Clean beauty refers to cosmetic and personal care products that are formulated with ingredients that are considered safe and non-toxic for human use and the environment. These products typically avoid the use of synthetic ingredients, such as parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and formaldehyde, which have been linked to potential health risks. Instead, clean beauty products may use natural or organic ingredients, plant-based extracts, and non-toxic preservatives.

We believe consumers are smart and have become more concerned about the potential health and environmental impacts of the products we use. However, it is important to note that there is currently no standardized definition or regulation for the term "clean beauty," and companies may use this label in different ways.

So, we're here to help you, among other things, do the research  about the ingredients in the products you use.

Are you someone who struggles to keep your skin soft and moisturised, especially if you have to wear make up or sunscreen on a regular basis. Does it feel like nothing you try has been able to help with this? Maybe you need to start using oil cleansers.

Oil cleansers are, unsurprisingly, a specific oil based type of skin cleaner used on the face which can help to remove make up, surface debris, end excess oil from the skin.

And what separates them from more traditional water soluble cleansers which use cream, gel, or foam is that, while they generally include surfactants, ingredients which interact with makeup and debris so as to lift it from the skin before it’s then rinsed away with water, oil cleaners tend to dissolve any surface debris instead.

How does this work?
Well the ingredients will usually be lipophilic, something which means they’re naturally attracted to other oils on the skin. On top of that, an emulsifier will generally be applied too, allowing it to eat away at these oils and easily rinse them away with water after the fact.

So, why should you consider using an oil cleanser then?
Well, while your first instincts may be to steer clear, what with there being so many warnings out there about avoiding having oil on your face, research suggests that there are a lot of benefits to using these products, especially if you have a particular skin type or lifestyle.

For example, it could be that you suffer from sensitive or blemish prone skin and, as such, you need a little extra help in dealing with this. On top of that, another reason could be that you’re someone who has to wear makeup for long periods of time, perhaps as a result of our job, and so removing it at the end of the night can be a bigger challenge than it needs to be. Thirdly, it might be that you live in a hot location and have to wear sunscreen on a daily basis, something which will certainly affect your skin after a while.

Of course, that’s not to say these are the only people who can benefit from an oil cleanse however as all skin types can use such products. It really just comes down to personal preference at the end of the day.

But if you do decide to start trying them out, you might be wondering what type of benefits you can expect. Well, first of all, you’re probably going to notice that they’ll quickly help to lift out excess sebum from your skin, the oily substance produced by the glands.

As well as that, they going to clean out clogged pores like blackheads and whiteheads, all while removing dead skin and any lingering pollutants that have been gathered across the day.

And if you’re someone who’s suffered from excessive dryness and skin irritation while using other types of cleansers, you might find that oil based ones help with this too.

In fact, a 2017 study carried out on 60 different adults and children found that such products, used every day for a month, appeared to promote better skin barrier function that some of their oil free counterparts.

That said, if you are going to try them out, we would recommend you exercise some caution when it comes to buying ones which are composed of a single oil or oil blends without surfactants.

And the reason for this is that, if you’re someone who already suffers from oily or blemish prone skin, this is only likely to make the problem worse. So, if you fall into this category, maybe you should try an alternative that doesn’t meet these criteria instead.

For the rest of you though, if you’re looking to go ahead with trying this out, you want to first find a product which comes highly recommended. And for our money, some of the best products out there currently would include Shiseido Perfect Cleansing Oil, Kaike Melt Oil Cleanser, and Neutrogena Ultra Light Cleansing Oil, each of which are easily available to find online or in physical drugstores.

Now that’s not to say there aren’t plenty of other options out there too, some of which may be more affordable depending on your budget. Really we could spend a whole video just going through the different options you have at hand here but, for the sake of brevity, we’ve chosen to mention these three because, in the case of Shiseido Perfect Cleansing Oil, its gentle, doesn’t strip away at your skin, and can be used on both dry and wet skin.

And as for Kaike Melt Oil Cleanser, well it’s hydrating, has not been through any animal testing, and is brimming with antioxidants, which can help address skin concerns like hyper pigmentation and uneven tone. 

Then, when it comes to Neutrogena Ultra Light Cleansing Oil, this one is lightweight, non-comedogenic, and crucially, far more affordable than the others suggested here.

And when it comes to non-comedogenic vs. comedogenic cleansers on the market, that’s actually a major issue of debate currently because, with the latter including ingredients which may clog the pores on your skin, most products like to promote themselves as being the former instead.

But are all cleansers non comedogenic? Well, no. Some, like coconut oil for example, do include comedogenic properties which may make it particularly unsuitable for things like acne.

So it’s crucial that you do a bit of your own research too here then. As we said, if none of these examples feel like they apply to your skin, look into some other products out there as it may take a bit of trial and error to find which one works best for you. You can even experiment with some DIY recipes if you really want to.

If for example, you suffer from excessively dry skin, you might want to go for a moisturizing olive oil, something which will be far richer in vitamins and antioxidants and which, as a result, can help to promote hydration.

And if sensitive skin is your problem, you’re going to want to try out jojoba or rosehip oil instead, making sure to stay away from castor oil here as his has antibacterial elements and can irritate things further.

And with jojoba oil in particular, it might also be a solution for you if you have oily or acne prone skin, with the reason for this being that it helps to balance oil production by regulating sebum.

Yes, while there is a common myth out there that those with oily skin should avoid oil cleanses, this is not necessarily true as there are products out there which can work for such skin types.

In fact, it may actually be better to do so in these cases as the right cleanses can actually help break down the excess oil in your own skin, such as is the case with the Superberry Dream Cleansing Balm, another product we’d recommend for those who find themselves in such a situation.

Whatever you choose, whether it be a home made solution or something store bought, once you’ve found the right product, what you’re going to want to do is apply it correctly so as to get the most out of it.