Life Fright

I was swept away by the hype of oil-based cleansers, thrilled with the ease of removing makeup and sunscreen coupled with the pleasant bonus of a facial massage. The first and only oil cleanser I used and repurchased many times was the Purito From Green Cleansing Oil.

The first time I tried it, I marveled at how easily it removed the tinted sunscreen from my face and followed it up with a makeup-removing towel which had none of the typical residue left behind. That clinched it for me in converting over to the double-cleansing routine. I was excited that this new approach would reduce the need to roughly rub at my face to remove makeup and sunscreen and that it was so gentle yet effective. Little did I know what problems it would cause me down the line.

For those who don’t know, in double cleansing: first massage the oil cleanser across the face, rinse it off with water, and then follow it up with a water-based cleanser. This 2-step routine is great for so many people leaving their skin nourished and clean.

Initially, using an oil cleanser helped my skin a lot by being able to remove oil plugs and keeping the sebaceous filaments on my nose clear. All this was popped out of my skin with small, circular motions as I massaged the oil cleanser across my face. But then slowly and then in abundance I was getting continual painful, large bumps across my chin and jaw. This was a few years in the making where I had been using an oil-based cleanser as part of my routine while also getting the typical acne on my cheek.

Frustratingly and over the long process of elimination did I uncover the culprit causing this new acne: the cleansing oil. Once I stopped using it, there was a marked difference with the overall softness of my skin. I didn’t realize over time that the accumulation of oil on my face left a film that didn’t help with my acne woes. I reveled in knowing that my skin could feel so soft and clean for the first time in years. In the beginning, the acne on my chin went away and then the under-the-surface bumps emerged and went through their healing phase over the following few weeks. After that, there were no new bumps on my chin or jaw.

I now use micellar water to remove makeup and sunscreen from my face. Perhaps I could try a new oil cleanser in the future, but after that gruesome and tiresome experience, I am enjoying my minimal routine and the occasional pimple which is so much better than the waves of acne and hyperpigmentation I was experiencing before.

If you are dealing with acne, it could be worth cutting out the oil cleanser in favor of micellar water to see if that makes a difference! Otherwise, do consider whether the current products in your routine could be now causing acne issues. I had been using the oil cleanser for many years so did not suspect that it was the cause of my new acne. Unfortunately, it did leave behind scarring in those areas, but I can only imagine how much worse it would be if I had not had the inkling to start eliminating even tried-and-true products.