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t seems we go to bed and wake up to a new TikTok beauty trend each morning. From SPF cocktailing to ombre concealer and skin flooding, the list really is endless. Just when we thought we had seen all the platform could offer, a new skincare hack has risen to prominence that holds the promise of reducing pores and getting rid of blackheads. It’s called oil gritting.
What is oil gritting?
@hasinikay #stitch with @Snow How to get clear skin #cloggedpores #sebaceousfilament #sebaceousremoval #oilcleansing
♬ original sound – Hasini Kay | Hair Growth
Oil gritting, also known as oil pulling, is the process of massaging your face with oil-based products for five to 15 minutes with the hope of bringing impurities to the surface and shrinking pores, resulting in smooth, glass-like skin. The goal is to reduce the appearance of sebaceous filaments and/or blackheads through exfoliation with face oil and massage. In the several TikTok videos advocating for the trend, many creators show “blackheads” on their palms, which they claim were successfully removed from their pores following the oil gritting process. The question is: does it really work?
Does it work?
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♬ original sound – Dr. Jenny Liu
Unfortunately, this is one of those times when the skin experts beg to differ with the TikTok beauty enthusiasts. Experts claim the supposed sebum plugs that TikTokers are left with on their palms after the process are nothing but dead skin cells, dirt, or makeup buildup on the skin. There’s no scientific proof that oil gritting will remove sebaceous filaments. But exfoliating tendencies have been seen. Simply put, it doesn’t actually “remove” your blackheads — it just helps increase skin cell turnover through exfoliation, which promotes clearer skin.
The oil gritting process
If you’re interested in trying the trend, here’s how to do it:
- Start by cleansing your face with a gentle cleanser to remove any makeup, dirt, and impurities from the skin.
- Apply a thin layer of oil (such as mineral oil or jojoba oil) to your dry skin and massage it gently.
- Using gentle circular motions, massage the oil into your skin for five to 15 minutes.
- After massaging, rinse your face with warm water.
- Some people choose to follow with a gentle exfoliator to further remove any leftover debris from the face.
- Finish by applying a lightweight moisturizer to hydrate and nourish the skin.
What else do you need to know?
Individuals with sensitive skin know not to indulge in beauty trend hopping. Rubbing oil on your skin for five to fifteen minutes can cause irritation and other problems for sensitive skin. And using oils like coconut oil with a high comedogenic rating will only further clog the pores. It’s a good idea to patch test first and consult with a dermatologist if you have any concerns.
Also, if you have acne-prone skin, exposing your skin to more oils may exacerbate breakouts. This is because many oil-based products are comedogenic, meaning they can potentially clog pores. Finally, according to dermatologist Edward Chen, MD, as per POPSUGAR, “frequently and aggressively massaging your skin can cause trauma and irritation, potentially leading to broken capillaries and inflammation.” Therefore, it’s important to keep these risks in mind before exploring the trend.
Featured image: Liudmila Chernetska/iStock
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