It might sound a little odd to clean your face with oil, especially if you have oily skin. But contrary to popular belief, oil does not cause oily skin or acne.

When skin’s natural oils are removed, the body’s reaction is to compensate by producing more oil. If your skin is dry, it’s because all the oil has been stripped away. Use the right oils to cleanse your pores of dirt and bacteria naturally, gently and effectively and replace the dirty oil with beneficial ones extracted from natural botanicals, vegetables and fruits.

When done properly and consistently, the oil cleansing method can clear the skin from issues like oily skin, dry skin, sensitive skin, blackheads, whiteheads while leaving your skin healthy. This method also brilliantly removes make-up.

1. MAKE YOUR CLEANSER

Simply mix the oils together in a small bottle, give it a little shake, and you’ve got yourself a homemade, frugal facial cleanser. The most popular blend of oils for this cleansing method is castor oil and extra-virgin olive oil. The former draws out dirt and other gunk from your pores. The latter is a brilliant moisturiser and nourishes the skin.

For those with normal skin, you could start off with a one-to-one ratio. For those with acne-prone or oily skin, try three parts castor oil to one part olive oil. For those with dry skin, start off with one part castor oil to three parts olive oil.

2. GENTLY RUB IT IN

Pour a quarter-sized amount into your palm, rub your hands together, and slowly massage your skin with your fingertips. Don’t splash your face with water first, apply it dry. Work the oil into your skin for about a minute; don’t scrub - just rub.

3. STEAM YOUR FACE

Next, wet a washcloth with hot water (but not too hot), and put it over your face until it’s about room temperature. This will steam out your pores, removing the impurities and the dead skin cells. Then take the washcloth, rinse and wring it and gently wipe off the oil. Your skin will probably feel softer and look a bit brighter immediately.