Wednesday, February 19, 2025

3 Covet-Worthy Cleansing Oils to Try in 2025

Press Sample (Affiliate Links)

I am a big fan of double-cleansing, and when I do– which is once a day– I start with one of my three favorite cleansing oils and then follow with one of my favorite cleansers. This has been my ritual for years, and I thought that it would be worthwhile to share my top 3 cleansing oils in 2025. I have used a great many cleansing oils over the years, and the top three that I am obsessed with are:

Aftelier Perfumes Geranium Cleansing Oil
Lovinah Supernatural Skincare Dragon's Blood Cleaning Oil

These three cleansing oils are nothing short of spectacular, and they are each worthy of the highest praise. They all have pride of place on my shelf, and they get used regularly.
Aftelier Perfumes Geranium Cleansing Oil is a truly exemplary cleansing oil, the likes of which I have never experienced. My initial observations were informed by the disbelief that there was a permutation of geranium that was so otherworldly. One cannot sufficiently underscore the extent to which Mandy is an artist of rare genius, and this cleansing oil is a reminder of this fact. Geranium often has a sharp edge, but this golden elixir is warm, soft, slightly peppery and informed by a current of light floral notes. Mandy deftly selected each of the ingredients in perfect proportions, and the result is a balance of elements of which only she is capable. The aroma is the sublime embodiment of what geranium could only ever hope to be, and that could only be realized by Mandy.

The texture of this oil is impossibly silky and smooth, and its tactile effects are not only ultra-luxe, but it is likewise visceral in its ability to evoke unmitigated joy. Use of this cleansing oil, is therefore, profoundly experiential and it requires a slowing down, being present, and savoring every moment of its use. As you massage the oil into your skin, you will naturally be inclined to take long and deep breaths, and this will quiet the mind and soothe the senses. After massaging the skin, add a little warm water to emulsify this magical oil and then rinse with warm water and pat dry.

This oil can be used as a stand-alone cleanser, or the first step in a double-cleansing routine, and it effectively removes every bit of makeup, dirt and debris. However, if you are wearing particularly intense makeup Mandy recommends applying a bit of the cleansing oil on a cotton square and gently wiping away the makeup before cleansing your entire face with her Geranium Cleansing Oil. Once you dry your skin you will be mesmerized by the extent to which your skin is soft, smooth, supple and hydrated. Furthermore, the antioxidant-rich formula conditions and protects the skin and the anti-inflammatory ingredients heal and soothe irritated skin. This is the perfect cleansing oil, and I do not make this proclamation lightly. There really is nothing like this cleansing oil on the market, and I highly recommend trying it– you will be elated by its magnificence.
According to Mandy Aftel,

As I have gotten older (like, 70), I can no longer use commercial facial cleansers, so I created this new cleanser that's good for my skin and really easy to use -- a nourishing oil cleanser that can be rinsed off with warm water. Wild-harvested geranium essential oil was the best choice for the scent, with its gorgeous fresh, green, rosy aroma, and known for enhancing skin repair, reducing inflammation, superior toning, and anti-bacterial properties.

Mandy asserts that she, "created the silky texture and 'feel' of this cleanser using a plant-based biodegradable emulsifier and a blend of the following sustainably produced base oils in specific proportions."

Select Ingredients and Their Attributes:

- Abyssinian oil: penetrates the skin quickly and is easily absorbed. This rich oil replaces lost lipids, eases dryness, improving softness and texture.
- Rice bran oil: full of Vitamin A and C, protects and supports the skin, helps with fine lines & wrinkles, and tissue regeneration. Rice Bran is high in linoleic acid (40%) which helps the oil absorb quickly and deeply into the skin layers and carries plant nutrients to deeper layers.
- Camellia oil: full of vitamin E and anti-oxidants, is rejuvenating, and helps condition the skin. Camellia is high in oleic acid (80%) which helps maintain suppleness, flexibility and softness of the skin. It is highly compatible with human sebum and able to carry nutrients deeply into skin layers.
- Grapeseed oil: rich in Omega 3, 6 and 9 and Vitamin E, is soothing, helps moisture retention and is nourishing for aging skin. Grapeseed oil is high in linoleic acid (74%)which helps the oil absorb quickly and deeply into the skin layers and carries plant nutrients to deeper layers.
Cold-pressed Broccoli Seed Oil: is high in vitamin A and Omega-9, 6 and 3 fatty acids, which help absorb and retain moisture in the skin quickly without leaving behind a greasy residue. The smooth, soft, silky texture of broccoli seed oil protects cells and is anti-inflammatory.
- PlantaEm™ is made from the esters of glycerin and fatty acids and are very gentle, completely biodegradable and PEG-free. PlantaEmTM offers unique emulsification and conditioning characteristics and is good for skin! It is made from Polyglyceryl 6 Dioleate (and) Sorbitan Laurate (and) Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate (and) Dilauryl Citrate.

Directions: Use one dropper of the cleanser and massage the oil into your face. Massage a bit of warm water over the cleanser to emulsify it and splash with clean warm water. Pat dry with a towel.
If you are wearing particularly intense makeup Mandy recommends applying a bit of the cleansing oil on a cotton square and gently wiping away the makeup before cleansing your entire face with her Geranium Cleansing Oil.

$35.00 for 30 ml. and $7.00 for 1 ml. from Aftelier Perfumes.

Emma Lewisham is a New Zealand-based luxury beauty brand that is cruelty-free, vegan, Certified Climate Positive and they are B Corp Certified. Therefore, this sustainable brand not only makes gorgeous products, but they employ enviable sustainability practices.

About Emma Lewisham,

Emma Lewisham is a luxury, science-led natural skincare line backed by the highest calibre of green science and innovation in the industry. Bottle by bottle, Emma Lewisham embodies a new way of thinking, proving that scientifically backed and natural skincare can co-exist.

Emma Lewisham Illuminating Oil Face Cleanser is a true revelation in cleansing the face. The tactile and sensory experience alone makes using this cleanser peerless, in my estimation. You simply apply 1-2 pumps to dry skin and massage it for 45-60 seconds. Slow down and deeply inhale to experience its uplifting citrus aroma and feel the silky smooth texture of this ultra-luxurious oil. Once dirt, debris and makeup are loosened, then simply add warm water with your fingers and behold the way in which this oil transforms into a milky and creamy emulsion. Rinse with warm water and revel in the fact that skin is thoroughly clean, soft, smooth, supple, hydrated, luminous and free of any oily residue.
According to Emma Lewisham,

This luxurious facial in a bottle uniquely achieves the delicate balance of highly effective cleansing while leaving behind healthier, more nourished skin. Engineered with our proprietary Physiology Synchrony Unlock Method™, it does so much more than wash away the day. Harnessing 23 synergistic active ingredients, it detoxifies while removing makeup and impurities without stripping the skin or leaving an oily residue. Containing our innovative cleansing complex, it helps to deliver a healthy skin lipid profile and proven antioxidant protection for up to 8 hours. This hardworking cleanser provides a boosted base for the rest of your skincare regime and delivers a beautiful dewy, radiant and healthy complexion
Directions: Use daily in the morning and evening. Massage one to two pumps onto dry skin for 45 seconds to dissolve makeup, pollution and impurities. Add water to create a luxurious, milky fluid. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and a gentle face cloth.
IngredientsHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil • Olea Europaea Fruit Oil • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil • Ricinus Communis Seed Oil • Polyglyceryl-2 Sesquioleate • Polyglyceryl-2 Caprylate • Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil • Carica Papaya Seed Oil • Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil • Persea Gratissima Oil • Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil • Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil • Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil • Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil • Oenothera Biennis Oil • Rosa Canina Fruit Oil • Terminalia Ferdinandiana Seed Oil • Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil • Citrus Grandis Flower Oil • Jasminum Officinale Flower Oil • Lavandula Angustifolia Oil • Rosa Damascena Flower Oil • Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract • Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract • Tocopheryl Acetate • Parfum • Limonene • Geraniol • Linalool • Citronellol.
23 SYNERGISTIC ACTIVES • 69% ORGANIC INGREDIENTS:

Specialized Botanical Cleansing Complex: Provides a luxurious, deep action cleanse without stripping the skin. The perfect balance of phyto-lipids and emulsifiers, including Vitamin E rich Organic Chia, Rosehip, Macadamia and Neroli Absolute, achieve the delicate balance of removing toxins and impurities while leaving essential skin conditioning lipids.

Conditioning and Protective Complex: This next generation formula soaks the skin in phytonutrients and fatty acids to smooth the look of the skin and deeply hydrate while preserving the skin’s natural moisture levels for visibly healthy skin. It also includes neuropeptides and miracle super oil, Camelia oil, which is high in polyphenols - the secret ingredients behind a dewy fresh complexion.

$48.00 for 115 ml. from Emma Lewisham, goop and Harrod's.

"Lovinah is a U.S. based brand founded by Joy Ekhator. Joy grew up in Benin in Nigeria where she experienced traditional herbal medicine through her grandmother. Her grandmother was an herbalist, a traditional doctor, bone setter (mending broken bones with herbs & traditional poultice together with splint) and midwife. She treated people with traditional herbs from her own farm. That legacy along with Joy's love of technology, meet in Lovinah (Joy's background is in Computer Science and she worked for 22 years in tech before starting Lovinah). Lovinah products use ancient plant ingredients gilded with cutting edge green skincare technology."

Lovinah Supernatural Skincare Dragon's Blood Cleaning Oil
 is a revelation in cleansing oils! This extraordinary oil cleanser emulsifies when in contact with water, and it rinses clean, and leaves behind no greasy residue, whatsoever. The antioxidant-rich formula is filled with nourishing oils such as: Milk Thistle, Guava Seed Oil, Radish Seed, Lingonberry Seed Oil, Cloudberry Oil and Tomato Seed Oil in concert with healing ingredients such as Croton Lechleri Resin Extract (Dragon's Blood), Gromwell and Lycopene. While it does include ingredients such as stable Vitamin C and double encapsulated Salicylic Acid, this cleansing oil is very gentle and does not irritate the skin. It has a heavenly warm and rich aroma, that frankly defies description, and it soothes, hydrates, plumps and cleanses very effectively. Dead skin cells are gently removed and skin is left soft, smooth and supple.

There are no added essential oils in this. The scent comes from the mix of carrier oils, specifically the Guava seed ois, Lingonberry seed oil & Cloudberry seed oil.                                                                                  

Use & Notes: There are several ways to use this. You can massage it on to dry skin to remove makeup as well as deeply cleanse the skin. It can be used with wet hands/fingers to create a creamy emulsion based cleanser.You can use it as a blackhead treatment by massaging onto problem areas and leaving on for a few minutes before rising.

Pore Cleansing Oil Ritual: Pump the product once more and thoroughly massage problem areas around the nose, forehead, and cheeks. Wet your hands with lukewarm water and massage for thirty seconds more. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water

STEP 1- Face Steaming Treatment: Open up the pores by using steamed towel to wrap the face for three to five minutes to open up the pores.

STEP 2- Hydrating Mask Treatment: Pump and massage this sacred oil on the face for thirty seconds and rinse with water

STEP 3- Black Head Treatment: To help remove blackheads, pump and gently massage product thoroughly to problem areas around the nose, forehead, and cheeks. Leave for a couple of minutes and then rinse with warm water

STEP 4- Create Creamy emulsion based cleanser: Gently wet your hands and pump product. Massage to remove even the most stubborn makeup and rinse with water.
This gentle cleanser can be used daily for even the most sensitive skin

STEP 5- Rinse : Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.

Key Benefits:
- Moisturizing
- Soothing
- Smoothing
- For all seasons
- For all skin types
- Enhances skin barrier
- Locks in moisture evaporation
- Regenerates skin
- Hydrates

Does not contain artificial colors, artificial fragrance, mineral oil, triethanolamine, talc, petrolatum, benzophenone.

Key Ingredients and Their Attributes:

TETRAHEXYDECYL ASCOBATE: Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate is a stable, oil-soluble form of Vitamin C ester which has antioxidant activity, inhibiting lipid peroxidation. Topical use can mitigate the damaging effects of UV exposure. Unlike ascorbic acid, it will not exfoliate or irritate skin.

MILK THISTLE: Milk thistle was used in ancient times to treat a variety of conditions.Its a powerful antioxidantswhich can help protect the skin from free radicals and from the pollutants that surround us everyday. When used topically, it can also protect against UVA and UVB damage. All of these elements lead to premature aging, and UV radiation can even cause oxidative stress

GUAVA SEED OIL: Powerful antioxidants to help fight free radicals and maintain skin elasticity to prevent signs ofpremature aging and wrinkles. It is a natural astringent and noncomedogenic oil which can help withacne breakouts and reduce acne scars.Guava seed botanical oil has a regenerative effect on the skin. It contains powerful antioxidant, lycopene, known to target free radicals causing premature aging. Guava seed oil is also very rich in natural Niacin, vitamins A, B, C,E and  and plant nutrients that help skin maintain moisture, delay the effects of aging, tone and tighten skin.

CLOUDBERRY SEED OIL: Cloudberry Seed Oil is rich in Vitamin C, an antioxidant that stimulate the production of Collagen, Vitamin E, Carotenoids, Phytosterols and Ellagic Acid - that protect from free radical damage brought on by the harmful sun rays and other environmental factors, like pollution. By regenerating the skin cells from UV damage and promoting the healing of other scars and damage done to the skin, Cloudberry Seed Oil is able to help in delaying and combating fine lines, wrinkles and other signs of aging.

LINGONBERRIES: Lingonberries has exceptionally high amounts of antioxidants, plant sterols and essential Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. With a built-in anti-wrinkle effect that in nature keeps the berries from shrinking during frosty nights, whilst retaining moisture and elasticity. Lingoberry seed oil contains a high level of fatty acid Omega-3, but also the antioxidant gamma-tocotrienol, a natural vitamin E that is 60 times more powerful than its artificial counterpart. These nutrients help moisturize the skin, reduce wrinkles and improve elasticity. Lingonberry Seed Oil has the highest content of alpha-linolenic acid among the berry seed oils. Together with linoleic acid these essential fatty acids make up 85% of total fatty acids. The oil moisturises and smoothes skin, keeping skin youthful and vibrant.

SALICYLIC ACID: It’s a multi-layer technology, based on double encapsulation of Salicylic Acid. The Salicylic Acid is contained in sub-micron spheres (0.1-2 microns in diameter) which are then re-encapsulated into larger microspheres (30-50 microns in diameter). The wall of the microsphere ruptures when the product is rubbed onto the skin when in the presence of water. At this point, the sub-micron spheres are released onto the skin. Salicylic Acid double encapsulated  technology extends the release of the Salicylic Acid onto the skin. Itexposes the skin to small amounts of acid over a longer period of time, rather than one large amount at once. This unique feature allows higher levels of Salicylic Acid to remain on the skin for several hours. for better efficacy and acne-fighting power without irritation.

Ingredients: Silybum Marianum (Milk thistle) Seed Oil, Raphanus sativus (Radish) Seed Oil, Crambe Abyssinica, Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Seed Oil, Psidium Guajava Seed Oil, Cloudberry (Rubus Chamaemorus), Vaccinium vitis-idaea (Lingonberry) Seed Oil, Chokeberry (Aronia Melanocarpa) Seed Oil,  Momordica Cochinchinensis (Gac Seed) Oil, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Polyglyceryl-3 Palmitate, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Polyglyceryl-5 Oleate, Salicylic Acid, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Lithospermum Erythrorhizon (Gromwell root extract), Solanum Lycopersicum (Lycopene) Fruit Extract.

$55.00 for 1.7 oz. from Lovinah, Boxwalla and Macy's and Cult Beauty.
Overall Assessment: For me, it simply doesn't get any better than this! A+

Press Sample (Affiliate Links). All views expressed are categorically my own.
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