I’m just going to put this out there from the start:
I haven’t washed my face in 2 months.
Yes, you read that correctly. I haven’t washed my face in 2 months…Well, not with soap, anyways. And you know what? I absolutely love it! I do NOT miss my old facial cleansers one single bit!
And believe me, I’ve tried every kind. Liquids, bars, creams, foams, etc. You name it, I’ve tried it. And no matter what perfect list of promises was listed on the packaging, my face always still felt either too dry, too oily, too pore-y, or worse, just plain pimply… Eww..
So a few months ago, I came across this crazy idea: washing your face with oil.
To which you may be thinking, “Oil? What?! No way! That goes against everything I’ve ever been taught!”
And you’d be absolutely right. It does go against everything we’ve been taught – but maybe that’s not such a bad thing!
The basic concept of this skin care and cleansing method is that the oil used to massage your skin will dissolve the oil that has hardened with impurities and found itself stuck in your pores. The steam will open your pores, allowing the oil to be easily removed. Should you need it, the smallest drop of the same oil formula patted over damp skin will provide the necessary lubrication to keep your skin from over-compensating in oil production. (Source)
After using the oil cleansing method for a few weeks, I decided that I absolutely loved it, and officially threw away my last bar of face soap. Then I ventured out to find a couple more homemade products to round out my all-natural face wash routine. So this is part 1 of a series of upcoming posts about the short list of natural, homemade products I use to care for my skin.
When you think about all the products being marketed to us to help us “improve” our skin – soaps, moisturizers, scrubs, toners, astringents, anti-aging this and that… The truth is we don’t need any of those overpriced, chemical-laden, concoctions.
All you need is a few homemade alternatives for healthy, refreshed, naturally beautiful skin!
The Oil Cleansing Method
I won’t go into too much detail on the oil cleansing method, as there are a lot of really great posts (check out the links below!) that explain it much better than I could ever do. But I will share with you one excerpt, which is a good introduction:
Do not be afraid of applying oil to your face. Oil, alone, will not bring you blemishes. Pimples, cysts, zits, blackheads, whiteheads…these are a result of several different f
actors 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, allowing your largest organ to function properly. It is naturally occurring. Not only does your natural oil help lubricate, it also heals, protects, and moisturizes your skin so that it may function properly. Properly functioning skin is beautiful, clear, and glowing. Learning to work with your skin, not against it, will save you tremendously. (Source)
Basically, you use a mixture of castor oil, carrier oils, and optionally, essential oils, in differing ratios, to “wash” your face. It also makes a great makeup remover!
Below is a recipe for my favorite oil ratio, along with my preferred technique for washing, and some extra notes. Steps 4, 5, and 7 are completely optional, and I only do them if I have the time or if I’m feeling up for a good pampering session. 🙂
Note that I have combination skin. If your skin is more oily, you’ll want to increase the castor oil. If your skin is more dry, you’ll want to increase the carrier oils (more info on proper oil ratios are in the resources below).
Recipe
- 1 part castor oil + 1 part olive oil + 1 part grape seed oil
- A few drops of essential oil, optional (lavender or tea tree are my fav)
- Add oils to a squeeze bottle and swirl to combine.
Technique
- Start With a Dry Face. Pour a quarter-sized amount of oil mixture into your palm.
- Massage Your Face. Vigorously rub the oil between your palms to warm it up. Gently apply the oil to your face in a circular motion. Massage it into your skin, but don’t rub too hard. Continue to massage the oil into your skin for 30-60 seconds.
- Steam Your Pores. Turn on the tap to very hot water (as hot as you can stand, but not scalding!). Saturate a wash cloth, wring it out, then lay it across your face to steam your pores open. Leave it on until it cools back down to room temperature.
- Massage Again. (optional) Massage your now steamed, oily skin again for another 5-10 seconds to work out any impurities from your pores.
- Steam Again. (optional) Rinse the wash cloth, wring it out, and lay it on your face a second time.
- Clean Your Face. Once it cools down, rinse it again, then gently wipe your face clean, removing all the dirt and impurities from your skin and pores. Rinse the wash cloth and wipe your face again until there’s no more oil left on your skin (about 1 or 2 more times).
- Moisturize. (0ptional) Your skin will look and feel better right from the first time! Your face will be brighter, dewey-looking, and very soft. If needed, you may moisturize with a tiny bit of one of your carrier oils (in my case, either olive or grape seed), but most likely, you won’t need to. Coconut oil is also another great moisturizer – just a tiny bit goes a long way.
Extra Notes
- It’s best to do this at night, before going to bed. Some people do it every other night, some do it every night, and some (like me) just do it a few times a week. Go with whatever feels natural and necessary for you. In the morning, I just splash some warm, then cold water on my face, or I use a honey mask/scrub about once a week.
- Don’t be alarmed if for the first few days, your skin looks like it’s getting worse – that’s normal! It just means that the oils are working and are cleansing your pores by bringing all the lingering dirt and impurities to the surface. It will get better!
- Your personal oil ratio will depend on your skin type. Castor oil is drying, while the carrier oils are more moisturizing. Start with small batches at first, until you find the right ratio for you.
- Some readers have asked where they can find the little flip-top squeeze bottle you see in the pictures. I found them in the travel size section of my drug store (Shopper’s in Canada), but my friend, Megan, at A New Day has graciously informed me that you can find them at CVS in the US as well.
- One of our readers brought up the issue of using castor oil during pregnancy (castor oil can cause preterm labor), but after checking with my midwife, I’ve been assured that it’s only dangerous if it is ingested internally – if used topically (and specifically with OCM, it should be completely safe, but please still check with your midwife/doctor before trying it!)
More Oil Cleansing Method Resources
- Thank Your Skin has an amazing comprehensive guide that covers everything from which oils to use, the pros and cons of OCM, and even a few case studies with actual pictures of people who have used it.
- Crunchy Betty has a great guide, which includes information on the best oils to use, as well as some of the best ratios for different skin types.
- Simple Mom also has some great pointers from her personal experience with this method.
- Natural Living Mamma shares some very helpful background info on this method, including how to use essential oils with it.
It is my day 1 of using oily castor oil to cleanse my skin and follow with drops of rosehip to moisturise and thereafter put on my night cream. Tonight I will steam twice as suggested. I will also do this for 7 days after which I will do it 4 x a week. Thanks for sharing. I will monitor my progress. I hope this will help with pigmentation, wrinkles, cows shoes and of course the dead cells around the mouth leading to a youthful look. Thanks.
I tried doing this, but unfortunately didn’t work out for me. I used castor oil, for like two/three weeks but I started getting pimples. I guess this just shows that these things basically depend on your skin type and it’s not for everybody. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Elna
I struggle with severe Atopic Dermatitis, with sensitivity to 8 chemicals, that are routinely found in almost every body, household and cleaning products. Natures Nurture has been indispensable in walking me into chemical free cleaning and solutions. While tackling the larger problems, I had little success in finding a way to wash and moisturize my face. I was nervous, it’s my face after all, and already fatigued and distressed. I have a carrier oil I use successfully, and read the information, recipes, other sites referenced, and finally decided to try. It has been amazing. After the first night, my face was clean, moisturized, soft, and less fatigued. One week, no irritation, no hives or itching!
This is amazing, Lynn! So happy you’re finding help and relief!
I oil cleanse at night and I was wondering if I could, in the morning, use a handmade goat milk bar soap. Would this be too stripping and deting or should i give it a shot? I have normal to dry skin. Thank you!
Hey Gracie,
My advice is always to do what works best for your skin. So I would totally try the goat milk soap in the morning for a few days, and see how your skin responds. If it’s fine, then you know you can keep using it. If not, then you either need to find another morning cleanser, or try using just warm water in the morning. Hope that helps!
Wow, I really want to try this out. I’ve noticed oil accumulate on my skin within 3 hours of washing my face, so I was wondering if this could help me too?
Definitely worth a try, Joquim!
I’ve read in numerous articles about the OCM that it’s generally strongly advised that you DO NOT use olive or coconut oil as part of one’s oil cleansing mixture(s). In fact I know that at least, Crunchy Betty shares information about this in her OCM post(s). While I know both works and have personally used them for removing eye makeup, that it, as well as coconut oil, and will likely break the person out unless they have 100% perfect skin, not a problem their entire life, but that even then it poses hazard. Both olive and coconut oil have not so forgiving comodegenic ratings. Thought I’d throw that out there as science- based, factual information I’ve read as well as well experimented with in case not everyone finds this particular method helpful or result in irritated skin. I have combination skin as well and I use (only cold pressed oils)
– 25% Castor Oil
–50% Almond Oil
& it varies with the other 25%, between rose if I’m drier, Argan, which has been acclaimed for any skin type, and have been meaning to buy Seabuckthorn oil. Love sharing the benefits and options of not supporting the mainstream skincare market seething with dangerous chemicals so thanks for sharing and am only commenting, which I never do, to share some knowledge I didn’t hear right away but have learned over the last few years of switching to “cleaner” products, so no hatin’.
Haha, thanks for jumping in and dropping some knowledge on us, Autumn – no hatin’ at all, only love and respect. 🙂 This is quite the old post, and I’ve experimented with lots of oils over the years, so I think this one is due for an update soon. Thanks again for the reminder and sharing your story. 🙂
I’ve been thinking about trying oil for a few months. I’ll have to try!
Hi, I really like the OCM as I myself have been doing this for almost 2 months now alternating cleansing every other day. But lately I’ve noticed that the skin around my mouth had became really dry and there are a lot of white waxy stuff purging out from my pores. What does this mean? I’m I overdoing it? I really like how glowy and smooth my skin look after oil cleansing but it’s also uncomfortable to have this extra dry patch of skin around my mouth. Hope to hear back from you soon. Thanks!
It could be that you’re doing it too often, but also could be one of the oils you’re using. Try experimenting with different oils or different ratios to see if that helps.
Hi, I’m wondering what other methods you use to remove make up at night? If I don’t use the OCM every night, what are some other non-harsh ways to remove make up? TIA!
Just straight oil! Jojoba oil or coconut oil is great for this, although coconut can cause issues with sensitive skin. I’ve also seen recipes floating around that mix equal parts oil (like jojoba), water, and witch hazel. Haven’t tried this since I just use OCM for the rare occasions that I wear makeup, but if you give it a go, let us know!
How am I supposed to take my makeup off when I’m not doing the ocm? I don’t wear foundation or anything really heavy, but I’ve read not to use soap. Help?
Depending on how much makeup you usually wear, you could get away with using straight coconut oil or jojoba oil to remove your makeup. I use a small amount in my palms, and rub it all over my face, paying special attention to the eye area if we’re dealing with mascara, eye liner, shadow, etc., then rinse with water, and tone with diluted apple cider vinegar to get the rest of the residue off.
You could also try the recipe at the bottom of this post; I haven’t tried it, but it looks promising: http://wholenewmom.com/whole-new-budget/best-homemade-eye-makeup-remover/
I use organic (white) rye flour as a skin cleanser. A half-dollar size amount in the palm of the hand, mixed with enough added water to make a paste… Rub it into your face and wash with warm water. Very economical and very easy, and I love the way my face feels. I don’t even feel the need to moisturize afterwards (no “tight” feeling). I got the idea from people who used it as a shampoo because it was the right PH for hair–which is also the right one for skin. I may try the oil method, just out of curiosity, but I’m really satisfied with the rye flour.
Interesting, Edith! Will have to look more into that one. Thanks for the tip!
Hi there!
I’m all about natural skin care and have been meaning to try the OCM for some time now but have been very skeptical. I’m currently using almond oil to cleanse my face and remove make up but have yet to add castor oil.
Not only is my skin oily and acne prone but I also deal with constant flakiness. I exfoliate daily with a washcloth but still deal with the flakiness. It’s very frustrating. I wear powder foundation every day so I need to exfoliate before I apply my makeup. Otherwise it just looks horrid. My question is will the addition of castor oil to my cleansing routine help keep the flakiness at bay? I’ve also been using honey in the mornings to cleanse and as a mask but my skin hasn’t improved. Sorry for the long post! I’ve been dealing with this for some time now and just want to find a method that works. Thanks!!
I like your method such a brilliant technique to use for natural skin care.
Thanks a lot for sharing wonderful post….
Thank you for this blog post! I love using oil for the skin, and had a chance to try out the Oille Natural line of organic skin care from Brooklyn, NY. I highly recommend this product to anyone looking for a natural, luxury facial or body oil.
For more information here is my blog post on the products: http://www.beautyreawakened.com/blog/2014/8/20/oille-natural-reawakened-review
xox Jacqueline – Beauty Reawakened
You can apply the lemon juice to your face with a cotton ball at night and rinse
off your face in the morning. The first thing you need to realize is
that contrary to what many skin experts believe, the food that
you eat has a lot to do with acne. Lemon juice can brighten the skin, fade freckles,
and lighten age spots.
Heyy really found ur method very interesting. Definately want to try it out.I have hard cystic acne over my face n have been trying to get rid of them since long.I have been recommended salicylic peels as a cure.but m not sure if dats safe n will work.does anyone has any suggestions for this.
Good morning, I’m 62 years old & my skin has always been very good although it tends to be a little dry. I’ve never had acne. In my mid-20’s I developed a skin condition & was prescribed a steroid based cream which I’ve used for the past 40 years. At my dr.’s suggestion, (different dr.), I’ve stopped using the cream. I wash my face w/Cetaphil & use shea butter afterwards; however, the shea butter is too heavy. I started using organic extra virgin coconut oil on Sunday & I love it. The only problem is that my mouth becomes tingly and extra dry. the only thing that works on my mouth is vaseline, which I hate. Can you give me some suggestions. I just discovered your website today & am subscribing. Thank you very much.
Hi just wondering where you can get castor oil and grapeseed oil? As I looked at the local supermarket but didn’t see??? Thanks!
I get it from my local health foods store, like Whole Foods, etc. You can also find them online at Amazon.
I’ve just been using coconut oil. I put it on my skin, leave it for a couple of minutes so some of the oil can soak in (it soaks in really well compared to a lot of oils), maybe brush my teeth in the meantime, and then wash the excess off with warm water, washing the impurities away with it 🙂 my skin is so clean and soft and makeup just melts off!
The recommendations I have seen all say to use OCM at night time. Here are my issues: The pores on my nose are large and oily, but only occasionally have a whitehead. I also have red bumps on my lower cheek/jawline and my chin which would probably become whiteheads if I left them alone. I am 49 and through menopause. I’m also a picker (blush-hardest thing to admit). Problem is if I feel any kind of bump on my skin I have to pick. This is a problem from last 2 years, and I have horrible scars now. Currently I have several open sores on my chin area that I’m desperate to heal. Then going forward I would like to take better care of my skin, going natural. Now, other horrible problem, which relates to the using of OCM at night time. I sleep with a C-Pap mask on. I’m not sure what if any affect putting the mask on after washing (OCM) will do to my skin. Has anyone else had this issue? Does anyone have any suggestions to help me make the best decisions? Thanks so much for your help!
I am 31 years old and have been battling with acne for 15 years. I only get acne on my chin and around my mouth. I have tried Accutane (twice), two bouts of tetracycline, and many topical creams, etc. Some will help temporarily but my acne always comes back. I have been doing lots of research online and I think my acne might be hormonal as it is only on my chin and around my mouth – nowhere else. So last week I started taking supplements to see if it will help. I have started doing OCM two weeks ago (3 parts jojoba oil: 1 part castor oil with a few drops of tea tree oil). I wear Jane Iredale mineral pressed powder during work days (five days a week). I have been using OCM in the evenings when I wear makeup. I have broken out badly on my chin, the worst it has ever been. Every morning I wake up with a ton of whiteheads on my chin and around my mouth since starting OCM. Is this my skin purging? If so, how long is the purging process? Is there anything else I can do to help? I also use apple cider vinegar/water toner once or twice a day. In the mornings, I splash my face with warm then cold water and if my skin feels tight I dab a bit of jojoba oil on. I need help as to why my chin has broken out so badly! It has made me very self-conscious.
I’m so sorry Amanda, I know how frustrating that can be, but it does sound like the purging process to me. Though it usually lasts anywhere between 10-20 days on average. If it doesn’t let up, it may be that your skin doesn’t like one of the oils you’re using, or maybe that your ratio is off. I would decrease the jojoba oil a bit to a 3:1 or a 2:1 ratio. The castor oil helps to dry out excess oil on the skin so you may just need a bit more of it. You could also experiment with other carrier oils like sweet almond or grape seed oil.
Once you’re past the purging stage, it’s also a good idea to exfoliate your skin at least once a week as well. Hope that helps!
I’m so glad I stumbled across this article!
I’ve had acne since I was 15 (now 21) I’ve tried Accutane and I’ve been on antibiotics and have used topical treatments, but nothing has made a dramatic difference in my skin.
At this point my skin is dry, irritated and super sensitive.
I can’t wait to try this, but I have a few questions.
1. Does it take off face makeup completely?
2. Can I use it everyday (since I put makeup on everyday) or even twice a day?
3. I also workout everyday, so I’m wondering if I can use this after a workout too?
Yes, it will take off a full face of makeup – you just have to be very diligent in massaging the oil to get it deep down to clean out the pores, and pay special attention to the eye area if you wear heavy eye makeup.
You can use it everyday, but if so I would keep the castor oil to a minimum (or even eliminate it completely) most of the time. Castor oil can be very drying, so using daily or twice a day, on a regular basis may irritate the skin over time.
Honestly, if you’re already using OCM at night (or mornings) to cleanse your face, you probably won’t need it after a workout. You can try just splashing your face with warm water and kind of rubbing it in with your hands (as if you’re scrubbing with soap). That should be sufficient enough to wash of any sweat from your face.
Good luck!
You’re right – oil is not a dirty word!
Getting rid of the dirt is all you need to do. Whatever gets rid of it is adequate.
I make my own soap (I need it – I’m a dirty guy) and one of the important parts of doing that is leaving some of the oil ‘unconverted’ so that it can help offset the effect of the soap stripping away the natural oils of your skin.
Nice post!
I used few months ago a recipe with castor oil and i saw some improvements, but not what i expected. I hope this recipe will help me more. Nice post!
I had pimples as early as grade school, worsened in high school and now, in my 20s, it’s terrible more than ever. I don’t just have ordinary acne but I have cystic acne – a lot of it. Some of my acne can’t be seen but if you touch my face, you’ll be able to feel the cystic acne that can be as beans (not exaggerating). This acne dilemma is not only painful physically but also socially and emotionally. If you also have acne, I believe you would strongly agree with me. I have very oily, sensitive and acne-prone skin. In the middle of the day, I had to use Clarisonic Pro. The amount of oil on my face is more than enough to make the blue oil-absorbing sheet turn completely transparent.
It sounds like the bathing methods used by the Greeks, Romans and a few other ancient cultures. You might be interested in the use of a similar method to the OCM. It’s used on the whole body and uses a strigil that helps exfoliate.
Please! I need your help! I hope I am not too late to get an answer from you. First of all I loved your post! I really liked the idea of going natural and using oil to clean my face. After a lot of resistance I decided to give it a try and used 50% castor oil 25%jojoba oil and 25%avocado oil. My skin is pretty good, I have almost no acne just a little bit of black heads on the forehead and sometimes next to my mouth. I tried this method because I like oils on my skin (I already use Argan oil before sleep) and because I wanted to deep clean my face. The posts I saw online were amazing too.
I have tried the OCM 5 times during 2 weeks. The first time I did it was like heaven but now my skin freaked out. I never have acne and my chin and the sides of my mouth have so many pimples and little spots that I do not know if they are black heads, white heads or what. I does not itch and my skin does not feel dry or oily. I searched online and got desperate because I saw many people saying the OCM destroyed their skin and made cystic acne appear.
I really wanted to keep doing it but I am afraid now and I am completely lost. Can you give an advice? I would really appreciate it.
Thank you!!
Monique, it’s true that some have developed cystic acne from OCM, so it may not be for everyone. You could just be using the wrong combination/proportions of oils for your skin, that’s why it’s good to make small batches so you can experiment with them. But of course, if you’re completely uncomfortable going any further, you could just stop OCM and look for a natural, organic skin cleanser to see if that helps. Good luck!
I suffer from blackheads I was using OCM for about a couple months and made the mix for oily skin. I was rubbing it in for way too long (sometimes about 30 mins) and at first, it made my skin so nice and soft and seemed to clear it up so nicely. A few weeks in however, it started to take a nasty turn. I started getting pimples where I had never gotten them before and a few weeks later, my face is covered in blackheads and tiny bumps.
I’ve been off it for about 2.5 weeks and it my skin seems to go up and down in recovery. Is this something that will eventually regulate itself or is it something I need to see a dermatologist about??
Hi Jennifer, there is definitely a transition period with OCM where your skin will start purge itself of all the underlying impurities trapped under you skin. It usually lasts around 2-3 weeks. It’s good to also make up small batches so that you can adjust the oils according to how your skin is responding. That being said, OCM may not necessarily be for everyone (as with anything else) and if you feel that you need to see a dermatologist, then that will have to be a judgement call on your part since I’m not familiar with your situation, nor am I a professional who can provide that guidance.
I can mention though, that for blackheads, I like to use a baking soda scrub that helps exfoliate the skin and remove dead skin cells and blackheads: https://naturesnurture.co/baking-soda-for-blackheads/
Best of luck to you and hope your skin starts feeling better soon!
I just started the OCM, maybe 2 weeks ago, and so far its working very well, but I’m having trouble with the stubborn skin on and around my nose. I have combo skin, so I use the same ratio that you do, maybe alittle more olive oil, and my nose is drying out terribly. I’m not sure if its the castor oil, or the lavender essential oil (I put a few drops), or maybe the water is too hot (though I don’t so). I also put some coconut oil on my skin afterwards as a moisturizer but it doesn’t seem to be working. Its like my skin absorbs the oil and is still dry. Is this normal when first starting out? Or is it just me?
Hi Carmen, I think you your castor oil may be too much, which could be drying out the skin on your nose. I would try a small batch with a little less castor oil for a few days and see how that goes. Some people don’t use castor oil at all, so don’t worry about using too little. It takes some experimenting to get the perfect ratio for you, and I hope you find your soon!
Help! I started using OCM about 5 weeks ago and loved it in the begining. My ratio was 1:4 castor to EVOO. I have dry skin and used to be acne prone years ago but now only get an occasional little pimple here and there. My skin is sensitive and I decided to try the OCM because even though I was clear I was dry and thought this might bring my skin to a more healthy condition. I am beside myself right now with how broken out I am:-(( I started to break out at about week 3 and panicked and switched from the EVOO to jojoba thinking maybe the EVOO was too thick. I also have been adding 1-2 drops of neem oil to my mixture per the recomendation of the person at the vitamin store I go to. What to do?? I am so confused:-(( Should I stop?? Thinking I may. I have been so consumed with this whole process and have been spending so much time online reading about it and not wanting to leave because of how broken out I am. I am sad that it may not work for me because it felt so nice in the begining and my face was so supple. Afraid to stick it out and let it get much worse. Thoughts?? Thank you
Fascinating. I am going to have to give this a try, but I do love a foaming face cleanser too. Thanks for sharing!
Have you heard of anyone trying this with kaolin clay? It’s my newest obsession and I’d be curious if the combo works and is maybe ultra-effective at deep cleaning pores. I only recently started really taking care of my skin and the 10+ years of acne and blackheads that have plagued me need some miracle-working!
Going around leaving comments on all the blogs I used as references when starting the OCM- Thank you!!
This has worked beautifully, even my mom can’t stop commenting on how great my skin looks. I’ve dealt with horrible, face completely covered in acne since I was 16. I even went on Accutane, which helped a lot, but I was still dealing with consistently recurring pimples. OCM has given me so much confidence!
My concoction that I’ve found works best is a combination of:
2 parts Castor Oil
1 part EVOO
1 part Jojoba oil
2-3 drops Tea Tree Oil
1-2 drops Rosemary Oil
Which all helped with my combination skin, and keeping those pimples down, with rarely any making their way to the surface of my skin. I still wear makeup, because I always have and that’s not something I can just stop. But I do feel leaps and bounds better about my face.
Hope this helps someone out there. Thanks again!
Can I use OCM day and night, 7 days a week? Or is it wise to just do it a couple times a week at night?
I’ve read that it’s important to not use certain types of facial cleansers if I plan to do the OCM, however, if this is so, I would like to know which cleanser to buy, so I can use this in the morning. Do you have any recommendations? I have combination skin, that used to be acne prone, but I rarely get acne anymore. I am 25 years old and I want to try OCM, because I want my skin to glow and have more of a supple feel to it. I’ve also heard it gets rid of blotchiness and I have a little bit of that going on.
Thanks very much for your help!
Megs
Megs, it’s not recommended to use it both day and night, every day and night. At most, people have done every night but depending on your skin type, that may be too drying. In the morning I just use warm water to wash my face – no cleansers or anything. You’re right, you shouldn’t be using cleansers along with OCM because they can undo what the OCM is doing – restoring balance to your skin. You can try to do OCM every night, but if you notice your skin getting a bit dry, you may want to switch to every other night. On nights you don’t use OCM, you can just do the OCM process but with just straight coconut oil. It’s also a great makeup remover!
Since your skin is not acne prone, I would suggest using a combination of olive oil and either grapeseed oil or sweet almond oil, along with the castor oil. Remember that castor oil is the drying factor, so you’ll want to start with small batches until you perfect your ratio.
Hope that helps and don’t hesitate to ask if you need more help! Best of luck!
What great information. Who knew! I am more of a visual person. Would you be willing to do a video for us from start to finish? Like showing us the ingredients, then how you put the recipe together and then how you apply it. I think it would help for me to be able to see it before I try to do it myself. I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks for your consideration!
Hello there. Just recently i decided to slowly make the change of every product i use into all natural resources. I began with skin and hair products .i started using oil for my face a few months ago. I threw everything out. I cycle between coconut oil, vitamin e oil, olive oil, etc. i put a generous amount all over my face, massage for about a minute and use a hot wet towel to whipe it off, & then i pat a little on after for moisture. I’ve also been boiling a pot of water and steaming my face for about 10 mins every other day. I’ve read article after article about how amazing this is and have to admit my face FEELS better. Problem: since beginning this regime i have broken out with acne all over my face. I’m 28 years old. I went through puberty, adelesance, & all through my 20’s with a total of about 6 pimples. I’ve always had very clear skin and now out of nowhere i look like a 15 year old kid. All i need is braces and glasses. So bc of this, I’ve been looking up natural acne cures: banana face mask, tomato/lemon juice/gram flower face mask.. Nothing is working. I really do not want to go back to chemical filled commercial products! Do you have any idea what it’s going on and any suggestions a to how to get back to my beautiful proceline skin? If not, do you know sometime i can talk to? All the dermatologist is going to do is suggest more chemicals 🙁 Thank you so much for your time & i hour to hear from you soon!
Hi Misty!
ChWell I’m so happy that you’ve decided to ditch all those nasty chemicals! But I’m also sorry that you’re having breakout issues. 🙁 Can I ask about your exact OCM method? You say that you’re cycling between coconut, olive, and vit. E oils but does that mean that you’re rubbing those oils individually on your skin? Are you using any castor oil at all? Just a small amount in your oil mixture can help with the breakouts. Also, you might want to try different oils and combinations – the resources list at the end of this post has some great external links to check out, especially the one from Crunchy Betty which has a list of oils for different skin types.
Hope that gives you a place to start and let me know if you have more questions!
Hi, I’m starting now to use the OCM method but I have doubts regarding the regimen to the remaining days. Say I use the OCM every other night, what do I use on the night in between? Also what kind of sunscreen should I use during the day? Can you recommend a brand/ type. What about anti-wrinkle products? Are there any natural ones that you recommend that would go with the OCM method? Thank you!
Joana, When I don’t use OCM, I just use warm water to “wash” it at night. But I don’t wear makeup everyday (or ever, really), so I can get away with that. If you do wear makeup, you’ll obviously have to wash it off, so others have looked for and found a natural facial cleanser that they’re happy and comfortable with using on the occasions that they do need to wash off their makeup. Or you could try just straight coconut oil, which is also a great makeup remover. I also use coconut oil as a moisturizer and it has a low amount of SPF to help protect against sun damage. And for wrinkles? Coconut oil!!! Have I said coconut oil enough? Lol, seriously it’s a miracle oil. Do a quick Google search on the benefits of coconut oil on the skin and you’ll be amazed.
If you only use the OCM a few times a week, what do you use the other days? I just started a little over a week ago and I love it!!!
When I don’t use OCM, I just use warm water to “wash” it at night. But I don’t wear makeup everyday (or ever, really), so I can get away with that. If you do wear makeup, you’ll obviously have to wash it off, so others have looked for and found a natural facial cleanser that they’re happy and comfortable with using on the occasions that they do need to wash off their makeup. Or you could try straight coconut oil as a makeup remover at night.
I’ve been trying the OCM for a while now. I think I went overboard at first with all of the natural remedies and have caused my skin to freak out. I’ve got terrible acne along my jawline and the sides of my chin. I’m trying to get back to basics, as I can’t bear the thought of going back to soap. Right now i’m using about 1/2 castor oil, 1/3 jojoba and 1/3 grapeseed oil as I’ve always considered myself to have oily/acne prone skin. However, I’m trying to use only ocm and see how my skin reacts and I’m beginning to think I have dry skin. It feels like my skin is now dried out and breaking out which is a painful and frustrating combo. Do you recommend I move to a different carrier oil and/or ratio?
Thanks!
Hi Rebecca, aww I’m sorry your skin is getting dry. 🙁 I really think you might want to try decreasing the castor oil. Using 1/2 castor oil seems like a lot. Your choice of jojoba oil is a good choice for oily/acne prone skin, so I would stick with it.
Here’s what I would do. Use 1 part castor oil, 2 parts jojoba oil, 1 part grapeseed oil. Or you could switch the jojoba and grapeseed to see how which you like better, but the castor oil should be no more than a quarter of your recipe. Make smaller batches (using teaspoons) at first until you find the right combo for you.
Also, what are you using to moisturize afterwards? A small drop of coconut oil or olive oil rubbed all over your face afterwards can also help with the dryness and healing.
Hope that helps and wishing you the best of luck! Let me know if you have more questions and I’d love to hear how it goes! 🙂
Thanks Sarah, I will try that. I think from years of having acne I’ve ingrained the notion that I have oily skin. Since I’ve been treating my skin that way, it has appeared oily trying to overcompensate for me stripping it dry with harsh medications and washes. I haven’t been using any oils after washing recently in an effort to see how my skin reacts to my OCM mixtures. I’ll try less castor in my mixture first, see how my skin reacts and then see if I still need to add a moisturizing oil aftwards. Thanks again! I appreciate your response!
When you say “1 part castor oil, 1 part oilive oil” etc.
How much does that mean when putting into a squeeze bottle? I have never bought oils before so I am unsure how they even come until I go to the health food store.
Thanks! 🙂
It just means if you’re using tablespoons, for example, then you’d use 1 tablespoon castor oil, 1 tablespoon olive oil, etc. Hope that makes sense!
Hi, I’m going to try OCM as I have really dry skin but I notice that you say once you’ve done it for a few weeks you might not need to do it every night. If you don’t do it every night then what are you cleaning your face with if not the OCM method? How do you get rid of the make up? Also is this ok to use on my eyes? Will I not get those irritating little milia bumps? Thanks so much, looking forward to the advice! Bryony!
Hey Bryony, actually a great makeup remover is just straight coconut oil (or olive oil), which is gentle enough to use on and around the delicate eye area. Coconut oil specifically may also help firm up that area and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, so there’s a win/win! 🙂
But OCM itself should not be used every night, and especially on the eye area, since the castor oil is to harsh for that delicate skin.
Hi, do you have any suggestions for removing waterproof mascara? I do not use it very often, but if I do, it is so hard to remove without almost scrubbing that sensitive area. Which natural oil would work best for removal? The above comment suggests coconut oil, but I´m not sure if that works fine for waterproof also?
Any suggestions are appreciated! Thanks!
Hi Hella, just did a quick search for you and it seems like some people have had good results with coconut oil so I would go ahead and try it. If it doesn’t work, I found this link with another homemade recipe you may want to give a shot: http://wholenewmom.com/whole-new-budget/best-homemade-eye-makeup-remover/
Best of luck and please let us know how it works out!
Thanks a lot!
I love this method too but I’ve read you shouldn’t do it everyday. What do you suggest I do daily to remove makeup?
I love that my skin is less dry and irritated, but I’m still getting a couple pimples at a time. I also just started on fertility hormones so that’s probably the cause. Should I up my castor oil ratio even though my skin is pretty dry?
Yeah, I wouldn’t use this everyday – every other day at most. If you can find an all-natural, gentle facial cleanser that you’re comfortable using, I would go that route on the days that you don’t use OCM. I don’t really wear much makeup, if at all, so I’m not sure how this works in conjunction with OCM though, so that’s why I’d suggest finding the most gentle cleanser probably from an organic store.
Hi,
Thank you for your reply. And after i wash with warm water, do i need to use a moisturizer then wear make up or just use make up alone? And at night can the method use as makeup remover? Do i need to use additional oil?
Your post is very detailed and i gotta try this method asap. My skin is very oily and acne so if i use this method at night, what am i gonna wash my face in the morning? And the castor oil i found is castor oil usp so is it the right one?
Thank you
Hi Cici, I just use warm water to wash my face in the morning. If you found the castor oil at the drug store, it’s probably not the right kind. You want to pick some up form a local health food store. The Palma Christi brand is what I use.
Hi! Where do you buy these oils? Thanks. Coz you mentioned you are from canada.
Hi Ayah, I just buy them at my local health food store.
Hi, I’ve been cleansing my face with hazelnut oil for the past year or so. I’m forty and feel that my skin has found what it needs. I cleanse at night with oil, and just with warm water in the morning. Perfect, frugal and natural, what could be more perfect? Spread the word!
I’ve read to not use this method every day..when you aren’t using the OCM, how (or what do you use) to wash your face? Or do you just not?
Ann,
When I don’t use OCM, I just use warm water to “wash” it at night. But I don’t wear makeup everyday (or ever, really), so I can get away with that. If you do wear makeup, you’ll obviously have to wash it off, so others have looked for and found a natural facial cleanser that they’re happy and comfortable with using on the occasions that they do need to wash off their makeup.
I have been doing this for the last few weeks! I get lots of hormonal acne around my chin and jaw, and have been looking for ways to get it to calm down. OCM really appealed to me, since I have a very small budget and can’t afford expensive skin stuff. I find that all acne cleansers dry out my face so much! Also, in the fall, I get really dry skin around my eyes. It was so bad this fall, even though I was using gentle cleansers and moisturizing eye cream.
I use a mixture of grapeseed and EVOO. I haven’t yet bought castor oil, but I think I will have to try it since it seems to be the effective cleanser! I have noticed that my skin feels amazing, and my chin spots have calmed down, but not gone away completely. I have been doing this every night that I wear makeup.
I have to try with castor oil and see if it improves any more!