After Tresses posted about cleaning with oils, I decided to try the same using a recipe from my new favorite book, Earthly Bodies, Heavenly Hair. I figured it wouldn't be too far a leap from cleaning with cold cream.

I first tried a recipe with half castor oil and half almond oil, and that actually seemed to *over* clean -- my face felt a little bit tight afterwards. Not sure why.

The recipe I like is:
1 oz olive oil
3 drops lavender essential oil
2 drops rosemary essential oil

I used it this morning and last night, and I really like it! I have a soft, smooth & clean face. :) Odd as it seems, my face feels even better if I clean with this first and then follow up with lightly oiling it with almond oil or apricot kernel oil.

I also added 1 drop sweet orange oil this morning to increase its cleaning power (and because I compulsively tweak with recipes -- I'm trying to curb that tendancy). I'll probably leave it out next time, though. It worked fine without, and this morning as I was using it, I felt like my face might be slightly stingy from the extra essential oil. I could have been imagining it, though.

Anyhow, I was excited and thought I'd share, since it's cheap, natural, and works. :)

Cheers,
Jonobie

Thanks for sharing that! I might try it...so many potions, so little time!

Who is the author of your new favorite book? I'm feeling an Amazon.com spree coming on :)

Thanks for sharing that! I might try it...so many potions, so little time!

Who is the author of your new favorite book? I'm feeling an Amazon.com spree coming on :)

I'll just be an enabler and post the link: :)

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1886101043/qid=1047411080/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/103-4148470-4391841?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

There are a *ton* of potions in that book -- gives new meaning to the "too many potions" idea. :) I'm trying to stick with things that seem like I'd actually use them so that I don't OD on my own products. The cleansing oil is my solution to not being able to take my cold cream to the gym with me, because I suspect it'd go bad between the TX heat in the car & my long bouts of avoiding the gym. Oils seem to be much more stable for that.

Have fun! :)

Cheers,
Jonobie

Well, well, aren't you evil :twisted: ! Now I *HAVE* to buy the book. :D

(even more) Potions, here I come!

Are you using this to cleanse your face, or remove makeup?

Rachel

Are you using this to cleanse your face, or remove makeup?

Rachel

To clean my face. I mean, if I were wearing makeup, I'd also use it, but I hardly ever wear makeup. The book I got the recipe from also suggests using a toner afterwards, but I've found that unnecessary.

It probably helps to explain that the oil gets smoothed on and sits for a moment or two, and then I gently rub it off with a warm washcloth.

Cheers,
Jonobie

Well they do say that "like dissolves like" so using an oil to clean the skin actually makes sense.

Well they do say that "like dissolves like" so using an oil to clean the skin actually makes sense.

Hrm. I hadn't heard that before, but that certainly explains why it might work so well. It's always seemed odd to me, but I don't argue with what works! :)

Thanks,
Jonobie

Are you using this to cleanse your face, or remove makeup?

Rachel

To clean my face. I mean, if I were wearing makeup, I'd also use it, but I hardly ever wear makeup. The book I got the recipe from also suggests using a toner afterwards, but I've found that unnecessary.

It probably helps to explain that the oil gets smoothed on and sits for a moment or two, and then I gently rub it off with a warm washcloth.

Cheers,
Jonobie

I use my oils to cleanse, which removes the makeup. ;-) I do follow with a toner, but there's never any makeup left on my face that comes off on the cotton ball. It just feels good. :-)

Now, Jonobie.......why oh why did you have to post that link!!! :sigh::