Cleansing with oil?

Interesting reading... Am off to try it!! Thanks Tigerlily 🙂

Hi Tiger

Dry skin more often than not is due to a shortage of omega oils in your diet. These are omega-3 fish oils (eat oily fish - salmon, mackerel, sardines, herring) at least 3 times per week, and then omega-6 is best from evening primrose oil or starflower oil capsules. Use olive or flaxseed oil on your salads, and a little butter on bread, etc. Avoid margarines, whatever the advertising says, they are unnatural manmade products that block the actions of essential omega oils.

Once you are balanced with essential omega oils you will find a great difference in your skin texture.

It is best to support this with a wholefood diet and plenty of raw fruit and salads.

Caroline gives great advice - and also drink plenty of water! I'm really not sure about the provenance of bio oil - it uses the oil from the preening glands of ducks as a major consituent! If you eat duck that's fine, as non-veggies should use every part of an animal killed for food. But if not, well, there are many vegetable based oils that will do the same job and are probably cheaper.

I take on board the nutritional advice. I am guilty of neglecting the omegas. But I have always drunk a lot of water as, boring but appropriately, it's my favourite drink. And everyone I meet thinks I'm about 10 years younger, so I'm happy with my appearance in that sense.

However, I'm one of these people that won't leave the house without the obligatory foundation, blusher and mascara. Wasn't always like that, I just think that beyond your 20s, most people look a bit better with a bit of make-up. So I can't get away with not cleansing, but really want to find something cheap that won't cause spots or irritate my skin.

I didn't know that about bio oil, that's awful. I got through pregnancy without a single stretch mark with that stuff and it's also faded a horrible old scar on my leg. So what is the alternative blend that I could use? I know next to nothing about oils.

Hi Tigerlily,

I totally agree with CarolineN's nutritional suggestions as the condition of your skin comes from within. However, if you would like to make a version of Liz Earle's cleansing balm, here is my simple recipe:

1 tbsp beeswax
1 tbsp coconut oil (solid)
1 tblsp Jojoba oil
1 tbsp Sweet Almond oil
1 tsp cocoa butter
1 tsp mango butter

Melt the beeswax & cocoa butter in a double boiler, or a bowl or pyrex jug (easier for puring later) sitting ontop of a pot of water. Add the rest of the oils and when it is all liquid remove from heat, stir well and allow to cool giving a stir with a small egg whisk from time to time. When it starts going opaque and thick, add 5 drops Cedarwood oil, 5 drops Bergamot oil & 3 drops Tea Tree oil and pour into a glass jar. If you don't have amber glass jars, the little jars that pesto pasta sauce come in are really good. Wash well and wipe with alcohol before using.

This balm recipe is suitable for all skin types. Dry to normal skin use once per day, oily skin twice per day. Enjoy 🙂

Wow, thanks Annax!

I've come back to comment on the water issue... There was me thinking I've always drunk enough water, then suddenly realised that I'm probably not at the moment as I'm currently breast feeding my little one. I probably haven't compensated for that.

I admit I'm a bit rubbish with oily fish. I only like salmon, but even then I haveto have it overcooked. Maybe the way forward will be to take supplements for now. What about avacados?

Just done a bit of research on Bio Oil and discovered that it doesn't actually contain duck gland oil, but an artificial recreation of it. Phew. Although a lot of sites claim it contains no animal derivatives, I can't find official vegan confirmation of this.

Bio oil may not contain extract of duck this or that but it's main ingredient is liquid paraffin, not something I'd be keen to put on my skin for many reasons. I've used the oil cleanse method for years and it works great for me, cleared up several skin issues and is cheap and natural, just use the correct blends for your skin type. I cleanse every night with oil and in the mornings just use a hydrolat to freshen, usually Lavender or Rose.

I've come back to comment on the water issue... There was me thinking I've always drunk enough water, then suddenly realised that I'm probably not at the moment as I'm currently breast feeding my little one. I probably haven't compensated for that.

I admit I'm a bit rubbish with oily fish. I only like salmon, but even then I haveto have it overcooked. Maybe the way forward will be to take supplements for now. What about avacados?

Well, there are two issues here - firstly you need to drink plenty if you are breastfeeding. That is, at least as much as the baby is taking from you over and above what you normally drink (quantity depends on baby's age).

But probably more importantly, omega oils. The greatest part of the baby's growing brain (apart from water) is omega oils. The only source is from you (currently breast milk), so the milk is sucking omega oils from your body. These need to be replaced as omega oils cannot be made from other oils/fats. So I'd definitely take a supplement - a combined one which tastes of lemon is a good one, like Keep it in the fridge once opened. There are food options too, like freshly ground flaxseed mixture, and taking the supplements as separate items. Avoid cod liver oil if you are taking long-term because unless you buy those which are guaranteed contaminant-free (expensive) they can contain mercury, dioxins and PCBs - all of which I'd avoid! So Fish oil is a better option.

If you are getting short of omega oils it tends to show up first in the skin.

All the best

Thank you, Caroline, I had no idea that was happening. No wonder the skin around my eyes are so dry!! I'd never experienced it to this extent before, so that must be the reason. Thanks for the link, it looks like a good supplement, I will defo give that a try.

As for the water, after the penny dropping today, I'll certainly keep on top of that.

I'm a great believer in using oil as a cleanser, and as a moisturising agent and have to say my skin looks very hydated.

Nighttime regime: For the cleanser, I use my own blend of whisked jojoba oil and aloe vera - it's a great cleanser and very gentle. For eye makeup remover I use just almond oil as it doesn't drag around the eye area.

I then spritz with a rosewater hydrolat and then massage Argan oil into my face.

I can't recommend Argan oil enough. I was fortunate to go to Morocco last year and was in the area where argan oil is manufactured. It is rich in Vit E and is well known for it's anti-aging properties. I bought back as much as I could in my luggage and its shelf life is 2 years at least. It does have a rich nutty smell but it doesn't linger and I would recommend it wholly. If there is any residue left on your hands after massage, then massage that into cuticles.

Put a little wheatgerm on your ring finger and dab around the eye area in an anticlockwise motion at night will help

Jane xx

Thank you! This gives me some things to try!

I spent a couple of days drinking about twice the amount of water I normally drink and going make-up free, dabbing on some Bio-Oil (that's all I've got at the mo) around my eyes and I must say, I'm already looking better. I've also started on the omega supplements.

Edited to add, just realised that the Bio Oil could be causing rebound dryness, boooo!

Just to clarify, when removing cleansing oil, should I use a warm cloth? Or wipe away with cotton wool? What's the best technique?

Bio oil may not contain extract of duck this or that but it's main ingredient is liquid paraffin, not something I'd be keen to put on my skin for many reasons. I've used the oil cleanse method for years and it works great for me, cleared up several skin issues and is cheap and natural, just use the correct blends for your skin type. I cleanse every night with oil and in the mornings just use a hydrolat to freshen, usually Lavender or Rose.

Sorry, rude of me, only just saw this. I'll Google liquid paraffin, find out what you're talking about... Thanks!

Edited to add, just found out about it.

Just to clarify, when removing cleansing oil, should I use a warm cloth? Or wipe away with cotton wool? What's the best technique?

Hi, I remove cleansing oil with moist cotton wool pads.

I've used Olive Oil to remove eye makeup for years but one day when I run out I tried sunflower oil and it worked very well and doesn't sting like a lot of eye makeup removers do.

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