5 Ways to Use Oil as Part of a Natural, Skincare Routine
Written by Stacy Karen, Contributing Writer
Switching to non-toxic skin care is a logical step for those wanting to lead a healthy and natural lifestyle. Using natural products on our skin is helpful in reducing the toxic load we carry since the skin so readily absorbs whatever we put on it.
Many mainstream skin care products contain a number of harmful substances, such as parabens, phthatalates, and a variety of other synthetic ingredients.
Thankfully, creating your own skin care products is not difficult and can be fairly inexpensive. In fact, you might be able to dig in your cabinet and put some of the following suggestions to use right now!
Today I want to share five ways to use one ingredient: oil.
Oil is used in many home remedies–sometimes in combination with other ingredients and at other times alone. Different oils have different qualities, but in general, most natural oils are moisturizing, nourishing, soothing, and detoxifying to the skin.
1. Wash your face with oil
Washing your face with oil is known as the oil cleansing method.
To clean your face with oil, create a mixture of castor oil and sunflower oil. (Read here for more information about creating the correct blend for your skin type). Apply the oil to your skin using circular motions. Run a clean wash cloth under warm water and ring it out. Hold washcloth up to your face so the steam can begin to open the pores. Once the wash cloth is cold, run it under warm water again and use to gently wipe the oil from your face.
I know it sounds strange, but washing your face with oil works very well. This method removes make up, dirt and other impurities. It also gives the skin a soft, dewy glow.
For more information (and quick demonstration) watch Stephanie’s video: How to Wash Your Face Using the Oil Cleansing Method.
2. Moisturize your body with oil
Oil is a wonderful moisturizer. It softens and nourishes the skin without leaving you to wonder what ingredients you have just applied.
Coconut, safflower, sunflower, olive, and jojoba oil are all well suited for use as an all-over moisturizer.
To moisturize with oil, simply keep a bottle of oil in the bathroom and apply all over after a shower (and after you have dried off). Or, create your own customized body oil by adding a few drops of essential oil to 8 ounces of oil and/or mixing a variety of oils together.
For further instructions see: How to Make a Simple Lavender Body Oil.
3. Remove eye make up
Oil also removes eye-make up, including mascara, very well.
Lori, of Laurel of Leaves, shows you exactly how to use coconut oil to remove eye make up (which involves little more than smearing it on an wiping it off. So easy!).
Or, make your own eye-make up remover blend:
Homemade Eye Makeup Remover
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon safflower oil
- 1 tablespoon castor oil
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Mix the oils and pour into a clean container. To use, pour a small amount of oil onto a cotton ball or pad and wipe eyelids and lashes gently.
4. Create a night-time eye cream
Have you seen the price of eye cream these days? Craziness! Well, you won’t have to pay that much once you see how easy it is to make your own.
Simply apply a small amount of oil to the outer corner of your eye, where the wrinkles form. That’s it!
Be careful not to get oil in your eye, as this could potentially clog the tear ducts.
The moisturizing properties of oil make it perfectly suited to softening and smoothing fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes. The best oils for use around the eyes are: jojoba, avocado, apricot kernel, or extra-virgin olive oil.
5. Make a body scrub
Body scrubs are great for removing dead skin cells and giving the skin a healthy glow. The inclusion of oil in a body scrub also gives a slight moisturizing effect.
To make a simple scrub: Mix 1 cup of brown sugar (or a mixture of white and brown) with 1/4 cup oil (such as grapeseed, olive, safflower, or sweet almond oil). Add a few drops of essential oil to create a customized scent, if desired. Spoon into a clean jar and label.
To use: Apply the scrub to damp skin using circular motions. Wash off with warm water. Do not use scrub on sunburned, windburned or cracked skin.
I’ve been doing the oil cleansing method for almost 2 years now but use organic olive oil. At first, I mixed with castor oil since that’s what all the online articles said, but now I just use it straight…works just as well.
I use almond oil as a face and body moisurizer, but I put it on in the shower and let it soak into the pores in the warmth of the shower. Any extra is towelled off, rather than getting onto my clothes as it would if I put it on after a shower.
And for lip balm I use plain olive oil.
Such a helpful post! I have recent started using jojoba oil to clean my face. I was wondering about a body scrub, so thanks for the recipe!
I like to wash my face with a very warm wet washcloth and gently scrub with just the warm water, then rub a mixture of EVOO and coconut oil over my skin while it is still damp. It’s worked really well for me!
I put olive oil on my face and neck as soon as I get out of the shower. I also use it as a make-up remover. I use coconut oil as a body moisturizer. My skin has never looked better!
I tried the oil cleansing method for quite a while because I really, really wanted it to work for me. It just didn’t. However, my skin was a mess from years of using commercial products, having a Mirena IUD (oh, if I could go back in time and smack myself for that one!), and just general adult acne. After I removed my IUD I kept waiting for my hormones to even out and my skin to get better but it didn’t. Then I got pregnant with baby #5 and so much for regulating the hormones! lol I hated my skin but I really, really did want to go more natural. After much experimenting, I finally found http://www.AppleValleyNaturalSoap.com and I’m in love! My skin hasn’t been this clear since I was 10. My favorite is their carrot-tangerine facial soap. For a facial moisturizer I use jojoba oil with lavendar essential oil mixed in to help calm my sensitive skin. It only takes a drop or two. I’ve been using this combination for months now and I couldn’t be happier. For a body moisturizer, I use both organic coconut oil and jojoba, just depending on which one I prefer that day. Lately I’ve used the jojoba more. It’s amazing how little oil it takes. It’s so nice when you finally find what makes your skin happy!
I love using coconut oil as a moisturizer after the shower. I have really dry/ sensative skin near my eyes so I can’t wait to try the eye remover recipe!
Thanks!
Jody@ apinchofcharacter.com
I use quality expeller pressed coconut oil for all my moisturizing needs. I have a small jar I keep in the bathroom that I refill from my gallon bucket in the kitchen. I use expeller pressed because it has no scent – smelling like coconut makes me hungry so I’d rather not use the extra virgin.
My skin has never felt better. I am 52 and get comments often about not looking ‘that’ old. I wish I would have discovered this in my youth. As it is, I have only been using it for about 4 years and I have still seen improvements. Something else I like about using coconut oil is that is absorbs into my skin so readily and I don’t feel greasy unless I am excessive with application.
We have also using coconut oil and olive oil for personal lubricant for about 10 years. Much better than any store-bought manufactured product we have tried before.
Great information. I use a lavender/grapeseed oil mix for moisturizing my face after a shower or after my bedtime face washing routine. A little goes a long way.
I have been using the oil cleansing method for over 2 years. Having constantly battled acne, I am still amazed that I no longer deal with zits on a daily basis! I mix olive oil and castor (about 80% EVOO and 20% castor). The trick is to make sure you STEAM your face with the hot wet towel! If I start getting lazy about that part I see a major difference in the occurrence of zits. I love knowing that my skin care costs just pennies compared to what I could be spending on commercial products!
I pulled a muscle in ballet last week. I was told to take dried chili peppers, cloves and ginger and grind them with a pestle and mortar. Add them to a mixture of olive oil and castor oil. Add cinnamon and rosemary essential oil. This makes a great muscle rub.
Note on the sugar scrub: take care to rinse drain thoroughly, the sugar attracts ants.
Hi, Thank you for the great post. I have been using Olive oil and Castor Oil for 4 months now and I am loving it. I would like to try coconut oil though and will be looking for the one without the smell. I love coconut but the smell just lingers for too long when used in body care products, in my opinion. Thanks again
I have sensitive, ‘mature’ skin and just started using argan oil as a facial moisturizer. It works really well! Absorbs well, it’s light and not greasy. It makes my face look brighter instantly!
I like to use natural oils on my skin, but found that the oily look/feel lingered to long for my liking. So I blend apricot kernel oil with witch hazel extract, let it sit for 10-15 minutes, then add aloe vera gel and rosewater. This makes a smoothing, wonderfully scented facial toner/moisturizer. I really enjoy it.
I’ve never really attempted anything DIY related when it comes to essential oils, but this article was great! Personally, I have been using essential oils as a part of my skin care routine and am extremely impressed with the positive effect they have had on my skin, especially now that it’s winter and my skin tends to be dry. I use Defend Argan Oil Moisturizer, which is a blend of argan oil and essential oils and Glow Face and Body Scrub, which is an organic scrub that is oil based as well. Both of these products are from a company called Purelement Naturals (purelementnaturals.com). My skin has been tighter, softer, and more hydrated than ever before thanks to oil based products.
I use coconut oil for everything. Its great for the face. You can add baking soda for exfoliation, then wipe away. Also, I have used it to moisturize my feet. It makes a remarkable difference. Put it on after you shave. I use it straight out of the jar. I buy it at the organic grocery store. A little goes a long way.
Another great oil for skin care is Tamanu Oil! Polynesian women that use tamanu oil have generally been known for their clear, blemish-free skin. They have widely used tamanu nut oil on babies and young children as well. I have found that the best kind I have used is the Tamanu Oil I have ordered from My Natural Market. Their Tamanu Oil is 100% pure because they do not dilute it with other oils. I hope this helps some people out 🙂 http://www.mynaturalmarket.com/Tamanu-Oil-100-Organic.html
Hi, I have been using olive oil to cleanse my skin morning and night. I started doing this when I had dermatitis from the pollution when I did a work holiday in China, and nothing else was working. The dermatitis cleared up immediately but I’ve been washing with olive oil ever since. For a while I was using it also as a lotion. Now I’m going to get back into using oils as a lotion. I’m now using rose water mixed with almond oil. Sometimes I’ll add a bit of shea butter. I found adding glycerine made it a bit sticky but the glycerine might work better in the winter. I use a European argan oil (30 spf) as a natural sunblock. I’ve also tried washing in the shower with brown sugar and olive oil and I’m going to try that again. I use olive or coconut oil on my hair before washing it and I also put coconut oil on the ends each day. A hair dresser in the Middle East told me that she had learned in her training that we should use olive oil on our hair for at least an hour before washing it, and all night once a week, and that this can prevent greying. I also know of a woman in Scandinavia who looked 30 although she was 60 (she was a model and a friend of my friend) and claimed it was since she used only olive oil on her skin including her face and only washed her face with olive oil, and that she used it all night on her hair before washing it (she also had no grey in her hair).