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Confused on the need for oil based cleansers, surfactants from water based are emulsifiers for oil?
Hi. If anyone can help me understand better as to why the need for oil based cleansers. Surfactants (from water based cleansers) also emulsify oil and water correct? So what is the difference in terms of cleansing waterproof products - as most mentioned that oil cleansers are better? Is it because the % of surfactants is smaller that it can only cleanse or remove a little bit of oil?
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4 Replies
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Dirt on your skin is composed of oils.
Water by itself does not remove oils.Surfactants can surround oils, lift them off the surface where the oil can be rinsed away.Now, not all surfactants can remove all oils. Some are better at it then others. So, it’s possible that even after using a cleanser on the skin there may be some oils left. It’s like when you are painting and even after washing your hands some paint may remain.
So, if you put an oil on your skin this may be more compatible with the oil that was left behind. This can help lift the oil off your skin. You can’t rinse it away with water but you can either wipe it away or use a second step cleanser that can now remove the more easily removable oil blend.
Whether people need an oil cleanser or not is debatable but there is some sense in using them.
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Anecdotally, no water based cleanser removes waterproof eye makeup and sunscreen like any oil based cleanser does.
There really is a big difference.
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Perry said:Dirt on your skin is composed of oils.
Water by itself does not remove oils.Surfactants can surround oils, lift them off the surface where the oil can be rinsed away.Now, not all surfactants can remove all oils. Some are better at it then others. So, it’s possible that even after using a cleanser on the skin there may be some oils left. It’s like when you are painting and even after washing your hands some paint may remain.
So, if you put an oil on your skin this may be more compatible with the oil that was left behind. This can help lift the oil off your skin. You can’t rinse it away with water but you can either wipe it away or use a second step cleanser that can now remove the more easily removable oil blend.
Whether people need an oil cleanser or not is debatable but there is some sense in using them.
Thank you so much Perry for the detailed answer. It was just confusing to me asi know water based use surfactants which can clean also the oil. But yeah like the paint example you mentioned, oil is much better to use for double cleansing i guess coz it doesnt contain as much surfactants. Appreciate it!
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emma1985 said:Anecdotally, no water based cleanser removes waterproof eye makeup and sunscreen like any oil based cleanser does.
There really is a big difference.
Thanks emma. I also use oil cleanser for removing makeup but ive been reading a lot online on doing double cleanse even with no makeup day and night and how it helped with their skin condition (acne, blackhead, etc) so i just want to understand further.
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