How to choose a cleansing oil with trihydroxystearin

Can you choose by trihydroxystearin alone?

No particular cleansing oil can be identified from this ingredient name alone. A product name and complete ingredient list are needed for a specific assessment. Cosmetic ingredients must be considered within the finished product's safety assessment. Trihydroxystearin's specific role and suitability in your chosen cleanser remain unanswered without more detail about the product.1

When is a cleansing oil useful?

Cleansing oils help dissolve makeup, excess skin oil and sunscreen residue. They are particularly useful for removing waterproof makeup and water resistant sunscreen. Waterproof makeup is designed to stay put, which makes removing it the less glamorous half of the purchase. The practical benefit is removal during washing, rather than a treatment result you wait weeks to see.23

Rinsing matters as much as dissolving. Surfactants are cleansing ingredients with one part that attaches to oil and dirt and another that allows them to wash away with water. A cleansing oil used alone needs suitable surfactants to remove oily residue properly. Do not assume that any oil applied to the face will rinse like a formulated cleanser.24

How do you use a cleansing oil?

These are general oil cleansing steps; follow your cleanser's own directions where they differ.

1. 1Start with dry hands and a dry face. Dispense the cleansing oil into your hands.
2. 2Massage gently with your fingertips over the areas wearing makeup or sunscreen. Avoid scrubbing or pulling at the skin.
3. 3Wet your hands and continue massaging. Cleansing oils designed to emulsify turn into a milky mixture as water is added.
4. 4Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
5. 5If double cleansing, keep your face damp and gently apply a water based cleanser. Rinse again and pat dry with a soft towel.

Do you need a second cleanser every night?

Most people can clean their face adequately with one thorough wash using a gentle cleanser. Double cleansing is optional, even if the name sounds like a task you forgot to finish. An oil step is most useful at night when removing stubborn makeup or sunscreen; there is no need to automatically repeat it in the morning. Limit face washing to morning and night, plus after heavy sweating. Extra washing can cause dryness and irritation rather than better cleansing.35

What if your skin is sensitive or acne prone?

Choose gentle cleansers without fragrance or alcohol. For dry or sensitive skin, a gentle, unscented cream cleanser is less drying than a foaming cleanser for the second step. Apply moisturizer after washing if your skin feels dry or itchy. If you use leave on acne treatments, be careful with cleansers that also contain acne treatment ingredients: the combination can cause excessive dryness and irritation.345

Oil cleansers can cause breakouts in acne prone skin, particularly when used alone. Look for a cleanser labelled noncomedogenic, meaning it is intended not to clog pores. If oil cleansing causes problems, an oil free makeup remover followed by a gentle cleanser is another option. Plain coconut oil is not interchangeable with a formulated cleansing oil: it can clog pores, and it needs thorough removal with a water based cleanser when used for makeup removal.367

When should you stop using the cleanser?

Stop using a cleanser that causes persistent stinging, redness, itching, swelling or marked dryness. Cleansers can cause irritation or contact allergy, and some formulas cause clogged pores. If new breakouts continue or you cannot identify which product is causing trouble, a dermatologist can help assess your routine.46