The Truth About Cleansing Oils

The beauty industry can be fickle. Today's hero ingredient is tomorrow’s villain; and skincare "methods" seem to have as much staying power as diet fads. However, beneath this state of flux, one constant consistently prevails: common sense. No matter how far we veer off course, we inevitably return to what we’ve known all along: that the methods and ingredients we've trusted the longest truly work the best. Such is the case with cleansing oils.

Oil cleansing is nothing new. In fact, before the industrial revolution brought soap (which had existed for millennia) to the masses, many people kept clean using natural oils. Olive oil in particular was a regular staple in ancient Greek and Roman baths for ridding the body of dirt and debris. While the chemistry was unknown to them, these ancient peoples nevertheless recognized the cleansing power of certain oils—particularly on oil-based impurities.

Today, we understand the reason: oil dissolves oil. This simple concept is the principle behind oil-based cleansers, such as CosMedix's new Purity Solution. Formulated with olive, argan and moringa oils (among others), Purity Solution not only eliminates dirt, impurities, makeup and oily buildup, it also hydrates and nourishes a healthy appearance. Truly formulated with all skin types in mind, this deep cleansing oil won't clog pores or dry out the skin. Instead, it traps and removes pore-clogging debris and excess oil while keeping the skin's natural moisture balance intact.

Products like Purity Solution represent a 180 in skincare thinking that has, until recently, favored aggressive cleansers that strip away impurities—along with moisture—using harsh detergents. Now that the pendulum has swung the other way, we’re once more reaffirming what we've always suspected: when it comes to skincare, Mother Nature truly knows best.