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.
I’ve been using this method for 2-3 months now using 2 parts castor oil to 1 part jojoba oil. My skin has definitely gotten a little better, but not a whole lot. I still break out all the time and have small acne bumps covering my face that have been there pretty much since puberty. I’ve read so much about this and have been really hoping this would work for me and i’m really upset it hasn’t done a whole lot. do you have any suggestions of what I could try doing differently? Different oils or different ratios? I have really oily, acne-prone skin and would seriously do anything to clear it up!
Did this for a few weeks,the first two weeks my skin looked amazing!!! Plump, clear, less oil on the surface….I was so so excited !! then around week three I started getting acne cysts, it turned into a painful nightmare. I really wanted this to work for me 🙁
I have been reading TONS of horror stories about the OCM working great for months and then suddenly causing horrible cystic acne and scarring and ruining people’s skin. The only POSITIVE reviews I have read so far are from people who have only done it for a few months max. I’m terrified to start this and I actually am pretty sure I won’t, due to the countless experiences I have read about.
Here’s my question for you: How long have you been doing this? As of today which is Dec 16, 2012? How have the results been? Will you continue?
Hey Emily,
Wow, I’ve never come across horror stories of OCM like that! Although, i don’t doubt that they exist. OCM can have very good or very bad results, since it depends on so many factors; how often you do it, what oils you use, what ratios, how well you wash off the oils afterwards, what moisturizes or toners you’re using along with it.
I’ve been doing OCM since about June of this year (so about 6 monts now), and I’m still doing it and still loving it. I can say, however, that over those 6 months, my routine has evolved a lot and adapted to changes in both my skin and the environment. I only do OCM about every 3 days now and just use warm water to wash my face on the days that I don’t use OCM. I only moisturize with a tiny drop of virgin coconut oil and I use no other chemicals on my skin. I still may get an occasional breakout, usually around that time of the month, but nothing too severe, and it’s usually gone within a few days.
I think the important thing to know about OCM is that it’s very versatile. There are so many oils to use, ratios to use, etc. You have to experiment a little in the beginning to see what works best for you, and in that process, you have to monitor your skin closely to see how it reacts to the different things you’re trying. Sometimes the problem is too much castor oil (or castor oil in general – some have found that their best oil mix is to cut out castor oil completely!), sometimes it’s the wrong carrier oil, sometimes it’s the frequency of the OCM…
Of course, it’s ultimately every individual’s decision whether or not they want to try OCM, and if someone is uncomfortable with the idea, and they’ve already got a routine that works for them, then great! Because like anything else, there’s no one solution to the problem of acne and dry skin. OCM is just one of those solutions, and personally, I’ve been very happy with it and will continue using it.
Hope that answered some of your questions and good luck on your quest for finding the right solution for you. 🙂
I have some sun spots and Im wondering what is something I can use along with the ocm method. Iv started about 2 weeks ago and my face is looking better and better each week. I dont wanna use a chemical lotion like before but is lemon juice a good idea? Also what about using witch hazel as an astrigent in the mornings?
Hi Haley,
Actually a great astringent is lemon juice and witch hazel mixed together! Just be sure to keep it in the fridge so it doesn’t spoil. Also, check out my banana peels for acne post, since that also may help with the sun spots: https://naturesnurture.co/banana-peels-for-acne/
Good luck!
Heyy,
I’ve been doing this for around 3 nights, and I feel lots more spots are appearing on my face. I guess this is the ‘purge’ stage, but can this happen so early on? (I do it twice a day)
My ration is 3tbs EVOO and 1tbs Castor Oil, cos I have eczema,sensitive,very dry,spotty skin. A bit of mixture really. Also, I still feel the need to moisturise afterwards, so at night I put EVOO on and a bit of Vaseline then in the mornings I use Cetaphil (that’s the only moisturiser that’s rich enough and that doesn’t irritate my skin)
Soooo, when will the spots disappear, when can I leave the house concealer free? I know it’s rely days but I don’t junk I can do this if I get loads more spots, because my skin was just turning around and getting to a good point before I started this, so I want to stop it as soon as possible if this is goin to get worse cos the spots are now appearing EVERYWHERE and I just feel like crying.
Help me please.
Hi Hafsa,
I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I know how difficult it can be, believe me!
A few points:
1) I think doing OCM twice a day is a bit of overkill, honestly. Once a day is ok, and eventually you can even cut it down from that. I do it every 2-3 days now, and just use warm water on the days that I don’t do OCM. However, I don’t wear makeup, so there’s usually not much for me to wash off anyways. If you do wear makeup, then once a day, at night is more than enough.
2) Vaseline is not very good for your skin at all; I would stop using it immediately. It creates a seal over the skin, and disrupts the body’s natural ability to eliminate toxins through your pores, essentially trapping them under your skin. EVOO or even some virgin coconut oil is a sufficient moisturizer and is very beneficial for your skin – coconut oil is also very good for dry, sensitive skin. I use it on my son’s eczema all the time!
3) I also like stay away from commercial moisturizers like Cetaphil (which ranks a 4 on EWG’s Skin Deep Databse) because they’re packed with a whole list of chemicals that can be very harsh on the skin. I just checked the ingredients list and it includes benzyl alcohol, which can be drying and has been associated with contact allergies. – http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/product/434511/Cetaphil_Daily_Facial_Moisturizer%2C_Fragrance_Free%2C_SPF_15/
4) Finally, you may need to play around with the oils you’re using. Maybe instead of olive oil, you can use jojoba oil, which is much gentler on the skin. Maybe cut down the castor oil to 25% of the mixture. Also, make sure you’re using castor oil from the health food store, not the one in the laxative section at the drug store. This is the brand that I use: http://amzn.to/UB3MdQ
While I can’t tell you for sure when this transition phase will be over for you, I can say that it usually takes between 10-14 days, but that’s if you’re not using anything else and only moisturizing with healthy oils, like EVOO or coconut oil. My suggestion would be to cut to doing OCM once a day, stop using Vaseline, and try to use only healthy oils to moisturize your skin, as opposed to a commercial product like Cetaphil. If you can find an all natural moisturizer without any harsh chemicals, that’s fine too! But the important thing is to give your skin a break from all chemicals while you use OCM and go through the transition period so that your body can effectively eliminate all the dirt and toxins that are hiding underneath the skin.
Hope that helps and I’m wising you the best of luck!
Thanks,ur advice is quite helpful to me also,as I too have a dry n sensitive skin.Shall I use olive oil or nt,as it does not harm but doesn’t moisturise the skin v well fr long period,have to put it again n again after few hours,as the weather is also v dry these days with upcoming summer time.Yesterday I used sweet almond oil also with castor oil n olive oil,but my skin still feel dry,though the good news is tht my skin is looking v clear n I am v happy about it,the only problem is drying n my skin is dying to have the natural moisture,as it will suck lot of it,over its first touch,pl help.I have ordered for extra virgin coconut oil, Avocado oil n rose hip oil too,will it help n what should b the ideal ratio of oils for my skin,pl suggest,as I think with right oils n right ratio ,I can achieve the desired result .Waiting eagerly for ur reply n again,thank you sooo much for sharing this wonderful natural cleansing method n helping us getting rid of all artificial chemical products,I wish had I known this long long ago,would have saved it a lot n could keep it best all the time,I have actually v good,fair,healthy glowing skin bt due to dry weather conditions,sun exposure n lack of right guidance n good moisturiser n cleaning,I started suffering after 30 n more after 36,now I am 40 n struggling to keep my skin in even bearable condition.Thanks again fr this wonderful post.God bless you !
I just started the OCM 3 days ago and so far it’s okay. My face feels so nice and clean afterwards. I was wondering though, I shower at night, so should I do OCM before I shower or after? I want get the best results I can try to get! Thanks! 🙂
Kate, honestly I think either way would work, depending on what’s more convenient for you. If it were me, I’d probably do it after the shower just because the steamy shower will open the pores allowing for a deeper cleaning with OCM afterwards. I guess you could try both ways and see what you like best! Good luck 🙂
Is there any substitutes for the castor oil?? I have tons of olive oil at home so would this still work if I only used the olive oil and no castor oil? I just don’t have any castor and don’t know where to find it!!
Hey Sarah (nice name, *winks*)
Yeah you could definitely just use olive oil and it will still work, but if you have acne-prone skin, that’s where the castor oil comes in, because it dries out the oils on your skin, preventing acne from forming in your pores. You can find castor oil at any health food store, or even online at Amazon – Hope that helps, and good luck!
I just started OCM and love it so far. I do have one question though. If I cleanse before working out should I cleanse with OCM again? I feel that would be over cleansing but don’t want to leave my skin with sweat. Help! Thank you 🙂
Hey Lish, I would either do OCM before the workout and then just use plain warm water to “wash” my face after the workout. I think doing OCM after the workout might be a little off since your face will be sweaty, and you’re supposed to start with a dry face, you know?
Ideally, I would do OCM at night to kinda “wash the day off” your face and then splash with warm water in the morning, after working out, etc.
Hope that helps, and good luck!
Ive been doing this for about a week now and my skin is still breaking out, I see a lot of whiteheads surfacing. Is that normal? I suffer for, adult acne for the last 4 years. I have been using a blend of 2/3 sweet almond oil and 1/3 jojoba oil. Does anyone have any suggestions for me or should I just be patient and see if the new breakouts go away?
Hi A,
Aww, I’m so sorry. 🙁 Honestly, the transition period lasts between 1-2 weeks, so I wouldn’t quit just yet. However, you said you’re using almond and jojoba oils… is that it? Are you not using any castor oil at all? The castor oil is the drying oil that helps dry out the excess oil on your skin, which is what may be causing the whiteheads. I’m not sure exactly what skin type you have, so click on the “Crunchy Betty” link at the bottom of the post for a good guide of which oils to use for different skin types. But my biggest piece of advice is not to leave out the castor oil. You can increase or decrease the amount, but leaving it out won’t help though. Hope that helps and please let me know if you have any more questions. Good luck!
I tried the OCM for two weeks, used one part (1Tbls.) EVOO, 1 part castor oil, 1part grape seed oil, and a few drops of lavender oil… Then used coconut oil to moisturize.
Was so excited to do this 🙂
My skin got drier and drier, rough, red patches 🙁 ESP the lower half of my face…
Maybe it’s not for me…. I’d LOVE for it to work for me…
Hi Erika,
I’m sorry about the trouble you’re having. 🙁 It seems like you may need to decrease the castor oil a bit. Rule of thumb is if you’re too dry, reduce the castor oil, and if you’re too oily, then increase the castor oil. That’s why it’s best to make this up in small batches in the beginning until you figure out the perfect ratio for your skin type, since no 2 types are the same. Hope that helps and let me know if I can answer any more questions. Good luck!
This happened to me the first few times I used castor oil (I have dry skin and live in a dry climate). I used drugstore castor oil at the time, which can be really harsh and drying, especially if you already have dry skin. I now use quality carriers oils like cold-pressed/organic castor oil. NOW foods has a good selection.
1) Extra virgin olive oil only – my skin didn’t really seem cleansed (I was so excited after reading about OCM, I just tried out whatever I had around & I’d read that people with really dry skin could use 100% carrier oils.)
2) Jojoba oil only – my skin was not moisturized enough, even after replenishing following steaming and wiping.
3) 15% castor oil, 85% jojoba oil – skin still too dry after replenishing. Actually it was dry, red and patchy at this point. I played around with reducing the castor oil & adding some extra virgin olive oil.
4) I now have different blends for different seasons. Makes 1.7 fl oz or 50 ml. I also add 3-6 drops of lavender oil to each blend.
Winter blend: 5% (1/2 tsp or 2.5 ml) cold-pressed castor oil, 30% (1 tbsp or 15 ml) unrefined jojoba oil, 65% (2 tbsp + 1/2 tsp or 32.5 ml) extra virgin olive oil
Summer blend: 10% castor oil (1 tsp or 5 ml), 30% (1 tbsp or 15 ml) extra virgin olive oil, 60% unrefined jojoba oil (2 tbsp or 30 ml)
thanks for the post! I tried the ocm last year and I really liked it at first, but I was just using castor oil from wal-mart (gasp!) so it didn’t have the greatest effect. I just purchased some castor and grapeseed and wanted a refresher on the ocm to see how much I should use.. Came across your post and turns out I bought the exact same oils as you!! so now I know I got the right stuff.. Can’t wait to try it out 🙂
I am happy and sad right now but mostly thankful.i have battled severe acne for years and wasted soon much money (sad part) and after all that it only took three weeks to completely clear my skin for that I’m truly thankful now I can start college without being ashamed of my face!ofcourse I do have nasty scars but I’m thinking about getting a peel,has anyone had any good results From peels?please please please try this!you deserve to win the fight with acne especially if your battle has been long and hard like mine!thank you soo much ocm !!!!!!im soo happy I feel like crying lol.please try this and stick to it,I use 1 part olive oil 1 part grapeseed 2 parts tea tree oil and two parts castor and it works!but do moisturize I use Merle Norman vitamin c serum and my skin loves it! I finally feel like my skin loves me again.lol I was embarrassed for years now I want to give you hope!nothing worked for me proactive antibiotics dermatologists … This is cheap and it really works please please please save yourself the heartache I went through.
Oh wow, Kimraj! I’m so happy for you! Thank you so much for sharing your story with us! I’m going to share part of your inspiring story with our friends on Facebook, if that’s ok. 🙂
I am going to start using OCM tonight, with Castor and EVOO. However, I recently bought Kiehls Rare Earth Clay Cleanser that I like/want to use up because it was kind of expensive. Would it ruin the OCM process if I used the clay cleanser in the morning and OCM in the evenings?
As far as I can tell, it does not have any sulfates or sulfides.
I am very excited to try OCM because my skin can be oily and dry and flaky on my nose and my t-zone pores have become increasingly clogged lately.
Hey Liz,
A natural cleanser should be fine but I always advise to try to do nothing but OCM for at least the first 1-2 weeks, just until the transition period is over. Then after that, you can alternate between OCM and your cleanser, or cleanser in the morning and OCM at night, or whatever you wish. But the initial transition period is better if you just do OCM on its own to allow it to work its magic. 🙂 Good luck!
Allright, Sarah, I finally came over to this post to read about it and I am definitely going to try it! Great thing is, I just bought Castor Oil and have been looking for ways to use it, so this will be one of them! Do you think I can substitute the Grape Seed Oil with Sweet Almond Oil? I’m guessing it probably doesn’t matter too much which oils you use.
Well, it’s about time! LOL 😉 And yes, you can use so many different kinds of oils, depending on your skin type. Almond oil is another one of favs. If you click on the link to Crunchy Betty’s post (down in the resources section), she lists all the different oils and which skin type they’re good for. And some people just use castor and olive oil to keep it simple. It’s really that versatile and adaptable. Yay, can’t wait to hear your thoughts!
Hi-quick question: I’ve been doing the OCM for a few weeks now and have seen an improvement in my skin’s flakiness and fewer blackheads and visible pores. However, I’m still breaking out with red pimples (which I haven’t had in a while). Is this just a phase? Also, I’m using a blend of the suggested oils, but not Castor Oil at the moment, since I’m pregnant and some have suggested this can cause pre-term labor. I know I’m not supposed to ingest it, so I was avoiding using it on my skin for as long as I’m pregnant. Any suggestions about other good oils and what might be going on with the new pimples would be appreciated. Thanks.
Hi J,
There’s definitely a transition period with OCM, although mine didn’t last more than 2 weeks. And I think your red pimples are definitely because of the lack of castor oil, since it provides the drying factor (so, the pimples just aren’t being dried out). That being said, I did check with my midwife and she assured me that using castor oil topically on the skin (and specifically with OCM) is perfectly safe for pregnant women and should not cause any preterm labor. It’s only if it’s ingested internally that it can become risky. Hope that helps!
Thanks so much for your question, because now I’m going back to add the part about castor oil and pregnancy! 🙂
Awesome post! I’ve suffered from acne/blackheads since I was 12 (I’m 26 now) and really hope this works for me. I do have a question in relation to the oil mixture. I am using 3 parts castor oil and 1 part jojoba oil however I made enough to go into an 8oz bottle. Is this ok? I appreciate your feedback and thanks again for the informative post!
Hey Andrea, thanks! I hope it works for you too! 🙂
And yeah, of course it’s ok to go in an 8 oz bottle. If you feel it may be making your skin a bit dry, just try adding in a bit more jojoba oil.
I know you posted this awhle back, but I came across your post a couple of weeks ago when researching the OCM method. I had first heard about it several months ago but ignored it thinking it sounded crazy. At the time I’d switched to some of the pricier natural products thinking that would help clear things up. I’ve reached that age (38) where I’d noticed my skin changing and I just couldn’t get it right. I knew I needed to moisturize, but everything made me break out worse. I’d get oily and my face wouldn’t know how to handle it. On top of this, I’m on several different meds that take a toll on my skin and I’ve recently gone through brain surgery which sent my skin and hair into a bit of a shocked state.
So after all of this, I figured, what did I have to lose? After a week, I have to say I wish I’d known about this MUCH earlier in life. This is truly amazing! I am used to being all blotchy after I wash my face. But now my skin looks great afterwards! It’s not dry and patchy or even combination skin anymore. It just seems to be evening out and feels wonderful! Right now I’m trying 1/2 castor, 1/2 jojoba with a couple of drops of lavender in it for a nice luxurious feel. I also used a nice small brown glass bottle (just search under boston round glass bottles on amazon, very cheap) to make it look a little nicer, plus I don’t have to worry about any type of toxins from the plastic. I mixed a small amount like you recommended, and am glad I did as I look forward to experimenting with different recipes.
Thank you SOO much for your post. I am now going to go back in your blog and looking up your face scrub and mask recipes. You have a new follower!
Hi Meredith! Wow, that was an awesome testimonial to this great method! 🙂
I know what you mean, once I started to notice a difference in my skin, I immediately thought “Why didn’t I know about this sooner?!” LOL
I just started this two days ago using half Castor oil and half Argan oil. Today, my skin is bumpy and I have a few pimples. I’m pretty disappointed. Will this pass? I’m worried that OCM isn’t right for me.
Hi Aly,
As stated in the post, there is a short adjustment period (about 1-2 weeks) where your skin will seem to get worse before it starts getting better. That’s because the oils are helping to bring up all the impurities that have been trapped underneath your skin for some time.
Great idea on trying it with argon oil, though! Also, just an FYI – I haven’t met one person yet who decided that OCM truly wasn’t for her, so hand in there! 🙂
Wow, what a great post! So very detailed. I’ve been using jojoba oil as makeup remover for 6 years (best thing EVER) and have occasionally cleansed my skin with it but I recently started with the OCM. I used a mixture of castor and jojoba oil (nothing else added) and I think its awesome. The same week I had started OCM, I noticed that my skin was a lot worse than usual, however I think this is related to that time of the month. Once I get through it and my skin goes back to normal, I will definitely try it again. Do you think castor oil is too harsh?
Also, I have a blog of my own and would love to link this post to one I’m doing about OCM, I think it would be very informative 🙂
Hi Nare! Sorry for the late response, it’s been a hectic week, to say the least!
Thanks so much for the kind words. 😉 The fact that your skin looked worse than usual could very well be due to that time of the month, but it is also a natural reaction to the OCM itself since OCM helps to detox your skin and bring to the surface all the dirt and impurities that have been trapped underneath the surface… or it could be both!
As for castor oil, it does tend to be a bit drying so if it’s too harsh for your skin, just change the ratio to include a little less castor oil and a little more jojoba oil until you find a combination that works for you. That’s why it’s also a good idea to start out with small batches!
And yes, you are more than welcome to link back to this post in your own blog post! Thanks and can’t wait to read it! 🙂
I understood that castor oil could be absorbed through skin and cause diarrhea? Anyone have issues? Please be very careful as it is toxic to pets and children if ingested. Keep it out of reach!
Sorry, to add the post… I read you wash with plain water, do you tone and moisturize after this?
I have a soap called Dudu-Osuu Black Soap which is simply natural ingredients, would that be okay to use in conjunction with OCM ?
Moreover, how often do you do masks? I do an aspirin and honey mask, turmeric mask and clay mask all once a week.
Thanks again!
Hey Lydia, I’m really easy going and ‘go with the flow’ with my face washing routine. On the days I don’t do OCM, sometimes I do tone and moisturize, and sometimes I don’t – depends on how my skin is feeling that day. On average, I’d say I probably tone a few times a week. I only moisturize if my skin is feeling a bit dry, but that doesn’t happen very often anymore since I’ve stopped using the commercial soaps (yay!).
I think you could use your natural soap in addition to the OCM, but if it were me, I’d try to use nothing but OCM, for at least 10 days to 2 weeks, just so you can see how it’s working on its own, and to give your skin a break from any cleansers altogether, while it undergoes its transition period. Then afterwards, if you feel you need it, you could try washing with the soap maybe once or twice a week.
I try to do a baking soda mask and/or a honey mask about once a week.
Hope that helps, and good luck!
Thanks for the wonderful post!
I have oily acne-prone skin and i think I’ll be doing 2 tsp castor oil, 1 tsp jojoba oil and 1 tsp rosemary oil. What do you think?
By the way, you said you do it a few times a week. May I ask what you do for the other days?
Oh you’re very welcome, Lydia!
Your recipe sounds wonderful – I’d love to hear how it works out!
I’ve been doing this now for about 3 weeks and I guess I’m now going through that readustment period you were talking about. My T-zone is an oil slick right now and I’m having a big breakout all over my forehead and t-zone. I’ve noticed that I don’t feel anything coming out of my pores when I do the 2nd massage. Is that normal? And about how long will it take for my skin to note go crazy producing oil like it is now? Thanks!
Hey Jenny, oh my goodness, I’m so sorry for how late I’m replying to this! I must have totally missed this comment! 🙁
I’m interested to know how you’ve managed with OCM during this time? Still doing it? Or did you throw in the towel? – which is sooo understandable, as I did that a few times before finally sticking with it 😉
What a fantastic method! I was reading through the comments and have had some issues here and there with black heads. I have gotten numerous facials to extract but not anything consistent that seems to help. I saw the comment about the baking soda being used as an exfoliant. Is that a good thing for blackheads as well?
Debbie, yes baking soda is GREAT for black heads! Check out my other post on it here: https://naturesnurture.co/baking-soda-for-blackheads/
I have been using the oil cleanser for the last few months. I like it as my skin is/has always been dry. It works beautifully at removing my makeup at night and love how “comfortable” my skin feels. In the AM my routine is to wipe the sleep out of my eyes with a clean wet wash cloth, then put on my makeup. However, I have the problem of my mascara falling off/rubbing off leaving dark smudges under by eyes by mid afternoon. Most likely caused by not getting all the oil out of my lashes. I started to wash my eyes/eyelashes with soap to prevent the smudges. Any one else have this problem? What was your solution?
I have really oily skin and I just read about OCM…… I am on medication but it nt improving I used bakin soda every now and then but still have my all face full of black heads I don’t want to squeeze thm to pop thm out……I am bit rellectuant to try OCM…..if I try it does it create breakout or pimples in the beginning …… Becoz I really want to clear my skin for black heads that become pimples too quickly……..
Hi Nida,
Believe me, I feel your pain! I was on a few different medications as well, over the years, and although they worked for a little while, the underlying problems were never solved and they just kept coming back. OCM is the only thing that effectively purged my face of all the impurities lurking underneath the skin, making way for a cleaner, fresher, pimple-free face!
In the beginning, yes your face will break out a little bit, but as I mention in the post, this is how you know that OCM is working: it is bringing up all the dirt and bacteria from deep down in your pores and bringing them up to the surface. Please don’t let this discourage you from continuing, as it is just a transition phase. For me, I started noticing the breakouts clearing up within a week. Some people have gone longer, some have gone less; it just depends on how severe your acne is. But I promise you, it does get better 🙂
I also use baking soda about once a week as an exfoliant and to keep my pores clean to prevent future blackheads as well! I just did a post about it this week here: https://naturesnurture.co/baking-soda-for-blackheads/
My final piece of advice: check out the links I’ve included in the resources at the end of the post, and only make up small batches of the oil mixture in the beginning so you can experiment with different ratios to see what works best for you!
I hope that helps and please let me know if I can answer any more questions. Thanks for stopping by!
Congrats! You won the most clicked on feature on last week’s Super Link Party!
Come check it out! 🙂
http://earning-my-cape.blogspot.com/2012/08/super-link-party-14.html
I can’t wait to try this out. I have combination skin but get frequent breakouts. Question – if you use OCM every other night then what do you use the other nights and mornings? I feel like I need to wash my face every morning and night.
That’s the first problem, Tracey! We’ve been conditioned to want to wash our face way more often than is necessary, and that’s just putting our skin in a vicious cycle of super dry to super oily. Once our skin has lubricated itself, we go and strip those oils away with cleansers, leaving our skin dry, and in turn, our skin tries to compensate by producing even more oil, to which we respond with – you guessed it, more cleansers to strip the oil once again…
On the days that I don’t use OCM (and I’ve worked myself down to just a couple times a week), I just wash with plain old water. Just a few quick splashes of water, and I really rub the water into my skin as I’m splashing it. That’s it! Believe me, I was like you and couldn’t imagine NOT washing my face every morning and night, and I’ll admit, it did feel weird the first few times. But after I got used to it, it feels totally normal now. I feel like I’m working with my skin, not against it.
Just give it a try for a week and see how it goes. Next week, I’m sharing a post on how I use a honey face wash that I use about once a week. You could use it every morning if you wanted to though 🙂
I have a question, I wear makeup to work every day, can I use this ever night to clean my face since I see you only do it a couple times a week? Or do you suggest another idea to take off my makeup when not using OCM?
Also, how does the oil wash out of the wash cloth when between steamings? Or do you just lay it on your face during that time so not much is transfered to the cloth? Or do you just wash as much of the oil out of the cloth as you can prior to going back to get the rest of the oil on your face?
Hey Jenny, absolutely – OCM is PERFECT for makeup removal! And it’s absolutely fine to use it every night. I’m not much of a makeup person, so I’ve worked myself down to just a couple times a week, but if I did wear makeup, I would definitely do it every single night – it’s perfectly safe to do so.
I just try to rinse out the oil as best as I can between steamings and each time I wipe my face. I also rinse and try to alternate which side of the cloth I use each time I wipe the oil off my face. Then I just toss wash cloth in the laundry and use a new one next time.
Hope that helps!
That really helps! Thanks so much for the reply. I’ve got everything at home anyway so I think I’ll try it. I’m usuing a product that has you use a large amount of their benzoyl peroxide (like a good nickle size blob each time) and I swear it’s contributing to discoloration of my skin. You can almost see the area around my eyes that is not touched by this stuff is perfectly clear, then as you get to my cheek bones, I’ve got splotches all over the place that’s only made worse when I get any kind of sun. I know deep down it’s bad for me, but it’s so good at keeping my adult acne at bay. But it’s time for a more natural approach!
Hello again,
I’ve tried this now for the past 4 nights and I love it! But I’m having a problem getting all my mascara off. And I didn’t think that I wear some heavy duty mascara, it’s not waterproof, but I feel like I’m having to scrub my eyes to get it all off and inevitibly the next morning, there’s more that I have to scrub off. I know our eye area is tender so I was wondering if you had any other advice for that? Thank you!
Jenny
Almond oil — get the natural stuff — is a great eye makeup remover. I used to dab a bit from my fingers onto my eyelashes, but now I put it on a cotton swab and use it to take off eyemakeup Doesn’t work so well with waterproof mascara, but it is very gentle on the eyes. Also almond oil smells great!
thank you for this post!! i was nervous to try this but it is really AMAZING!!!! i have combo/acne skin and i have been using about 1/3 castor oil 2/3 evoo and after 4 night my skin is looking so much better! all the bumps on my forehead are going away and have had no new pimples! thank you!!!!
Yay! I’m so glad it’s working for you, Holly! It sounds like we have similar skin, and I know all about those forehead bumps! You can’t stop feeling how soft your forehead is now, right? 🙂 Thanks for coming back and commenting!
I have oily skin and want to try this with also the coconut as an exfoliant
Where can I get recipes per se of the whole step by step procedure
And how much of what rations to put in
Thank you
I actually can not remember the last time I have cleaned my face beyond maybe wiping my eyes. I stopped for the most part years ago, and between that and diet changes (and maybe getting older) my skin is SOOO much better. But I do have occasional pimples, so maybe I should do this infrequently.
Thanks for linking up to Healthy 2day Wednesaday. Hope to see you back next Wednesday.
No problem, Debra! Yeah, right now I do this probably once or twice a week, if that. It’s amazing how much some plain old water can actually clean your skin!
My best friend never uses soap to clean her face! All these years I thought she was crazy! I’m going to try it! I’ll let you know my results at a later date. 🙂
I thought those people were crazy too, Joanne! And now, I’m one of them – I only do OCM maybe once or twice a week now. The rest of the time I just use plain water 🙂
Great post! I have been using the oil cleansing method on and off for the last year and finally committed to trying it continually for 1 month to see how it goes. You have some great tips. Thanks for linking up .
Thanks so much for linking up to Simple Steps to Healthy Living! I have yet to try this but have heard amazing results from those who have! 🙂 This might just inspire me to do it! 🙂
This is great, Sarah! I have to try this! I sometimes use an oatmeal/almond scrub on my face. I plan to blog about it soon. I love it.
Thanks for sharing with my Super Link Party! 🙂
I’ve just found your site and your Facebook page. I love all of your idea’s. I’m going to try this one, as I’m getting older now and my skin needs all of the help it can get. Thanks so much for sharing.
Aww, thanks for the kind words, Jill! Glad you’re finding the site useful 🙂 I’m happy you’ll be trying the OCM – please do come back and let us know how it worked out for you – make sure to give at least a week, although some have noticed a difference after a day or two!
I apply oil directly to my (very dry) face as a moisturizer, but I never thought of using it to clean my face too! I’ll have to give it a shot; maybe it’ll help with the so-dry-I-want-to-claw-my-skin-off feeling. 🙂 Thanks for the info!
Haha, yes I know that dry feeling! The OCM will definitely help with that, as it doesn’t strip your natural oils away. And if you’re still feeling a little dry, then by all means, continue dabbing a tiny bit of oil as an extra bit of moisturizer. Although, after a while, you’ll find you won’t even need it. Coconut oil is my oil of choice for moisturizer – a tiny bit really goes a long way! Please do come back and let us know how it works out for you!
I’ve made up my own oil-based cleanser like the recipe you listed with good results. I’ve also tried using oils in my hair for deep conditioning but haven’t been able to get that right. I always end up with greasy, gross hair. Any suggestions?
Sarah, I’m excited to see you’ve been doing OCM! I’ve been doing it most nights for 6 months now I’m still loving it. It still amazes me that oil gets my face clean. I’ve liked the combination of 90% sweet almond oil and 10% castor oil lately. I love how OCM can be customized to different skin types.
This is great! I need to try this out! Pinned! Thanks for sharing!
Love the OCM! I’ve been using it for maybe 5 or 6 months now. If I feel like I need a little more scrub, you can add a little bit of baking soda is a wonderful natural exfoliant.
Also, silly question, but where did you get that squeeze bottle?! I’ve been using the ones with the little red caps, but they get lost all the time. I like yours! LOL.
Thank you for posting this! I’ve been meaning to look into this. Pinned!
Can I use this method to remove face makeup ?
Absolutely, Lisa! OCM is WONDERFUL at removing makeup at the end of the day 🙂
I have super sensitive skin and am always looking for natural skin recipes. Thank-you for sharing.
If you get a chance please come link up this recipe at my Pin Party.
You’re welcome, Sarah! And thanks for the invite, I’ll be right over 🙂
What a fabulous post! I am going to be sharing this with my sister who has been struggling to find a good facial care routine! I know she has all the ingredients at home. I am excited to see how it works for her! Thanks so much for sharing at LAMS Living Green Tuesdays!
That’s great, Mrs. Bass! And thanks for hosting your fabulous party – I’ve added it to my Linky Parties page 🙂
I’ve been thinking about trying oil for a few months. I’ll have to try!
It took me a while to get started too, Mary! But I’m so glad I did 🙂
I have used small amounts of EVOO on my face after I ran out of “regular” moisturizer and my skin just sucked it up. My problem is blackheads; ever since I was a teenager(I’m 55). Just recently I was wondering how I could make my own cleansers; I’m also going to experiment with the ingredients and see what works best for me. I also like that it is a cleanser-moisturizer. Thanks!
You’re welcome, Lauren! Yep, experimentation is key 🙂 Also, in an upcoming part of this skin care series, I’ll be sharing how I attack those blackheads with just a simple baking soda scrub 🙂
I use baking soda every day for a facial cleanser and my skin has never looked better!
I love baking soda as an exfoliant! The next post in this series is all about baking soda, so stay tuned for that! 🙂
I’ve always had extremely oily skin, and always stayed away from oil. But then I learned about Organic Extra Virgin Coconut oil. Coconut Oil kills bacteria, bacteria is a cause of breakouts. What an amazing discovery!!! I use it as a moisturizer, and it calms my overproducing oil glands. Wish I’d had known this years ago.
I LOVE coconut oil! 🙂 My favorite new discovery. It’s seriously a miracle product. I use it as a moisturizer too!
Hey Sheila,
I have really oily And acne prone skin 2. Can u tell me how u use the coconut oil and how much does it help? It’s very hard to believe but I’m prepared to try anything! X
don’t use coconut oil because it clogs pores. Especially for acne prone skin!
What a great post! I also read some of the links provided and now I am really excited to try this method. Thank you so much for sharing and I will come back to let you know how it works.
Thanks Debbit! Try it out for a week or 2 and please do let us know how it works out for you, as well as your preferred method and oil ratio! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
I love the oil-cleansing method! I’ve been doing it for about 8 months now and I’ll never go back. I use a mix of 2/3 castor oil, 1/3 sunflower oil and some tea tree and lavender essential oils since I have acne prone skin.
I’ve never tried massaging after steaming then steaming again, I’ll have to try it!
Isn’t it amazing?! I can’t believe how long we’ve all gone without knowing about this! And I like the sound of sunflower oil – might try that one time. And yeah, I do the second massage and steam maybe once every week or 10 days, or when I feel like giving myself that extra bit of pampering 😉
I love the oil cleansing method! I have very sensitive skin and using any kind of cleanser or soap – even gentle natural ones – dries it out. So I use just water most of the time, and oil cleansing when I want to go a little deeper. Thanks for the informative post – found you at Monday Mania.
Thanks for stopping by, Joanna! Yeah, it’s amazing how little we actually need in order to keep our skin feeling clean and fresh. I also just use water on most days, and have dropped OCM down to about a couple times a week. Thanks again for sharing with us!