Have you ever tried the oil cleansing method? Why/why not? Did it work?
I did briefly for several weeks a few years ago. It didn’t do anything spectacular, though it didn’t make anything worse. I’ll still grab olive oil out of someone’s kitchen if I need to remove my makeup and they don’t have any remover!
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I was actually just researching this the other day. Sounds interesting, but I think I’m too scared. My face beaks out so easily!
Yes, with coconut oil. It is lighter than other oils or at least feels lighter to me and works great on eye makeup and those long wear lipsticks and stains.
@sharona I’m curious…how do you get that slimy oily feeling to go away after you’ve finished cleansing? I tried coconut oil a few months ago (before I gave up and bought another bottle of my cleansing oil) but I had a terrible time trying to get the oily feeling off of my skin…I could still feel it even after using my normal cleanser :(:(
@nacacijin @sharona Hmm…I usually just wash my face with warm water and that seems to do it. I do have dry skin and feel that the slight film left behind makes my skin glow the next day. Also, I live in a place that barely has a summer :). I could not imagine doing this if I lived in a warm or humid place.
I tried it a few years ago. I used extra virgin olive oil and I forget what the other one was. Anyway, it was actually very moisturizing and not as heavy as I expected. I didn’t continue this method, as I tend to wake up with oily skin as it is. I think it would be great for someone with dry skin issues to try out. I just prefer a more crisp, fresh feeling after washing my face rather than the weight of extra oil.
No I haven’t even heard of it until now but I’m going to try it asap, been meaning to pick up some coconut oil and give it a try as a moisturizer anyway because the argan oil I LOVE is costing me too much! Thanks for the new tip, as always I love your blog!!
Absolutely! But I use actual oil cleansers (the kind that rinse off with water) and not just regular cooking/body oils. I try to always be fully stocked on my Shiseido Ultimate Cleansing Oil. It’s a little pricey ($25 for 5oz), but I only use one pump each night and one bottle can last me 4-5 months. It’s the best at removing every last bit of makeup from my face, though I do follow up with a separate cleanser with salicylic acid just to exfoliate and help prevent any possible breakouts. But I do find that my oil cleanser works best at keeping my skin clear. I tried to go without it for the last month and a half and my skin felt so congested and I could not get rid of those gross little bumps and whiteheads. But now that I’ve started using my oil cleanser again my skin feels so much better. I love it because my skin absolutely hates those makeup removing wipes and I don’t trust any normal cleanser to get all of the makeup off. Even my Philosophy Purity still leaves traces after double washing. Cleansing oils are pretty much a staple for me. I’ve tried using just regular EVOO, coconut oil, almond oil, grapeseed oil…but they leave a weird film over my face and I spend more time trying to get the oil off than I spend trying to get the makeup off. So I definitely swear by my cleansing oils…one of the best skincare products I’ve ever invested in.
Sure did . . . & I broke out, badly. The concept makes sense, though.
Yes, I use avocado oil. I like that it’s a moisturizerr and a make-up remover all in one. I just started it. I know it will be great in winter when my skin gets dry and flaey.
I use DHC Deep Cleansing Oil primarily to completely remove my waterproof sunscreen – it’s the best! Cleansing oils are better than plain oils in my opinion since they have emulsifiers that allow easy rinsing without any residue.
I bought a tub of coconut oil but I haven’t tried using it or other oils yet. I have oily skin and while I don’t need everything to be oil-free, I’m not sure cleansing my face with oil is the best idea for me. I keep wanting to try actual cleansing oils, though…
I have oily skin and I LOVE this method. I use a combination of castor oil and sunflower oil, with tea tree oils for spot treatments and coconut oil as a remover.
Yes and I incorporated castor oil too…that was my fatal flaw I think. I stupidly used regular, cheap castor and I broke out in cystic acne in places I never normally do. It was pretty bad, and took about 8 months to fully clear up 🙁 I occasionally use EVOO to remove my makeup, but I’ve been too scared to not “rinse” off the oil with a regular cleanser. Despite that nightmare, I’m interested in trying virgin (organic!) coconut oil.
Like @nacacijin I also use actual oil cleansers, as she mentioned before the usual kitchen oils leave a film forming which I can never get rid off! I am combination/oily skin typed, but using oil cleansers never broke me out. I was using Kose (a Korean breand) cleansing oil. When it finished I looked for cheaper versions, I bought Sephora’s cleansing oil last month it is a nice purchase. On the days I do a full makeup I always remove it with cleansing oils and no trace left after it! I used lots of other methods (biphasic cleansers, cleansing wipes etc) but nothing works better than oils for removing my makeup (either it is waterproof or not). I can definitely recommend it, even to oily skin typed gals!
Only when I have to remove a serious amount of dark makeup from all over my face, which usually means for halloween or carnival, for one of my costumes (the last one was a dalmatian dog)… Pure Oil removes better and faster. But I usually don’t go for olive oil because of its strong smell, I prefer almond oil
Haven’t tried it but maybe will in the future!
Yes, with Shu Uemura. My skin has never felt better!
@Kate MacDonald I’ve been meaning to try Shu Uemura’s cleanser. Thanks for the reminder!
I have tried a few different brands and must say I absolutely love the pink cleansing oil from Shu Uemura. It is pricey but last a lifetime and will remove anything easily, even waterproof mascara. Plus, it is very gentle to my skin, much better than rubbing cotton pads on my eyelids.
@FernandaSilva are u srilankan?
@ZulaikhaMuddassir @FernandaSilva No, I’m Brazilian/Italian, living in the UK for the last 5 years…
@FernandaSilva oh ok. I thought u were srilankan coz Silva is a v common srilankan name.
@ZulaikhaMuddassir @FernandaSilva Oh, I see, it is also the most common surname in Brazil since we were colonized by the Portuguese (that’s where the name comes from).
@ZulaikhaMuddassir @FernandaSilvaSilva is also a very common surname in Latin America, where I live, FYI.
@FernandaSilva aha makes sense coz srilanka was once ruled by the portugese too. 🙂
Not so to speak, but my soap bar is made of pure saponified olive oil…so maybe? Haha. I like the clean feeling that comes from rinsing it off under cold water, so I’ll probably stick to that. I also use jojoba oil on a cotton ball to take off eye and lip makeup. Works great!
Not sure what the “oil cleansing method” is but I do use cleansing oils, like MAC’s, to dissolve long-wearing makeup or heavy eye makeup. And I use treatment oils on my face (Kiehl’s Midnight Rescue and Clarins’s Blue Orchid Oil) but that’s about it. I did try using olive oil to clean one of my white-haired MAC eyeshadow brushes and it nearly ruined the brush.
YES this is a great way to clean your skin, I use vaseline too it cleans the skin from dirt too
I typically use oils to remove my makeup, though I follow up with a “soap-free” cleanser, then I apply jojoba oil (all over) & argan oil (where needed). My skin has *never* looked better. If I’m wearing very heavy eye makeup, I’ll remove it with Lancome Bi-Facil, but the rest of my routine stays the same.
Actually, I have been tempted to try it, but I would go to my health food store and purchase pure cold pressed almond oil. I will probably do this in the winter when my skin gets much drier. Almond oil is also recommended for hair.
@wwendalynne And it smells really pretty, too.
I’ve been using MAC cleansing oil for the past couple of weeks and it works really well at removing my face makeup. It emulsifies with water so it’s easy to rinse off. I have very oily skin and it hasn’t made me break out yet. I can’t use it on my eyes though. I feel it’s not that good at removing mascara (and I don’t use waterproof mascara, only “regular” one) and it leaves a film that makes my vision cloudy for a while afterwards.
@Ameliezo same here! mac cleansing oil is amazing. It has never given me any problems. I used tea tree oil for my acne, good stuff but can be too strong.
I love my DHC Cleansing Oil and use it every night to remove my makeup. I follow up with a water based cleanser as well. I’ve got oily skin and this seems to work perfect for me!
portioned around 50ml from the 1litre cooking ev olive oil into my glass bottle and use for make up removal as much as I can as it is effective and leave it on for around 10min before going to face cleansing or bathe and u can feel the difference. pores unclog n skin nourish! <33333
I love SKII cleansing oil. It’s very expensive (comparable to Shu’s), but it has a delicious rose scent that I find very soothing at the end of the day. Massage it lightly over the face and neck, add a bit of warm water to emulsify, then rinse it off and all the day’s makeup and gunk go down the drain. Perfection!
By the way oily skinned ladies, oil dissolves oil so you shouldn’t have to worry about any congestion or eruptions. Just be sure you remove all traces of the cleansing oil because leaving a dirty, oily residue on the skin will obviously cause breakouts. After rinsing the emulsified oil off with warm water, I like to go over my face with a damp wash cloth as a finishing touch to my cleansing routine. Using a cleansing oil keeps my skin clean, smooth, and soft.
A tip for the breakout prone: if you find yourself in the kitchen looking for an oil to remove makeup (like in Christine’s post), consider sunflower or safflower oil instead of olive oil. Many people find it less clogging.
i usually just use baby oil. it takes everything off and then i rinse off with cetaphil.
I am not doing cleansing with oil, but I did switch my night time moisturizer to jojoba oil and I absolutely love it!!!! I have oily skin, and when you first put it on it looks scary greasy…. but it soaks in overnight and by morning my skin has never been softer! Less breakouts as well. I do not use it during the day though. You only need a dab!
@Cassandra I use jojoba oil as well, and even during the day sometimes. It’s the best thing I’ve tried, and it’s *so* inexpensive. I’ve been using the same bottle everyday (sometimes 2X a day) for the last 3 months, and at the rate I’ve been using it, my $10 USD bottle will likely last until the end of the year, if not longer. I did have some minor break-outs the first couple of weeks I used it, but I stuck with it and my skin has never been better.
I’ve been using the Damascus Rose Oil from Badger Balm at night as my moisturizer and love it. I was skeptical about using an oil to moisturize, but it is so lovely and just sinks right in to my skin. Plus, I only need one drop for my whole face.
I’ve been contemplating following the oil cleansing method for a while — one of these days, I will take the plunge.
I do not use natural oils (Olive oil, etc) to remove makeup as it is not water soluble. I was fan of Shu Uemura, but their number 1 ingredient is paraffin oil, which is not good for your skin! I now use Dermalogica PreCleanse as it contains all natural oil, plus it is water soluble.
I looooooove MAC cleanse off oil! It takes everything off and is the only makeup remover that doesn’t irritate my sensitive eyes!
absolutely & I use floraison by Ünt, it’s really better for my eyes than any make up removal & the smelling is just faboulous
I use the josie maran cleansing oil and love it- i dont have bad skin but its great w dryness
I prefer oils like MAC cleanse off oil, or precleanse by Dermalogica. They have both improved my skin like you wouldn’t believe!
I bought that boscia one an ummm it’s ok …. I’ll gladly use olive oil or ponds or abolene over it… Way cheaper and since I’m going to wah my face after anyway there’s no need to spend a lot on it…. But I prefer a wipe then wash
Cleansing oils are my holy grail in removing all of my makeup. I purchase my cleansing oils from brands overseas at sasa.com, evecare.com, and so on. Its quick, easy and saves me money rather than using wipes. It doesn’t break me out, less abrasive to the skin and takes less than 2 minutes to completely take off all my makeup.
Yes I have and I like DHC cleansing oil the best. It cleans out my pores and get rid of my dead skin cells very gently and of course it cleans out all of my makeups too. Then I am using foam type cleansers to get rid of any oils left on my skin. Oil type of cleansers were
really really Big in Asia few years ago.
I’ve read about the Oil Cleansing Method- I didn’t have any castor oil so I didn’t do the mixture. I used coconut oil, and it was great for a minute, but after a few weeks my
Skin started to get congested and break out. Like you said, it’s great for a quick “need to take off makeup”, but I prefer my REN skin care 🙂
Yes. And I mean actual ocm, not a cleansing oil from a makeup counter. Long story short it ruined my skin for a little while. Don’t get me wrong, it feels really lovely and I still sometimes massage my face with nutritive oils but I HAVE to follow up with a conventional cleanser. Basically I think it’s good for some, but not with my skin that produces oil constantly and when I live in a very hot, humid climate. I just don’t need the kind of moisture that ocm provides.
I used to use olive oil, which made my skin dull and pimply, and MAC Cleanse-Off Oil, which, like @Ameliezo said, can’t really be used around the eyes, since it emulsifies in their wetness and doesn’t work that well, anyway. Sweet almond oil was actually fine for my skin, and very effective on everything, but ultimately I got fed up of having to deal with getting oil residue off my face and hands. So I use a micellar water (Bioderma) now.
Only Shu- Uemura cleansing oil…got it as a sample. Loved it. Used Clarin face oil for moisturizer, but not a cleansing oi.
Haven’t tried the oils. I use an eye makeup remover; can’t remember if it’s Neutrogena or Almay. I wash my face with Exuviance, a non-sudsing liquid cream. I wash once with my hands and rinse, then do the same with the Claisonic Mia 2. Works for my sensitive 62 year old skin.
I did some research and came up with a DIY formula that works well for me (somewhat dry, “mature” skin, problem-free). I mix equal parts EVOO, light sesame oil (not the toasted kind), sweet almond oil and coconut oil. then I add some glycerine and rosewater to top it off. Shake it up before each use.
I use about a quarter-size amount, rub it into my face and eyes, then remove it with a washcloth soaked in hot water — kind of pat it off. Feels and smells great, and is totally economical. My skin looks terrific.
@SportifLateBoomer
I like your idea and may try it. I think I would like a lavendar scent tho. Would that matter?
@Susan Dowman Nevling You shouldn’t use lavendar oil on your face, especially around the eyes, as it can be too harsh. I would stay away from any essential oils, and stick with “kitchen” oils.
@Susan Dowman Nevling I think lavender would be nice too but would watch application around the eyes. The glycerin-rosewater combo is classic for skin soothing and of course the smell is divine.
@SportifLateBoomer
@ xamyx; thanks for the info. I was think of a drop or two for the scent, not pure essential oil for cleansing. Would that be too much, do u think?
@Susan Dowman Nevling A drop or two for scent should be fine, but I would still keep it away from the eye area, as it may sting/burn a bit. HTH
yes, I have tried OCM and its just too awesome. the only issue with it is that its too long a process but then, it shouldn’t be done everyday. twice a week is ok.
Yes – and I hated it…. I don’t like how oil feels on my face in the first place, but I just CAN’T STAND it on my eyes. It always seems to find its way into my eyes, leaving me with a blurry sight and irritated, red eyes, and I can’t rinse or cleanse it off well enough so I always end up with this greasy feel on my skin, ewww!!!
I tried reputable, popular brands, and they were all the same failure. This method is really not for me!
@Lulle Lulle, have you tried an emulsifying one? There are oils you can massage on your face that then emulsify (that is, it breaks down when mixed with water) so you can rinse them off cleanly. My cleanser’s like that and it leaves my face soft and smooth without leaving a coating.
@Alison Cole I tried the famous DHC cleansing oil, which I think is supposed to emulsify, but I felt the same… I was also grossed out by its pure olive oil smell: I love olive oil, but in my salad, not on my face…
@Lulle @Alison Cole Me too! I didn’t like DHC at all. The smell was just too overpowering. Didn’t like that much oil on my face at all. At least Fancl smelt nice.
I only use pure coconut oil to remove make up. I have never found anything better!
It works OK but if we are talking oil for cleanser, I would rather have a oil type cleanser. My fav olive oil cleanser by LaOccitane was reformulated a # of years back – they dropped their oil formula – boo hoo. I have used the oil cleanser from Japan – forgetting the name – it’s initals D something…but my fav oil based formula cleanser is Eve Lom – just hate the price tag on it!
@beachgal DHC? Replying from Singapore. lol.
I use grapeseed or virgin coconut oil. I have less breakouts when I do oil cleansing.
I use baby oil
I have been using Shu Uemura cleansing oils for the past 9 years. It is the best way to wash makeup off my face.
I have been using the one from Origins since January and I love it. I just use that as my night cleanser, and I still have at least a third of the bottle left. I’m a convert!
I do OCM as a treat. It works really well on my skin, if I feel it needs a reset. I prefer jojoba oil or apricot kernel oil, I have never had any problem with either oil.
To remove the oil veil after using evoo to cleanse your skin, usually we call this double cleansing. Preferably using cleanser that claims to remove make up trails 2-in-1 after the oil step. example would be KANEBO KRACIE Green tea with clay/mud that claims to remove make up.
I have tried using olive oil to cleanse my face. It didn’t break me out, but it also left a thick film of oil on my face every time I cleansed. I didn’t like it, so I stopped after a while.
That said, my favourite all time cleanser is Dermalogica’s Precleanse, which is a THIN oil that emulsifies into a milky cleanser. Its really lovely and cleanses more effectively than any other cleanser I have tried, without stripping my skin or leaving it feeling tight, at all. I highly recommend it.
I’ve never used it…I’ve always avoided that stuff because I have acne. Probably misguided, but oh well!
@annedreshfield I tried the ocm BECAUSE i have acne! i like it because it really seems to get in there and clean me out!
@stefffie78 @annedreshfield Good to know!
I was always keen on testing the shu uemura oil cleanser but since it isn”t available here and I didn’t want to spend that much + shipping I decided to try a cheaper version first. I have pretty dry & sensitive skin in the winter, so sensitive that evven my beloved bioderma micellair solution irritates me (because of the cotton pad) and so I thought oil would be perfect, since I’m not a huge fan of cleansing milks.
I bought the sephora cleansing oil and now I am a convert – I JUST LOVE THIS STUFF!!!! I really breaks down the hardest make-up formulas and does not irritate the skin. I rinse it for quite a long time with water, use a toner afterwards and have no oily residues.
Of course right now in the heat of summer I prefer creamy gels, but on days I use waterproof mascara it always come in handy. Will definitely try other oil cleansers if I finish this bottle.
I’ve never tried an actual oil cleansing product, but I use extra virgin olive oil to remove my make up. I also use olive oil mixed with sugar to create my own sugar scrub when I need to exfoliate my face. It always leaves my skin silky soft! It works like a charm, plus, it is so affordable.
I have been dealing with bad skin since I was 13. Now that I am 20 you could say I am tired of spending all this money on products that do nothing for my face. I now have extremely dull skin with large pores and acne scars. The Oil Cleansing Method sounds great but it did not clear my skin. If you are still struggling with acne the Oil Cleansing Method will not clear your skin. At the time I first started using the method I used it twice a day every day for about 5 days and my face did not clear. Now, I have paired it with my a normal face wash in the morning and at night, with spot treatments (Clean and Clear works best for me) and I randomly switch out my face wash with the OCM about 4 days a week. After two and half weeks my skin is much less dull and much more hydrated. If you are going to start the OCM and you have resistant acne like me, do not rely on it to completely clear your skin. Oil is good for your face but it’s not a miracle worker. Find a balance that works for your specific face which contains both chemicals and oil.
Yes and I LOVE it! I saw an immediate improvement in my skin. I used about 25% castor oil and 75% almond oil and it worked like a charm. Remember that if you use too much castor oil, it can dry you out. I actually sell argan oil and blends, but I recommend this to my clients all the time. They’ve had great results as well. I’m so happy to see this as a topic on your blog. Oil is the best thing for our skin! Thanks.