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Why oil cleansing is so important for acne-prone skin

Oil cleansing is one of the best ways to prevent clogged pores that are the result of dead skin cell, sebum, and product buildup. If you wear sunscreen, makeup, or use lots of products, then oil cleansing is a necessary step to re-solubilizing any products that may remain on your skin. Single-step cleansing is not adequate for the vast majority of people, particularly if you are acne-prone. Oil cleansing is also a fantastic way to prevent blackheads as it helps to solubilize and wash away excess sebum and dead skin cells in your pores. 

However, as someone who’s acne-prone, you probably know that every single oil cleanser out there is full of problematic ingredients that have the potential to make your breakouts worse.

I’ve developed a simple, 2 two-ingredient formula, that’s amazing for removing all traces of makeup, sunscreen, and product residue. It won’t irritate your skin, contains no unnecessary ingredients, and best of all it won’t clog your pores. Best of all, it’s super economical and dirt cheap to make. 

What you’ll need

• MCT Oil 

This is the brand I recommend as it only contains C8 and C10. Watch out for brands that contain C12 ( Lauric Acid) as you will want to avoid this.

• PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides

If you can’t get a hold of PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides then you can use Polysorbate 80 as an alternative, but proceed with caution if you have or suspect you have fungal acne.

Both PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides and Polysorbate 80 are emulsifiers. Emulsifiers are required in cleansing oils because they ensure that the oil rinses away clean when water is added. This is why it’s not ideal to use pure MCT oil— the amount of oil residue left on your skin will have a negative impact on the effectiveness of your 2nd cleanser.

Note: No preservative is required in this cleansing oil because it is water-free. 

• 1 x 8 oz squeeze or flip-top bottle

Any clean, refillable bottle will work (you can also use glass or aluminum). Just ensure it doesn’t leak because you’ll want to prevent water from entering the bottle if you’re using it in the shower. 

Instructions

1. Pour approximately 7 oz of the MCT oil into your 8 oz bottle.
2. Pour approximately ½ oz of the PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides into the bottle.
1. Note, if you’re using Polysorbate 80 instead, you’ll want to add 1 oz to the MCT oil. 
3. Shake well, and replace the lid tightly. Yes, it’s that easy!!!

Tips

• For best results, I always recommend applying cleansing oil on dry skin. Because this formula is so economical you can apply a generous amount and massage it into your skin thoroughly. If you have a lot of sunscreen or foundation on, you may wish to oil cleanse twice. The 1st application is to remove sunscreen and makeup and the 2nd application is to cleanse your skin and prep it for your regular cleanser. 
• This cleansing oil is not ideal for removing waterproof mascara. It will definitely remove eyeshadow and liner, but I recommend using a separate eye makeup remover to remove mascara. 
• When you’re refilling your bottle, I recommend thoroughly washing it out with unscented soap and water and letting it air dry until refilling. This will help to keep your bottle and formula clean when you refill it and prevent any nasties from building up around the spout or screw top. 

If you have any questions or need help troubleshooting, feel free to leave a comment below.

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Cheers

Christina

Founder, Authentic Ego