Cleansing is the foundation of good skin care. It’s the step you repeat every single day, yet it’s also where many routines quietly undermine the skin barrier. If your skin ever feels tight, dry, or “squeaky clean” after washing, that’s a sign your cleanser may be doing more harm than good.
Oil-based cleansing — and in particularThe Daily Grind’s TranquiliTea Oil Cleanser range — takes a very different, skin-respecting approach. Let’s explore why oil cleansing works so well, and how it compares to traditional foaming cleansers.
How oil cleansing works: the science, made simple
Your skin naturally produces oil (sebum). Makeup, sunscreen, pollution particles, and excess sebum are also oil-based. Chemistry tells us that oil dissolves oil far more effectively than water alone.
When you massage an oil cleanser like TranquiliTea onto dry skin, the plant oils bind to impurities and excess sebum, lifting them away without the need for harsh detergents or aggressive scrubbing. Once rinsed or gently removed, skin is left clean — but still comfortable.
Oil cleansers vs foaming cleansers: what’s the difference?
Foaming cleansers
Foaming cleansers rely on surfactants (cleansing agents) to break down dirt and oil. While effective, these surfactants don’t discriminate — they remove impurities and the skin’s protective lipids.
Potential drawbacks of frequent foaming cleansing:
- Disruption of the skin barrier
- Increased transepidermal water loss
- Tightness or dryness after washing
- Compensatory oil production in oily skin
- Increased sensitivity over time
This doesn’t mean foaming cleansers are “bad” — but for dry, sensitive, mature or barrier-compromised skin, they can be too stripping when used alone or too often.
Oil-based cleansers
Oil cleansers clean without relying on strong detergents. They work by dissolving impurities rather than stripping them away.
Benefits of oil cleansing:
- Preserves the skin’s natural lipid barrier
- Reduces moisture loss during cleansing
- Less irritation and redness
- Effective removal of makeup and sunscreen
- Leaves skin soft, calm and balanced
For many people, switching to an oil cleanser is the moment their skin stops feeling like it needs “rescuing” after every wash.
Why TranquiliTea Oil Cleanser is different
The TranquiliTea Oil Cleanser range from The Daily Grind is designed to align with skin biology, not fight it.
Tea-infused calm
Tea extracts are naturally rich in polyphenols — plant compounds studied for their antioxidant and soothing properties. When used in cleansing, they help calm skin that’s stressed by environmental exposure, sun, or over-cleansing.
Barrier-supportive plant oils
TranquiliTea Oil Cleansers are formulated with plant oils chosen for their fatty acid profiles, which help support the skin barrier during cleansing rather than stripping it away. This makes it especially suitable for:
- Dry or dehydrated skin
- Sensitive or reactive skin
- Mature skin
- Skin experiencing seasonal changes or sun exposure
A cleanser that respects skin balance
Unlike many foaming cleansers that leave skin feeling “clean but tight,”TranquiliTea Oil Cleansers rinses away impurities while maintaining comfort. Skin feels clean, soft and settled — not squeaky or dry.
What about oily or combination skin?
It’s a common misconception that oil cleansers are only for dry skin. In reality, over-stripping can trigger increased oil production. Gentle oil cleansing helps break this cycle by allowing the skin to feel protected, which may support more balanced sebum production over time.
For those who love a lighter finish, TranquiliTea Oil Cleansers can be used as:
- A standalone cleanse in the morning
- The first step of a double cleanse in the evening, followed by a mild second cleanser if desired
A more mindful way to cleanse
Oil cleansing invites you to slow down. Massaging TranquiliTea Oil Cleansers into dry skin improves circulation, softens debris in pores, and turns cleansing into a small daily ritual rather than a rushed task.
Skin health isn’t only about actives and treatments — it’s also about how gently and consistently we care for our skin, day after day.
How to use TranquiliTea Oil Cleanser
- Apply to dry skin with dry hands
- Massage gently for 30–60 seconds
- Remove with a warm, damp cloth or emulsify with water
- Follow with a second gentle cleanse if preferred (especially at night)
Always patch test when introducing a new product.
The bottom line
Foaming cleansers clean by stripping. Oil cleansers clean by dissolving — and that difference matters. The TranquiliTea Oil Cleanser range from The Daily Grind offers a barrier-friendly, calming approach to cleansing that supports skin health rather than challenging it.
If your skin often feels tight, dry, reactive, or out of balance after cleansing, oil cleansing may be the reset your routine has been waiting for.