DIY Sweet Orange Facial Cleansing Oil Recipe

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Here in the UK, we are halfway through the winter. With that comes the need to pamper our skin. Sweet orange cleansing oil is perfect for this task. The fresh, zesty scent of sweet orange essential oil combined with the creamy scent of sandalwood and the warm scent of vanilla makes this a perfect cleanser to kick start your beauty routine.

Table of Contents

• Why Do You Need Sweet Orange Facial Cleansing Oil?
• How Does It Work?
• Benefits of Incorporating Sweet Orange Essential Oil Into Cleansing Oil
• Is Sweet Orange Cleansing Oil For You?
• What Will You Need
• The DIY Sweet Orange Cleansing Oil Recipe
• Shelf Life and Storage
• Substitutes
• FAQs
  • Can I use an oil cleanser if I don’t wear makeup?
  • Is sweet orange facial cleansing oil suitable for ageing skin? 

Why Do You Need Sweet Orange Facial Cleansing Oil?

Sweet orange cleansing oil is a gentle cleanser that lifts sebum, makeup and grime from your skin, leaving your face clear and refreshed. What’s more, the sweet and zesty aroma of the oil will lift your spirit and brighten up your mood. 

How Does It Work?

This cleansing oil combines carrier and essential oils that help remove makeup, dead skin and impurities from the skin surface, lift excess sebum and clean out clogged pores without stripping the skin of its natural oils. While the traditional cleansers can be too harsh for facial skin, this cleansing oil is both gentle and moisturising. 

Here are the ingredients I have included in the formula and their function:

• Vanilla infused peach kernel oil: Light and easily absorbent, peach kernel oil is excellent facial oil that helps to seal moisture into the skin. I have infused it with vanilla pods to add depth to the formula. Naturally antioxidant vanillin found in vanilla helps revitalise the skin. In addition, vanilla’s warm scent helps calm and relax the mind. It works beautifully with the sweet orange. 
• Rice bran oil, abundant in antioxidant gamma oryzanol and omega 6 fatty acids, is naturally soothing for the skin, keeping it soft and supple. It is a very stable oil, that imparts a beautiful soft feeling.
• Sunflower oil infused with annatto seeds. Abundant in vitamin A, D, E and oleic fatty acids, sunflower oil is light and easily absorbed into the skin. I have infused it with annatto seeds to add that lovely orange shade to the oil. A little goes a long way.
• Vitamin E, an antioxidant, prevent oils from going rancid, plus it protects the skin from free radical damage and ageing.
• As for the fragrance, I have combined a fresh, zesty smell of sweet orange essential oil with the sweet, woody scent of sandalwood Amyris essential oil that helps bring out orange notes in the formula.

Benefits of Incorporating Sweet Orange Essential Oil Into Cleansing Oil

The fresh and uplifting orange essential oil is cherished in skincare for its antioxidant, antiseptic, cleansing and deodorant properties, as well as its calming effect. Adding sweet orange essential oil into your oil cleanser can help:

– reduce the appearance of pores and firm the skin due to its mildly astringent effect

– controls sebum production

– reduce the appearance of acne and soothe the skin

– encouraging healthy skin cell regeneration

– help keep your skin pliant, smooth and radiant

– its sweet, zesty smell relieves tension and anxiety

Is Sweet Orange Cleansing Oil For You?

This cleansing oil will suit you well if you aim to cleanse your skin of dirt and grime, remove excess sebum from the skin, and have normal to dry skin. The formula is gentle enough for daily use and is perfect for removing makeup. 

Oil will lift impurities and dirt, and nourish and hydrate your skin. To apply, squirt a small amount of oil into your palms and warm it up. Gently massage the oil into the dry skin in circular motions for a minute or two. Use a damp face cloth to wipe off any excess residue. Oil cleanse once a day, in the evening before bed. 

What Will You Need

Preparing your own infused oils is a great way to add fragrance, colour and extract beneficial properties to DIY skincare formulae. For sweet orange cleansing oil, you will need vanilla, and annatto seeds infused oil. To prepare:

Vanilla Infused Oil I have used the traditional sun infusion method. Although it takes a bit longer, the sun gently heats the oil to release vanilla’s scent. Begin by splitting the vanilla pod lengthwise and placing it in a 100ml glass jar. Fill the jar with peach kernel oil and leave it in a sunny location for three to six weeks. I have allowed mine to macerate for six weeks and strained the oil. It turned golden yellow with a rich vanilla aroma. You can learn more about vanilla’s skin benefits, uses in skincare and infusion methods here.

Annatto Seeds Infused Oil: Here I have opted for heat infusion. Prepare by adding one teaspoon of annatto seeds into a heatproof 100ml glass jar and cover with sunflower oil. Place the glass jar into a pan filled with water. Warm the oil in low heat for about an hour or so. Do not overheat the oil as you don’t want to risk degrading it. When the oil has cooled, strain out the seeds. The oil will turn deep orange. Be careful when using it as the infused oil leaves stains on the surface. I learned the hard way.

The DIY Sweet Orange Cleansing Oil Recipe

Shelf Life and Storage

This cleansing oil is 100% oil-based and doesn’t require preservatives. Store in a glass bottle in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. It should last at least six months to a year before going rancid. If you notice any change in texture, smell or colour, discard it and prepare a new batch. 

Substitutes

Please remember that swapping the ingredients in the formula will alter the final product. Consider how the ingredient you wish to switch will affect the final product’s scent, consistency, or absorbency when making changes. 

Carrier oils: I chose rice bran oil, peach kernel oil and sunflower oil for light texture and moisturising effect. You can replace them with other light oils like safflower or jojoba oil. 

Spices: I love the sweet scent of vanilla as it adds depth to the formula. Plus, it offers several skin benefits. However, if you are short of time, you could use vanilla absolute, vanilla oleoresin, or vanilla CO2 extract instead.

Essential oils: Before adding or swapping any essential oils, check out Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals by R Tisserand and R Young to keep your formulations safe as some essential oils can cause skin sensitisation. 

FAQs

Can I use an oil cleanser if I don’t wear makeup?

Absolutely! Our skin is exposed to microbes, harsh weather and other pollutants on a daily basis. An oil cleanser will remove dirt, grime, and impurities from the skin and lock moisture into your skin.

Is sweet orange facial cleansing oil suitable for ageing skin?

The light texture of sweet orange cleansing oil is perfect for ageing skin. The highly antioxidant sweet orange essential oil in the formula helps tighten the skin. What’s more, it also may help reduce the signs of ageing by fighting free radicals, the cause of collagen breakdown, which results in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 

Are you looking for more ways to add sweet orange to your skincare? Check out the recipes below!

DIY Orange Blossom Ginger Face Toner Recipe

DIY Sweet Orange Face Balm Recipe

DIY Sweet Orange Ginger Body Lotion Recipe

DIY Nourishing Sweet Orange Vanilla Hand Cream Recipe

DIY Sweet Orange Peppermint Foot Scrub Bar Recipe

DIY Refreshing Sweet Orange Kaolin Deodorant Recipe

Nourishing DIY Orange Peppermint Foot Cream For Dry Feet