What if I told you, the makeup removal process doesn’t have to be so tedious? You can use one natural ingredient to remove makeup, cleanse your skin and moisturize all in one go. Long gone are the days that I wake-up looking like a raccoon-zombie.
In order to remove makeup quickly and easily you need oil. I know many of you are probably looking at your screen wide-eyed, thinking I’m crazy to suggest that you apply oil to your face.
But chill.
It can’t be worse than the synthetic toxins in your face wash, or current makeup remover. So let me explain the method to my madness:
How It Works
This is known as the oil cleansing method. You see…oil dissolves oil, and your makeup is mostly oil-based. Your pores contain natural oils too, which get polluted after a long day. When you apply a nourishing oil to your face, you will dissolve the makeup as well as cleanse the oil in your pores by replacing it with a clean source of nutrients. After removing the makeup, there will still be a thin barrier of oil left on your skin which locks in moisture. Hence, we have an ingredient that cleanses pores, removes makeup and moisturises.
Best Oil For Your Skin Type
Choose an oil best suited to your skin type. I recommend sunflower oil, as it suits most skin types.
- All skin types: Coconut oil / Jojoba oil / Sunflower oil
- Normal skin: Jojoba oil / Sunflower oil / Sweet Almond oil
- Dry skin: Olive oil / Argan oil / Avocado oil / Coconut oil
- Oily skin: Coconut oil / Sunflower oil / Castor oil / Grapeseed oil / Almond oil / Jojoba oil
- Combination skin: Grapeseed oil / Jojoba oil / Sunflower oil
- Aged skin: Argan oil / Rose Hip oil / Avocado oil
- Sensitive skin: Grapeseed oil / Avocado oil
You can find most of these oils here. If you need help finding other ingredients my shopping guide may help you.
DIRECTIONS FOR USE
- Apply a thin layer of oil to your face, as you would apply your cream or face wash. I recommend using about 1-2 tablespoons in total. Rub the oil in circular motions, including around the eye area (and eyelashes).
- Using a cotton round, toilet paper or damp face cloth (that you don’t mind getting makeup stains on) wipe the oil off and watch your makeup disappear in one fell swoop.
TIP: You can also use this as an everyday face wash, even if you’re not wearing makeup.
COST & SHELF LIFE
Lasted me about: 6 months (100ml Extra Virgin Olive oil)
Estimated shelf life: Each oil has a different shelf life, but most of them will last one year if kept away from direct sunlight.
*Costs accurate at time of writing this blog post. Costs based on the best available retail prices I’ve personally found.
CHALLENGE
You need to get over the idea that oil will clog your pores.
CHERRY ON TOP
- Your eyelashes will start growing like crazy! The oil nourishes eyelashes and promotes their growth. I am often asked if my eyelashes are real (just sayin’).
- This also acts as a moisturiser for your skin, so it’s a 2-in-1 solution.
How well has oil cleansing worked to remove your makeup? Let me know in the comments below.
I’m struggling with my very dry mature skin this winter on the highveld. I’ve tried a blend of oils for oil cleansing but I still have horrible flakes. So I’ve been using it as a “first cleanse” and then washing toning and moisturizing as normal with my store bough stuff (which I want to eliminate due to chemicals etc). However removing eye make up, even waterproof mascara and eyeliner, with almond oil, is so so easy. Loving it!
Hi Beth,
Thank you for your feedback. I’m glad to hear that the almond oil is working as a makeup remover. I can’t believe I used to use commercial soap-based products before! Oil really works the best. I’m happy it’s working for you too. Regarding your moisturiser, I recommend rather trying aloe-based products rather than oil based products. Your skin is probably not absorbing your oil blends well. At first, aloe might feel like it’s drying your skin, but that’s just because your skin is used to oil-based products. After one or two weeks you will notice the amazing moisturising properties of aloe. I highly recommend this product in particular from Natraloe. It has worked wonders on my dry skin! So you would use your oil blend as an oil cleanser, wipe off with a cloth/cotton wool then apply the aloe afterwards. Don’t wash your face. This will just strip the oils from your skin making it even drier. If you really need/ want a toner, I recommend mixing the following: 1 cup distilled water, 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, 30-40 drops of sandalwood/frankincense/chamomile essential oil (choose 1 or use some of each). I think that all of these steps will treat your dry and flaky skin, and you will be able to finally let go of those store-bought products.
Best regards,
Christina
I thought my mother had gone mad when she told me to use oil, but it’s the absolutely best thing ever.
Haha. Many people think I’ve lost it when I recommend oil as a makeup remover – but, like you said, it works better than anything else. Thank you for your feedback 🙂
Hi Christina,
Love your website & am definitely going to be trying some of your recipes in an effort to go natural. I read quite a long time ago that oil clogs the tear ducts if you get it in your eyes, which would happen using it to remove eye make up – have you heard this or have any comment about such a concern?
Hi Gill
Thanks for all your questions. It’s wonderful when people engage with the content. To answer your question – No, I have absolutely no concern about clogging my tear ducts. I have been using oil to take my makeup off for 5 years now, and I can still cry without a problem, and I have never had any eye infections, which I imagine would happen if my tear ducts were clogged. It also makes no sense to be honest – most creams and lotions contain a significant amount of oil ingredients, so if there were any truth to that, then everyone who uses face cream regularly will have clogged tear ducts too. I’ve also seen eye drop medications that are diluted in olive oil. And lastly, when you use oil to take off your eye makeup, your eyes are closed and you shouldn’t get oil into your eyes anyway. But I also am not a doctor or medical professional, this is just my own opinion.
Regards
Christina
Haha! Sorry just thought of another question – what about using rose water as a toner after cleansing or do you not feel a toner is necessary? Like one of the other questions, I always thought you had to cleanse, tone & moisturise.
Hi Gill
Yes, rose water makes a good toner. And including a toner in your beauty regime will make a difference. You don’t HAVE to do anything, but you will benefit from using rose water as a toner and following the three steps of cleanse, tone and moisturise. I personally do not use soap-based products to cleanse my face, soap is very drying and strips the skin. So if I don’t wear makeup, I wash my face with warm water and then tone and moisturise. If I am wearing makeup, I wash my makeup off with oil (as per my makeup remover recipe), rinse with warm water, tone and moisturise. I have gone through periods where I am just too lazy to use or make toner, so I can definitely say that I see a big difference when I use a toner and when I do not. When I use a toner, my skin is smoother, makeup applies very easily and smoothly and my skin is more radiant.
Regards
Christina