An oil to milk cleanser is the best face cleanser for dry skin.
An oil to milk cleanser is an oil-based cleanser that contains plant seed oils and emulsifiers, so it can rinse clean upon contact with water.
Oil to milk cleansers are gentle cleansers that can effectively remove daily dirt, skin debris, makeup and sunscreen.
Oil to milk cleansers leave you skin feeling clean, soft, and plump.
Overview:
- Why cleanse your skin?
- What is the oil cleansing method?
- What are the benefits of oil cleansing?
- What is an oil cleanser?
- What is an oil to milk cleanser?
- How to use an oil to milk cleanser
- Who should use an oil to milk cleanser
- Summary
- References
Why cleanse your skin?
Cleansing your skin is essential to keeping your skin healthy.
All types of skin, from healthy to diseased, infant to aged, need to be kept clean in order to preserve the skin barrier (Mijaljica et al, 2022).
The main purpose of skin cleansing is to remove impurities from the skin’s surface, including make-up, dirt, grime, and daily skin debris.
Cleansers are designed to remove dirt, sweat, sebum, and oils from the skin (Ananthapadmanabhan, et al, 2004).
To goal is to cleanse skin, without disrupting the skin barrier - i.e. not disrupting the skin pH, nor altering skin microbiota, nor removing the protective lipids and proteins found in the stratum corneum (Mijaljica et al, 2022).
The stratum corneum is the outermost layer of your skin barrier.
Learn More: What is the Skin Barrier?
Gentle skin cleansing can be challenging, as the skin’s composition and barrier integrity are intricate, inconsistent, and dynamic (Mijaljica et al, 2022).
What is the oil cleansing method?
The oil cleansing method is a technique used to clean your face using oils. It works according to the principle of "like attracts like" as the oils help lift and remove daily sebum and oil build up, dirt and skin debris.
Oil cleansing is very effective for gently removing oil-based and waterproof cosmetics, and sunscreens that cannot be easily removed with soap and water.
The oil cleansing method is effective for cleansing skin and is safe to use daily.
The oil cleansing method will not clog pores if the correct oil cleanser is used.
What are the benefits of oil cleansing?
Oil cleansing is very gentle on your skin and protects your skin barrier.
There are many beneficial fats and lipids that are naturally found in your skin barrier and play a critical role in keeping your skin healthy.
Beneficial fats and lipids help to lubricate and coat your skin cells and nourish your skin.
Learn more: Beneficial Fats Found in The Skin Barrier
Oil cleansing effectively cleanses your skin and removes all types of makeup and sunscreens effortlessly.
Oil cleansing doesn’t dry out your skin: You’re replenishing oils as you cleanse, instead of just stripping it away with soap.
Learn more: The Problem with Soap for Dry Skin
Oil cleansers are packed with plant oils that are nutrient-rich and lubricating: They leave your skin so soft, and you may find, you don’t need a moisturizer afterwards.
Learn more: 5 Benefits Wild Orange Oil Cleanser for Dry Skin
What is an oil cleanser?
Oil cleansers are soap less cleansers that are composed of oils.
Most oil cleansers do not contain water.
An oil cleanser is made from plant-based oils, and may also include mineral oils, animal-based oils, and/or esters.
A simple oil cleanser may be composed of a single plant oil, whereas a more complex oil cleanser may contain several plant oils, as well as extracts, actives and aroma compounds.
Some plant oils in oil cleansers include:
For dry skin:
- Virgin coconut oil
- Apple seed oil
- Jojoba seed oil
For all skin types:
- Sunflower seed oil
- Hemp seed oil
- Castor seed oil
Different plant oils have different properties, including textures, aromas, colors, skin feel, nutrient profiles and benefits.
Virgin Coconut Oil
Virgin coconut oil has a strong natural coconut aroma that is buttery and sweet, and easily absorbed into your skin.
Virgin coconut oil initially creates an oily, protective barrier on the skin, which is then absorbed fairly quickly, leaving your skin feeling soft and plump.
Virgin coconut oil is nutrient-packed and has many benefits for dry skin.
Virgin coconut oil contains fatty acids including lauric acid (49%), myristic acid (18%), palmitic acid (8%), caprylic acid (8%), capric acid (7%), oleic acid (6%), linoleic acid (2%), and stearic acid (2%).
These beneficial fatty acids help nourish your skin to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for plumper looking skin.
When formulated properly, virgin coconut oil is non-comedogenic and will not clog your pores.
Learn more: 5 Benefits of Virgin Coconut Oil for Your Dry Skin
Dry Skin Love Wild Orange Oil to Milk Cleanser contains organic extra virgin coconut oil that is cold-pressed and unrefined. Our coconut oil is Fair Trade and comes from a sustainable source.
Our virgin coconut oil has a strong natural coconut aroma that is rich, buttery and sweet.
We infuse our virgin coconut oil with calendula flowers, chamomile flowers and whole vanilla beans, resulting in a rich, creamy, decadent aroma.
Learn more about Dry Skin Love Signature Aroma
Apple Seed Oil
Apple seed oil smells heavenly - like fresh apples and a hint of marzipan.
Apple seed oil is cold pressed from seeds that would otherwise go to waste in the juice industry and is considered a ‘zero waste’ seed oil.
Apple seed oil contains 60% linoleic acid, 30% oleic acid and 9% palmitic acid, fatty acids which are found naturally in the protective outer layer of the skin, and help the skin retain moisture.
Apple seed oil has high levels of vitamin E, including β-tocopherol and α-tocopherol and these vitamins have strong antioxidant activity.
Apple seed oil can soften your skin, strengthen your skin barrier and prevent free-radical damage.
Learn more: 4 Benefits of Apple Seed Oil for Your Dry Skin
Dry Skin Love Wild Orange Oil to Milk Cleanser is made with organically crafted, cold-pressed apple seed oil.
It has the most delightful aroma.
Top notes of real apple - sweet, complex and mouth-watering, with hints of marzipan. Fresh, warm and comforting. It smells divine.
Hemp Seed Oil
Hemp seed oil has a beautiful green color and a grassy to slightly nutty aroma.
Hemp seed oil is quickly absorbed, packed in essential nutrients, and leaves skin feeling soft and supple.
Hemp seed oil can soften your skin, strengthen your skin barrier, calm redness and inflammation, and protect against oxidative stress and damage.
Hemp seed oil contains 56% linoleic acid and 11% oleic acid, which are found naturally in the protective outer layer of the skin.
Hemp seed oil also contains 16% linolenic acid, an essential omega 3 fatty acid that calms redness and irritation.
Hemp seed oil also contains 5% γ-linolenic acid, a unique n-6 fatty acid with potent anti-inflammatory activity.
Learn more: 5 Benefits of Hemp Seed Oil for Your Dry Skin
Dry Skin Love Wild Orange Oil to Milk Cleanser contains organic hemp seed oil that is cold-pressed and unrefined. Our hemp seed oil is from Canada. It has a rich vibrant green color and a grassy aroma.
What is an oil to milk cleanser?
An oil to milk cleanser is similar to an oil cleanser but is also contains an emulsifier to help it rinse away clean with water.
Oil to milk cleansers can emulsify dirt, oil and microorganisms on the skin surface so that they can be easily removed with water.
There are many different emulsifiers that can be used.
We use a natural emulsifier called polyglyceryl-4 oleate in our cleanser.
Polyglyceryl-4 oleate is made from sunflower seed oil and vegetable glycerin.
Polyglyceryl-4 oleate is included in our formula to create an oil cleanser that rinses off with water.
Oil to milk cleansers rinse away clean, and do not leave a greasy feeling on your skin.
Oil to milk cleansers leave your skin feeling clean, soft, and plump.
Oil to milk cleansers are the best face cleansers for dry skin.
How to use an oil to milk cleanser?
An oil to milk cleanser can be used as a face cleanser, and as a mask.
For best results, apply the cleanser to your dry skin (not even a little damp...)
As a cleanser: With dry hands, apply a generous amount of oil to milk cleanser, and massage into dry face and neck. Gently remove cleanser with a warm moistened cloth. Use daily as required.
Can be used as a stand-alone cleanser, or as the first step oil cleanser in two step cleansing.
As a mask: With dry hands, apply a generous amount of oil to milk cleanser, and massage into dry face and neck. Let sit for 20 min and up to 1 hour. Gently remove cleanser with a warm moistened cloth.
Learn more: 7 Ways to Use an Oil to Milk Cleanser
Who should use an oil to milk cleanser?
Oil cleansing is great for all skin types, but especially recommended for dry skin.
Dry skin appears dry, rough, and may scale and flake. It may also show premature signs of aging, like fine line, surface wrinkles and loss of elasticity.
Dry skin is skin that is lacking water, humectants and fats. Humectants absorb and hold water, while fats coat the skin and seal in moisture. When there is not enough water, humectants or fats, skin barrier disruption can occur, further worsening symptoms of dry skin.
Read more: What is Dry Skin?
Oil cleansers are the best face cleansers for dry aging skin.
Learn more: What is Dry Aging Skin?
Summary
An oil to milk cleanser is an oil-based cleanser that contains plant seed oils and emulsifiers, so it can rinse clean upon contact with water.
Oil to milk cleansers are gentle cleansers that can effectively remove daily dirt, skin debris, makeup and sunscreen.
Oil to milk cleansers leave you skin feeling clean, soft, and plump.
Oil to milk cleansers are the best face cleansers for dry skin.
References
Ananthapadmanabhan KP, Moore DJ, Subramanyan K, Misra M, Meyer F. Cleansing without compromise: the impact of cleansers on the skin barrier and the technology of mild cleansing. Dermatol Ther. 2004;17 Suppl 1:16-25.
Mijaljica D, Spada F, Harrison IP. Skin Cleansing without or with Compromise: Soaps and Syndets. Molecules. 2022 Mar 21;27(6):2010.
Author Information
Dr. Natasha Ryz is a scientist, skin care expert and an entrepreneur. She is the founder of Dry Skin Love Skincare, and she creates skincare products for beauty, dry skin and pain relief.
Dr. Ryz has a PhD in Experimental Medicine from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, and she is a Vanier scholar. She also holds a Master of Science degree and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg.
Natasha is the former Chief Science Officer of Zenabis Global, and she oversaw cannabis extraction, analytics, and product development. Her team brought 20 products to market including oils, sprays, vapes and softgels.
Why I Started A Skincare Company