If you have oily skin, you must be thinking that putting oil on your skin, whether face oils or facial cleansing oils isn’t something you should do. However, we’re here to bust this myth thanks to something called double cleansing, which like many other skincare trends is made popular by the Koreans. It’s basically the concept of starting your skincare regimen with a gets-it-all-off oil and yes, all skin types can give this a go.
Cleansing oils contain an oil base and another ingredient called a surfactant which helps to dissolve the dirt and product on the skin without snatching away the natural barrier of the skin. One thing to note is that you’ve to use it on dry skin so that it breaks down the makeup, sunscreen, dirt and product residue before rinsing it off with lukewarm water or wiping it away with a muslin cloth.
Actually, facial cleansing oils are one of the most gentle products, more than makeup-removing wipes or micellar water and will ensure no trace of makeup is left on the skin. That waterproof mascara that refuses to budge or even the foundation on your face will be removed with no tugging or pulling. In fact, you can use it to give yourself a relaxing face massage at the end of a long day.
Best Cleansing Oils Available In India
We sat down to list the best cleansing oils for all kinds of budgets so that you can give your skin the TLC it deserves.
Innisfree Green Tea Cleansing Oil
Double cleansing is a Korean concept, so the brand that’ll understand it the best also has to be Korean, right? This is one of the best cleansing oils for face because it gently cleanses and hydrates the skin with jeju green tea extract that has amino acids. With a watery texture, this oil melts away makeup, dirt and purifies the skin for a smoother texture. This is a great option because it leaves your skin feeling soft, supple, and glowing in an instant.
Pros: It’s made with all-natural ingredients that are gentle on the skin.
Cons: Packaging isn’t eco-friendly.
Face Wipes For Oily Skin India
DCH Deep Cleansing Oil
The Japanese beauty brand DHC’s Deep Cleansing Oil has olive oil as the star ingredient- it has oleic acid from olive oil that clings onto and removes makeup, clogged pores and dead skin cells while also conditioning and nourishing your skin. Use this product and then follow it up with an emulsifying cleanser and we bet it’ll be one of your holy grail cleansing oils.
Pros: Works really well in taking off all the dirt, product and pollution particles in your skin.
Cons: It’s pricey.
Pai Skincare Light Work Rosehip Cleansing Oil
When it comes to removing makeup, excess sebum and impurities without irritating sensitive skin and delicate areas of the eyes, this Pai Skincare cleansing oil works wonders. The Pai Rosehip Oil is already loved by many so it comes as no surprise when people swear by this product as well. It’s cruelty-free, organic, vegan and the main ingredient, rosehip oil has powerful skin healing and cell regenerative properties. It’s got a high concentration of amino acids and antioxidants so it even helps with repairing and protecting the skin from environmental damage.
Pros: Great facial cleansing oil for sensitive skin.
Cons: Not available at local stores.
Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Skin Therapy Cleansing Oil
The Palmer’s cocoa butter is loved all over the world for being affordable and amazing so it’s no surprise that their cleansing oil is incredible too. It is a great cleansing oil for makeup removal as it also contains cocoa butter, sesame oil and rosehip oil which helps in promoting healthy skin cells to regenerate. It is infused with Vitamin C that helps brighten dull skin.
Pros: Doesn’t clog pores and has the calming scent of cocoa butter in it.
Cons: Doesn’t use eco-friendly packaging.
Forest Essentials Makeup Remover Oil
The Forest Essentials Makeup Remover is infused with natural floral oils including jasmine essential oil, wheat germ oil, rose essential oil and jojoba oil. The jasmine oil helps improve skin elasticity and evens out skin tone while the wheat germ oil soothes and repairs damaged skin. The rose essential oil gives off a strong floral scent calming your senses after a long day. So, not only are the makeup, dirt and impurities removed from the skin, but it’s also nourished with natural goodness making it a great cleansing oil for dry skin.
Pros: Made with natural ingredients.
Cons: Doesn’t use eco-friendly packaging.
Burt’s Bees Cleansing Oil with Coconut Argan Cleanser
The hero ingredient in this cleanser is argan oil which is a great one if you’re new to using face oils. It’s super lightweight and mild so it won’t feel too much or too sticky on your skin. It is one of the best cleansing oils for all skin types. It is also loaded with Vitamin E and omega fatty acids which hydrate and soften the skin.
Pros: Works for all skin types.
Cons: It’s pricey.
The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Light Cleansing Oil
The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Light Cleansing oil both deep cleanses and brightens the skin. Makeup and impurities are washed away and thanks to its plant-based ingredients like rice bran oil and jojoba oil, your skin looks squeaky clean and revitalised. It’s a great cleansing oil for combination skin as well as oily skin because it goes deep into your pores and removes dirt and excess sebum.
Pros: Affordable product.
Cons: Doesn’t use eco-friendly packaging.
Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Oil Cleanser
This is infused with camellia oil, which is a fave in Japanese beauty. It has a higher content of oleic acid than olive oil and is a great source of Vitamin A, B, C, D and E making it one of the best skincare ingredients. It’s super hydrating and even the most parched skin will be able to feel the difference. It’s a great facial cleansing oil for dry skin and will gently remove your makeup and let your skin breathe at the end of the day.
Pros: It’s really hydrating and moisturising.
Cons: It’s pricey.
L’Occitane Immortelle Unisex Oil Make-Up Remover
This cleansing oil for face has a silky texture and removes even the most stubborn makeup and impurities that have built up during the day. The formula is enriched with essential oil and has anti-ageing properties. Your skin with feel clean, clear and refreshed after using this as it works well even on waterproof makeup.
Pros: Works well on all skin types.
Cons: Not available at local stores.
Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil
This is one of the best cleansing oils because of it’s skin-friendly ingredients like coix lacryma-jobi seed, tangerine peel extract, and apricot kernel oil. All the gunk and dirt from your pores will be removed, leaving you with deeply cleansed skin. Also, it doesn’t hurt that your skin will feel soft and oh-so-smooth after using this cause all the makeup and buildup will be gone!
Pros: Unclogs pores and is a good cleansing oil for oily skin.
Cons: Has a strong smell.
FAQs
Does cleansing oil clog pores?
This is one of the biggest myths when it comes to facial cleansing oils. In reality, cleansing oils do not clog pores, instead they dissolve the natural oils on our skin that have hardened and plugged our pores. Once the oil is applied it melts the hardened oils and the dirt, grime, impurities and product that clogs pores can be washed off with a damp cloth. It is great to try them out if you have pore congestion, blackheads or acne-prone skin.
Is cleansing oil good for oily skin?
Another misconception is that adding oil to your skin can cause overproduction of oil. In reality, if you have oily skin, this can be a boon to your beauty regime. Using cleansing oil for oily skin removes sebum and impurities that tend to clog your pores without stripping it off the natural hydration. Cleansing oils maintain the moisture level while also thoroughly cleaning the skin.
Do you moisturise after oil cleansing?
When using the oil cleansing method to remove your makeup, take a pea-sized amount of product and apply it to a dry face. Massage it into your skin for at least a minute and focus on your problem areas- usually, the T-zone and chin are the most congested areas and eye makeup and liquid lipstick may take time to come off. Then run a washcloth under lukewarm water and put it on your face to let the steam open up your pores. Wipe off all the dirt, makeup etc and you’re done. You don’t need to moisturise after using cleansing oil for face but if your skin needs it, you can.
Can I use cleansing oil in the morning?
It may feel like you don’t need to use cleansing oils in the morning because you feel like you haven’t used any product or haven’t applied SPF before bed. However, one myth to bust is that oil cleansing doesn’t only remove all this. Our face skin produces sebum and oil-based impurities that clog our pores and while it’s certainly not as much as after a long day, you still need to rid yourself of these impurities. You will feel a lot fresher if you double cleanse in the morning too.
Which is better- cleansing oil or balm?
The main difference between cleansing oils and cleansing balms is the texture. Oils are liquid and tend to be a little heavier whereas balms are more lightweight. Both can be used interchangeably but if you have oily skin then a balm may be preferred.
How to use cleansing oil?
Some facial cleansing oils work better on dry skin so use it and then either rinse it off with emulsified water or a damp towel. Others can be used the same way you use facial cleansers so apply a small amount to damp skin and massage around the face and around the eyes. Rinse it off well and pat your skin dry. Check the instructions behind the bottle to see which is preferred and also experiment to see which works better for your skin.
Can we double cleanse with coconut oil?
If you want to use something from the house then coconut oil works really well for double-cleansing.
Clean, clear and rejuvenated skin, here we come!
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