• Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
My Women Stuff
  • About Me
  • Contact Me
    • For PR
  • Budget Beauty »
    • Save & Splurge
  • Makeup »
    • Eyes »
      • Brow pencil
      • Mascara
      • Eyeshadow
      • Eyeliner
    • Face »
      • BB Cream
      • Blush
      • Bronzer
      • CC Cream
      • Concealer
      • Foundation »
        • Cream Foundation
        • Liquid Foundation
        • Cushion Foundation
      • Highlighter
      • Loose Powder
    • Lips »
      • Lip Gloss
      • Lipstick
      • Lipbalm
    • Makeup Brushes
  • Skincare »
    • Cleanser »
      • Cleansing Balm
      • Cleansing Cream
      • Cleansing Gel
      • Cleansing Milk
      • Cleansing Oil
      • Cleansing Water
      • Makeup Remover
    • Mask
    • Moisturiser
    • Scrubs
    • Serum »
      • Vitamin C
      • Retinol
    • Sunscreen
    • Toner/Lotion
    • Treatment »
      • Acne
      • Anti-Aging
      • Brightening/Whitening
      • Hydrating
    • Bath & Body »
      • Body Lotion
      • Body oil
      • Hair
      • Shower Gel
    • Facial Oils
  • Tips »
    • Tips & Discussions
    • Blogging Tips
  • Lifestyle »
    • Cooking at Chez PB
    • Beauty Services »
      • Hair Salon
      • Facial
      • Spa
    • Fashion »
      • Bags
      • Jewellery
      • Shoes
    • Home
  • Brands
  • Product Reviews
    • Beauty hor d’oeuvres
Home » Skincare » Cleanser » What is the Oil Cleansing Method?

What is the Oil Cleansing Method?

November 25, 2008 Paris B 31 Comments

Most of us have heard of cleansing oils which are sold commercially under various skincare and makeup brands. These cleansing oils are oils combined with emulsifying chemicals to clean the skin of dirt and impurities. I myself am a loyal user of cleansing oils to remove my makeup at the end of the day.

Olive oil cleansing method

However, I’ve recently been made aware of something called the “Oil Cleansing Method” that has no bearing on the products I’ve been using. Many people who use the “Oil Cleansing Method” say that it helps their skin improve in texture and clarity keeps them blemish free.

I was intrigued – what is this “Oil Cleansing Method”?

Oil Cleansing Method

The “Oil Cleansing Method” uses oil to cleanse the skin. Not those commercial oils you find at the store, but actual oil which you can use to cook with or edible oils e.g. olive oil, sunflower seed oil, coconut oil, castor oil etc. The principle is thus: Oil is only broken down by oil. Sort of like fighting fire with fire. You use oil to breakdown the oils and dirt on the face and remove impurities from the pores.

The basic principle is thus as extracted from here:

  • Mix Olive Oil with Castor oil – mix olive oil into castor oil to make it easier to spread and castor oil has anti-inflammatory and healing properties while olive oil is touted to have anti-oxidant properties.
  • Pour the oil mix into the palm of your hand and spread on your face, massaging lightly to remove makeup and impurities from the skin. You can’t rush this because these oils take a longer time to work compared with commercial cleansing oils.
  • Once you have fully massaged in the oils into the skin, wet a facial washcloth with warm (not boiling hot but steaming) water and place it over your face, allowing the heat and steam to soften the oils. When it cools, gently wipe your face with the wash cloth and repeat twice.
  • You will find that the heat from the water will remove the traces of oil from the skin and the skin ends up feeling very soft and smooth.

I tested this method myself recently after reading about it. Initially, I was sceptical. I had a bad experience with using Olive Oil as a home made oil cleanser before and I did not want to have to repeat that experience. However, after reading the many articles online about the Oil Cleansing Method or OCM, I realised that I had been doing it wrongly all along, which possibly explains why it did not work for me.

I’d missed out the crucial hot water cleansing step which is the step that actually helps with the deep cleansing and oil removal from the skin. Be careful when using hot water as water that is too hot can cause broken blood vessels on the skin which can be unsightly.

Using Olive Oil to cleanse skin

I don’t have other oils on hand as I tend to cook with Extra Virgin Olive Oil or an oil blend and I did not relish going out to get a bottle of sunflower seed or almond oil or even jojoba oil which is lighter than Olive Oil just for the purposes of this experiment. So, I took the plunge with Extra Virgin Olive Oil used by itself without castor oil. Here’s my experience:-

  • I poured some Olive Oil into the palm of my hand and warmed it up in my palms by rubbing my palms together until the oil felt lighter, then I applied it over my dry face. This method calls for dry face and hands.
  • I took my time to massage in the oils into the skin which all in all, takes about 15 minutes. You’ll find the oil sort of absorbs into the skin and you can feel bits of dirt on the skin surface.
  • I had boiled up some water so I filled half a small basin with hot water and then mixed in some cold water so it won’t burn the skin. I soaked a facial cloth in the water and laid it on my face and let it cool. Then, I wiped my face and repeated this step twice.

At the end of it, I found that:-

  • my skin did not feel oily or tight
  • my skin felt smooth and clean

You don’t have to wash your face with a cleanser after that, as the basic concept behind the Oil Cleansing Method is reducing the chemicals you put on your skin. However, you can wash again after Oil Cleansing if you feel you need it. I do, and I wash but that’s me. You also are only supposed to moisturise with a dab of the same oil, massaging it into the skin. But I don’t do that.

Deep Cleansing with the oil cleansing method

There are many people out there who tout the Oil Cleansing Method as the saviour for troubled skin and attribute their glowing skin to it. Personally, I don’t have that glorious a tale to tell, as I’m firstly too busy or too tired to use this cleansing method every day and secondly, I’m too worried that this method which is deep cleansing, may irritate my skin too much. Many people vouch for this method as the reason for their glowing skin but I’m sticking to my cleansing oils for now because its just more convenient for me and because it has been working well thus far. Also, I dislike using hot water directly on my skin and that is the only way to remove the oils from the skin. By contrast I can easily rinse off cleansing oils with warm or even cold water.

So, I use the Oil Cleansing Method once a week or when I have the time (or when I remember because I’m really quite lazy) and when I try the Oil Cleansing Method, I find that my skin is doing fine. Perhaps its not breaking out from the Olive Oil this time because its getting steamed off and cleaned properly. I don’t plan to make the Oil Cleansing Method part of my daily regime due to time factors, but it works great as a weekly or fortnightly deep cleansing regime.

Oil Cleansing Method vs Cleansing Oils

How are they different? The oil cleansing method calls for natural oils without additives whilst commercial cleansing oils e.g. Shu Uemura, Kanebo etc have chemicals added to emulsify the oils. Naturalists would prefer using the oil cleansing method as part of their beauty regime as there are less or no chemicals involved. You can also make your own cleansing oils if you can find the ingredients for the emulsifiers. But that is another story! 🙂

If you are a regular user of the Oil Cleansing Method I would like to hear your story. Or if this method did not work for you, I’d like to hear your story too! Just don’t bash other people’s skincare regimes and products and I’m fine with that. 🙂 You can also read Viva Woman’s experience here.

Share
Tweet
Pin
0 Shares
31 Insightful comments ... Read or JOIN THE DISCUSSION
Share
Tweet
Pin
0 Shares

YOU MAY FIND THESE THESE POSTS HELPFUL TOO!

About Paris B

Paris B is a 40-something beauty and skincare enthusiast with a practical and very critical view of beauty products and the world of beauty. Her mission on My Women Stuff is to deliver clear, honest reviews and facilitate discussions about beauty trends and life, tempered with a healthy dose of humour. Let the buyer's remorse be ours not yours! When not testing the newest skincare creams and lotions, or playing with makeup, find her testing her culinary skills in the kitchen at Chez PB. Read more about us here or leave a comment below or connect with us on social media at Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!

PREVIOUS POST: Review: Makeup: Benefit Cosmetics Silky Finish Lipstick Nice Knickers
NEXT POST: Lancome Christmas Holiday collection 2008 – C’est Magnifique!

31 comments ... Read or JOIN THE DISCUSSION

  1. angela says

    November 28, 2008 at 10:34 pm

    I use grapeseed oil (to remove makeup) and then wash off with a facial cleanser. I didn’t know hot water can remove oil. Perhaps I’ll give a try next time. I’m hesitant cos I’ve oily (and acne-prone) skin in the first place.

    Reply
  2. ParisB says

    November 29, 2008 at 9:22 am

    @angela : Yes, hot water can remove oil but don’t use too hot water on your skin.

    Reply
  3. Emyli says

    November 30, 2008 at 11:25 am

    Interesting article.
    From a beauty therapist’s point of view, using natural cleansing oils as a way of cleansing isn’t recommended. As the consistancy and structure of natural oils are thicker, it can easily clog up pores and result in common milia. This is why commercial cleansing oils have added emulsifiers to their cleansing oils to make the texture more light and skin friendly for all skin types.

    Reply
  4. ParisB says

    December 1, 2008 at 9:40 am

    @Emyli : Thanks for your thoughts! Lots of people have reported good things about using this method. Perhaps its not for everyone.

    Reply
  5. Baltimoron says

    January 28, 2009 at 12:43 pm

    I have been cleansing with olive oil only for a few days now and have had great success. I’ve also been using a dab of olive oil as a moisturizer when I need it. My skin looks better than it has in ages and I’ve totally stopped breaking out. I’ll follow through on my blog for a full two month cycle before I make a final determination though. Thanks for covering this!

    Reply
  6. nikita says

    March 21, 2009 at 6:54 pm

    can we use almond oil instead of olive oil??….i have combination skin and im so prone to pimples lol…..also the apple cidar vinegar toner method thingi…is it good for combi skin??……is shu uemura cleansing oil better or this olive oil cleansing method??…:P

    also after the toning, at night, is it better to apply a night cream or almond oil?

    Reply
    • ParisB says

      March 22, 2009 at 10:32 am

      Hello Nikita

      I have not used this method of cleansing before. Almond oil is lighter and hence is a possible substitute. I find the apple cider vinegar toner useful for most skin types especially oily and acne prone.

      Reply
  7. Lauren says

    September 11, 2009 at 7:20 pm

    I have been using the oil cleansing method for about a month now. Usually I am plagued by acne and blackheads… even though I washed my face twice a day. I always took my make up off before bed, and I always used lotion after I was done. The condition of my skin looked terrible. It was flaky, tight, red, irritated, and I had acne flair ups at least once a week. But after starting OCM my acne has all but cleared up. Even the dark purple scars that would never go away before… have completely vanished. The texture of my skin is much improved, my little crows feet (i am only 24, but still have em) have smoothed almost entirely away. I found that the castor oil made my face kind of tight and flaky… so I just use olive oil. It has been such a wonderful thing not to have to buy face wash, or expensive lotions, or make up removers. That stuff can get pricey. I swear by the oil cleansing method.

    Reply
  8. Joc says

    September 13, 2009 at 12:50 pm

    Thanks for this post… It will help me not to make the same mistake. I’m starting the OCM today in hopes that it will help my nodular acne (sort of a step down from cystic acne). Fingers crossed… I’m sick of using harsh chemicals!

    Reply
  9. azura says

    September 10, 2011 at 7:14 am

    Hi. Sorry to bring negative to the webpage if your excited about trying this but I did and my skin ended up in the worst state it has ever been. I have read alot about how the oils help to break down the clogged pores but I did this treatment for a week and it has now been 1 month after and I am still scrubbing to try and get rid of the blocked pores that it created. I think that when I steamed my face and let all that oil in (even though I did my best to get it all off at the end), the oil ended up building up in my pores. I’m not saying that it may not work for other people, but it most definately didn’t work for my skin and I am still recovering. I used castor and sweet almond oil. Please be careful with your skin doing this.

    Reply
  10. Fablosasa says

    October 20, 2011 at 11:35 pm

    my sister used olive oil and sea cucumber oil(minyak gamat) .She had a big acne problem and after using sea cucumber oil, it really works on her face. I also used sea cucumber oil to solve my acne problem,and it work! TRY IT!

    Reply
« Older Comments

Comment Policy:At MWS we love reading your comments. However, if you are new to leaving comments you may benefit from reading the comment policy first.

What's your view? Share it! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

My Women Stuff by Paris B

Welcome to My Women Stuff, a beauty blog based in Malaysia, written by veteran blogger, Paris B. What you can expect is honesty, critical views & a healthy dose of shared life lessons sprinkled amongst beauty product reviews. What you shouldn't expect is a page filled with unnecessary narcissistic photos. MWS is a blog for those who love to read, because we love to write! Read More about MWS and Paris B

Subscribe for weekly updates of all published content

BEAUTY & LIFE TIPS

low value goods tax in malaysia

Heads up! There’ll be a 10% Sales Tax on Low Value Goods below RM500 purchased online and imported into Malaysia

double cleansing necessary

Is double-cleansing necessary in your daily skincare routine?

how sustainable is your skincare routine

How sustainable is your skincare routine?

Instagram @parisbmws – You don’t know what you’re missing

Spent a lovely few hours today learning about the Spent a lovely few hours today learning about the new @omorovicza Queen Essence. A delicious velvety silky textured liquid that absorbs into the skin, boosting its hydration and absorption properties. Your skincare that goes on after that sinks right in to maximise the benefits for your skin. It felt lush! 🥰
Also learnt about the Queen collection with a Cleansing Balm (hello! Did anyone say cleansing balm?!) and Cream and a Night Facial Mist. I have to say I’m most intrigued by the cleansing balm and the mask so I’ll probably have a look at those next time I have the chance 😁
Check it out at @kensapothecary stores. 
#kensapothecary #omorovicza #omoroviczamalaysia #queenessence #parisbmws
Bienvenue! Welcome to the Melvita Restaurant pop u Bienvenue! Welcome to the Melvita Restaurant pop up at Mid Valley Centre Court 1-8 Aug 2022 😄
Enjoy a personalised menu of products tailored for your skin type & concerns, try & learn about the products on your menu & take home some samples in a cute little takeaway box to try! 
There are sweet treats available as well if you want to linger (charged separately). So if you’re in the area pop by to learn about the No. 1 organic skincare brand in France. I have my faves from the brand and I just learnt they’ve launched so many new items! I guess it’s time I relooked at it 😁
#melvitamalaysia #melvita #parisbmws #organicskincare #frenchpharmacy
Bought any new foundation recently? I had to cos a Bought any new foundation recently? I had to cos all of mine had expired in the past few years 😅 This is the one I picked. Review over on the blog mywomenstuff.com 
#parisbmws #chanelbeauty #no1dechanel #no1dechanelfoundation #chanelfoundation #chanelmakeup #welovecoco
So super comforting for dry skin! One of the nices So super comforting for dry skin! One of the nicest creams I’ve used in recent times. Head to the blog to read about it www.mywomenstuff.com 
#parisbmws #evolvebeauty #evolvebeautyuk #evolveorganicbeauty #organicskincare #naturalskincare #greenbeauty
What eye cream do you like? This has to be the qu What eye cream do you like?
This has to be the question I’m asked the most 😅 And my answer to everyone who asks is always “I don’t use one cos I’m too lazy!” 😂 That’s the truth 😛 But here’s one I’m currently liking from Chanel Sublimage. Review on the blog www.mywomenstuff.com
#chanelbeauty #chanelsublimage #chanelmalaysia #chanelskincare #parisbmws #eyecream #sublimage #welovecoco
Filorga is now on Shopee and you can get 18% off ( Filorga is now on Shopee and you can get 18% off (code: FILOJUL09) on top of the discounted prices! Any savings is good savings I say esp with all the price hikes everywhere 😟 Until 15 July. 
They just launched the new NCEF Night Mask, an ultra-regenerating sleeping mask that promises to rejuvenate tired skin in just 7 nights! Well That sounds right up my alley! 😮‍💨
I highly recommend the Meso Mask as well for a rejuvenating, hydrating and smoothing boost to the skin. Its a good brand, that I’ve tried in the past and I’m glad we now have it here! 😊
@filorga_sea #filorga_official #filorga #filorgamalaysia #parisbmws #shopeemalaysia
Join over 10500 followers on Instagram

ABOUT ME · CONTACT ME · DISCLAIMER & COPYRIGHT · PRIVACY · ARCHIVES

© Copyright MY WOMEN STUFF 2007 - 2019 · All Rights Reserved