In this post, I will go through why you should have a first cleanse with an oil or a balm cleanser, what are the benefits, how to actually cleanse your skin with an oil cleanser, what to look for when you plan to buy one, and a few recommendations.
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This post is all about how to have an oil cleanse as a first cleanse, the benefits of oil cleansing and some oil and balm cleansers recommendations.
Why you should oil cleanse
One of the most important steps in your skincare routine is to properly and thoroughly cleanse your skin. This can be done best by doing a double cleanse – the first one being an oil/balm cleanse and the second one being a water-based cleanser.
Today, we are going to discuss why your first cleanse should be with an oil or balm cleanser.
First of all, if you are using micellar water as a first cleanse you can be too rough on your skin by rubbing it too much, which is not good for your skin in the long run.
Oil cleansing is used to help soften and break down the grime accumulated throughout the day, on your face, as well as breaking down your make-up much more easily. Even the waterproof make-up is usually much easier to take off with an oil or balm cleanser than with micellar water or another water cleanser.
Sunscreen is also much more easily taken off with an oil/balm. It’s important to make sure you take it all off at the end of the day, as it can clog your pores because it’s thick, heavy, you sweat through the day while also interacting with free radicals and pollution.
You want to make sure that at night when your skin is trying to repair itself, it has the best shot with all the treatments and amazing ingredients that you are going to put on your skin. This can only happen if your skin is clean enough to absorb all the goodies.
An oil cleanser will not disrupt the lipid barrier of the skin to the same extent other cleansers do, while also helping condition skin.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not against micellar water, I actually think that micellar water is great, the only issue I have with it is that you are putting it on a cotton pad and then rubbing your skin too hard too much. With an oil cleanser, you would not rub your skin that much.
Another thing that I don’t like about it, is that micellar water is often advertised like you don’t have to wash your face after using it. YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY WASH YOUR FACE AFTER USING MICELLAR WATER. Your face is not clean enough with just using a cotton pad, some of the debris is taken off but not everything. So, in order to ensure a clean face, you have to come with a second cleanse.
In order for an oil/balm cleanser to be considered good in my opinion, I think some “properties” are needed:
- Breaks down make-up – make sure your cleanser easily breaks down make-up, even waterproof mascara
- Emulsifies – one thing I absolutely LOVE about oil cleansers is their property of emulsifying. Emulsifying happens when you add water to your oil cleanser after you massaged it into your face. That is when a milky texture will appear, and it will help to completely remove make-up and helps with the rinsing off.
- Rinses off completely – personally, I don’t like oil cleansers that leave a film after washing, for me it feels like it is not completely off my face. Also, for people with acne-prone skin, this is important, to make sure the film doesn’t trap bacteria inside, making your acne worse.
How to oil cleanse
Scoop enough product for your face – if it’s in the form of a balm or get one pump or two if it’s in a bottle. Warm it in your hand to get to the silky oil texture and then put it on the skin while gently massaging the oil onto your face and working it into your skin. For the eye area try to press your fingers with oil, on your eyelids, and keep them there for a few seconds, until the oil will gently start to melt away the make-up, and then you can again massage your skin in circular motions without rubbing.
Tip: If you feel like you are rubbing your skin, then you are not using enough product. Your hands should gently glide on your skin.
I would recommend massaging and cleansing for about 60 seconds to ensure everything is melted and then you can wet your hands and add water to your face while massaging until it emulsifies – and that’s when you break down all the grime on your face.
After this make sure you wash your face with water and in the end pat dry your skin with a dry towel.
I would suggest going in with a second cleanse, a water-based cleanser to ensure a clean enough face, prepared to absorb all the goodies you are going to give to your skin afterward.
Best oil/balm cleansers
Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
This balm is on the pricey side but is amazing at removing even the waterproof mascara, leaving your face clean and not dry at all.
It has a citrusy smell, so if you don’t want your products to have fragrance this is a no for you. But I absolutely LOVE this balm. It contains Starflower oil, has fatty acids in it that help to repair and replenish your skin, and they are anti-inflammatory while also being very moisturizing to the skin.
The balm emulsifies completely and it’s so good for dry skin. I consider Elemis Cleansing Balm to be amazing for people with dry skin, but every skin type can use it. For people with oily and acne-prone skin, a second cleanse is a must after this product in order to not get clogged pores.
Nivea Soothing Cleansing Oil
Nivea Soothing Cleansing Oil is probably the best drugstore oil cleanser at an amazing price. It contains grape seed oil, which is an oil with a high concentration of linoleic acid, thus making it great for helping with sebum production regulation. It is perfume-free, good for sensitive skin, and emulsifies completely, not leaving any film on the skin.
The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm
It is fragrance-free, has a variety of oils, and emulsifies so it will be easily rinsed off from the skin. It has sunflower seed oil which is good for sensitive skin, as well as colloidal oatmeal, which helps hydrate the skin and helps boost the skin barrier. It also has a very good price.
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