A survey conducted by beauty e-tailer SkinStore showed that women in the United State spend about $300,000 on their face. The beauty industry has continued to grow and blossom, beauty brands transfigure to be bigger and better.
Lucky for us, as a millennial, you can find cleanser in just about every form from foam cleaner to cleansing milk. However, cleansing oil stands out from the crowd as to how versatile they can be. From drugstore brands like DHC to luxury beauty brands like Tatcha, almost every brand has come out with their own cleansing oil. This has proven the cleansing oil trend still growing strong and it’s undeniable that cleansing oil has established their place in the beauty world.
What is Cleansing Oil? How Does Cleansing Oil Works?
Cleansing oil has built its reputation in the beauty world, people love this multipurpose product for many reasons. It is very effective to remove your stubborn, waterproof makeup and clean skin impurities in one step without stripping skin moisture. Anyone can add cleansing oil into their skincare routine.
According to ‘like dissolves like’ chemistry principal, cleansing oil breaks down all your makeup, dirt, grime, sebum on your skin without drying out your skin. As we all know, water and oil don’t mix as they have different density and their molecule are packed differently. This is where the liquid emulsifier is added in order to create an oil mixture that rinses off easily with water. The cleansing oil will not remain on the face and cause negative skin problem thoroughly emulsified with water.
As an Asian myself, I double cleanse my skin almost every night before I go to bed. I’ll only use a regular cleanser if I stay at home all day without makeup. Asians believe that clean your skin thoroughly is crucial before you slather your serum and cream to boost the hydration and lock down all the good stuff into your skin. Your skincare products will only penetrate and absorb into your skin properly if your skin is clean.
Can Cleansing Oil Cause Breakouts?
Cleansing oil will not cause any breakouts if you use the right cleansing oil correctly. Oils in the cleansing oil will draw your skin impurities and clean your face, leaves your skin look hydrated and soft. However, there are mainly 3 reasons that your cleansing oil is breaking your skin out.
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you are not using your cleansing oil correctly (most common mistake)
1. Make sure to use cleansing oil with dry hands and face. Dispense an adequate amount of cleansing oil (at least 2-3 pumps) with dry hands, and warm them with your palm.
2. Massage the cleansing oil on your face evenly. You can dot some cleansing oil on your eyelids if you have eye makeup on. ( I personally recommend you use separate eye lips remover for these areas.)
3. Start massaging your face gently with a circular motion for about one minute, make sure all your make up is dissolved by the oil.
4. Now add a little bit of lukewarm water and massage your face with a circular motion again. The oil on your face will turn into white liquid, which means the cleansing oil is emulsified.
5. Rinse thoroughly with plenty of water.
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The Ingredient
It’s important to check the ingredient list before you make your purchase especially if you have acne-prone skin. Ingredients in higher concentrations appear at the beginning of the ingredient list on a product, and they decrease in concentration as you go down the list. It is common for manufacturers to formulate products with unnecessary ingredients to improve the texture of the product. Out of all the unnecessary ingredients, two main ingredients that you should be aware of is Isopropyl Myristate and Isopropyl Palmitate.
– Isopropyl Myristate
Isopropyl myristate is an ester of isopropyl alcohol and myristic acid. It is mainly used as an emollient and binding agent. It can be found in makeup, lotion, deodorants, and shampoo. Even though The Cosmetic Ingredients Panel did some evaluation and found that it is a safe ingredient to use in cosmetics. However, research also shows there is a small chance of skin irritation, clogged pores, and acne inflammation. (source)
– Isopropyl Palmitate
Isopropyl palmitate is a palm oil-based emollient, derived from coconut oil. It’s used as a thickening agent to improve the moisture content in skincare products. Although Isopropyl palmitate is presumed as a safe ingredient for cosmetic use, it is highly comedogenic and might cause acne, blackheads, whiteheads, and clogged pores if overused.
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Skin Type
Cleansing oils are designed for all skin types and it provides quick and easy removal of all type of makeup. Some cleansing oil even claimed you don’t have to double cleanse your face. However, if you are having acne-prone, sensitive skin or oily skin, make sure you double-check the ingredients. Most of the cleansing oils contain fragrance and surfactant that might aggravate your skin conditions and make it worst.
Common Mistakes When Using Cleansing Oils
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the amount of cleansing oil
Most of the brands recommended using at least 2-3 pumps of cleansing oil each time. You want to make sure you are using enough product to remove all the makeup, dirt, and grime on your face. If you didn’t dispense an adequate amount, you might not able to remove all the makeup on your face.
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emulsifying correctly is the key
Emulsify the cleansing oil correctly is the most important step when using the cleansing oil. Throughout this process, the oil molecule will be broken down, so it can be rinsed off clean with water. Do not add too little or too much water to emulsify your cleansing oil. Too much water will dilute the cleansing oil and it might not able to dissolve and remove all your makeup and we all know nothing good happens to your skin when your makeup trapped in your pores.
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water temperature
Water temperature does matter. The ideal temperature for removing makeup using cleansing oil is 38c to 40c. Most of the cleansing oil components only fully dissolve with lukewarm water. Any water temperature below that might leave residue and clog your pores.
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use a separate product to remove your eyes and lips makeup
Have you ever tried removing your eyes makeup with cleansing oil and your vision gets blurry? Sometimes it even stings your eyes. The reason behind this is that the oil stuck between your lashes and it won’t go away until the oil is fully removed. Moreover, your eyes and lips are more delicate, it’s better and safer to use a gentle makeup remover for eyes and lips.
Should I use cleansing oil to remove my makeup every day?
Cleansing oil gives your skin a deep cleanse and remove any impurities, it’s the perfect solution for your sweat-proof foundation or long-lasting blusher.
If you are just putting light makeup, etc sunscreen or tinted moisturizer, opt for a lighter makeup remover such as micellar water or cleansing milk, so your skin feels less heavy.
When it comes to skincare, you should always go for the one that suits your needs.
Related Article: How to Pick The Right Makeup Remover for Dry Skin
Other Makeup Remover Options
If cleansing oil doesn’t work for your skin, don’t worry, there are still other makeup removers on the market that will still remove your makeup effectively.
- micellar cleansing water
Micellar cleansing water is great for acne-prone skin type. It contains mild surfactants(micelles), hydrating ingredients and purified water. Micelles naturally groups together to form microscopic spheres and attracted to oil and dirt. It will pull out all the makeup, oil, and impurities on the skin like a magnet, yet maintain the moisture level of your skin. Micellar cleansing water is very hydrating but the formula is very gentle and light.
- cleansing milk
If you have very sensitive skin, cleansing milk might be your perfect match. Cleansing milk has a mild and creamy texture packed with nourishing and hydrating ingredients that preserved skin’s natural hydration while cleansing. Your skin feels soft and supple after cleansing. It’s formulated to remove light makeup and cleanse sensitive and dry skin. Despite what has been stated cleansing milk is not intended to remove heavy eyes and lips makeup.
Cleansing is the most important step to get clear and healthy skin. Your skin is covered in bacteria, dirt, and sebum throughout the day. You need to remove all the dirt and gunk before going to bed to reduce the chances of getting skin irritations and acne breakouts. Moreover, if your skin is clean and clear, serum and cream actually penetrate into your skin better. Thus, cleansing your skin is the best thing you can do for your skin after a long day out to eliminate all the impurities on your skin.
If you have any question and tips that you’d like to share with us, just drop your comment down below.
