Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Foxbrim, but as usual, the ideas and opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.
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It’s been several years since I first mentioned the “Oil Cleansing Method” here on the blog. That post has generated a lot of interest since then, so I thought it was high time I revisited the subject! If you haven’t heard of the Oil Cleansing Method before now, or are just a bit rusty on the details, here’s a little refresher course…
Oil Cleansing Method 101
The Oil Cleansing Method involves massaging an oil or mixture of oils into your skin, then gently wiping your face clean with a warm, damp wash cloth. (Some people also steam their skin as part of the cleansing process, but some don’t.) The logic of this process is based on the scientific concept of “like dissolving like,” meaning that substances with similar characteristics will dissolve in each other. This helps explain why oil and water don’t mix, and why it’s so hard to wash oily stains out of your clothing.
Some traditional soaps and cleansers can be too harsh and dry out your skin. Dehydrated skin can be dry and flaky, or even end up producing MORE oil to compensate. But by cleansing your face with oil (that’s right, just oil!) you create an environment that dissolves the oils and grime on your skin without the harsh drying effects. Many people report that the Oil Cleansing Method has helped control the oil production on their face, reducing breakouts as well as moisturizing those dry, flaky patches.
Choosing Your Oils
So now that you know what the Oil Cleansing Method is… you may be wondering which oil or oils you should use. Well, it largely depends on who you talk to. TheOilCleansingMethod.com suggests that for cleansing normal skin, you should use a 1:4 ratio of castor oil and a secondary oil, like sunflower oil or even olive oil. Others have reported success using jojoba, argan, and rosehip oils as their secondary oil. It may take some time and experimentation to decide what oils are perfect for your unique skin type.
Whatever oils you choose to use, you should ideally select oils that are natural, organic, and suited for use in skincare. I recently learned about a skincare company called Foxbrim that offers oils that check all three of those boxes. Their offerings include many of the oils I mentioned above, at a very reasonable price compared to a lot of other brands out there.
Pre-Mixed Options
And if you’re interested in trying out the Oil Cleansing Method, but feel a bit overwhelmed at the thought of selecting and mixing the oils yourself, Foxbrim has you covered there, too! Their 100% Natural Makeup Remover & Facial Oil contains a mixture of grapeseed, avocado, macadamia, and jojoba oils. This combination of oils helps to cleanse skin of makeup and impurities, and it comes in a 2oz pump bottle that makes it easy to apply. It’s gentle on my sensitive skin, and leaves it feeling so soft and smooth!
But my favorite thing about Foxbrim is that they make products you can feel good about buying. They never test their products on animals, and they source their oils and other ingredients in small batches. This means that the products you receive are about as fresh and high-quality as they come, and at a great value. (The Facial Oil I mentioned above is only $15. Similar facial oils from other brands can cost twice that amount – for a bottle half the size!)
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I’ve been using the Oil Cleansing Method with the Foxbrim Facial Oil for a week or so now, and I’ve been loving the way my skin feels. I’m looking forward to seeing continued improvement in my skin tone! If you’re using the Oil Cleansing Method, or are planning on giving it a try, I’d love to hear how it’s working out for you! Leave a comment below this blog post, or shoot me an email anytime. :-)
Interested in trying out some of these products for yourself? The kinds folks at Foxbrim are generously offering an exclusive discount to OGT readers! Head to their online shop and use the code GOODTHING15 to receive a 15% discount on your order.
(And if you’re on the fence about placing an order, Foxbrim has a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not happy with your products, they will refund your money completely, no questions asked. Hard to argue with that!)
Like some others here, I use coconut oil. It’s inexpensive (I get a huge jar – about 5 pounds or so? for under $15, and use if for cooking, ingesting in tea, and on my skin. Sometimes I add in a little lavender oil for the scent. I like to massage it gently into my skin, but I don’t like to bother with warm wash cloths (I’m so lazy!), so I use witch hazel, a very good pH astringent, with either cotton balls/pads, or facial wipes (unscented) to remove the oil, and then massage in a very little bit more… Read more »
This is a very good post; thank you! I want to start my 11 year old daughter with a good, natural skincare routine (wash, toner, moisturize) , and I’m wondering if these products are suitable for someone that age going forward. If so, any advice where to start? Thank you for any advice!
Absolutely! It will depend on her skin – this is a great method for particularly oily skin, but here are a few other ideas:
For removing makeup: http://jillee.co/2cRjyH3
For exfoliating: http://jillee.co/2cRj6sc
Custom face scrubs: http://jillee.co/2cRkACL
I use coconut oil to cleanse and remove my makeup. I put it on my face (and eyes if I’m wearing makeup) and then take a hot washcloth and lay it on my face and wipe off the dirt. I normally repeat. I then follow up with a moisturizer. Easy and quick! This has done a great job to control my adult acne.
That’s what I use, too! Regular good ol’ organic, extra virgin coconut oil – from the same jar I keep in my kitchen for cooking, as well as ingesting – 2 to 4 tablespoons a day (I like it in my morning tea). I also use old fashioned witch hazel, as I like to remove all of the now-dirty oil. Then I put a tiny bit more oil on as a night time moisturizer. I blot it to make sure it doesn’t get on the pillowcase. It seems to be absorbed quickly into my skin.
I have never used oil as a facial cleanser before. I’m really interested in the Foxbrim products. I think that I have sensitive skin, I’m prone to breakouts, my skin gets oily relatively quickly, but I still suffer from having patches of dry skin, primarily on my nose. What products would you suggest I use from Foxbrim? Thanks for the help, and I loved the post!
I think you would love the coconut milk and honey face cleanser!
I use 1:3 ratio mixture of coconut oil and castor oil over my face and neck. Then rinse a washcloth in the hottest water, wring it out and drape it over my face till it cools off. Then repeat 2 more times. The third time, I wipe the oil off with the washcloth. Use micellular water to get the excess, apply serum and my regular night cream.
Works great! I do this twice a week during the summer, more often during the winter. I’m 64 years old, living in CO and get compliments on my skin all the time.
Great method!
Me too! Coconut oil! I’m getting some micellar water soon, as tried it at a friend’s house, and it really was amazing for getting mascara off. Coconut oil can get in my eyes, which isn’t harmful, but makes things blurry for a while. :-)
Kaitlyn! These pictures are spectacular! Crystal clear and the colors are just beautiful, hunny! Great job!!!!
Me, Mom
If I use an oil on my face (I have a cactus seed oil that I love!) – should I be wiping it off with a damp cloth after applying? I have been just letting it soak in overnight, but maybe that’s not right?
-Clarissa @ The View From Here
Yes! You should wipe it off with a warm, damp cloth after applying. :-)
I would be interested in your products as well. I know I won’t do them myself!
A MAC associate told me years ago that an oil based makeup remover is essential to removing artificial eyelash glue. It is also very effective in removing sunblock. The sunblock adheres to the skin in such a way (or so I’m told!) that it needs to be specifically removed. I have such dry, sensitive skin that I avoided soap products for years. Now that I understand the science behind using oil, I am not afraid to wash my face. I like apricot oil!
I have used Jojoba oil to remove my eye makeup for 25 years, and everyone always thinks I’m 10-15 years younger that I actually am, so the oil cleansing certainly does something right!