How to Remove Makeup, Cleanse Skin, and Combat Oil the All-Natural Way

Soap and many store-bought products are harsh on your face, and makeup removers can be expensive and irritate the skin, often without you even realizing it. Learn how to use natural plant-based oils to remove makeup, cleanse your skin, and moisturize your face. Your skin will thank you, I promise.

Oil on my skin?! Isn't that what we're supposed to avoid?

Yes, using oil on your skin on purpose--all-natural, plant-based oils specifically. Contrary to popular belief, oil is not bad for your skin (yes, even if your skin type is oily) and most oils, such as olive, sunflower, and castor oil, are not inherently comedogenic (the fancy word for "pore-clogging"). Imbalance of oil, however, is, and it is this imbalance which leads to unsightly skin, no matter which side of the dry/oily spectrum you fall on.

Your own natural oils (also known as sebum) are produced by what's called your sebaceous glands. When your sebaceous glands are in proper working order, producing sebum without producing too much or too little, your skin is happy. But when your sebaceous glands are overactive or underactive, you end up with overly oily or overly dry skin, respectively. Many things can contribute to this imbalance, from the weather to your hormones and everything in-between, but most often the primary culprit are all those beloved skincare products we blow our money on, promising us celebrity-worthy skin in a brightly packaged bottle but never quite delivering the miracle we hoped for.

Often we find ourselves using these products to fight our natural oil production, leaving us with irritated, thirsty skin and causing your sebaceous glands to go into overdrive to try to compensate for all the oil we've just stripped (similar to how our bodies go into "starvation mood" while on a diet in an attempt to hold onto every possible nutrient). Our skin is subsequently even oilier than before and we get stuck in a vicious cycle. Think of your hair--when you shampoo your hair, you want to cleanse it, not strip it bone-dry, and you always hear women going on about how they "don't want to strip my hair's natural oils". So why don't we want the same for our skin? Why are we so afraid of oil when it's on our face but not in our hair? Let go of that fear and realize that oil is good for your skin.

Okay, oil doesn't sound so scary anymore. But where do I start?

Again, our goal is to balance our natural oil production, leading to clear, healthy skin. For those with oily skin, oil dissolves oil without stripping that which you need. For those with dry skin (such as myself), oil replenishes natural moisture without clogging pores. And for those who fall somewhere in-between, using oil on your skin is still a fantastic way to remove makeup and make your skin even more beautiful and glowing.

Now that we got all the technical backstory out of the way, let's get started. First, you'll need to choose which oil you want to use. I like to use extra virgin olive oil because it's easy to find and I've always got some on hand for cooking anyway. A couple times a week I'll add in a few drops of castor oil for an ultra-moisturizing but highly effective cleanser. (Note: you don't want to use castor oil or other super-rich oils by themselves. They're much too thick and, ironically, can actually dry out the skin.) Other possibilities include sunflower oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, avocado oil, and many more.

Be aware that some oils work better for different things (e.g. tea tree oil is great for acne, coconut oil works as a rich mositurizer, avocado oil is ideal for aging or super-irritated skin, and so on), so it's good to do a little research. You can also mix and match oils to create a luxurious blend customized for your individual needs (like how I mentioned my olive/castor mix). Also know that though the vast majority of oils are not comedogenic or irritating, there are a few to be avoided, namely peanut oil and wheat germ oil. And remember that if you can't get your hands on the more "exotic" oils or are weary about trying new things, you can never go wrong with classic extra virgin olive oil!

I've got my oil(s) picked out. What do I do now?

Now that you've got your oil, pour a very small amount of it in a small bowl, about a tablespoon. I like to heat my oil in the microwave for a short amount of time to optimize the benefits, but this isn't necessary. Next, pull your hair back and gently massage the oil into your skin with your fingertips for two minutes. Let it sit on your face for a little while (I usually wait about twenty minutes).

After you've let the oil soak in for a while, wash your face with very warm water, massaging the oil out of your skin with your fingertips. To remove eye makeup, use some of the leftover oil from earlier (because trust me, there will likely be some left over) and massage it into closed eyes. Splash your face with warm water and repeat this process until all your makeup has melted away.

From there, you can choose to do one of two things: either be done, or cleanse your skin just a little further. If the former, gently pat your skin dry (do not rub!) with a clean hand towel or paper towel. If the latter, then splash your face with a little warm water and grab your favorite gentle (or better yet, homemade) cleanser. Wash your face as usual, being careful to gently massage your cleanser into your skin. You do not want to furiously rub it in because, as we discussed earlier, this is harsh and irritating on the skin, plus the oil has already thoroughly cleansed and exfoliated for you. Rinse your face, pat dry, and, since you will probably still have some left over, massage a tiny bit of your oil into your skin. It works as not only a cleanser and exfoliater, but also as a toner and moisturizer! (Amazing, right?)

Your skin will be silky to the touch and instantly more clear and glowing. Replacing your usual skincare routine with this method at least once a day will give you that perfect celebrity-worthy skin, and in the long-term will also help prevent signs of aging and other unsightly skin problems. Oil can also be used on the hair and skin (I use a coconut/castor oil blend as a full-body lotion every night), so don't be afraid to explore the truly endless possibilities for a more beautiful you!