Why Everyone Needs Facial Oil in Their Skincare Routine✨
Facial oil! It’s so funny to me that when I started out as an esthetician this was a product I used solely for facial massages. Facial oils are such diverse products; I use facial oil daily in my own skincare routine and at my skincare studio. They make the perfect makeup remover and an amazing pre-cleanse. I also love making facial oil the last step of my nighttime routine for extra nutrients and skin softening benefits. And of course, we all know a great facial oil is the best thing for gua sha and other facial massage.
Will facial oil clog my pores?
Some oils are comedogenic, which means they have properties that will clog your pores and create breakouts and congestion. Other oils are non-comedogenic, which means they will not clog your pores. Non-comedogenic oils contain high amounts of oleic and linoleic acids; these types of oils nourish and moisturize the skin without clogging up pores. Facial oils (if formulated correctly) are made up of non-comedogenic oils. A facial oil should NOT clog pores, even for oily skin types.
Popular non-comedogenic (non-pore clogging) oils:
Jojoba oil
Castor oil
Almond oil
Olive oil
Babassu oil
Grapeseed oil
Popular comedogenic (pore-clogging) oils:
Coconut oil
Avocado oil
Cocoa butter
Soybean oil
scrub me secret: jojoba oil mimics skin’s natural oils. this means your skin will adapt to the oil like it would the ones it naturally produces. I love when jojoba oil is in facial oil products because it’s great for softening and balancing any skin type without clogging pores at all.
What is oil cleansing?
Oil cleansing is my FAVORITE way to remove my mascara, tinted moisturizer, and pollution from the day. But before we get into that let’s talk about what exactly oil cleansing is. You can use a non-pore-clogging oil to remove dirt, excess oil, and other debris from your skin by taking the oil and massaging it all over your face and neck like you would a traditional facial cleanser. During this massaging action, the oil will be collecting all the debris and excess oils on the surface as well as soften blackheads. You’ll remove the oil with a clean cloth or a dry cotton pad. When you remove the oil your skin will be cleaner and balanced!
Oil cleansing is a nice way to pre-cleanse your skin before using your facial wash. This is helpful because your facial wash won’t have to break down and break through all the debris that your pre-cleanse will take away. Using facial oil to remove your makeup is amazing because oils have the ability to break down hard-to-remove makeup like waterproof mascara and lip stains. It’s also so nice for makeup removal because you’re treating your skin with nutrients and antioxidants while taking off your tinted moisturizer, bronzer, or foundation. It’s SO much better for your skin vs. makeup wipes.
scrub me secret: My eyes are super sensitive and another plus of oil cleansing is that I can remove my mascara freely without worrying about burning or irritating my eye area.
Other ways to use facial oil:
Facial massage -
Facial oil is the best thing to use for facial massage because it gives the best slip and glide needed for massaging the face and neck. Lotions and creams are water-based and made to absorb into the skin so these items don’t have the same effect for face massage. The reason you need oil for that slip and glide I was talking about is because we don’t want to tug or pull at our delicate skin. We want to glide over the face and neck seamlessly without feeling much resistance. If you plan on using a gua sha stone at home or any other facial tools then having a facial oil for that is essential.
scrub me secret: looking to dip your toe into at-home face massage? My blog post about easy-to-use facial tools has a list of facial tools that are great for beginners or those looking for a less intensive face massage routine. Click here to read it.
Last step of your PM skincare routine -
So many nights I use facial oil as the first step of my skincare routine for makeup removal and then also as the last step of my routine to make my skin super soft. Facial oil can be used as the last step of anyone’s nighttime skincare routine. Layering on facial oil over your treatment fluids, serums, and/or moisturizer is a great way to help these products absorb correctly and add an extra level of skin conditioning. Another plus is that most of these plant-based oils that are used to make facial oils have an array of antioxidants and vitamins that have anti-aging benefits for your skin.
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The nourishing serum is the facial oil that I make myself and have available for retail. This facial oil recipe is special to me because I make it with a certain blend of non-pore clogging oils (mostly jojoba) and added carrot seed and lavender essential oils. Carrot seed was important to me to have in this facial oil because of its high concentration of antioxidants and helpful age-fighting benefits.