All the Reasons You Shouldn't Be Scared of Oil Cleansers

Hi, I'm Pippa, and I’m using an oil cleanser as an acne treatment for my combination skin.

Yes, I know what you’re thinking, “Oil?! Is she crazy? I need less oil not more!”

As someone who has combination, acne-prone skin, I fully understand where this fear is coming from.

It’s disheartening to spend large amounts of time and money on products that fail to balance your skin or calm down breakouts - let alone make everything worse.

So, in an effort to convince you that oil cleansing can in fact be suitable for acne-prone skin types, I've used three different oil cleansers, from three different brands and have done a bit of research to put your mind at rest when it comes to oil cleansing. 

Side note: Jo takes us through all the different types of cleansers for each skin type, and answers frequently asked questions about double cleansing in the video below...

What Is Oil Cleansing & the Double Cleansing Method? 

Put simply, this technique involves massaging an oil cleanser into the skin first, emulsify by rinsing with water and then following the process with a second cleanser.

The oil cleanser removes any makeup, sunscreen, pollution and blemish-causing debris, while the second cleanser removes the remaining product and efficiently cleans the epidermis (or top) layer of the skin. 

Not surprisingly, the double cleansing method is incredibly popular in the iconic skincare nations of Japan and South Korea.

Sooo, how will this get rid of my acne, you ask? Well, the cleansing oil removes any oil based components (see, Year 7 Science was helpful!) which water or a water-based cleanser can't efficiently remove.

This is why using an oil cleanser can be beneficial for very oily, or acne-prone skin. Acne-prone skins can also often be dehydrated and present as "oily".

Many of us are guilty of using super drying products to combat breakouts, which in turn causes an overproduction of oil (making us think we have oily skin, but actually our skin is just trying to overcompensate).

So using an oil cleanser can also help to balance that out.

Can I Use A Normal Facial Oil For The Oil Cleansing Method?

Can you use a facial oil for the OCM? To answer this, you need to look at the differences between cleansing oils and regular facial oils.

• Facial oils are made predominantly or soley from natural oils

• Cleansing oils are predominantly made from natural oils, with the addition of ingredients that help them to emulsify, or mix with water, and rinse off.

because of the differences between the two products you cannot use just any facial oil as part of the oil cleansing method, as normal facial oils won't emusify and cleanse the face.

All the Oil Cleaners I've Used and Loved...

1.DISCIPLE Night Shift AHA Oil Cleanser 100ml & Cloth

I might be biased because DISCIPLE is one of my favourite brands, but hear me out. This natural, vegan-friendly formula has a light consistency upon application but becomes thicker as it binds to makeup, lifting it from your skin.

• It has a soft scent of neroli and grape seed oil

• After using this product your skin is left feeling nourished & comfortable

• AHAs exfoliate skin's surface

• It effectively took off makeup like a champ

2. Dermalogica PreCleanse

Despite their reputation as being more of a "clinical" brand, almost all of Dermalogica's products are vegan, and place skin health at the core of their brand. Dermalogica's PreCleanse was my first oil cleansing product and I fell in love with oil cleansing as soon as I used it!

• It is an incredibly light oil that packs a punch, easily gliding through foundation & cutting through oil

• I find the oil stays the same consistency, thinning out any debris it comes across

• You do need to be careful using it around your eye area, as it will sting if it gets in your eyes

• It has a very light lavender scent, so makeup removal feels more like a pamper session

3. Medik8 Lipid-Balance Cleansing Oil

From humble beginnings, Medik8 has now risen to being one of the biggest names in skincare. The Lipid-Balancing Cleansing Oil is the most recent vegan oil cleanser I’ve tried and I decided to test it out. So I swatched my face with eyeliner, concealer, dark eyeshadow and a contour foundation which is maybe 20 shades too dark for my skin tone.

• The oil maintained its consistency melting the makeup off as I massage it in

• Although it didn’t turn milky when I applied the water, it did wonders when I added my cleanser

• It becomes very foamy & light, clearing all debris effectively from my skin

• It's an ultra-gentle formula suitable for all skin types, including sensitive

• Discover our favourite oil cleansers in our guide- The Best Cleansing Oils to Use

• Another great skincare brand for sensitive skin is Pai Organic Skincare. Find out more in our here The Ultimate Guide to Pai Organic Skincare

• If you're looking for alcohol-free skincare, find out which products are our favourites in our guide The Best Alcohol-Free Skincare for Every Skin Type

Things to Keep in Mind While Cleansing:

• When choosing a second cleanser to follow your oil cleanser, make sure you use a formula that is appropriate for your skin type - and for acne-prone skin, check out cleansers that contain AHAs & BHAs.

• Remember oil production is your friend, not your enemy, so after cleansing you want to make sure your skin feels clean, fresh and plump. If your skin feels tight, rough or uncomfortable after cleansing, you may not be using the right formula for your skin - so consider changing it up.

• You can also enhance your cleansing routine further with devices like FOREO's LUNA, which is a favourite of our Beauty Editor.