Rebalance Your Skin's Microbiome: Why Cleansing Oil Changes Everything

Rebalance Your Skin's Microbiome: Why Cleansing Oil Changes Everything

By Esther & Mila

That tight, "squeaky clean" feeling after washing your face? It's not a sign of cleanliness—it's a cry for help from your skin barrier. If you're struggling with sensitivity, reactivity, or that frustrating combination of dry-yet-oily skin, your cleanser might be the hidden culprit behind your skincare woes.

The Dirty Truth About Clean Skin

For decades, we've been conditioned to believe that foam equals clean. That satisfying lather? Those bubbles? That tight feeling afterward? All signs of a "proper" cleanse—or so we thought.

Here's what's actually happening: Traditional foaming cleansers and cleansing gels contain surfactants that strip away not just makeup and dirt, but also your skin's natural protective oils. This leaves your acid mantle—your skin's natural defensive barrier—completely obliterated and disrupts your natural skin microbiome. And guess what? That barrier takes 5-6 hours to repair itself, leaving your skin vulnerable, irritated, and triggering a cycle of overproduction to compensate for what was lost.

That's right—your cleanser might actually be making your oily skin worse. Your skin kicks into high gear to compensate for the loss of natural oils, which leads to a surge of oil production leaving your skin feeling oily and unbalanced.

Enter the oil cleansing method, a gentle approach that works with your skin rather than against it. The science is surprisingly simple: like dissolves like. Oil cleansers bind to the oils on your skin, gently lifting away makeup, pollution, and excess sebum without disturbing your skin's delicate moisture balance.

What to Look for in a Cleanser

When choosing the right cleanser for your skin, consider these essential factors:

  • Oil-based, not water-based: Look for cleansers with an oil foundation rather than water, which will clean without stripping your skin.

  • Natural detoxifying agents: Seek out products containing berry oils, castor (yes, that castor…), almond, neroli, calendula, jojoba, or other natural ingredients that detoxify while nourishing.

  • Avoid surfactants for facial cleansers: These are foaming agents, and while these are great for body washes, bubble baths, these wreak havoc on the facial skin’s very delicate acid mantle, which is the body’s first line of immune defense.

  • Emulsifying capability: Some modern oil cleansers can transform from oil to a milky consistency when mixed with water, allowing for easy rinsing for sensitive and reactive skins.  Other oil cleansers are removed with a cloth, providing mild exfoliation for normal skin types.

The Natural Advantage

The most effective oil cleansers go beyond basic cleaning to deliver rich nutrients through carefully selected botanical ingredients. These natural components work to cleanse while nourishing your skin:

Berry and Fruit Seed Oils

  • Blueberry Seed Oil: Supports skin elasticity and helps maintain moisture

  • Blackberry Seed Oil: Nourishes and helps fortify the skin barrier

  • Cherry Oil: Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

  • Cranberry Oil: Rich in omega fatty acids that support skin resilience

  • Pomegranate Oil: Packed with antioxidants that help protect skin from environmental stressors

  • Black Currant Oil: Supports balanced skin and comfort for sensitive complexions

Plant-Based Actives

  • Jojoba Oil: Mimics the skin's natural sebum, helping to balance oil production while dissolving impurities; rich in vitamins E and B-complex

  • Calendula: Soothes irritation and calms inflammation with its gentle healing properties; ideal for sensitive and reactive skin types

  • Neroli: Derived from orange blossoms, this precious oil helps regulate oil production and minimize the appearance of pores while providing a naturally uplifting aroma

These nutrient-dense botanicals don't just clean—they actively contribute to your skin's health, delivering benefits with every cleanse. 

Oil-Based Cleansing Comes in Many Forms

At Esther & Mila, our philosophy centers on sustainable skincare that creates a harmonious skin microbiome. We live and breathe this approach in everything we create, understanding that true balance comes from working with your skin's natural intelligence rather than fighting against it. Our oil-based cleansers reflect this commitment, offering gentle yet effective solutions in various formulations to suit different skin concerns and preferences.

Radiant Cleansing Oil

Best for: Sensitive and reactive skin
Our Radiant Cleansing Oil has become a beloved product for countless customers with sensitive and reactive skin. We start with botanical extracts of fruit and berry seeds which are incredibly rich in skin-loving nutrients. Blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, pomegranate, cherry, and acai extracts work together to give your skin that coveted healthy glow—what we like to call "ultra radiant skin."

What makes our formula truly special is how it transforms with water. Mix with just a few drops of water in your palms to form a milky emulsion that gently lifts away impurities, leaving nothing behind but a thin veil of moisture and, as our customers tell us, a radiant smile.

Cleansing Elixir

Best for: Normal, dry, oily, and combination skin
As the first step in your nighttime skincare ritual, our Cleansing Elixir offers versatile performance for multiple skin types, and is particularly beneficial for those whose skin needs balance, benefitting those with both oily and dry skin. Dispense one to two pumps into your hand, and gently warm between palms. Massage this potent product into dry skin using circular motions. Remove with a damp cloth and rinse clean with warm water, leaving no makeup or impurities behind. Potent yet gentle castor and almond provide a detoxifying yet nourishing, balancing cleanser for all skin types.

Cleansing Balm

Best for: Congested skin and those exposed to environmental pollution.

In our Cleansing Balm, potent botanical actives of jojoba, shea, avocado, cocoa and calendula come together for a detoxifying cleanser that sweeps the day away. Warm the semisolid balm between your hands and gently massage into dry skin. Remove with a warm, damp cloth, and rinse clean with warm water.  Rinse cloth and remove residual product from face an additional two times.  This is our most detoxifying cleanser, great for the appearance of visible blackheads and for those who face environmental pollution. The feeling you get is soothing, sparkly skin. 

Aromatic Cleansing Nectar

Best for:  Dry to extremely dry skin.  

This nutrient dense cleanser is filled with botanical extracts and plant butters to deeply nourish as it cleanses. Shea, cocoa butter, borage, and jojoba soothe and calm, enveloping skin in a gentle cloud of moisture. Calendula helps to calm and cool skin, while rosewood and neroli help to firm and tone. Massage product into dry face in circular motions, taking two to three minutes to fully loosen makeup and debris. Gently remove product with warm, damp cloth. Skin is clean, nourished, and superbly moisturized.

Repair Cleansing Treatment

Best for: Skin showing visible signs of aging. Loss of elasticity, firmness, tone, and discoloration.

This is part of our retinol alternative line, and is both a powerful cleanser and treatment in one.  This special cleanser is formulated with potent plant actives to emulsify with water, transforming it into a milky, saffron yellow color. This dual action cleanser and treatment utilizes our omega-7 rich formulation to nourish and treat skin, while also removing every trace of makeup and debris, leaving behind a silky veil of moisture with our signature retinol alternative formula.


The Perfect Oil Cleansing Technique

No matter which cleanser you select, you will see and feel a difference in taking the time for proper application:

Step 1: Apply to Dry Skin
Always start with completely dry skin and dry hands. Apply a quarter-sized amount of oil cleanser to your palms, warm it between your hands, and gently massage it over your face using circular motions.  Cleansers that emulsify with water (Radiant Cleansing Oil and Repair Cleansing Treatment), should be combined with water prior to applying to face. 

Step 2: Take Your Time
Spend one to two minutes massaging—this allows the oil to dissolve makeup, sunscreen, and pollutants while supporting circulation. Pay special attention to areas where you wear more makeup or experience more congestion.

Step 3: Remove product
Use a warm damp cloth to remove product from face.  Emulsifying cleansers (Radiant Cleansing Oil and Repair Cleansing Treatment) can be removed by simply rinsing with warm water.

Step 4: Rinse Thoroughly
For emulsifying oil cleansers (Radiant Cleansing Oil and Repair Cleansing Treatment), continue rinsing with lukewarm water until all the emulsified oil is removed. Your skin should feel clean but not stripped—soft, comfortable, and balanced.  A thin veil of moisture will remain.

Step 5: Enjoy the Difference
Notice how your skin doesn't feel tight or dry? That's what properly cleansed skin actually feels like. The absence of that "squeaky" feeling means your moisture barrier remains intact.

Making the Switch: What to Expect

When transitioning from foaming cleansers to oil cleansing, give your skin two weeks to adjust. Some people experience an immediate improvement, while others may go through a brief adjustment period as their skin rebalances itself after years of being stripped.

Signs you've found the right oil cleanser:

  • Your skin feels comfortable, not tight or greasy

  • Makeup and sunscreen remove completely in one cleanse

  • Redness and irritation calm down over time

  • Your skin feels more balanced throughout the day

The Natural Balance

Oil cleansing isn't just another skincare trend—it's a fundamentally different approach that works with your skin's natural functions rather than fighting against them. For those with sensitive, reactive skin who've struggled to find gentle yet effective cleansing, it can be nothing short of life-changing.

That "tight" feeling after cleansing that we once mistook for cleanliness? It's actually your skin in distress. True cleansing leaves your face feeling comfortable, balanced, and at peace—exactly what oil cleansing delivers.

If you've tried everything else without success, it might be time to embrace what seems unusual at first: oil might just be the answer your sensitive skin has been waiting for all along.