OUr 100% botanical skincare solutions offer the best that nature provides!
This emerald green serum is packed with plant-powered nutrients!
What exactly is "oil cleansing"? If you’re new to the oil cleansing method (OCM), you might be a little skeptical about using oil to wash your face. The basic idea is “like dissolves like”, meaning similar molecules attract and help to break up and disperse each other. Unlike a soap- based cleanser for your face that might be too harsh and drying for some skin types, oil cleansing utilizes a specific combination of carrier and essential oils to dissolve the dirt, sebum and impurities in your pores by attracting the skin’s oily buildup, purging and carrying them away. It detoxes the pores, balances sebum production, hydrates and smooths skin. Believe it or not, this is actually a great cleansing method for oily and acne prone skin because it breaks the cycle of stripping skin of its natural oils. Oil balance is so important to the health of your skin! You don't want to strip your skin completely of its natural oils which are needed to moisturize, heal and protect skin. On top of that, your skin has a natural microbiome... billions of friendly bacteria which we call skin flora, just like our guts have! The microbiome is like your skin's natural eco-system which keeps skin healthy and protected. Studies have actually shown that an unbalanced microbiome can contribute to skin conditions like eczema and dermatitis. Wiping out or disturbing your microbiome with harsh products or stripping cleansers can have an adverse effect on the health of your skin. So this method can also work great with all skin types. And it can be highly customized for specific skin types; in fact, it truly shines (see what I did there? LOL) when the correct oils and ratios are thoughtfully blended. I’ve customized this blend to work best with acne-prone skin types. (See our other OCM blends if this is not your skin type.)
What's in this blend? Oils that are high in linoleic acid offer a host of benefits for acne-prone skin, which surprisingly, can often also be quite dry. This is because dryness causes an overproduction of sebum, which then triggers clogged pores and acne breakouts.
- Grapeseed oil is a very cleansing carrier oil with astringent qualities, making it a wonderful ally for acne-prone skin. It's is a lightweight and fast-absorbing oil known for its anti-inflammatory properties.
- Evening primrose oil with its high gamma-linoleic acid (GLA) content suggests that EPO could be a powerful acne-fighting agent. GLA is an omega-6 fatty acid with potent anti-inflammatory properties that also naturally strengthens the skin barrier. Its unique composition is ideal for battling breakouts and soothing irritation from pustules.
- Hemp seed oil naturally balances sebum production, provides anti-inflammatory benefits and helps lock in moisture.
- Jojoba oil's unique composition makes it very similar to our skin's natural sebum and therefore helps to balance sebum production.
- Black seed oil, otherwise known as black cumin seed or it's Latin name, Nigella Sativa is a true skin saviour. Packed with Vitamin A and amino acids, Black Seed Oil helps to reduce acne scars. The anti-inflammatory properties of the oil reduces the appearance of spots and acne by vastly reducing the redness and scarring caused by skin inflammations.
- Broccoli seed oil - Broccoli seed oil’s omega content also soothes and reinforces a healthy skin structure. It’s primarily composed of omega-9 fatty acids, known for their anti-inflammatory effects to help calm irritable skin.
- Tamanu oil works against the bacteria that causes acne and can help calm inflammation and help fade acne scars.
- Our synergistic essential oil combination targets acne by reducing inflammation and providing additional cleansing and antiseptic power to our carrier oil base.
Ingredients: Grapeseed oil, safflower oil, hemp seed oil, jojoba oil, black seed oil, tamanu oil, Vitamin E oil, Rosemary antioxidant, Essential oils of: Lavender, lemon, tea tree, rosemary verbenone & peppermint.
This listing for one 2oz glass pump-top bottle. (Also shown in pic is our Dirty Detox Blemish Bar and a charcoal konjac sponge)
Dirty Detox Oil Cleansing Serum
- Use warm, not hot, water to wash your face. Hot water can strip away skin lipids and lead to dryness/irritation.
- Use cool water as a final rinse to close your pores.
- Exfoliating or scrubbing too hard may cause the skin to become red and irritated.
- Use a clean washcloth, especially if you are prone to acne. Washcloths (and makeup tools and pillowcases!) can re-deposit dirt and grime right back onto your skin.
- Don't pick at your skin or squeeze those blackheads! Picking and squeezing increases inflammation which can halt the skin healing process and lead to scarring.
- Use clean make-up brushes to prevent dirt and oil build up.
- Wash your pillow cases regularly; at least weekly (switch them even more frequently if you can!)
- Disinfect your phone! Your phone may be carrying 10x more bacteria than a toilet seat...yuck!
- Avoid products made with synthetic ingredients that can irritate facial skin.
- Avoid products that contain alcohol which can cause skin to become tight and dry.
- Apply a moisturizer immediately after washing your face while skin is still damp. Acne-prone skin is often also dry skin, which over stimulates the sebum to produce more oil to compensate for the dryness.
- Limit sun exposure
- Drink lots of pure, filtered water and eat plenty of fruits and veg - antioxidants are essential!
- Work out regularly to keep your blood and lymph moving and help transport toxins out of your body faster!
- Take probiotics - research suggest taking probiotics can improve inflammatory skin conditions, including acne & rosacea.
How do I use it? To use this oil cleanser, disperse a quarter sized amount onto your fingertips. Massage the oil onto dry skin for at least a few minutes, giving extra attention to any facial zones that are particularly oily or dry, moving in upward circular and outward motions. Not only is this step super relaxing, it helps to stimulate the skin's circulation, and it's absolutely crucial to proper cleansing. This is the perfect opportunity to give your face a little extra attention and release tension in the jaw and brow areas. No need to remove your makeup beforehand – watch the magic happen! The oil will loosen up any foundation or eye makeup. Take your time, letting the cleansing oil work in deeply to loosen debris and hardened sebum.
After massaging, wet a CLEAN (super important!) washcloth with warm to hot water (as hot as you can stand it, but not so hot if you’re prone to excessive reddening from heat!) and squeeze out excess. The steam action will help loosen the oil and sebum for easy removal. Gently hold the washcloth over your entire face and let the warmth penetrate your pores. Take several deep breaths and soak in the relaxing natural scent. Gently wipe (don't scrub!) with the cloth in circular and outward motions. You can run the cloth under the hot water again if you need to wash away some of the dirt and oil before continuing to wipe. Continue to gently wipe until all the oil cleanser has been removed. You can repeat the cloth portion of this routine until you are satisfied with your level of removal. Feel free to do another round of oil if necessary. When you’re done, your skin should feel soft, dewy and supple, but not oily.
Once the oil cleanser is completely removed, pat your face dry and continue with your regular skincare routine. If you're new to this method and are swapping out your conventional cleanser, your skin may need some time to adjust and may start to show signs of detoxification with a breakout here or there, but after several sessions of oil cleansing, you should notice a huge difference. Just give it time and trust the process! Give it a full 2-3 weeks to fully adjust. Your skin will feel less congested, brighter and less irritated. When done correctly, most people find oil cleansing to be a game-changer for their skin health!
How often should you oil cleanse? This is going to be a little different for everyone and it's best to pay close attention to your skin and use your intuition. Oil cleansing is very deep and detoxifying, but also very nourishing and moisturizing. Having said that, not everyone needs to cleanse like this every day. I suggest starting with every other day to every 2 days to find your sweet spot. Increase or decrease as needed. Over-cleansing can actually weaken the skin barrier, so even with OCM, less is more. Cleansing just once a day before bedtime is usually sufficient for healthy, balanced skin. What to use on off days or for your morning routine? Use an alternative natural cleanser of your choice, including one of our skin-type specific super gentle facial bars, or just spritz with a splash of cool water and/or a complexion-specific toner.