansing is great at removing makeup too.
You can repeat this method again if you feel your face needs extra cleansing, but it is not necessary.
The brands I love:
Living libations: A gentle cleanser formulated with jojoba and sea buckthorn works to remove excess oil, and make-up without causing additional breakouts. This was the first oil cleanser I had ever used and I was hooked. The Immortelle Best Skinever and Sandalwood BSE do not contain coconut oil. The Seabuckthorn BSE does contain coconut oil, but I do not find it to cause breakouts. If you consider yourself sensitive to coconut oil or tend to break out easily, try Immortelle or Sandalwood BSE!
Primally Pure: I started using their oil cleanser specifically for oily skin and it was a game-changer. The combination of sunflower oil and lavender/orange essential oils work to combat pesky breakouts.
I hope this was helpful for those interested in switching to more “natural” skin products. Please comment below if you have any additional questions. I would love to answer them.
xoxo
*Note:
Although coconut oil is an excellent oil to use on the body, it may clog the pores on your face. This can lead to unwanted breakouts. For those with acne-prone skin, coconut oil is not recommended for the face.
*Oil cleansing is an excellent method to cleanse the face, however, it does not need to be done 2x/a day. If you are new to oil cleansing, start with oil cleansing a couple of times a week, to allow your skin to adjust, and work up to once/day.
Reference: Renegade Beauty by Nadine Artemis, founder of Living Libations.
