[Article] The Oil Cleansing Method, as requested.

[Stephanie]

Oil Cleansing Method, or OCM

When cleansing and moisturizing your skin, it is imperative that you keep in mind that oil disolves oil. Do not be afraid of applying oil to your face. Oil, alone, will not cause you blemishes. Pimples, cysts, zits, blackheads and whiteheads are a result of several different factors including hormones, bacteria, dead skin cells and the buildup of these factors. Your skin naturally produces oil because it needs it. It is not a malicious force to be reckoned with, it is there for the benefit of your skin. It is naturally occurring. Oil helps lubricate, heal, protect, and moisturize your skin so that it may function properly. Properly functioning skin is beautiful, clear, and glowing.

While I'm talking about the benefits of oil applied externally, I'd like to mention how important it is to moisturize from the inside as well. WATER! Drink no less than 8 glasses of water a day. If your skin has issues with blemishes, drink up! Water will help release and remove the toxins from within, leaving behind glowing, dewey, toned skin. Carry a bottle of water around with you throughout the day so water is always available.

Now, to the point of this article.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) is used for moisture, while Castor Oil (CO) is used for cleansing. Castor Oil tends to be a bit on the thick side, so a mix of the two (EVOO/CO) is frequently used. This allows for the Castor Oil to really sink into the pores and draw out the dirt and grime to the surface. You can vary this ratio to match your skins needs. More EVOO for moisture or more CO for cleansing (25/75 EVOO/CO for Oily skin, or 75/25 EVOO/CO for dry skin). EVOO is incredibly high in antioxidants, while CO is excellent for drawing and healing. CO has been the focus of many books and medical discussion because of its seemingly "magical" healing properties. It only makes sense (after a bit of research) that one would use CO on their face to help treat blemishes and acne, or simply to make their skin look and feel better.

As quoted in The Oil That Heals by Dr. McGarey, a country doctor (unknown?) states, "Castor oil will leave the body in better condition than it found it."

The Routine:

• Massage a substantial amount (the cup of your palm, while hand is held open) of EVOO/CO into your face and neck.
  
  This is to be done over makeup or any visible dirt. Take this time to give yourself a facial massage. Really work the oil into your skin. Take your time, breathe deeply, and relax. Sit down to do this if it helps.
  
  You, of course, do not have to sit and relax, but keep in mind that stress isn't good for your skin and you should take any moment you can to destress and let tension float away.
  
• Take a washcloth, terry cloth or flannel preferred, and soak it in steamy hot water. Wring it out and drape it over your face.
  
  What we are doing is steaming your face as an esthetician would, but without the steam machine. You want to open your pores. This helps release any impurities from deep within your pores.
  
• As the washcloth begins to cool, gently wipe the oil and dirt away. This will also help remove any dead skin cells that are stubbornly clinging on.
  
• Rinse the washcloth out in hot water and wipe away any remaining impurities. You may have to do this two or three times more to remove any remaining dirt and oil residue, but it will come off leaving your skin with a beautiful, healthy glow. No additional cleansing is necessary.
  
• After you have rinsed well, you can either splash your face with cool water to help tone and close your pores, or if your face feels tight, you can moisturize.
  
• If your skin feels tight, take a tiny drop of your EVOO/CO, rub it between your clean, damp palms and pat it into your damp skin. Massage any oil residue into your skin so there is no film of oil left sitting on the surface. Being prone to breakouts, myself, I've found that this is perhaps the most important step.

Your skin should glow now.

HTHS!
Steph

[Lori V.]

Now to find these oils..there is a store in town I can go look there OR the internet is always good and I don't have to drive to town Thanks again for posting: Is this stuff in most grocery stores? Peace!

[Stephanie]

Yup! You'll find EVOO in your cooking oils section and CO in the laxatives section (I know, I know LOL). The CO is usually in a small-ish bottle and has a slight golden color - comparable to Jojoba if you know what color that is. Look towards the bottom of the shelf, as it's rather inexpensive and not as commonly purchased as, say, Milk of Magnesia (which is GREAT for the skin, too! LOL!!!).

Who knew we'd be buying our skin care products from the laxatives section. LOL

Let me know if I can help.

[chia]

Yay! I was so happy to find you took the time to post all that information. Thank you so much.

It's been 2 days that I have been using this method and from the first time my skin felt better than in a long time. It's not as tight anymore after I cleanse, and no new breakouts so far.

I didn't have the removal part figured out, I was just wiping but it seemed to pull on my skin, so the method you described looks a lot gentler, I'll try it tonite.

The CO/EVOO mix is interesting, I was just using plain Olive Oil. Now I know what to do with the CO bottle I have sitting around.

Thanks for the help, this is one of the better forums out there. I always find the posters to be kind and friendly.

[Dianna]

I've been using oil to clean my face since May, and I love it! Love it, love it, love it. My skin has never felt or looked better. I do find that I only need to use the oil once a day or once every other day, the rest of the time I just rinse my face with warm water. (I don't wear a lot of makeup, though, and what I do use is water-washable.) My face is no more oily than when I was using more traditional cleansers, and my minimal breakouts have become virtually non-existent!

I came across OCM in a thread here (in May) - I think it was Jonobie and Tresses who were using oil with good results. I was intrigued but apprehensive, initially the idea seemed counter-intuitive. I've been using equal amounts of Apricot Kernel Oil and Castor Oil with some EO's added. Next batch I might try EVOO, just to see how it compares.

The additional info here about steaming before removing - which I will be adding to my routine, and the explanation about why is *does* work is really helpful.

Thanks, Steph!

[MoonChild]

I will deffinately try it today!
I´ve used olive oil quite often (as well on my face just to moisturise
during the night- time.)
It´s got me through phases when my skin is feeling sensitive
and I need something just natural without anything
´extra´considering chemicals.
What comes to the other oil...it´s every make- up artists
"secret weapon" on taking the eye make-up away.
It also nourishes eyelashes!...How about
hair then ...
Now there´s some food for thought.
I will deffinately try it...
just not today since I need to get rested
but if someone should try it for hair I would
be interested to know how everything turned out!

[gabiwags]

Great post Stephers - isn't it funny how oil has been misrepresented - I am actually going to try this. I'm currently on a skin care pilgrimage anyway. As you know I have rosacea so it's tricky ...g

[Queenie]

Will definitely give this a try ... if I can find any castor oil

[eva]

How about removing eye make up ? Would that work, too ?

[smiles]

i loooooooooooove this OCM.



i also added some shea to the oil mixture and some eos.. sandalwood and ylangylang.... MMmmmmmmmmm

[Jonobie]

I voted other.

I use something sorta similar to the OCM, but my oil mix doesn't have castor oil on it. Also, I tend to use the really warm washcloth to wipe off the oil, instead of letting it sit on my face and steam it off. I might try that sometime, though.

Just as a word of warning to new starters -- be careful not to drip the oil on your clothes. It's a bit of a hassle to get oil out, I've found.

Cheers,
Jonobie

[Jonobie]

Originally Posted by eva

How about removing eye make up ? Would that work, too ?

Definitely. Tresses found that shea added to the mix seemed to help remove the eye makeup more easily, but it should come off just with the base castor/evoo as well.

Cheers,
Jonobie

[rosepetal]

Thanks Steph!!!

I have been trying jojoba (too light, I think). I will try the 50/50 olive/castor next. Is castor oil safe to use? I remember hearing some negative press on it??? So much info goes by...

In considering mixing my own skincare potions, I have wondered about the ingredients in common skincare items. It seems that the makers use oil to seal in moisture, and that everything else is just added to make it not separate, look prettier, smell better, feel smoother, be more spreadable, etc. In other words, the other ingredients aren't necessary. Someone please let me know if I am missing something.

I am currently using oils to cleanse, and a dilute ACV rinse or rosewater to tone (for my T-zone).

[magpiedee]

This method sounds so... delicious... but years of conditioning (pun intended) have instilled in me an absolute fear of putting oil directly on my skin. So, to tighten my resolve, a few questions:

1. Does this work well for rosacea?
2. If oil is good for skin, then why do so many products label themselves "oil free" like it's a good thing?
3. Do you *promise* I won't break out (more than usual...)?

Thanks!

[Heidi]

I use oil to clean my face, usually sunflower or olive or some mix of whatever carrier oils I have. I think I like avocado best.

I have skin that's prone to acne, and while I wish I could say that using oils to cleanse my skin has cleared it up, it hasn't. But it also has not made it worse. It simply cleans my skin well without leaving it feeling dry.

I occasionally use plain glycerine soaps to wash my face, but I usually come back to oils.