Oil Cleansing Method: What it is and why you should do it.
2012
Oil cleansing method? What does that mean? Is it a cleaning procedure for dealing with oil? Nope. The oil cleansing method (OCM) is a method of cleaning with oil.
Stay with me. Some of you who have never heard of the oil cleansing method may be confused. After all, haven’t we all been told that oil on our face is basically the root of all evil?
A page out of my acne-prone history.
I’ve mentioned my skin woes before. But sometimes I get really frustrated when I think back to all the things my face endured in the name of “curing my acne.” I was put on birth control in high school (don’t even get me started on how angry this makes me now). I tried every cream known to man. Thankfully, I skipped the dreaded Accutane garbage, but only because my poor brother had such a horrific time with it.
But for the sake of this post, let’s just focus on the stuff I was told to put on my face. I tried many brands and types of chemical blemish removers (who knew I could even make my own). And every time I saw a dermatologist I was given a sermon on the importance of keeping my face clean:
Wash twice a day, thoroughly. Use this harsh cleanser. Then apply this harsh toner. Then put on this harsh medication. Then wonder why your skin gets dry, irritated, and won’t clear up. Then take a look at my bill and call me in a few months when you are fed up again.
–My dermatologist (perhaps slightly paraphrased.)
Needless to say, my skin never really healed. Every now and then my acne would appear slightly improved, but then my face was more red, dried out, and painful. It was like I had to choose between blemished skin and flaky skin. Ugh.
Why oil is your friend.
Oil is kind of a big deal for our body. You may remember my post on shampoo and how commercial shampoos strip our scalp of its natural oils which in turn makes our skin produce even more. The result? Greasy hair that needs to be washed every day. Sadness.
Our skin (including our face) needs oil. But once again, most commercial products are bent on scrubbing the oil away clean:
These products strip the oil out of our skin, leaving our largest organ trying to repair itself by replacing the oil stripped away. This leaves us in a cycle of being tight and dry followed by the inevitable oil slick. Each time we strip the oil away, our skin over-compensates for the lack of moisture by creating more oil. (source)
Of course this says nothing about the fragrances and other toxic stuff that is usually inside these products. Not only have some of these toxins been linked to cancer, but they are really rough on our skin.
Enter: The oil cleansing method
I know it seems really counter intuitive to use oil to clean our face. I mean, most of us feel the need to wash our face before bed because we feel really greasy. But think back to your high school chemistry class. What did we learn? That’s right:
Like dissolves like.
In other words, Oil dissolves oil.
The oil cleansing method is such a simple idea. Use oil to get rid of the excess oil. It’s about balancing your skin, not scrubbing it to death. But you really need to try it to believe it.
Why?
Because your face will feel awesome.
The first time I tried to oil cleansing method I couldn’t believe how fresh, clean, and soft my skin felt. It was remarkable. Even my husband noticed a difference. Best of all, it’s a really easy process.
The oil cleansing method: How to do it.
This is usually done before bed. And honestly, I don’t do it every night. Since I stopped wearing makeup I don’t feel like my face gets that dirty. Often a couple of splashes of cold water will do the trick. But then there are days where it’s extra hot, or my daughter gets snot all over me, or I just need a pick-me-up. This is where the oil cleansing method really feels luxurious.
Of course, if you do wear make up this is the perfect way to take your cosmetics off. (yay!)
Choosing your oil blend:
There are a lot of different oils that work for this. The most common oils are probably a combination of extra virgin olive oil and castor oil. Depending on your skin type you’ll use the following ratio:
- Dry skin: 3:1 ratio olive oil to castor oil
- Normal skin: 1:1 ratio of olive oil to castor oil
- Oily skin: 1:3 ratio olive oil to castor oil
You can also play with different oils. In fact, I don’t know if I can wholly recommend castor oil, and would probably recommend starting with just olive oil or some of the following:
- Sweet almond or Grapeseed - Especially suited for oily skin (NOTE: Someone left this warning about Grapeseed oil in the comments: “Please mention that grapeseed oil is not recommended for people with hemophilia. (Read more here).”
- Jojoba - Great for all skin types, but particularly good for acne
- Avocado or Apricot Kernel - Great for dry skin
I’ve also used coconut oil (and JUST coconut oil) with good results. Although some sources say coconut oil with clog pores. I haven’t had any issues, but it is something to consider.
Combine your oils into in a bottle. Now you are ready to clean.
What you’ll need:
- a soft washcloth
- your oil blend
- hot water
The method:
- Pour a generous puddle of oil into the palm of your hand (a little bit more than the size of a quarter). Rub your hands together to warm the oil up and then smooth it over your face.
- Massage the oil into your face for a couple of minutes. Not only will this remove makeup, dirt, or toddler snot, but it will also help relax the muscles and tone the skin. Take your time, using slow and firm motions, to massage the oil deep into your pores. Take specific care to work any problem areas. Enjoy this time.
- Once you feel like your pores are fully saturated, pick up your washcloth and soak it in clean, hot (but not scolding) water. The warm washcloth will help open your pores and remove the oil. Place the washcloth over your face. Leave it there for 10 – 20 seconds to open the pores.
- Gently wipe the oil away and rinse the washcloth out. Wipe and rinse two or three times until you feel like the excess oil is off your face. Don’t scrub.
- If you skin feels too tight or dry when you are done, take a couple of drops of your oil blend and rub it between your hands. Then simply massage the oil residue onto your face. No need for commercial moisturizers! This is an all-in-one product!
The lazy person’s guide to the oil cleansing method
Just in case the above procedures looks too long and daunting, don’t worry! Basically the whole process can be summed in this simple single sentence direction:
Oil your face, rub it in, and gently wipe it off.
Not as calming as the full length instructions, but even if you don’t have time to deeply massage and bask in the luxuriousness of the full oil cleansing method, using oil for a quick clean still beats out the toxic stuff any day.
Have you done the oil cleansing method? What do you think of it?
This post is part of Sunday School, Make Your Own Monday, Fat Tuesday, Living Green Tuesday, Whole Foods Wednesday, Eat Make Grow, Simple Lives Thursday, Frugal Days Sustainable Ways, Creative Juice Thursday, Simply Natural Saturdays, Small Footprint Friday, and Monday Mania.
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I want to try this for my poor 17 year old son who has acne. I heard organic coconut oil is good. Would that also work?
I always hear different stories about coconut oil for skin. Some say it will clog pores. I often use coconut oil myself. It’s always in my medicine cabinet as a body moisturizer and if my OCM oil blend runs out I will just grab some coconut oil. I haven’t noticed a problem, but you may be better off trying jojoba oil since that’s really good for acne prone skin.
Good luck. Acne is the worse, especially during those teenage years.
Another side note re: acne & teenagers.
While reading other articles on gut flora and acne and milk… Milk has been found to be the culprit for many acne cases.
My 18 yr old was battling acne on his back, his chest, his face. I read the article, telling him about the unnecessary use of milk in our diets. (Do any of you reading this know/realize–we humans are the only mammal that continues to drink milk beyond our weaning years?– go figure.)
Anyway–my son’s acne has now cleared up. and when there is an outbreak, we simply stop to consider the amount of milk he has had. Other dairy products don’t seem to bother it as much.
Something to consider!
Hi Michelle,
You make some great points. Some people have dairy tolerances that have a huge impact on the skin. In fact, many people have a variety of differing food allergies that can be a result in acne, eczema, ect. (Diary, gluten, eggs, nuts are among the major culprits). I’m curious what kind of milk you were drinking? I do know that some people have bad reaction to commercial pasteurized milk but have no problem with raw milk. This is because raw milk still has its enzymes intact that are there to aid in digestion. Just a thought.
As far as being the only mammals that drink milk beyond our weaning years. It’s very true. Although, we are also the only mammals who use computers, blenders, microwaves, cook our food, etc. I personally think milk is a great nutrient dense food–if you can digest it.
I think this is being overlooked here.
Simple, but brilliant point. No other mammal persists in drinking milk past the weaning age. To top it off, no animal has been so foolish as to drink the milk of another species. How can we ever consider cow’s milk to be natural for humans? It makes no logical or physiological sense.
This is a long debate… and probably not the spot for it (after all this post is about washing your face), BUT… I personally get a little annoyed by this argument. We are also the only animals that use the internet, write blog posts, buy food at a grocery store, wear clothes, etc. Milk can be a very nourishing food, and has been consumed by humans for a long time.
i hear that often…but no other animal can do most of the things we can do, so i just don’t think the logic is there.
i dont think any other species on earth cultivates their own food, have education systems, have cities, drives cars, and so on.
milk may or may not be good for us, i just dont think the logic used that no other animal does this, so it can’t be good can apply, in terms of assessing whether or not milk is or isn’t good for us.
Have you ever lived on a farm? Many times there will be cross-species fostering. Animals have – and do – drink the milk of other animals.
I am 40 years old and have had a problem with acne since I was 23 years old (after using Revlon Colorstay makeup). I had used everything to to avail…then I read up on the ‘milk-acne’ connection. I LOVE milk and when I stop drinking milk, I have not acne breakouts. I can go months without milk and then get a craving…once I start back on the milk, the acne returns!!! So it is true…milk causes acne, not chocolate and french fries as they told us when we were kids…LOL!!! So go with the chocolate and forgo the milk.
In addition to changing what your son is putting ON his skin, you might want to consider changing what he’s putting IN his body. (I know its hard with a teenager.) This blog has some advice on eating “real food” and also Dr. Joel Fuhrman has people getting good skin results with his eating plan – I’ve just started on it and I’m feeling good. Look up Eat to Live. I wish someone had helped me with good eating habits when I was a teenager – would’ve saved years of pain.
Yes, Liz! I believe that diet is the NUMBER ONE thing for better skin. After all, acne is a sign that our body is dealing with too many toxins. When the liver and other organs are overburdened the skin jumps in as a last ditch effort to deal with the toxins. This is why diet is so, so, so important.
While I think Fuhrman has some great ideas, I don’t fully support his approach to diet. Vegan and low-fat diets can be great for cleansing the body. Most people feel awesome when they first switch over for this very reason. But our body NEEDS fat… saturated fat, cholesterol, and the essential amino acids found only in animal products. These are super important for repairing damaged cells and for brain function and so many other things. For these reasons I think it’s super important to eat quality fats like butter, coconut oil, ghee, lard, tallow and other nutrient dense foods like organ meats, egg yolks, etc. for optimal LONG TERM health.
I always get a little hesitant speaking ill of people like Fuhrman, because I think they really are trying to help people. But ultimately I think it’s a highly flawed diet.
I think you need to research more before giving diet/health advice. Vegan does not mean no oils or no fat so please correct your statement so as not to spread misinformation. Also, you are actually talking about a low fat plant based diet, which is not the same as someone being a vegan. As being a vegan is a lifestyle and not a diet plan. Also, recently a study showed that consuming egg yolks is almost just as bad as smoking for your heart. We need fats but to suggest anyone consume lard seems quite irresponsible. As someone concerned with toxins I would suggest you take some time to look into how much factory farming adversely affects the environment, which in turn affects us.
Hi Alex,
I never said that vegans don’t eat fats or oils. And I totally understand that being vegan is a lifestyle and not a diet plan (for most people, at least). As far as the egg study, if you actually read it I wouldn’t really call it a great study as it only looked at correlation and didn’t consider any other factors… let’s be honest…an egg has the stuff that makes life possible… kind of an irresponsible (and ignorant) statement for a “study” to claim it’s as bad as something like cigarettes. I could point you to plenty of articles showing the poor science that was involved in that study if you care.
And even though we obviously don’t agree on diet (which is totally cool!), I think we can both agree that factory farming is bad. When I say we need saturated fats (and yes, lard CAN be a VERY healthy fat), I mean from humanely raised animals on local (uncrowded) farms. I always get a little upset when people don’t see that there is a difference. Factory farming is a recent invention that is destroying our planet and our health. But people have been consuming animals since the beginning of time. I personally don’t eat a lot of meat, and when I do it’s from my local farmer, but I do think it can be a healthy addition to a diet full of plants and other real food.
Hopefully we can accept our differences and help people claim back better health by saying “no” to processed foods and factory farming. It seems it’s something we all agree on.
my acne cleared up over night by consuming sardines. 3-4 tins a week.
using apple cider vinegar in a glass spray bottle in the shower, and washing with honey.
of course i have a healthy diet with loads of veggies. organic.
awesome!
However, the study’s findings raised brows among other health experts, ABC News reports:
[C]ardiologists say the study shouldn’t be taken so seriously because the research is flawed.
“This is very poor quality research that should not influence patient’s dietary choices,” said Dr. Steven Nissen, who chairs the department of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, in an email. “It is extremely important to understand the differences between ‘association’ and ‘causation’.”
Nissen said the researchers relied on patients to recall how many eggs they consumed, but asked them once and assumed it remained constant, which isn’t reliable. He said the way researchers measured patients’ plaque has come under “considerable criticism,” and that researchers failed to adjust for other dietary factors.
Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2012/08/16/is-eating-eggs-really-as-bad-for-your-heart-as-smoking/#ixzz2QjpUQUjz
The Huffington Post doesn’t agree either:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-jonny-bowden/egg-yolks-health_b_1838075.html
I love coconut oil but I don’t use it on my face as it does give me superficial break outs like blackheads. Most people don’t seem to have this issue but I do. I use it on the rest of my body and lips though. I also usually add it to my weekly hair treatment. It’s great for bug bites. But make sure you buy coconut oil that comes in a glass jar. I use Artisana 100% Organic Raw Coconut Oil Extra Virgin. I also give it to my dog with his food and sometimes rub it all over him.
I love that you give this to your dog! Awesome.
I was trying coconut oil for awhile and found it to be too harsh for my sensitive skin. I use coconut oil as an all over body moisturizer and love it, but am finding olive oil’ castor oil and a bit of lavender oil great on my face.
Awesome. Glad you found what works best for you. Love it.
I’ve been hearing more and more about this method, but your directions make it seem very easy to try! I’ve been hooked on the 3-step acne treatment products for years and I’ve just started using a baking soda wash with an ACV toner and although it’s great to not have to use the toxic acne products, it’s kind of drying out my face. So this method sounds like something I might want to try! Thanks for sharing, I’ll keep you posted! ( :
Thanks, Ashley! It really is a simple method. I hope it helps.
Oil cleansing is brilliant, I have used it for a while now and my skin is clearer than it has been for donkey’s years. It is so simple & beautifully effective.
I just use a tiny bit of jojoba oil though I don’t use the castor oil.
“Donkey’s years”… HA! Love it.
I have been using this for months – I’m 45 years old and my skin is healthier right now than it has been since puberty. I have this really fun combination skin that is super-duper oily in the T zone and dry like the Sahara on the cheeks, even at my age I was still fighting the monthly breakouts. Now – I’ve practically given up makeup because my skin looks amazing. I use castor and sweet almond oils to cleanse, jojoba as a moisturizer. I’ve heard that coconut can clog pores too, but it never did for me.
I love testimonials like this!
But it’s true. The older I get the better (and younger) my skin looks. It’s amazing what happens when you trust nature instead of chemists.
I used the oil cleansing method and my skin was great, it is so refreshing to use one product.
I would be using it today but I have to review products so switch it up.
That said I feel the OCM is the easy way to cleanse the face, simply and cheaply without synthetic chemicals.
I know what you mean. I love the simplicity of it all.
Hey there. I was just wondering, what ratio do you use for your combination skin? I have terrible combination skin and would really like to try this method!
I’d use equal parts jojoba and castor oil… or you may just consider doing JUST jojoba oil. I also have combination skin and it’s a good oil for it. I also like coconut oil (by itself), but it can go either way depending on your skin.
Thank you so much for replying! I am really eager to try this even though every person I have mentioned it to looks at me like I just told them I want to roll around in a muddy backyard to clean myself.
‘You have oil on your skin . . .why would you want to put oil on top of it? Ew.’
But I’d love to have healthy skin and not have to worry about expensive products and harsh chemicals any longer!
This is the way the Roman’s cleaned their entire bodies over 2,000 years ago…
Also, I’ve been using this method as a face cleanser with coconut oil for quite some time now…. it works beautifully.
Love it! I always felt Roman.
Did you use the coconut oil alone, or mixed with castor oil? Thanks
]
When I use coconut oil I just use it by itself. Otherwise I’ve used a castor oil/avocado oil mixture.
If you use evoo make sure to find a quality brand that is really extra virgin and pure. Otherwise, you may not get good results. Apparently, even many organic brands of evoo are not pure do to supplier issues and the stuff gets cut with cheaper, processed crap.
I saw that article about the fake evoo! So mad to hear about it. I think this is great advice for all the oils.
Thanks for stopping by!
here is a good summary of the evoo situation: http://www.foodrenegade.com/your-extravirgin-olive-oil-fake/
Thanks for the link! Love Food Renegade.
I really want to try this! I’ve been itching to ditch the Pro Activ skin care that I have been using to keep my face clear, but am afraid my face will break out like crazy.
Those using this method, did you find that you broke out when you first started? If so how long did it last and how did you handle it?
Thanks!
Steph
I didn’t have any problem… but I have heard that some people have an initial break out when switching over. Remember that your skin is your body’s last defense against toxins. When the liver is overworked from toxic stuff the skin tries to get rid of it… that’s when acne shows it’s ugly face. Getting rid of the Pro Activ might be the ultimate best thing for you skin… although there MAY be a rough patch as your skin does a little detox. Everyone is different, so I don’t know how you’ll react.
Good luck! I know how frustrating it can be.
I have really dry skin and have always reacted, usually with a rash, to most commercial skin care lines. I did break out slightly for a couple days when I switched to coconut oil, but I kept going and now my face is clearer than it’s ever been, not dry at all, and no allergic reaction!
Yay! That is awesome, Alycia. And a good reminder that sometimes we need to give our skin some time to adjust back to normal.
Fabulous, I love this! Awesome that it takes care of toddler snot, too
I’ve liked you on facebook, tickled that I found your writing!
Ha ha! Thank you. You are kind.
I have been using coconut oil to wash my face for about a month now and my face has never felt better! My skin hardly ever gets oily and I had super oily skin!! A few times a week I’ll mix it with some sugar and tea tree oil for a gentle scrub. Love it!
I love hearing how this works for people. I’ve also done a sugar scrub that I love… but I’ll need to try with tea tree oil. That sounds awesome.
As a licensed esthetician, I would recommend you use a gentler sunstance than sugar, for example, ground oats. Sugar is a crystal, no matter how small it is, and crystals have jagged edges. regular face scrubs are made with round shaped bits so the scrubs don’t damage the skin. Here is a great website with various recipes for homemade scrubs
http://www.sassybella.com/2008/11/recession-proof-beauty-10-homemade-facial-scrubs/
Sugar is ok for your body, just not your face.
This is a wonderful thread. I can’t wait to try this method. I’ve heard of it but have always been hesitant to try it.
I usual “natural” or “organic” cleansers/shampoos, etc, but they are so expensive so I am always looking for thrifty natural ways of doing things. I use coconut oil as my moisturizer I had never thought of using it to cleanse though! I’ll give it a try, thanks for the information! I found you on EAT MAKE GROW.
Lyza
Chic Shades of Green
Hi Lyza,
I totally know what you mean. That was my initial switch when I decided to move away from commercial stuff. But man, it’s pricey! The best part about making your own beauty stuff is that they all use a lot of the same ingredients. Buy them on Amazon and it’s way cheaper.
How do you keep it from getting in your hair?
Hi Corylynn,
I have really short hair so I just use one of those stretchy headbands to keep my hair back. Otherwise I’d pull it in a pony tail and use a headband.
You’re right, it does sound counter intuitive! ..Therefore I want to try it. haha.
I don’t even know where to get castor oil though, so I may just risk clogged pores and use coconut oil.
Such a risk taker!
In case you need in the future, I found castor oil in the “beauty” section of my health food store (by the essential oils and soaps). But I think amazon is probably the cheapest way to go. I’ve included a link to a brand I like in the recipe.
Good luck! Hope you like it.
Just so you know you can get it in pretty much any grocery store.
Quick question why do you mix the castor oil in? could you just use jojobo oil?
Hi Claire!
The castor oil is considered the “cleansing” oil of the mixture. But I think you could just go with jojoba if you wanted and still get good results. Castor and olive oil are just the most commonly used. Castor oil is thicker and has some “drawing out” properties that make it a nice addition. But the best part is there are no real hard and fast rules. Experiment and have fun!
i have ben doing this wih just jojoba and it works great. i used the castor oil and jojoba together at first but i think the castor oil was too strong for my rosacea.
Yeah, Castor oil is super thick and can be a bit harsh for people with sensitive skin issues. I’m glad the jojoba is working for you!
I have only used coconut oil or baking soda when I need to exfoliate to cleanse my skin for years. I have never had a problem. I seem to be allergic to olives or something, every time I try to use olive leaf extract or EVOO I have a reaction. My grandmother taught me. She had beautiful skin most of her life and she never used soap on it, thought it ruined skin. People think I am on average 10 years younger than I really am. I use CO to condition my hair too (it adds great texture) so it is no big if it gets in my hair. Using CO in my hair allowed me to grow it out past my butt to cut off for Locks of Love super fast and with minimal split ends. Before I used CO, I used almond oil the same way with no issues.
Awesome! Coconut oil is pretty much amazing. Not sure what I did without it. Like you, I use it for my face, hair, and as a lotion. It’s especially great for my baby’s delicate skin.
Hi Chandra. Can you tell me how you use CO in your hair as a conditioner? I’ve wanted to try it but have been afraid to get my hair all gunky. My hair is curly, coarse, oily and very dry at the ends making it hard to grow out as I get older. I would love to hear about your method of conditioning with it. Thanks so much!
I use coconut oil for moisturising and I swear by it, but I’ve been using my normal soap in the shower to cleanse with (it’s a natural surfactant free soap) but I think I will have to try this. I fortunately don’t get much acne although I d get a few odd spots every now and then. Thanks for the info.
Thanks, Jessie! Even if you don’t get acne, the OCM is great just for making your skin feel good. Let me know how you like it!
Kiss-My-Face has a soap that has only three ingredients with the main one being olive oil. It works great on my skin which is sensitive. I seem to have a slight coconut allergy so I can’t use that at all sadly =(. Just another option.
I just did this using the olive oil and castor oil. My face feels very soft!
Yay! So glad to hear it.
Thank you for your submission on Nourishing Treasures’ Make Your Own! Monday link-up.
Check back today when the new link-up is running to see if you were one of the top 3 featured posts!
After seeing this post I started cleaning my face with this method. I wear make-up everday during the week and this cleans the make-up off better than soap. The first day I felt like an oil slick, but the more I am doing it the more balanced my face seems to be. I only had organic avacado oil, so have been using that. Just got some jojoba and I plan on getting the castor oil as well. It’s lovely to have soft smooth skin without using all the chemical stuff! Thank you for sharing!
Yay! I also love how easily it takes makeup off. I occasionally wear an organic mascara and this makes my life so much easier in terms of getting it off at night.
Robin, love you, love that you share your knowledge. I am going to have to try this. My mom has had bad rosecea for the past couple of years. Of course she has tried everything but lately she stumble upon the Jojoba oil with a little stone that looks like pumis. Through this combination the rosecea is all GONE! She finally has found the cure for it, simple oil, stone and drinking a lot of water. Nature is best always!
Aw, thanks Marci! So glad your mom was able to figure it out. Nature is best (although it still often requires a little experimentation)!
Love and miss you, friend.
Ok so I am literally just reading about this face cleansing method and I’m shocked. It sounds crazy but the more and more I am reading about it the more it makes sense. But question would it defeat the purpose of this if you used an astringent and then a face lotion after cleansing?
Um… I’m not sure. If it were me I’d probably just try it without the astringent and lotion and see how my skin responds to just the oil. But then you might want to try adding in one and then the other and see how your face responds.
The oil method has truely worked for me! My face has never looked better, no more redness & no more breakouts! My skin was such a mess. Now…when I do wear make-up, I only need to do eye makeup. I actually found that when I did the mixture with the jojoba that is was drying so I did straight olive oil. When I got pregnant I started breaking out and for whatever reason decided to try coconut oil. Cleared me up and I never had one zit during the rest of my pregnancy (with my other 2 pregnancies my face was a disaster). P.S. I cleanse only in the AM (unless I wear makeup or get sweaty or dirty during the day) and after wiping away the oil, I add a bit more and rub it in for my moisturizer.
Excuse me, I meant the Castor oil dryed me out.
Awesome, Sara! I found that my skin changed during pregnancy, too. It’s nice that there are other options to “play around with.”
I recommend this method to everyone who asks. Not only is it inexpensive, but SO very nourishing. However, I will say that it has not been very successful for me. After a time I developed a ton of melia under the surface of my skin…it is just too rich for my pores. My daughter had a similar experience…at first it worked great for us, but over time it caused more problems. We’ve tried different methods such as adding anti-bacterial oils etc…but it just doesn’t do the trick. I think part of the problem for us is that while we are acne prone — we have super dry skin. So the oil we are putting on our face is not being used to break down other oil, it is just being collected. (that’s the best explanation I can come up with) We use a mild cleanser instead…but I moisturize with a few drops of olive, lavendar and teatree oil. This seems to bring the right balance to my skin most of the time.
I totally agree that everyone is different. I too have really dry skin. Mostly people think acne = oily skin. This is why I only do the OCM once or twice a week for the same reason. Otherwise I just use cold water and pat dry. Glad you found what works for you. Personal care can get so tricky, even on the “natural” side of thing.
I get milia on my forehead when I eat dairy. In my case, it is about what I eat and not what I put on my face.
I honestly believe that what we eat will always have greater influence on our skin vs. what we put on it. I just think the OCM is a great way to clean my face without having to use harsh chemicals or cleaners.
I am going to try this method asap! But first I want to know if this method works to reduce or eliminate scarring because of acne? I had really bad cystic acne about a year ago. The acne is pretty much gone because of my diet change but I have the scars to remind me
. Anything i can put on face along with this method for the scars? I already use coconut oil as a moisturizer. Thanks!
Hi Deanna,
As if acne isn’t enough, then we have to deal with the scars. So sorry. I’m not sure the oil will help with the scarring… although it might. It won’t make it worse. Here is a good article on natural approaches to dealing with scarring from acne. Something here might help you in combination with the OCM. Good luck!
http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/acnescarremedy.shtml
I removed acne scars from my temple area with 2x week exfoliation with baking soda in the shower. I just mix a few drops of water in a palm full of baking soda to make a paste, and scrub my skin. Rinse with the shower water. It is amazing!
Great tip! Thanks, April!
I want you to know I have been doing this for two weeks now, without fail. It has totally transformed my skin, shrunk my pores, and reduced my fine lines. I will never do anything else with my skin! Thank you!!
Yay! This is so great to hear! Glad you like it and that it’s working for you.
Has anyone tried this to cleanse the whole body, you know, like the Romans did? I wonder if adding your favorite essential oil to the body portion would work, for good smell factor. My thinking is you would rub this over your entire body before stepping into the shower, or in the shower without the water on, doing your face last with taking in the warm washcloth ready for the face, and to give the body a chance to absorb it all. Then turn on the shower and rinse and exfoliate with your cloth. Has anyone tried this or heard of it being done? I also have been toying with the idea of oil pulling (http://oilpulling.com/). Thanks for letting me share my thoughts here, and for giving us yours as well.
Hi yes I use it all over it’s great, Moroccan oil/argen oil as a little luxurious treat for skin and hair is fantastic !!! Enjoy
Oooh! Sounds like a fun experiment!
Maybe I’ll have to try it and report back.
I have tried oil pulling. It definitely made my mouth feel really clean. I can see how it might help with things like whitening teeth and other stuff. But I only did it for a couple of weeks because it takes so long.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Always love to hear what’s on your guys’ minds.
OH MY GOODNESS! I tried this with coconut oil last night and I absolutely love it. I felt an immediate difference. My skin feels clean and nourished rather than the previous “clean” feeling that now seemed to be clean but left my skin feeling empty and dull. My pores immediately looked better and I love the coconut scent so much more than the factory made soapy stench. And how awesome is it that I can now eliminate 3 products with this one simple thing!
I really need to get to work on making other body care items. I’m loving this.
Yay! I love hearing this Dyami. And I’m totally on board with the whole eliminating other products. I love how much less money and time I now invest in my daily rituals.
Since I can’t seem to get around to making the soap recipe that I’ve been wanting to try, instead I’ve just used the coconut oil on my whole body and for shaving in the shower. Now I can add body wash, shaving cream, and body lotion to my list of things to never buy again. I also love that I can skip lotioning up my body after I shower. Such a time saver!
Awesome, Dyami! I love this. I have also been so amazed (and giddy) at how much time, money, and shelf space I have saved since switching over to just a few awesome natural things. Coconut oil is definitely our favorite over here.
Yes I have used this method, passed down by my grandmother. I use it all over and quess what when I was pregnant I got no stretch marks !!!
Yay! Awesome. Thanks, Sian!
I tried this method for the first time tonight. What a difference! I ran into our home office telling my husband to feel my face. He is now interested in trying the method. I used castor oil and grapeseed oil (which I already had on hand). I’m wondering if it would be ok to add a couple of drops of essential oil (lavender springs to mind for its calming properties) to turn this into a total spa experience. What do you think?
That’s funny! I totally did the same thing the first time I tried it.
As far as essential oils go, I’m not 100% sure. I haven’t tried it, and it would depend on your skin type and what essential oils. Lavender is a pretty mild oil so I would think it would be fine. Quite calming, I’m sure.
I was wondering if all castor Oil would work or just the one you have tagged in your article. We have the kind you buy at the drug store. I guess it is a laxative. We used it to help me recover after having my son. Would it work the same as the more expensive brands that are for the body?
Hi Brianna,
I’d check out the ingredient list just to make sure there are not additives or other things. You definitely don’t have to only use the one I linked to. I do think it’s important to use high quality oils for skin care because it does get into our body. But any pure castor oil should do the trick. Good luck!
I’ve been using the OCM for years now, I often include Rosemary oil when doing it in the morning (helps to wake up and concentrate also works great for getting rid of blackheads) and lavender if in the evening (relaxing and antibactirial). I have very oily skin when I don’t use this method and I finally got rid of the last of my blackheads using this method in the mid 90′s. I would highly recommend OCM to everyone!
Oil pulling is something I’ve just started 6 months ago but would highly recommend! I have always been criticised by my dentists/hygenists for not cleaning my teeth well enough inspite of doing everything they recommend! I saw my dentist on Monday and was so pleased to hear her say she was amazed at how clean my teeth are, she truely looked amazed as well and said how unusual it is. The only difference being that I started oil pulling, everything else I do the same as always. I wish I had heard of this much earlier as I’ve lost half of my teeth due to gum diease, all in the last 12 years (I’m 62)! I don’t think that would have happened if I’d been oil pulling regularly. If you want to try it go to oil pulling.com for info. If you don’t think you would find time every day to do it I think even once a week would help but please do try! I use cold pressed sesame oil but I’ve heard of people using coconut, olive oil or sunflower oil all with reported good results.
Awesome, Carol! I’ve heard good things about oil pulling. I did it for a little bit, but found it so time consuming. (Although, it’s really not that bad because it’s not like you can’t do other things while doing it.) Maybe I need to give it another try. I love your dentist’s response!
How often should I do this??.. Once a day.. twice a day???
My face has been playing up a bit lately..
I just can’t seem to wrap my head around it..slathering my face in coconut oil my head automatically thinks “don’t do it it will cause pimples”
Hi Courtney,
I only do it a couple times a week, but if you are using it to wash up makeup I would do it every night.
I totally get the “don’t do it” mentality. But give it a try, you will be surprised.
I do this at night, and wash with only water in the mornings. What a great thing! I used to wash with harsh facewashes, then switched to honey, but that made me break out. The oil method is the best so far, and I’m sticking to it! (jojoba from trader joe’s or a 3-oil blend of castor, olive, and sweet almond from CVS)
Awesome, Janet! I love it when people find what works for them. Skin care can be so rough.
I have been doing this for about a month now and I am so pleasantly surprised! I use the coconut oil mix and find it wonderful. I was scared at first because my skin was so oily and blemish prone but not any more. I love knowing exactly what I’m putting on my face! Thank you!
Ps. LOVE you’re other topics too
Yay! I love hearing these success stories. Thanks for your kind words, Paulina.
I’ve been using almond oil every night for about a month, and I’ve noticed my skin has been glowing! It’s so simple yet so effective. I do tend to leave it on the whole night and wash it off in the morning during my shower, and it is just awesome. I’ll have to try the coconut oil; seems to work well for most people. Great article!
Yay! That’s awesome, Erin! So glad it’s worked for you. Thanks for stopping by.
Hi all,
After reading this I started cleansing my face with a mix of castor/jojoba oil (almost) every day. I have skin that is dehydrated, so it is greasy and dry at the same time, prone to blackheads and the most annoying little bumps on the skin, due to sebum gathering under the skin with no way out. So, after like 2 weeks of doing this, my skin has greatly improved, almost no blackheads and a much better looking smooth, hydrated skin. Not perfect, but there are many other factors like food, sleep etc. I will definitely keep doing this!
Yay! That’s awesome, Kitt! So glad it’s helped.
I’ve been doing this for one month now and it’s amazing! My pores are smaller, my skin is brighter and cleaner and hydrated. I use it on my body, as well, it’s working beautifully, no need for any other product for shaving either.
That’s great, Rebecca. I love how simple it is.
Makes sense – we wash our newborn babies with olive oil until their cord falls off. I don’t know why we don’t continue it after
Good point!
It really does work.
OCM’s premise is the heart of homeopathy: like cures like.
Thanks for linking to my site. I’m featuring you AGAIN next week. And sharing on pinterest…
Love your content!
Nicolette
Thanks Nicolette! You are too kind. (And I really like your blog, too.)
I tried the oil cleansing method last night (using your step-by-step guide) and it was awesome! I’m a little hesitant to say it works wonders yet but my skin’s oil has been under control today! So, that’s definitely a plus!! I’ll continue to be consistent with it for about 2 weeks and follow-up! If it’s as good as my gut feeling is telling me, I will be SO HAPPY to never spend a dime on facial products again!
Oh, I’m so glad you liked it. Hopefully it continues to work well for you.
I’m interested in trying this method, but I have a few questions. When you’re rinsing off your face, are you wringing out the towel completely to get rid of the excess water or are you soaking it and then putting it on the face? Also is it okay to use this every day? I put make up on every day to hide the blemishes…yucky I know…but I get nervous about purging. If you could let me know that would be great! Thanks! I appreciate it!
After the initial soak, I soak the towel and then wring it out. (The first time is to get a hot towel on your face to open the pores). Most people find that it works beautifully to do every day. A few people may notice that the oil cleansing method is a little too “rich” for their skin and find better results doing it every other day or a couple of times a week… but more people probably do it daily. I only do it a couple of times a week (but I no longer wear makeup), and it works better for me. But the good news: Even when I was doing it daily my skin was still looking better than when I was using conventional stuff. Just after a while I noticed a few new blemishes and tried it less frequently with good results.
So what do you use on your skin the days that you aren’t using the OCM?
I do the OCM probably once or twice a week. The others days I just use plain old water.
Of course, I don’t really wear makeup most days, so it works for me.
I have been doing a variant of this method for 3 weeks now and it really had helped improve my skin. For several years, I’ve suffered from the scourge that my dermatologist referred to as “treatment resistant hormonal acne”. Like you, I have tried everything and NOTHING has really worked to eliminate the acne. Prior to the OCM, I was experiencing very deep cysts in my chin. They were like small growths radiating painfully on my face; mocking me and constantly reminding me of their existence. Its hard to live a happy life with that nonsense happening. Anyways, at the tender age of 34, I’m finally feeling optimistic about something that isn’t a chemical or pharmaceutical.
Also, as an aside, I too read the egg yolk study and was very discouraged by how it was marketed. It wasn’t experimental by any means, nor controlled. The correlational elements had confounds up the wazoo and I am a researcher (different field) so this is what I do for a living. Its so encouraging when people actually read studies rather than just go off other’s interpretations.
That’s so great, Jenny! Yay! I’m also in my early 30s so I know what you mean about FINALLY feeling optimistic. I remember being told that acne was a teenager thing. HA!
what do you use for sunblock?
Great question, Liz. Here’s a post I wrote about sunscreen. We don’t spend too much time in the sun, but if we do I’d choose one based off of the EWG guide or make my own. I think Mommypotamus has a recipe you could look at.
http://thankyourbody.com/sunscreen-i-never-thought/
Robin,
do you know if this could help rosaca? I have it with combo/oily skin & want to give this a try. any suggestions?? thanks:)
Hi Lisa,
I’m certainly not an expert of rosaca or a doctor, but I can’t imagine this would hurt. I bet it would help the skin feel better (and definitely be a better option than certain harsh chemicals). My general feeling about most skin issues is that there are underlying nutritional things going on. The skin is our body’s last defense for detox… so usually issues like acne, eczema, or rosaca are due to an over burdened liver. So while I don’t think the OCM will necessarily heal your problem, it might help relieve some symptoms and appearance. If it were me I would definitely give it a try.
Good luck! Skin issues can be so frustrating.
I have been using this method for almost a week. I am using castor oil and EVOO once a day. After the first time my skin felt so soft and healthy, but it seems to be getting more and more dried out. Do you think it is the castor oil? I love the idea of never using harsh face products again, but not loving my results so far. Another predicament I am having is that I do wear make-up every day and I have done very good about only washing with this once a day, but if I wear make-up in the morning and then workout and need a shower before I apply more make-up to go out in the evening, what should I wash with in between when water isn’t enough? Thanks!!
I would try using less castor oil and see how that goes. As far washing your face twice a day… honestly the best thing you could do it avoid it as that will dry your skin out so quickly. BUT, if that’s isn’t an option, you may try water on your face and then use a Q-tip dipped in some coconut or olive oil to “spot remove” mascara or anything that won’t come off with water. Do sort of a “mini” OCM just where you really need too.
Hope that helps!
For less than 5 dollars, I thought I would give this a try. I am 35 years old and have acne, dryness and overly oily skin. I seen a difference instantly! My husband and kids seen a difference instantly in my skin too. For the last two days, I haven’t had the oil slick, dryness or itchy face that I normally have. The acne is healing, the white head bumps are going away, the pores are less noticeable and everything is improving very very fast. Even the acne behind my ears and on my neck is healing. If you are thinking about trying this, remember that most skin care products will cost you more than 5 dollars and won’t work anyway. And if it doesn’t work for you, you can always use the olive oil to cook with and the castor oil for something else…..but I don’t think anyone will have to worry about that anyway. Thanks so much for sharing!
So glad to hear this, Teresa! Yay!
i love the OCM but i don’t think it’s necessary for me to do daily. any recommendations on what to cleanse with on days i don’t want to go the full OCM method? thanks!
Are you washing off makeup? If not, I’d say just use water. To get makeup off without the OCM… I’d probably just look for the most gentle cleanser with the least amounts of ingredients. Perhaps some castille soap?
When I found out about OCM,I started cleansing my face with extra virgin Olive oil and followed every steps to cleans my face. I do it every night and surprisingly my skin has improved dramatically!!
I now even use it as a body moisturizer since I have very dry skin. I’m so happy with my skin right now! This the most effective skin treatment that I’ve ever tried for years of searching for the solution to my skin problems.
Now, I will incorporate Castor oil in my regimen.. Thank you so much for this post of yours. It’s wonderful!
Oh I’m so glad! I love it.
I want to try this! What are the exact measurements for oily skin, in tblsp, tsp, cups?
Hi Randi. I usually use about the size of quarter each time I wash my face. It’s probably easiest to premix some in a bottle. You’ll have a ratio of 1 tsp of Olive oil to 3 tsp of castor… or you could make it 1 Tbs to 3 Tbs… just any 3 to 1 ratio. If you don’t want to premix it I would do a drop of olive oil to three drops of castor oi.
Hope that helps.
I’ve used oil pulling to improve my sinus health, had too many infections and headaches and it has made a huge difference and softened my skin as well. I highly recommend trying it.
Awesome, Pam. I’ve heard so many good things about oil pulling.
I have been usubg this method for about two months. I am on the dry side, but it seems to work great. My 13 year old daughter is awesome and agreed to trying my “wierd” method of cleansing and it has worked super super well on her skin as well. Her skin looks clear and glowing. I love watching the change for her. She had blackheads and small pimples on her nose… but when she uses this, it clears up. AWESOME!
The only thing that is starting to bother me, is that I am 34 and getting many many more wrinkles then before using this. Way too quickly. Any suggestions?
Hmmmm… that’s interesting, Aminta. What kind of oil are you using? Maybe try switching to just coconut oil as it’s really good for the skin.
So glad it’s working for your daughter.
Hi Robin! Thanks for this great informative post! I’ve just started doing the OCM and working on finding my own special blend. I wanted to ask you about the use of essential oils in your OCM blend. Do you use any? I tried to see if you mentioned it in the article but I couldn’t find it if you did. I don’t super love the oil smell (it’s not bad, just not really yummy) and I wanted to add some essential oils but first thought i’d ask someone with more experience about your thoughts and suggestions. Thanks so much!
PS loved your comments on healthy fats and eggs. I too have studied much about the myths of saturated fats and the propaganda that has been flooded into our minds about them being evil. They’re so wonderful for you! Especially coconut oil- which I also give to my pup on occasion and she absolutely LOVES it. I read a handful of people recommending it on health food blogs and sites for dogs and I tried it and she loved it.
I’ve been doing this for a few months now and love the results. Thank you for posting!
Please mention that grapeseed oil is not recommended for people with hemophilia. See http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-most-common-grape-seed-extract-side-effects.htm. A friend’s sister’s skin turned pink after using grapeseed oil – upon closer inspection it was blood coming from her pores.
Thanks for the tip! I will update the post to reflect this info!
Hi Robin,
I’m excited to try this! Would you mind clarifying this for me . . . I have very oily skin so I’m interested in trying the jojoba oil. Does that mean I would be using 1 part olive oil to 3 parts jojoba oil? Or should I use only jojoba oil and skip the olive oil?
Hi Claudia,
You’d actually do 1 part castor to 3 parts jojoba… but I honestly would just start with only jojoba and see how that goes. There is some question about the “greenness” of castor oil, and if you can make it work with only one, why buy two?
Thanks Robin! I’m glad I asked. I was attempting to substitute the jojoba for the castor (because of the “greenness” question). But I see that you are suggesting that I skip the olive oil (and castor if possible). I’m excited to try this!
I started using this method about a week ago, and I’m not noticing much difference. My skin was relatively clear to begin with – just a few breakouts every so often, but a lot of blackheads & colorless bumps. I massage a 1:1 combo of castor oil& EVOO in, steam with the washcloth, and gently wipe the oil off every night. The only difference is a large red blemish on my chin is no longer red. Am I missing something?
You can always experiment with different types of oils. I love coconut oil and jojoba oil (used by themselves). The biggest difference I noticed right away was how soft my skin felt. But everyone is so different. Even if you don’t notice a huge difference (and nothing BAD is happening because of it… which usually just means you need to try different oils), it’s still WAY better than commercial products that have toxins in them.
Good luck!
I agree – definitely way better than the commercial, harsh products. So use the jojoba or coconut oils in place of the EVOO?
Yes, or you can try either just alone (with no castor oil). There a little investment in time to find what works for you, but hopefully it will be worth it in the end.
can i use just olive oil or extra virgin olive oil on their own?
Sure! Depending on your skin type it may be too “rich” however… probably best for dry skin. But I’ve been working on just using coconut oil (and sometimes just jojoba oil) and love it. Easier, too. My kind of thing.
I really want to try this method. I am at my wit’s end. I am 32 yo and I have bad hormonal acne for 15 years on my chin. I am on spirinolactone and doxycycline. I hope and pray that this will work. Will it clear me up and prevent any more large, painful acne on my chin?
I’m sorry, Catherine. Skin issues can be SO frustrating. The OCM can definitely help, although I’d suggest looking at your diet, too. Balancing out the hormones through diet can make a huge difference. Good luck!
I don’t really understand how coconut oil can clog pores when it melts a little above room temperature; it’s one of the reasons why it absorbs into the skin so well.
But anyway, love this, I’ve been suffering with, well can only be described as forehead dandruff recently; so hopefully this will help.
I hear you, Jacqui. I don’t really understand it either… but that’s what the “professionals” say. But I haven’t had a problem with it at all.
Jacqui, your forehead “dandruff” is possibly (highly possible) coming from your shampoo!
Ditch your shampoo if it has sodium laurel sulfates, etc. and switch to an organic, less chemical brand. Shampoos have chemicals that increases the absorption of the toxic chemicals and can affect the skin beyond your hairline.
Years ago, my forehead would get so red and itchy after taking a shower, it was years later that I realized I was probably using an extra harsh shampoo. I also would get bumps/sores on the back of my scalp. This has stopped since switching to shampoos without the SLS. Since I started using organic shampoos and using henna/cassia to tint my graying hair, my hair and scalp is in the best condition EVER!
Good luck! And thanks Robin for your great blog!
I started the OCM about two months ago and I loved it, but the past three weeks my face has suddenly broken out with patches of eczema, which I have NEVER had before. What should I do? It’s just getting worse, not better.
Oh, I’m so sorry Sabrina! I would definitely stop doing the OCM to see if that clears up the eczema. It doesn’t really make sense that it would break out after so many weeks with no problems. Did you change brands of oil? Any changes in your diet? Eczema is *usually* a result of either environmental or digestive issues. I haven’t heard of the OCM causing eczema unless the person was allergic to the particular oil, but usually that would show up fairly quickly. But until you know what the answer is, stop using the OCM and see if that helps. It could be an allergic reaction. Again, so sorry! No fun, that’s for sure.
I was using grapeseed oil mainly but switched to Jojoba (heard it was better) and I just realized that was when I first started noticing the eczema patches. Been doing some research tonight and I think I am allergic to Jojoba.
Well, I’m sorry you’re allergic, but at least it’s somewhat comforting to know what’s going on. Hopefully the allergic reaction dies off quickly!
try black seed oil (aka nigella sativa aka black cumin seed oil). you can get a small bottle and add 1:1 ratio with another oil, or use a serum that contains it. my husband has eczema and has usually relied on cortisone creams to keep in check, but recently on a trip he forgot the tube and i FORCED him to use my serum that contains black seed oil (he doesn’t usually touch my ‘girlie’ stuff)….and he didn’t have one flareup that day. i can’t say positively that it will help you but that oil is particularly amazing.
I first read about the OCM on Pinterest over a year ago, right when I happened to be out of my favorite alcohol free toner. I found the castor oil at my regular grocery store (try looking by the laxatives if you can’t find it) and grabbed olive oil right out of my kitchen! As I was about to try it, I thought for sure that it was going to be horribly greasy afterward. To my surprise, it was absolutely fabulous. My skin was so soft afterwards, I really could not believe it. It was like I’d just had a facial. It didn’t feel dry or tight in the least. I also thought I would have make up residue still on my skin like what I see on my cotton ball after using my toner. Even though I didn’t have toner, I wet my cotton round with warm water and wiped my face. Imagine my surprise when it came away totally clean!! This has totally eliminated the need for toner for me, and I love how economical and simple this method is. Though I love this method and doubt I’ll ever go back to harsh cleanser, there are a few drawbacks for me. The first one is that I found it hard to remove all my eye make up, mainly the mascara. I found a simple solution to it by just wetting my ring finger with some water and lightly rubbing after I’ve massaged the oil in. It comes off so much easier with a few drops of water. The second issue is that I was hoping this would help with the pores on my nose and unclogging them and shrinking them. While it doesn’t seem to have improved them, it hasn’t made them any worse. I have since learned that there may not be any way to effectively shrink pores on my own. What does help somewhat is to exfoliate with baking soda and milk (or water) about twice a week.
I plan to get some coconut oil and add that to my current mixture of 50/50 castor and olive oil a few drops at a time to see if there is improvement.
When people find out that I “clean” my face with oil, they can’t believe it. I was also skeptical at first, but I’m so glad I tried this because it works so well
Hi Robin
I did my first oil cleanse tonight! my face feels so nice 
I was reading some of the post looking for an answer to whether or not this could be done on the whole body? I have very dry skin however I had terrible acne in my teenage and most of my young adult life! but now I have dry skin and I am beginning to notice the dreaded wrinkles however I am so sure this is NOT due to age but dry skin (umhmm! if only:) lol any who, I make my own soap both cold and hot press, to get away from drying commercial soaps and I have noticed the dryness is better but I still feel tight and my skin stings. My soap is always cured properly so I know this is not the reason for the stinging. It is just the dry skin. What are your thoughts on doing whole body this way? Thank you for your time 
Hi Tonia,
I don’t see why you couldn’t do this for the whole body. I personally would probably try a variation of the OCM… only because it could start getting pricey and really time intensive to do the whole thing for the whole body. I’d start by making a “body wash” using my half my oil mixture and half distilled water. Shake, and then apply to the skin, then rinse. I haven’t tried this yet, but this would be my first experiment with it.
Hope that helps! Good luck!
i so love this post and discussion! i have to give a shout out to my all time favorite oil — black cumin seed. also known as blackseed or nigella sativa. it’s a little harder to find and pricier than more regularly-seen oils, but it has amazing properties! full of a & b vitamins, niacin, folacin, and more… i definitely recommend it to anyone struggling with patchy, combination skin.
Awesome suggestions, Alyce! Thanks!
I heard about the Oil Method years ago, but I never got the nerve to try it, until recently. I wish that I had tried it years ago. Instead I abused my skin with a chemical cocktail that I paid a lot of money for. I also applied a topical antibiotic to tame the acne, and the rosacea that the chemical cocktail caused. Now, I use a slightly different Oil Method than the one mentioned above. I use pure Emu Oil. I have used Emu Oil for years, on things like healing burns, or speed delivering aspirin into sore muscles. You can do your own research on Emu Oil, but I’ve read it penetrates skin faster and deeper than any other oil. It also has major ani-inflammatory abilities… Hence, why it is used to treat arthritis, and other inflammation issues. Anyway, I use it straight to remove make up. Just a few drops will do your entire face with gentle massage. It even melts my industrial concrete eyeliner! When I shower, I just use some baking soda, or Nutrogena scrub. When showered, while face is still damp, I use 1-2 drops Emu Oil spread onto my face, and allowed to air dry. That’s all. I’ve noticed since doing this that my fine lines are diminishing, and my acne scars are fading out. P.S. My acne is dramatically affected by my diet. Through trial and error, I realized chocolate and other cocoa derivatives really made my face explode. Also, anything malted…. Some breads, all alcohol, caramel color additive( many sodas and many food items) Maltdextrin, soy sauce, malted vinegar, etc… Caffiene is also an inflammatory, and found in many popular foods and drinks. Acne sufferers need an alkaline diet. When I was a teen, I wish I had known these things.
Some great tips! Thank you.
(And yes, I think there are a lot of us who wish we knew this stuff when we were younger.)
Loved reading the comments!
Your original question was “Have you done the oil cleansing method? What do you think of it?”
This sounds exactly like old school Mary Kay/Merle Norman cleansing techniques. By old school, I mean just that – when cleansing your face meant employing a cleansing *cream,* then using a very warm, wet washcloth to remove oil, dirt and makeup. Skin was healthier and had a gorgeous glow from being pampered…not stripped.
Not sure how this will work for my ridiculously oily skin. Unlike normal people, I had dry skin that turned extremely oily after giving birth 26 years ago. It’s been oily ever since. Like…impressively oily…like, even oil control products only address it for perhaps an hour at the most. Yes, I realize it’s glandular. No, I have not yet found anything – regardless of all-natural, homeopathic, naturopathic, or cosmeceuticals – that has effectively addressed my body’s delight in manufacturing copious amounts of oil.
I am eager to try this OCM method again. Stopped doing it after my firstborn due to living in the tropics AND having the new challenges of going from lifelong dry to oily skin.
You have inspired me! I will let you know how it works. Thanks for your brilliance.
I hope you like it! Definitely let us know.
yeah it works! ive only been using oil for 4 days but my skin is clear and just a week ago it looked awful. i get break outs on my nose and chin and i use castor oil, aura glow oil from whole foods, which is just olive oil, peanut oil and lanolin, dont get me started on how awsome lanolin is just wikipedia it and you will be convinced! anyways and a couple drops of grapeseed oil. thats it and it is worth it! any product that is promoted in the U.S. we need to question! this country is not looking out for us. question everything that they try to sell to you! its all for money!
I’m wondering if the whole “like dissolving like” method would work for everything. I have oily scalp and hair. If this statement rings true then I should be able to combat my oily scalp with oil as well..right? Have you ever tried it?
I don’t really have problems with my skin, but I am so intrigued by the OCM that I”m going to try it. I’m terrified of wrinkles and aging, people already think I’m older than I am. So maybe this would help as well? So willing to try!
Do you use commercial shampoos? They strip the scalp of it’s oils so that your scalp produces more oils. I found that switching to my natural homemade shampoo that I have WAY less oily hair and I wash only twice a week.
Twice a week?! That sounds amazing. Do you have your natural shampoo recipe somewhere? I’m interested in trying it!
Yep. Here is the link: http://thankyourbody.com/all-natural-shampoo/
Just keep in mind that it will take some time for your hair to adjust back to its normal oil products which means you could have oily hair for a week or two. Also, a little goes a long way.
Hi Robin
just a quick question! I tried the evening oil cleanse last night for the first time. I used 3 parts grapeseed oil to 1 part olive oil and my face felt amazing and soft and clean afterwards.But this morning i woke up and my face was covered in a red lumpy rash -bit like a heat rash but its -10 degrees with snow at the moment in germany so cant be heat rash and i’ve not had heat rash for years.The rash is mainly on cheeks and chin area. I wondered if im allergic to grapeseed oil or the ratio was the wrong way round or if this is a common reaction when you first try it?? would appreciate some advice lol! was a bit embarrassing turning up for work this morning like a tomato! haha. oops. thanks in advance!
Oh man! I’m so sorry. It sounds like an allergic reaction to me. Some people experience breakouts at first, but nothing like that. I’d try a different oil once your face as calmed down… and probably just a patch test somewhere less conspicuous. Good luck!
ps. its settled down a bit now its the afternoon. I have oily but sensitive skin.
LOL oki doki thanks for the advice.
Well you have to try these things don’t you so maybe i’ll try with a little bit of olive oil first and like u said experiment with some other oils and do test patches. Typical me-just go full on into it and slap it all over my face lol! still its all an experience! it only lasted a day so wasn’t too bad! lol!
You may have covered this in other blogs but May I ask what your skin care regimen is (morning and night).
Wow, it’s become less and less of a routine the older I get. I used to wash both morning and night. Now days, I’ll splash my face with water at night (and after a workout), and if I feel really gross I’ll do the oil cleansing method. If I feel really dry (which most days I don’t… which is HUGE for me because I always had major dry skin), I’ll rub in a tiny bit of coconut or olive oil. That’s it. Of course, I no longer wear makeup or else I’d have more of a “get it off my face” routine at night… I sometimes wonder if I could improve the look of my skin by using a homemade natural toner and going all out… but life is just too busy, so this is what works for me for now.
And the best part is that my skin has never felt better. Simplicity is a great thing.
I am definitely going to buy the ingredients for this next week! I used an oil cleansing method over 10 years ago, but there were still some ingredients that I didn’t feel comfortable with. Love that I can now make it at home. LOVE your site BTW…I have been recommending it to my health coaching clients!
I have used Castor Oil to remove my eye makeup for months now and it’s wonderful. I have been using Burt’s Bees wipes to clean my face and putting the coconut oil on at night to moisturize. But now it seems I can weed out a step and go straight for the oils! Nice! Coconut oil can clog right at first, but that won’t last and it smells awesome! Plus if you put it in your warm drinks it is awesome too! I love it in my Choffy, it’s so yummy!
Hi there. I have been doing this for the past few months and my skin has really improved. But recently a friend of mine said that my facial hair will increase with this as it has castor oil in it as a lotta ppl recommend castor oil for scanty brows. What do u think?
I haven’t noticed a problem… if anything I feel like those little unwanted facial hairs are going away. I haven’t done any research on it, so take what I say with a grain of salt. I know A LOT of people who have done the OCM without any talk about growing more facial hair.
I put it on in the shower, keeping my face out of the water while I massage. When I’m done rubbing it in, I close my eyes and put my face under the water and let it just wash itself off. It takes a couple minutes and I rub it in some more, but that way it’s still getting some time in hot water and it’s so super lazy I love it!
That’s sounds lovely.
Hi, ive been doing this for about a week and a half with no good results. My face is super dry and painful. And my face is still breaking out. Keep wanting to give ip but wanna hold on for results:-/ when you get new pimples are you suppose to pop them or let it go away on its own? thanks
Hi Kay, every person is different and has different issues regarding skin health. I can say that this is still a lot safer than *most* commercial cleaners that you’ll put on your face. It sounds like you may have some digestive issues to heal as most skin issues are gut related.
As far as popping them… most experts say “don’t do it, period.” Sometimes it’s just too hard. Just be sure that if you do pop them that you clean the area before and after and that you find a gentle way so as not to scar the skin. If you can avoid popping, that’s your best bet.
Thanks! I stopped using the caster oil and my face is no longer dry. Im now trying olive oil with jojoba oil.
I have the best results with the oil cleansing method. (Especially love washing my face this way in the winter!) My skin has been the best yet with this (sunflower oil-castor oil was recommended when I first heard about this). I still have more dry scaly patches that have not gone away but I am much better!!
That’s Great!
hey! I have a question about using the ocm while camping or being outdoors. I go to a lot of festivals in the summer and there really isn’t a way to have running water. what would be your suggestion for a portable way to keep using this without going back to nasty chemicals.
I’d use less and then I’d make my own sort of “beauty wipes.” Using washcloths or paper towels, get them nice and wet and put them in some sort of air tight container or bag and they should still have enough moisture when you need them. You just may need more than one.
for the first time in my adult life i have a clear face. Thanx to OCM. i blend sunflower oil, castor oil, neem oil and few drops of tea tree oil. it clear my acne and make my face skin fairer. i don’t use commercial face cream and face powder anymore.
I’m tempted to try this method… My skin has been perfect/normal/breakout free for years (after using Accutane in my teens… terrible, I know! but it worked for me). Since moving to the Pacific NW, though, my skin has suffered tremendously. I used to use jojoba oil as a moisturizer, but felt it made me break out. I have been using coconut oil as a moisturizer on my face for a couple months now (and Cetaphil as a cleanser), but my skin still feels rough and patchy/dry. After trying various fruit based cleansers, “gentle” cleaners, etc., I’m just not sure what to do anymore! I’ve heard it could be the water here? Also causing dry scalp… What’s a girl to do with that sort of information lol.
Hmmmm… I would maybe try and stop using cetaphil as that could be drying your skin out. Where did you move from? What sort of humidity change is your skin experiencing?
I moved from Southern California to Portland OR. I only recently started using Cetaphil again after trying a fruit enzyme cleanser that worked for me in CA but as of yesterday, I’ve cut out the cleanser. Any recommendations for the oil combination I should try? I currently have coconut and jojoba.
What is your skin type? Dry? I like jojoba and coconut… but coconut oil *can* be a problem for some people. You could just try jojoba by itself, or add in some olive oil.
Since coming off of Accutane, I guess my skin would be considered normal (maybe a little oily during the day but I attributed that to my tinted moisturizer and working/sweating) up until moving here. After cleansing, my skin feels “tight” unless I apply a moisturizer. I’m assuming, like you, this is from the cleanser itself. Even after a gentle scrub (and only then does it feel less patchy for a day), I still have flecks of dryness/skin around my nose if I apply makeup. I’ll try jojoba and olive oil
Last question… I read a while back that not all olive oils are pure. Is that a problem, and how can you tell? I currently have Trader Joe’s Cold Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
I appreciate all of your insight
For this I would think Trader Joe’s will work just wonderfully.
I’ve been using the OCM for about a week now, I’m doing it every night witch is drying out my skin a lot. I’m using 2 parts jojoba oil and one part castor with tea tree on my pimples. I have combination skin that is very sensitive and acne prone. I also live in a very dry climate.
I’ve been breaking out a bit, mostly along my cheeks and neck, I was wondering if anyone has suggestions on what I should do differently. And I was wondering what type of face makeup is best to use with this cleansing routine.
Thanks!
Hey.
So i’ve been doing the OCM for about a week, my skin is getting really dry. i’m using 1 part castor to two parts jojoba. Any thing i should try differently?
i have very senstive skin that is really acne prone. I also live in a very dry climate.
Also, what is they best type of face make up to use while doing this?
Try just jojoba oil. Castor oil can be drying.
As far as makeup… any quality makeup that won’t clog your pores and isn’t full of toxic chemicals should work just fine. I also have some homemade makeup tutorials on this site. Just do a search for makeup in the search bar on the top right.
I currently use a whipped mixture of organic coconut oil and vitamin E oil. My family actually has a skin disease that leaves huge pits on the face. Growing up I was fearful this would be my skin outcome.
I was taken to the numerous dermatologists and at one point my skin became so “intoxicated” with products it had swollen up so much my eyes could hardly open etc. It was horrifying! I remember the doc saying, “Well maybe we should give your skin a break for a little bit.” UHHH, ya think!?!?
I’ve definitely found using the combo I do to be extremely worth while and effective! It’s amazing to watch the skin just soak it up and rest assured if you have oily/acne prone skin like me using oil will NOT make it more oily!
Great post Robin!
http://thefood4life.blogspot.com/2013/03/diy-lotion-with-recipe-link.html
Thank you, Jerica!
YES!! I have oily acne-prone skin and i just started using this method. I used about 30% castor oil and 70% grapeseed oil. I also put a couple drops of organic calendula oil in for it’s anti-inflammatory properties. My skin is already looking more clear and radiant and I look forward to washing my face!! i do have a question though if anyone has an answer? What should I do if I work out in the morning? Should I wash my face again to get rid of the sweat? Should I just rinse it? I have heard that just using water does not effectively clean the skin and dries it out. Is that not true when using this method? Please, any advice will help! Thanks!
I’d just rinse. You don’t want to over wash your face.
I have been doing the OCM with jojoba oil at night for about two months. I have never had problems with acne. Before I just used Clearasil twice a day with face lotion. I really wanted to try something more natural which is why switched to the jojoba oil. I really love how soft and moisturized my skin felt. I haven’t needed any lotion. But two months later and my T-zone is covered in pimples and they aren’t going away. I am frustrated since I have never experienced acne like this before, not even in high school (I am 32). I am about to give up the OCM and go back to my face wash but I wanted to see if anyone has any suggestions. Thanks.
Could be that the jojoba oil is too rich for your skin. You could try a different oil or just do it less frequently. I only do the OCM every couple of days and then wash with water the other days. It could also be your body detoxing and could be temporary… but I know how frustrating bad skin can be (especially if it comes out of nowhere)… consider taking a day or two off from the oil and just using water to see how your skin responds.
I have been using this method for a month or so now and LOVE how my skin feels. However since the nice weather I have noticed my face is way more sensitive to the sun. I have gotten red both times I have been out for an extended amount of time. I do have fair skin but I have never been this sensitive. I am cleansing with Sweet Almond Oil and Grapeseed oil. Could the oils I am using be causing this? And if so can anyone recommend ones that won’t have such an affect as this or possibly a natural sunscreen for sensitive skin? Any help would be great! Thanks
I just re-read above and realized both oils I use are for oily skin..and I don’t have complete oily skin, it is sensitive and combination….any other suggestions?
I’d recommend taking fermented cod liver oil as I found that helped my skin a lot. You could also try putting a little coconut oil on as a moisturizer as it has some sun protective qualities ( a little goes a long way, though)
Thank you Robin! I will look into this. Where do you get the Cod Liver Oil?
I use coconut oil on my body I will try some on my face as well.
Thanks again for getting back so quickly
You can find some here: http://villagegreennetwork.com/marketplace/supplements-superfoods?pid=46
Good luck!
Just a quick question! Is the recipe still the same if I decide to use jojoba oil instead of castor oil for the normal skin recipe? still a 1:1 ratio?
It’s a good place to start. You may want to see how it feels on your face and adjust ratios to find your perfect combo.
Im 13 and have acbe on my chin, forehead, and nose. I just started using evoo last night and my face feels AMAZING!!!! I was wondering if using evoo would get rid of my acne in time?
I meant acne oops. lol will it clear up all of my acne? If so how long before most of it is gone?
I think the OCM can help with skin issues a lot, but it’s hard to say whether or not it will clear it up completely. In my experience diet and getting rid of makeup made this biggest changes in my skin. But this is definitely a good start. I’d slowly start taking out all processed foods and replacing them with real food including quality fats to really help your skin. Good luck. Acne can be so frustrating!
I am using the OCM and my face feels nice. I stopped using moisturizer. Yesterday I had some sun spots looked at on my face and the derm said I need to use a good moisturizer w 30 SPF and reapply at lunch time. What should I use? Thank you!
I personally only use sunscreen when I know I’m going to be out a lot and then I am VERY picky about what I’ll use as most commercial sunscreens are very toxic (and have even been linked to causing skin cancer.) Coconut oil has some mild sunscreen properties… I’d also just wear a hat when I am going to be out for a while. Diet is really the most important factor when finding protection from the sun. http://thankyourbody.com/sunscreen-i-never-thought/
I am in total agreement re sunscreens and have avoided them for years before the recent reports started to come out. I use coconut oil and aloe vera and the same combination plus lavender after any exposure.
Can you tell me what OCM is?
Duh!!!! Just realized it stands for oil cleansing method :/