Gentle cleansing oils, lotions, and balms are coming for your bathroom cabinet. You’ll never wash your face the same way again.
Facial cleansing has taken a turn away from harsh, sudsy face washes to gentle, natural cleansers. If you jump on this well-oiled bandwagon, your complexion will thank you for it!
Here’s why: Many conventional facial cleansers are made with aggressive surfactants (cleansing chemicals) that penetrate and degrade the skin’s healthy barrier. This, in turn, makes us more susceptible to skin conditions such as inflammation, dryness, irritation, redness, and discomfort. Rather than stripping the skin’s natural, healthy oils and bacteria (yes, your skin, like your gut, features healthy flora), gentle facial cleansing with oils, lotions, and balms helps keep the skin barrier intact.
Read on to discover which one is right for you.
Cleansing oils
Not only are oils wonderful skin moisturizers (see “Choosing a moisturizing oil”), but they can also be used for cleansing. Although it may sound counterintuitive to use oil to cleanse the face, cleansing oils have become wildly popular and are celebrated by beauty buffs and natural health advocates alike. The method to this apparent madness is the chemistry principle “like dissolves like.” In other words, oil in a product dissolves excess oil on skin.
Who they’re for
Oil cleansing can be used by people with all skin types—yes, even by those with oily skin. Just make sure that the product states on the label which skin type it’s targeted for.
How to use them
As always, follow the label. Generally, cleansing oil should be massaged into a dry face in a circular motion, and then rinsed off with water and a soft washcloth.
What to look for
Cleansing oils can be pure oils, such as jojoba oil or sunflower oil, or blends of oils formulated for different skin types. But don’t be fooled by the imposters—not all cleansing oil products on the market are natural. Shop at your local natural health retailer and choose products made from plant or nut oils (not mineral oils) that don’t contain added chemicals.
Cleansing lotions
Also called cleansing milks, creamy cleansing lotions are a gentle, nourishing way to cleanse skin without stripping away moisture.
Who they’re for
Cleansing lotions can be used on even the most sensitive or dry skin.
How to use them
Cleansing lotions often don’t need to be rinsed off—simply using a clean cotton pad or washcloth is enough—so they’re perfect for busy mornings. However, they may not be ideal for removing heavy makeup without rinsing.
What to look for
Look for soothing ingredients that help support skin health, including sweet almond oil, glycerin, jojoba oil, or sesame seed oil.
Cleansing balms
Relative newcomers to the facial cleansing game, these unique products transform from balm to oil during the cleansing process. They’re also a dream at removing makeup.
Who they’re for
As with cleansing oils, there’s a cleansing balm out there for everyone and every skin type—from dry to oily. Again,
be sure to read the label and choose a product suited to your unique needs.
How to use them
Cleansing balms can seem like a messy affair, but they’re really quite simple. Typically, they’re applied to a damp face
and emulsify into a creamy cleanser when massaged into the skin. Then they’re rinsed off with water and a soft washcloth.
What to look for
Nourishing ingredients in facial cleansing balms include sweet almond oil, shea butter, olive oil, chamomile,
lavender, and lemon.
Choosing a moisturizing oil
For dry or mature skin
Nourishing facial oils perfect for quenching skin’s thirst include rosehip and olive oil blends, or coconut oil.
For sensitive skin
Sweet almond oil is particularly soothing for those with sensitive skin, except for those with a nut allergy.
For combination or normal skin
This skin type can benefit from a lightweight oil, such as argan or jojoba.
For oily or blemish-prone skin
Blends of oils tailored to those with oily or acneic skin can include calendula and almond oil. Grapeseed oil is also ideal for balancing troubled skin.
