If you had told me years ago that cleansing my skin with oil was going to help clear my acne, I would've laughed in your face.
Now, it's such an ingrained part of my daily skincare routine that I wouldn't dream of skipping it.
The product that changed my mind about oil cleansing was the Boscia MakeUp BreakUp Cleansing Oil, a staple product that I'm never without (I always stock up on it during the Sephora VIB sales and I never have fewer than 2 extra bottles, just in case. Because I love it that much.)
The best way to use an oil cleanser is part of the double cleansing method.
What is the Double Cleansing Method?
The double cleansing method originated in Korean skincare, which is known for being very complicated and involving at least a dozen steps. However, it's easy to implement the double cleansing method into your existing skincare routine. All you need to add is an oil cleanser!
There are two simple steps:
- Use an oil-based cleanser on dry skin to remove makeup and cleanse the skin.
- Next, use a water-based cleanser (or what we think of as a regular cleanser) to cleanse your face one more time and remove any remaining impurities from the skin.
This method is twice as effective at removing makeup and dirt from your skin, which helps prevent clogged pores and breakouts. And since you're using an oil, your skin won't feel stripped or dried out.
The Products
As I mentioned before, my favorite oil-based cleanser is the Boscia Cleansing Oil. But since the double cleansing method and K-Beauty in general have grown in popularity in recent years, many more amazing oil cleansers have hit the market. A few good ones for acne-prone skin are:
- Caudalie Makeup Removing Cleansing Oil
- Burt's Bees Facial Cleansing Oil (budget-friendly!)
- Julep Love Your Bare Face Cleansing Oil
- Shu Uemura Porefinist Anti-Shine Fresh Cleansing Oil (this one has salicylic acid)
There are also many Korean beauty brands that offer great cleansing oils and balms, but I haven't been able to delve into K-Beauty just yet. Maybe a topic for a future blog post!
Some of my favorite water-based cleansers for Step 2 include:
- CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser
- Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Cleanser
- Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleanser (just starting using this and I'm enjoying it)
- Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser
All of the above cleansers are gentle enough for sensitive and acne-prone skin and won't trigger breakouts.
If you've been struggling without adult acne, the culprit could be clogged pores from excess makeup, dirt, and sebum left on the skin after insufficient cleansing. The double cleansing method eliminates those impurities and leaves you with fresh, squeaky clean skin that isn't stripped or dried out - and it's easy to add to your existing routine with just one extra product.
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