Using Jojoba for the Oil Cleansing Method

We’ve discussed using jojoba oil cleanser as a non-toxic alternative to removing make-up, but did you know that it can replace your face cleanser as well? When, Jacqueline, one of our customers wrote in about using jojoba as her oil cleansing medium we figured it was time to share the word on our blog.

You’ve most likely heard of Oil Cleansing, if not, the basic idea is to use oil to clean your face. Many modern skin cleansing products contain detergents and other components that can strip it of its natural oils resulting in dry skin. Oil cleansing uses some type of oil to dissolve the dirt/grime/oil on our skin. Oil breaks down the dirt and grime on our face without stripping it of the natural lipids. One of the most basic principals of chemistry is that “like dissolves like”, thus using oil on your face actually breaks down and dissolves the oil and grime that builds up. The best way to dissolve the sebum on your skin is to use another product in similar composition (like jojoba, which is the closest product in nature to the sebum your skin produces). By using jojoba as the “oil” in the oil cleansing method, it will help clean your skin naturally and gently.

The theory is that as the jojoba dissolves the dirty sebum from your skin, it will replace it with clean sebum. This method can be used by anyone with any skin type. If you research oil cleansing, you will find a wide variety of oils recommended. Jojoba is actually one of the best cleansing mediums because its chemical composition is closest to the sebum that our skin naturally produces. It’s also non-allergenic, which means it’s suitable for those even with very sensitive skin.

I’ve been oil cleansing off and on for quite a few years. Many years ago I used a combination of olive oil and castor oil, but I found my skin wasn’t fond of that mix. The castor oil seemed far too drying for my already dry skin. I tried other oils for cleansing here and there, but wasn’t impressed with the results and didn’t use oil cleansing frequently until I started using jojoba. Now I use jojoba, that’s it, no other oils, no other cleansing agents. My skin has never looked better! Personally, I use jojoba for oil cleansing nightly, once a week I do a deep cleansing by massaging it into my skin for 15 minutes.

Using Jojoba Oil Cleanser

Now you’re probably wondering how to actually use jojoba as your cleanser. It couldn’t be any easier.

1. Squirt about a quarter size amount of jojoba onto one palm
2. Using fingertips, massage jojoba on your face in small circular motions. Use more jojoba is necessary to maintain the easy movement of fingertips.
3. Continue massaging jojoba into the skin for 2-15 minutes using a light touch. I usually do a short cleaning most days and try to deep cleanse for 15 minutes once a week.
4. Wet washcloth or hand towel with hot water (be careful, you want hot water but not scalding water).
5. Lay washcloth over face and allow to cool.
6. Using a damp washcloth, wipe off any excess jojoba.
7. If skin feels dry, rub a drop of two of jojoba onto the skin.
8. Enjoy beautifully clean, soft skin!

We love it when we can use jojoba to replace one or more items in our medicine cabinet. Most likely you will be able to replace: cleanser, toner, and moisturizer if you start using jojoba with the oil cleansing method. When using jojoba for oil cleansing, you don’t have to worry about stripping your skin of its natural healing sebum. So give oil cleansing with jojoba a try. Make sure you give it time to work and time for your skin to adjust to your new routine (product). We’d love to hear how it works for you.