Why Oil Cleansing is the Key to Epic Skin Over 40
At a certain point in our skin journey - often somewhere after 35 - we realise that more isn’t better. More products, more scrubbing, more “anti-aging” promises… it all starts to feel a bit much. What our skin really wants is simplicity. Nourishment. Balance.
And that’s exactly where oil cleansing comes in.
I know, the idea of putting oil on your face can still raise eyebrows (especially if you grew up in the “oil-free everything” era). But oil cleansing is one of the most transformative rituals you can bring into your routine - especially if your goal is glowing, resilient, happy skin.
1. It supports your skin barrier - your skin’s natural protection system
As we age, our skin barrier naturally becomes more delicate. Hormonal changes, stress, and environmental factors can all leave it feeling reactive or dry. Traditional foaming cleansers - even the “gentle” ones - can strip away the lipids and protective oils that keep your skin calm and hydrated.
Oil cleansing, on the other hand, works with your skin. It dissolves makeup, SPF, and impurities without disturbing your natural moisture barrier. Instead of that tight, squeaky-clean feeling, your skin is left soft, supple, and balanced.
Think of it as cleansing that actually feeds your skin instead of depleting it.
2. It restores your glow from within
You know that radiant, lit-from-within skin we all want? It doesn’t come from shimmer or highlighter - it comes from a skin barrier that’s strong and hydrated enough to reflect light.
Oil cleansing helps you achieve that by nourishing the surface layers of the skin and improving circulation through gentle massage. Even the act of massaging the oil in — slowing down, breathing, reconnecting — boosts blood flow and lymphatic drainage. That means more oxygen, more nutrients, and a natural glow that no serum can replicate.
3. It invites ritual and calm into your day
There’s something beautifully grounding about oil cleansing. The texture, the warmth, the scent - it turns an everyday task into a few mindful minutes of self-connection. Over time, it becomes less about removing the day, and more about returning to yourself.
For many women I work with, this one small ritual becomes the foundation of their entire skin transformation - a moment to reset not just their skin, but their nervous system too.
My go-to: Soma
When I couldn’t find a cleanser that truly supported barrier health and felt like a ritual, I decided to create one myself. Soma was born from that - a hand-blended oil cleanser designed to deeply nourish, dissolve buildup, and leave the skin glowing. It’s made with nutrient-rich plant oils chosen for their affinity with the skin’s natural sebum, so it cleanses without compromise.
If your skin has been feeling dry, reactive, or just a bit “blah” lately, start here. Ditch the foam, grab your oil, and see what happens when you start cleansing with kindness.
Your skin will thank you.