Dermatologists and conventional skin recommendations tell us to wash our face with water and cleanser, ideally with an oil-free one to prevent clogging the pores and causing breakouts. So why are dermatologists and alternative health enthusiasts advising us to "wash" our face with oil? Wouldn't that contradict the whole objective of keeping the face squeaky clean and oil-free?
Dermatologist Francesca Fusco, MD, admits how much she loves cleansing oils herself. The assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York believes that as more and more people are returning to natural, green, and healthy products, cleansing oils are a more natural option than soaps and other chemically-loaded cleansers.
Even oily skin can benefit greatly from oils; in fact, there is an appropriate and recommended cleansing oil for every skin type, says Dr. Fusco. People with oily skin are advised to use cleansing oil with botanical amino acids to gently remove excess sebum. Those with dry skin can use most oils as their skin needs it the most. Combination skin will receive the best benefits from safflower oil that is capable of both cleansing and hydrating. People with sensitive skin should go for a soothing formula of olive oil to prevent irritation of the skin.
According to John Hopkins Hospital Center clinical instructor Elizabeth Tanzi, MD, one of oil's gifts is that it is a great makeup remover- it melts makeup easily. Even stubborn eye makeup dissolves with a swipe of cleansing oil. However, Dr. Tanzi advises contact lens-wearers to be cautious about deposit formation on the lenses while cleaning with oil.
Angela Orlandi, an NYC esthetician, notes that cleansing oils are mostly paraben-free as they are derived directly from natural sources without the need to process it further or add chemicals, unlike a number of cream or gel cleansers, and even makeup wipes.
