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This is the best DIY cleansing oil for removing makeup and impurities after a long day! It feels fantastic on your skin and gives a real boost to the skinโ€™s moisture levels. Enjoy the recipe!

DIY cleansing oil being dropped out of a dropper into a dark colored bottle.
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Thereโ€™s something unique about a DIY cleansing oil. Perhaps itโ€™s because it works so much better than anything you can buy in stores or online (thatโ€™s my opinion anyhow!)

This cleansing oil is a firm favorite in our household. I use it as a key homemade makeup remover and skin revitalizer – it brightens and moisturizes my skin while cleaning it thoroughly at the same time.ย 

The consistency is far better too, when you make your own DIY cleansing oil. The feeling of it on the skin is wonderful – so silky and smooth. 

Used as a cleansing staple, homemade cleansing oil is a great alternative to conventional face cleansers.

Honestly, this stuff is great at removing dirt and debris from the face after a long hard day!

In this post, youโ€™ll find my personal recipe for a DIY face cleansing oil that is wonderful to use on sensitive and dry skin in particular (although all skin types can use it.)

Read on to find the recipe and instructions. 

Glass jar of cleansing oil on a wooden tray.

What is cleansing oil?

A cleansing oil is a facial cleaner with an oil base. Theyโ€™re designed to remove makeup and impurities better than conventional cleansers without completely stripping the face of its natural oils. 

The oily base โ€˜gripsโ€™ makeup and dirt, resulting in a more thorough cleansing action when using a cleansing oil. 

A typical cleansing oil contains various oils, from olive oil to coconut oil and sunflower oil, as is in this recipe. 

The best thing about cleansing oils is they wonโ€™t dry out the skin. If anything, they help add moisture back in while removing makeup simultaneously. 

Why youโ€™ll love this recipe

  • Itโ€™s natural – containing only naturally sourced oils and ingredients, making it safe and enjoyable to use. 
  • Itโ€™s easy to make – simply add the ingredients to the bottle, shake to mix, and apply!
  • Itโ€™s effective – this cleansing oil removes makeup and impurities while adding moisture back into your skin. 

Recipe ingredients

Ingredients for the cleansing oil lined out on a wooden table top.
  • Argan oil – is a wonderfully natural and moisture-boosting oil that helps lift off makeup and impurities to leave skin soft and clean. 
  • Sunflower oil – is an anti-inflammatory oil being lightweight and nurturing to the skin. This complements the Argan oil and helps cleanse skin while adding moisture. 
  • Cromollient SCE – is a common ingredient found in cosmetics, arising from natural, renewable sources. It improves the solubility of the oils so that the solution mixes well. Cromollient SCE also helps the cleanser spread evenly without leaving a heavy residue. If you have particularly dry skin, you could leave this out because the oils would do the job perfectly well for your skin type.
  • Vitamin E oil – is an antioxidant and a very popular ingredient in skincare for its anti-aging properties. 
  • Rosemary oil – is an excellent addition to this cleansing solution. With its non-comedogenic properties, it leaves the skin refreshed and revitalized.

How to Make Cleansing Oil

  1. Add all the ingredients to a 6 oz dropper bottle.
  2. Secure the lid and shake well to combine.
  3. Apply several drops to the palm of your hand and gently rub it into the skin in a circular motion.
  4. Rinse with cool water or a damp washcloth.
  5. Follow up with a light homemade facial moisturizer.
Adding the ingredients to an amber colored dropper bottle.
Applying a few drops of the cleansing oil to the palm of my hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it last?

The shelf life of this DIY cleansing oil is 1-year from the day itโ€™s made, so long as itโ€™s stored correctly in a dry place out of sunlight and the lid is secured properly after each use. 

Is cleansing oil better than face wash?

I would say this is down to personal preference. Many heavy makeup users prefer using a cleansing oil because it appears to remove the makeup more thoroughly. 

Some people may find a cleansing oil to be just that – too oily! In this case, a DIY face wash or a homemade cleansing gel may be better. 

Try it and see how you like it. Though, if you know for sure that you donโ€™t like oil-based cleansers – donโ€™t bother with them. Use what works for you best.

Should I use cleansing oil every day?

You certainly can use a cleansing oil every day, yes. It can be used instead of or alongside your normal cleansing ritual.

The mixed facial cleansing oil on a round wooden tray on a white vanity with colorful flowers next to it.

Will cleansing oil loosen makeup?

Yes, cleansing oil is designed to loosen and dissolve makeup, removing it completely. The cromollient SCE helps the cleansing oil rinse off your face once youโ€™re done.

Do I have to use Cromollient SCE?

I add cromollient SCE to my DIY cleansing oils because I feel it improves the spreadability and texture of the cleanser. You could also use polyglyceryl-4 oleate as a substitution.

It also acts as a solubilizer helping the solution stay mixed together, and helps the cleanser wash off once cleansing is completed.

Now, you can leave this out if you wish. If you want this product to be purely oil-based, then sure, go ahead and omit it. 

Because of the type of skin I have, I add it in, but I have known this cleanser to work well on dry skin if you only use the oils and the rosemary. 

Itโ€™s a personal choice again, so itโ€™s up to you whether you add it or leave it out. 

Key Takeaways

I love using cleansing oils to quickly remove makeup or just that dirty, grimy feeling after a long day.

And unlike traditional cleansers, I donโ€™t have to worry about using this daily and exposing my skin to any unnecessary toxins.

The best part, by far, is not how well this product works by removing impurities, but how my face feels after using it! So give it a try, and let me know what you think!

I love hearing from you, so if you made this recipe, leave a comment letting me know how it worked, and if you loved it, leave a review!

For more great recipes, consider one of these next. 

5 from 3 votes

DIY Cleansing Oil

Prep: 5 minutes
Active: 5 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Yield: 4.5 oz
Enjoyable to make and fantastic as an all round cleanser and makeup remover.

Equipment

  • 6 oz dropper bottle
  • Cleansing cloth or muslin cloth
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Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Add all the ingredients to a 6 oz dropper bottle.
  • Secure the lid and shake well to combine.
  • Apply several drops to the palm of your hand and gently rub it into the skin in a circular motion.
  • Rinse with cool water or a damp washcloth.
  • Follow up with a light facial moisturizer.

Notes

This product is great for removing makeup.
Store in a cool dark place for up to a year.
Cromollinet SCE will improve the wash-off of the product. It can be omitted from the recipe, though the oils will not wash off as well.
Tried this recipe?Mention @our_oily_house or tag #ouroilyhouse!
This recipe is for your own viewing pleasure and is not meant for healing purposes. Readers must perform their own research and tests before making any recipe.

About Laura

Welcome to Our Oily House, Iโ€™m so glad youโ€™re here! Explore DIY cleaners, homemade soaps, skincare and hair care recipes, fragrance-free solutions, and sustainable laundry tips for a naturally inspired home.

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5 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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12 Comments

  1. Linda Coleman says:

    I had never heard of using oil to cleanse the face, so when I read this recipe, I was hesitant to try it. But I tried it anyway and I love it and can’t imagine using any other face cleanser now! It seems to give my face a deeper cleansing than other types of cleansers I’ve used. And, I don’t have to use very much of the product to cleanse my face. Thanks for posting this recipe and providing your followers with new ways to do things!

    1. Laura says:

      I am so glad you loved it! I really love it too! Thanks so much for sharing!

  2. Jay says:

    Hi, we cannot get Cromollient SCE in the UK, and I know you said it can be left out, but is there an alternative that I can use?

    1. Laura says:

      Polysorbate 80, and polyglycerol-4 Oleate are similar substitutes, however, may not be as natural for the skin. If you do decide to use a substitute, you’ll need to follow the recommended dilution ratio.

  3. Jay says:

    Can you use 1 drop rosemary oil instead if the extract? Will it give the same effect?

    1. Laura says:

      The two are different and will change the recipe slightly.

      1. Jay says:

        Thank you.

  4. JoAnn Kresko says:

    Why is it that when I try to pin your recipes it will never save it.??
    Iโ€™ll make something and try to find the recipe and it wasnโ€™t saved.
    Thanks for your recipes, I donโ€™t have that problem with other things I save
    Thanks

    1. Laura says:

      I am not sure; I will look into that. Thanks for letting me know!

  5. Angela says:

    Can I substitute MCT oil for the sunflower oil?

  6. Rachel Maxwell says:

    Hi Laura, I am super excited to try this recipe! I have just a couple of questions…can you use this product around your eyes to remove eye makeup and mascara? Can the oil base cause breakouts on your face? (I have very oily skin) And can I use Rosemary essential oil instead of Rosemary extract?

    1. Laura says:

      Hi Rachel, thanks for asking. I personally use this to remove mascara, just being careful not to get it into my eyes. As far as causing breakouts, this product washes off very well; however, if you have concerns, you may benefit from a face wash, which you can find using the search bar at the top of the site!