Oil as a Makeup Remover

Making your own makeup remover can be as simple as just reaching for the vegetable oil in the kitchen cupboard. But you can jazz it up a bit too!

During Roman times oil was used for all personal hygeine including as a makeup remover, (you didn't know that Roman Women wore make up? Oh yes, lots of it! but that's for another page.) The skin was covered with layer of oil and massaged or rubbed well, the thick layer of oil and dirt was then removed by using a scraping tool called a strigil.

This never made much sense to me when I was younger and the thought of covering myself in something so greasy did not appeal, how times change! Oil does in fact clean very well, it attracts dirt, anyone with a tendency to acne will understand all too well how dirt and oil combine together to produce blackheads. This attraction makes Oil perfect for makeup removal.

For someone with a very dry skin using oil can make a marked difference to the texture and feel of the complexion. But it is important to choose the type of oil used with care since those with an already oily skin will not benefit from adding more.

The oil should be applied with a gentle up-ward sweeping motion and lightly massaged into the skin before removing the oil and dirt with a wad of damp cotton wool.

Do not choose anything that sinks in too quickly, you do not want the dirt to be absorbed into your pores. If your skin is prone to oiliness already, you may wish to follow the makeup removal with a gentle soap and water wash. If you intend to use the oil to remove eye makeup and waterproof mascara omit the essential oils from the recipe, damp the cotton wool with warm water and then apply a small quantity of oil. Sweep the oily cotton wool from the outside edge of the eye towards the nose. Try not to drag or pull at the eye or surronding areas since this is damaging to the skin and can increase the likelihood of wrinkles.

Turn your make up remover into a bath oil for dry skin.

Oily Makeup Removal Recipes

Ingredients

100mls Olive oil (you can choose whichever grade of olive oil you wish, if olive oil is too reminiscent of kitchen and cooking for your taste, then choose almond oil.

Two drops tea tree essential oilThree drops lavender essential oil

A good handful of fresh Yarrow stalks complete with flowers and leaves. you should choose a mixture of both leaves and flowers because of the different chemical makeup of each - the balance is important.

Method

Dry the yarrow and macerate in the oil following the instructions at the bottom of the skincare oils page. Once the oil has been strained you can use it, as is, or add the essential oil. Leave the mixture for 24 hours to allow the essential oil to settle in before using it as a makeup remover for the first time.

To vary

Add the peeled rind of a large unwaxed lemon (make sure that you do not include any of the pith or white underside of the peel as this contains different chemical qualities) to the oil along with the yarrow and macerate together for two to three weeks.

Ingredients

75ml Sunflower Oil25ml Macedamia Oil

Three drops Rose Otto essential oil

Three handfuls of fresh rose petals dried. In preference choose an old-fashioned scented variety.

Method

Macerate the rose petals in the two oils for two to three weeks, after which, strain and use as is or add the essential oil. Leave the mixture for 24 hours to allow the essential oil to settle in prior to using it as a makeup remover for the first time.

To vary

The same recipe can be made substituting the expensive rose essential oil with lavender and replacing the rose petals with dried lavender buds.

Other recipes for makeup remover.
Go to the Plant Oils page
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