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The skin of my adult years has been pretty problem-free. It’s neither too dry nor too oily, and I’ve been pretty content with my 15-year hiatus of using Cetaphil or its generic equivalent. But since I turned 30 a few years ago, I’ve noticed that my skin has become… blah. Kinda dull. Losing its vibrancy. A little cloudy. It’s also been dry and tight after washing, and even moisturizing wasn’t helping much.
I wasn’t overly concerned about it, until I read from some of my favorite blogs this summer about a face cleansing method I hadn’t yet tried. I had been going shampoo-free for a few weeks, so I was eager to try this out, too, since it requires no harsh soaps or man-made chemicals. I figured, what did I have to lose? I’ll try it out, and if I don’t like it, I’ll simply switch back to my tried-and-true method.
And so far, I don’t think I’ll ever go back. I love my refreshed skin and its frugal cleaner.
The Oil-Cleansing Method (OCM)
Alright, it might sound a little odd to clean your face with an oil, especially if you have oily skin. But contrary to popular belief, oil does not cause oily skin or acne. That culprit is usually a combination of hormones, trapped bacteria, and dirt.
Like your hair, the sebum that the skin secretes is actually good for your skin — it’s there to protect it from the outside environment, and to keep harmful things from seeping in. Since water doesn’t break up oil, most commercial cleansers are marketed with the “oil free” stamp of approval, making them easy to splash off.
When skin’s natural oils are removed, the body’s reaction is to compensate by producing more oil, much like shampoo does with our hair. Or if your skin is dry, it’s because all the oil has been stripped away, and your body doesn’t compensate by replenishing it (that was my case).
Here’s a direct quote from acne.org:
“Oil dissolves oil. One of the most basic principals of chemistry is that “like dissolves like.” The best way to desolve a non-polar solvent like sebum/oil, is by using another non-polar solvent similar in composition: other oils. By using the right oils, you can cleanse your pores of dirt and bacteria naturally, gently and effectively, while replacing the dirty oil with beneficial ones extracted from natural botanicals, vegetables and fruit that heal, protect and nourish your skin. When done properly and consistently, the OCM can clear the skin from issues like oily skin, dry skin, sensitive skin, blackheads, whiteheads and other problems caused by mild to moderate acne–while leaving your skin healthy, balanced and properly moisturized.”
So in essence, good-quality oil is the perfect substance for cleaning sensitive skin, such as on our face, because it helps gently remove the dirty oil and replaces it with good, nourishing, healing oil.
Photo from Yankiki
How to Get Started
1. Make your cleaner
Simply mix the oils together in a small bottle, give it a little shake, and you’ve got yourself a homemade, frugal facial cleanser. The most popular blend of oils for this cleansing method is castor oil and extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO). The castor oil draws out dirt and other gunk from your pores. The EVOO is a brilliant moisturizer, helping heal and nourish the skin.
• For those with normal skin, you could start off with a one-to-one ratio of castor oil and EVOO.
• For those with acne-prone or oily skin, reduce the proportion of EVOO, and try three parts castor oil to one part EVOO.
• For those with drier skin, start off with one part castor oil to three parts EVOO. This is what I use.
Experiment, and find what ratio works for you. Just start off with a little bit, and then try it for a few days. I began with one teaspoon of castor oil and three teaspoons of EVOO in a little squeeze bottle.
2. Gently rub it in
Pour a quarter-sized amount into your palm, rub your hands together, and slowly massage your skin with your fingertips. Don’t splash your face with water first — apply it dry. Work the oil into your skin for about a minute, and enjoy the peaceful massage at work. Don’t scrub — just rub.
3. Steam your face
Next, wet a washcloth with hot water (but not scalding!), and put it over your face until it’s about room temperature. This is steaming out your pores, removing the impurities and the dead skin cells. It’ll take about a minute — enjoy the nearly-free facial.
4. Wipe off the oil
Take the washcloth, rinse and wring it, then gently wipe off the oil. Your skin will probably feel softer immediately.
Enjoy the benefits
Photo by Macarena Alejandra
• If you’re like me, your skin will feel softer and look a bit brighter. It won’t feel tight, but it won’t be greasy, either. Olive oil has the same pH as human skin, so it’s the perfect cleansing balancer.
• The OCM also brilliantly removes makeup. It works better than the Clinique makeup remover I had been using. Much cheaper, too.
• You also probably won’t need to do this more than once per day. I do this at night, just before bed. In the morning, I simply splash my face with cold water to wake up. Every now and then, I’ll dab on a little bit of moisturizer, but I hardly need that anymore. I never thought I’d see that day.
Other beneficial oils
Castor oil and EVOO are carrier oils and work well, but other people have found great success with jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, and flaxseed oil, especially if their skin is very oily. I haven’t tried these personally, though.
If your skin is on the dry side, almond oil and evening primrose oil are also good carrier oils.
Tea tree essential oil is a natural antiseptic, and is great for clearing up acne. Try a few drops into your OCM mixture. Only use a few drops — a little goes a long way.
Good resources
- Megan of Simple Kids wrote about her experience with OCM on Sorta Crunchy.
- Stephanie at Keeper of the Home has good information about the OCM.
- Helium has a good article about different types of essential oils that are healthy for the skin.
- Pioneer Thinking has good information about natural skin cleansing, along with other non-commercial beauty tips.
Have you tried the OCM? What’s your oil cleanser recipe? If you haven’t yet, do you think you’ll give it a shot?
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Those are great ideas! I need to try this… thanks!
Samantha @ Mama Notes´s last blog ..Game Day
Oh my goodness, I can’t wait to try this! I love Cetaphil, but I could definitely use some more softness, especially as it gets colder. I will even hope it helps with the annoying little wrinkle I’ve developed between my eyes. If it does, you’ll be my new best friend…
Angela Mills´s last blog ..A Family Giving Project
Thank you! I’ve been using almond oil for a little while now and my girlfriends don’t believe me when I keep RAVING about how much better it is
Ellie´s last blog ..She works hard…
Hi Tsh,
I was just about out of my shampoo/conditioner and looking forward to trying the poo-free method. I think I’ll try this as well. Thanks for the post. Eine frage….I know you are in Germany, I’m in Austria. Where do you get Castor oil and what is it called?
Thanks, Courtney
Courtney´s last blog ..Fair fun, sewing, hiking, cruising and…F**king
I’ve heard so much about the OCM and to be honest it sounds terrifying. I’m a big ‘clean freak’ especially when it comes to my skin because I suffered from zits and the acne thing as a teen, and the memories are horrible. I’ll have to try this out sometime though because I have heard great things about it (and of course this post!) but perhaps I will start with different parts of the face before I dare do the whole thing!
Thanks for the great post, Tsh. I am liking these beauty-related posts (also the no shampoo one).
I’ve tried this, but just couldn’t get it to work out for me…. (although I had very high hopes!)
Maybe I should give it one more try. My skin is definitely on the “blah” side at the moment!
I love the way you consolidate so much great info for your readers, Tsh. Thanks.
Jamie
steadymom´s last blog ..3 Great Ways to Spend More Money
I’ve been using oils as a natural moisturizer for years now and never thought to cleanse with them also. thanks for the tip!
Leah´s last blog ..Side Table Makeover
I have been meaning to try this now that the cold, dry months are here. Over the summer I have been using a truly all natural soap and water and my skin has never looked better. Of course not wearing make up helps tremendously as well.
I may try this now that the oily months are over
.
Shannon´s last blog ..Food Roots, October 8th: where does your food come from?
After having start the shampoo-free program after your suggestion I was longing for some more beauty natural tips! Thanks so much. I hope I’ll find the castor oil easily, for the olive one should not be a problem here in Italy
Silvia´s last blog ..Wall organizer – Tutorial
For those of you overseas, like me, you might want to try your neighborhood pharmacy or apothecary-type shop. I found it at a little hole-in-the-wall place where they sell herbs, essential oils, and spices by the kilo.
I’ve been using this for about a month or two now, thanks to Megan at SortaCrunchy, and I love it! Skin is great–fewer breakouts and not so dry–and the budget loves it too! I was totally sold on Clinique 3-step system for years but those days are over …
Monte´s last blog ..Hong Kong health care: a note on costs
I’ll have to give this a try. It would be nice not to spend all that money on cetaphil!
Meg Evans´s last blog ..Join the Fall Quilt Festival
Wow! Just this morning I was thinking, “I hope Simple Mom posts about cleaning your face naturally soon… I need it!” Yay! Thank you for explaining this. I, too, have been using natural oils for moisturizing for awhile, but have just been trying to wash my face with hot water… and am running into problems. I’m so excited to try this. Not sure about where to find castor oil in in the States, though.
Also, I’ve been using a commercial, perfume-y hair detangling spray on my kids’ hair, but I cringe at the long list of ingredients, including soybean oil, which I have issues with. Any thoughts on an easy, natural detangling spray for that bird’s nest effect my kids wake up with?
And any recommendations for how to prevent that, to begin with? Like a loose braid to sleep in?
Hi Sarah! I hear you can find castor oil in the… laxative section of any big box store’s health and beauty section. Enjoy.
As far as detanglers go… Have you tried apple cider vinegar yet? That’s what I use on my daughter’s longish hair, and it works great. It just takes a tiny bit – I just have her tilt her head back, I pour some on the ends, and then rinse.
But I am curious if other people have ideas…
Most drug stores and/or box stores seem to have little bottles in aisle with the witch hazel, rubbing alcohol and the like.
Hi Sarah, Here is a natural recipe for hair detangler…http://www.fromnaturewithlove.com/recipe/recipe.asp?recipe_id=90
or you could try filling a spray bottle filled w/ water and two TBS of conditioner (any kind should work) and shake really well.
Thanks, Rachel! I’ll have to try this!
I can’t wait to try this. Being a skin care junkie, I am always looking for something better, more natural, easier.
Marci@OvercomingBusy´s last blog ..Join me at The Creative Mama!
I never tried this before. Will do i from now on.
Palabuzz´s last blog ..Marge Simpsons on Playboy this November
I am unfortunate enough to have moderate acne at 26 (being postpartum probably doesn’t help). I was trying coconut oil/tea tree oil for awhile (helped for awhile; eventually made it worse), and now I’ve been moisturizing with jojoba oil. I haven’t tried actually cleansing with oil though, so maybe I should give that a try. It’s very frustrating, and I’ve pretty much gone back to cleansing with a benzoyl peroxide wash
On a side note, I’ve also heard that honey is an excellent natural cleanser, but the thought grosses me out a bit too much…
Meghan´s last blog ..1000 gifts (Invitation)
Meghan,
I just use olive oil to cleanse my face, and honey is a wonderful face mask. Don’t be scared to try it! It washes off really easily with a warm face washer
Awesome! Thanks for this post! I’ve been “washing” my face with just water and a washcloth lately, to keep away from the gunk in commercial cleansers. While my skin is way more clear than ever, it still gets the tight feeling after I was. I’m starting the OCM today!
A while back, I decided to start ‘Poo-less hair cleansing, too. We just got back from vacation in Florida, so it’s prime time! I’m excited!
Oh, one question. Is the Castor Oil a necessity? That is, would it work well with just EVOO? (Basically I’m cheap, and I have EVOO and don’t want to spend the money on Castor Oil if I don’t need to. Heehee.)
If you have naturally dry skin, it might work. But castor oil serves as the main carrier oil for getting out the gunk. Maybe try it with just EVOO, and pick up some castor oil the next time you’re at the store?
Thanks for the info!
I just bought castor oil today and it was less than $2!
amylouwho´s last blog ..stuff i’m working on
I will have to give this a go. For years my mother used used-coffee-grounds as a facial scrub. Our family tends to have oily skin and this was a wonderful scrub plus natural moisturiser. These should not be powder like but a little bit course. Unfortunately I don’t drink coffe and am no longer married to someone who does so don’t have access to this product anymore.
cherrie´s last blog ..Thankyou Clutterpunk
I am LOVING these posts. I can’t wait to try this and the no-shampoo hair cleaning. Can’t wait to see what personal care product I can stop buying next!
Thanks!!
Renee´s last blog ..Thai Curry Paste
Yep! I am a long-time fan of OCM. I cannot imagine cleansing my face any other way now. As the air gets colder here, I am reminded of how sensitive skin is to the changes in the atmosphere. Although I can normally use a a 1:1 ratio of the EVOO and castor oil, as the air gets cold and dry, I move to the dry skin formulation you mentioned.
It seriously is the best thing I have ever done for my face. And it’s like a little mini-spa treatment each night!
Thanks for bringing more attention to this method, Tsh!
I’ve been using OCM for about 2 1/2 weeks now. I really like it. The only difference is I was only using it about 3 times per week and using Arbonne cleanser on the off days. For some reason I thought I shouldn’t use the OCM every night. I’ll try it this week and be done with pre-packaged cleansers…finally. Thanks!
Stacie @ newmommyhelp.net´s last blog ..Let Him Be The Daddy
Definitely want to try this, especially since I’ve been doing the second part anyway–steaming my face with a hot washcloth and a few drops of essential oils–lavender and/or rose: http://savouringgrace.com/2009/08/17/how-do-i-love-lavender-let-me-count-the-links/
Myrrh´s last blog ..About the Tomatoes
What about the eye area? Is it OK to put it around your eyes. I’m just thinking of how I would remove the eye makeup. Thanks!
Yep, it’s okay for me. At the end, I just wipe it on my eyelids and around, like I would a makeup remover. In fact, it’s safer… no more stinging.
i think i need to try this, i have been fighting acne for years, (i wonder if this would also work on my back?) and I’m 27. i gave up shampoo a while ago, at least a year if not two, and my hair hasn’t been better. i don’t even use the baking soda and the ACV b/c we have a gnat problem thanks to an apple tree in the back yard. i usually just get it wet when i need to, or wash it with my glycerin soap once in a while. all shampoo ever did was strip it and leave it dry and frizzy.
Tabatha´s last blog ..This is so cool…
Tsh, I love your blog… After the ‘poo-free post I started wondering if facial cleansers had the same effect, and I’m so glad you posted on this! I think I am going to try the OCM… not sure if I’m ready to give up my herbal essences shampoo yet though. I have two quick questions though: do the oils stain your washcloths/towels? and also, what are the best places to find the essential oils you mentioned?
My husband told me that when he was in highschool and had bad acne, he used a raw egg wash and never had acne problems again after that. It sounds gross to me, but do you know anything about whether it is actually effective?
Back in high school, I read some teeny-bopper magazine that suggested using an egg white as a facial mask. I tried it and, ten years later, I still do it from time to time, whenever my complexion needs a lift. All I do is get an egg white, crack it into a mug, and use my fingers to spread it over my face. Let it dry for a while and then rinse it off. One time my husband saw me do it and thought I was nuts, but then I used it on a sunburn on him and it got rid of all the peeling gently. Anyway, I’m no authority and have no scientific reasons or explanations, but it’s worked for me, too.
Heather´s last blog ..Accept These Substitutions
I gave up using facial cleansers two years ago but I had never heard of using oil until now. I take an evening shower and just let the shower clean my face for me. No rubbing or scrubbing – I just face the water and let the water wash the dirt away. In the morning I don’t touch my face at all. I have much better balance in my skin – and I don’t get monthly hormone swing zits anymore. OCM sounds interesting, but I found that I don’t need anything at all.
Hi Tsh,
Great ideas and post. When I was little my mom would have us open up the hot dishwasher and steam our faces. Funny, uh?
Hope you are doing well!
Sandy
sandy´s last blog ..Neighborly Fig Love!
I have been using olive oil for a while now and it works wonders. I haven’t bought face cleanser in months. I haven’t used castor oil before, but will have to give it a try.
Courtney´s last blog ..Accountability
This is awesome! I’m definitely going to give it a try. I’m the opposite of most people – in high school, I hardly had any skin problems. But now, I don’t know what the heck is going on. It’s just, as you put it, blah. I’m almost out of my face wash (which was NOT worth the money, by the way) , so I’m going to head to the store and get me some castor oil. Thanks for sharing yet another frugal and natural alternative!
Heather´s last blog ..Accept These Substitutions
I’m definitely willing to try this too. I’ve been switching to extra virgin coconut oil as a moisturizer for face, lips and body. I use a scrub cleanser every day, though, and am worried about going without but would love to get rid of yet another unhealthy product and save the $. My husband, who has very oily skin, did try an oil for cleansing years ago, bought at a farmers’ market; I didn’t really “buy” it then but at the very least it didn’t make his skin worse.
I was just getting ready to fork over the $$$ for my usual Dr. Perricone moisturizer and cleanser, but this makes so much more sense! Very excited to try it! We’re Italian, and my mom has been rubbing olive oil on her face at night for years. I thought it just came with the genetics, but it’s actually quite brilliant. love it!
Anna´s last blog ..Home Hair Repair that Isn’t.
I started this several months ago after reading about it on Big Mama’s blog. I love it! I enjoy the feeling more than my cleanser and do find that it keeps my skin clearer.
Thanks for posting about this! I love your blog and appreciate your clean layout and look! Keep up the great work!
Kit´s last blog ..Multitude Monday
I’ve been on the OCM for 2 weeks now and LOVE it! I have extremely oily and acne-covered skin and this is the best remedy ever! However, I think your portions might be a bit off – castor oil is very strong and its drying effect is too – i think the maximum recommended combination is 20% castor oil to 80% evoo (or other oil) for all skin types. I would recommend the OCM to anyone – it really does moisturize your skin and leave it soft and glowing and NON-oily!
G.G.´s last blog ..Monsters & Robots & Spiders
Glad you like it! I’m just going on what I’ve read elsewhere; I haven’t tried a 50/50 ratio personally. Maybe if someone has really oily skin, they can just try a tiny bit with this ratio and see how it works.
Another great at-home facial deal is equal parts plain yogurt and honey. Mix it together, spread it on a clean face, and it’s the best moisturizer out there. Not for cleaning, but definitely for softness… and breakfast.
My First Kitchen´s last blog ..Spicy Chicken with Polenta
I have been wanting to try this for a long time, but I can’t find castor oil anywhere! I live in the states and I have checked Kmart, Acme, and Whole Foods. I looked for it in cooking oil, digestive aids, and natural remedies. If someone can tell me where they got castor oil I would really appreciate it. Thank you!
I asked my pharmecist at our small grocery store and found it.
Walmart had it here in Maine, with the laxatives. It was a small bottle (6 oz) for 2 bucks.
I know this is tons later than the original post but I found mine at Walgreene’s
I’m intrigued by this post and your no-poo post. I’m wondering though, are you aware of any solutions for chemical-free bath soap/body wash? Thanks!
I use Dr. Bronners
stuff, and I love it. In a few weeks, I’ll post a little roundup of all my beauty/grooming routines, and I’ll include links of stuff I use.
I started this 2 days ago, and my face is amazingly softer and feels well moisturized but not greasy at all. I will definitely continue. I also started using the baking soda hair cleanser and vinegar conditioner, and I was pleasantly surprised with the results. I thought my hair would feel like straw not using real conditioner, but it feels great, even softer than it was. Thanks for the info!
I used honey recently for the first time to clean my face after reading a post at http://www.strocel.com It was absolutely amazing! My pores felt tighter and my skin glowed! I highly recommend it.
Melodie´s last blog ..Can Potty Training Cause Weaning?
Wow. I have to say this goes against everything that I have ever believed about washing my face…. to try it would be very scary! Thanks for sharing your personal experience on this and the shampoo thing. It is great to be able to hear from someone who has actually done it!
Jessalyn´s last blog ..What is Modesty?-A Repost
I found castor oil at Bed, Bath & Beyond by their cutting boards… sounds strange, but if you have a wood/bamboo cutting board, castor oil is the preferred method of “cleaning” them to remove any bacteria that has gotten sucked down into the grains. Oh, the many ways to use castor oil! But DON’T try it to induce labor!!! Not safe to drink – and it doesn’t help anyway (old wives tale).
I used it to induce labor with my third child – when I was one week overdue. Within one hour of drinking 1 TBSP., I was in labor. Worked for me.
Doh… meant that it’s not safe to drink when preggo… unless you NEED the laxative effects, but talk to your doc first.
Yay! Great post!
I discovered the OCM a little less than a month ago and I don’t see myself stopping any time soon! I have an oily T-zone and dry cheek areas and my whole face is *very* sensitive. I have (had!) moderate acne along my jawline and beside my eyes (under the arms of my glasses). I started by using a 1:3 castor:EVOO combo, but have switched to 3:1 castor:EVOO. I actually steam my face with the washcloth about 3 times when I “wash” nightly. I love it! My acne has cleared up with just an occasional red spot. My skin is more balanced – it feels great. My blackheads are disappearing. I’m so glad I gave this a shot!
Tracey´s last blog ..You Can Do Anything
I started this a few weeks ago after some link travelling via your Shampoo Free post.
The Oil Cleansing Method website suggests using these ratios:
Oily Skin: Try a blend of 30% Castor Oil to 70% Sunflower Seed Oil.
Balanced Skin: Try a blend of 20% Castor Oil to 80% Sunflower Seed Oil.
Dry Skin: Try a blend of 10% Castor Oil to 90% Sunflower Seed Oil.
I’m using the Oily skin blend right now, but if you’ve read of people having success using even more castor oil, I’d love to experiment with that for even more ‘cleansing’ effect.
Jen @ Canadian Rhapsody´s last blog ..Autumn Organization
I’ve been struggling with my skin since I was a teenager (I’ll be 30 this year) and I have to tell you that this cleansing method is great! I’ve been to all sorts of clinics, dermatologists, mom’s advice… you name it, I’ve done it all… so last night I gave a shot to this cleansing method. OMG! It really works! My skin looks great and I didn’t need any tonic-cleansing foam-moisturizer-pressed powder gunk I’ve used for years and years, it’s amazing how soft and not shiny my skin feels. I have a concern: My skin is very sensitive tu sunlight, so, how should I proceed? Do I clean my face with oil and then put on sunscreen lotion? I’m just afraid of “frying” my face.
Today I’m going to buy some baking soda so I can get rid of shampoo
Thank you for this great post
I agree.. EVOO is my best friend. I live in Colorado where is so dry in Winter. I use EVOO as cleanser and also a moisturizer.
Thank you for sharing this. I’ve never tried this approach to cleansing my face. I’ve used natural soaps, but never oils. I’ll have to give it a try. Thanks!
RobbieLee at Chickiedee´s last undefined ..If you register your site for free at
I’m so glad people are talking about this! I’ve been using EVOO exclusively to cleanse my face (sometimes with a little castor oil in the summer) for almost 2 years and I LOVE it! One of the best pieces of advice I got about it sounds odd, but I think it has been a secret weapon in keeping my skin from feeling tight: after rinsing with the washcloth, when your hands are still warm and clean, press them to your entire face and hold them there for about 30 seconds. Cover your whole face that way. I don’t know why this works, but it does. I believe it has something to do with restoring the PH balance to your skin by applying your own skin to it. In any case, it works wonders.
I’m so curios…
I’ll try this formula a. s. a. I’ll arrive at home….
I’ll let you know how it works on me!
Thanks for your intersting suggestions!
Trittoli
Trittoli´s last blog ..Piedi nudi ancora per un po’
I too have found that after having babies, and now in my 30s my skin doesn’t have the visible vibrancy it once had…I’ll have to try this. It sounds so fresh and natural. Thanks for the tips.
After reading this blog post, I went out and bought castor oil and EVO, mixed up a little batch, and used it for the first time last night. And so far, I loved it! Made me stop and think about the billions and billions of dollars spent on facial products each year, and here’s an easy, cheap natural fix. Thanks so much for sharing!
just found Castor Oil at Walgreens, yay!
Beth Young´s last blog ..Jake is 4 months old
So interesting! I’m on day 2 of this method and have decided to try it for a week. So far, so good! I was just curious about a couple of things…would it mess up the balance to put some kind of essential oil in the mix? I’m already missing the fresh, clean scent of soap. Also, I wondered about sunscreen. I have never used a separate sunscreen because it is in my moisturizer. So far I am still using a bit of lotion, but since you said you rarely use it now, I wondered if you have a sunscreen you could suggest.
If anyone has used it before, do you know if it would be a good cleanser for people with cystic acne? My brother has been struggling with it for a couple of years (he was on Accutane for a while), and I was considering creating a mix for him for his stocking.
I wouldn’t want to make it worse though. Any insights would be helpful.
Jen @ Canadian Rhapsody´s last blog ..Autumn Organization
I have also struggled with acne and was on accutane for awhile a number of years ago. I read so many positive things about the OCM online, even from people who suffered from acne, and so I was so excited to try it. It was clearing my face slowly for about 3 weeks to a month and then all of a sudden it broke out worse than I have ever broken out before! I was so disappointed. I am really trying to get all my cleaning and personal care regimens natural, it was very sad. So ended up using the method from acne.org. It is slow going but really working (and actually their method suggests using jojoba oil as a moisturizer but using benzoyl peroxide as a treatment. I would have them check out their website, very informative!). I hate to be so negative about OCM because I know that it has done wonders for people and even cleared up some people’s acne but just thought I would let you know to take care with your brother’s situation. Maybe after childbearing and menopause my hormones will change in a way that I will be able to use OCM because when it was working I loved how it made my skin feel!
I’ve been clued in to OCM for quite a while now and most of what I have seen says that it is quite common for your skin to get worse and then gradually start to get better. What is going on is that the castor oil is going deep to get every thing out of your pores that normal cleansers leave behind. Since this obviously doesn’t happen over night, it may take a while for it to show up.
I stopped using the OCM early last year because of a career move (was selling skin care products !? which I don’t anymore) and had to get to know their cleansers. While they are great, I still break out. After the “adjustment phase” on OCM, I had the best skin ever. I’m chomping at the bit to get back on it.
Good luck! Hang in here.
I’ve been trying this since you posted on Monday, using straight EVOO since that’s what we have around the house. Is it wrong that it makes me crave pizza? Oh, the smell of warm olive oil!
I am SO curious to try this!
Marie | green your apartment´s last blog ..Wash Your Face – with Oil?
Coming out of lirkville to comment…I have been trying the OCM for a little over two months now (after finding out about it on Sorta Crunchy) and have done my best to stick with it even when I haven’t seen a change in my skin. I have had very acne prone skin since I was in middle school and it is worse now then it has ever been before. I have not given up on OCM but I am discouraged because I have not gotten the results that I was anticipating after reading the great results that others with similar skin have achieved. If anyone has had a similar experience and has been able to remedy it, I would love to hear from you. I’m getting quite discouraged and almost hate to look in a mirror anymore. I look forward to the day when I can say OCM, a wonderfully natural approach, has helped clear my skin. (I should also mention that I am also on antibiotics for the acne problem and have started cleaning with a face wash with salycilic (sp?) acid but still use essential oils (mainly tea tree and eucalyptus) after cleansing.)
I also have acne prone skin and had the same results as you, so disappointing!! I have started using the method from acne.org (and they actually recommend using jojoba oil as a moisturizer but use benzoyl peroxide as a treatment) . It has been slow going but I am finally after about 3 weeks beginning to really clear up. I feel like the guy in charge of the website, and who formulates the treatments tries hard to put the least harmful ingredients in his products as possible. You might check out the site. It has a lot of great info. no matter if you decide to use his products or over the counter products. He lists over the counter products that work just as well as his own if you don’t want to get his stuff. Good luck!
I started the acne.org regimen too! I finally had to stop the OCM because it just wasn’t doing anything. I made an honest attempt (3 months) and, if it WAS doing anything, it was making it worse. I have been doing the acne.org regimen for about 4 weeks now and am noticing improvement little by little. I still use the jojoba oil combined with my lotion and I use all over the counter products right now. I haven’t bought any of the acne.org guy’s stuff yet but I eventually will because his products are so much cheaper overall. I’m glad to hear that you are having success with the regimen too!
I tried it and it like it. I suddenly thought this is an old method, the ancient romans used it. They would rub themselves all over with oil (presumably olive oil) scented with lavender and then it would be rubbed and scraped off. Then they would soak in a bath of hot water. And they would have a massage in there somewhere. They must have had very soft skin all over.
Suprisingly Awesome! I was worried it wouldn’t take my eye makeup off well. But it did better than my normal cleanser with less scrubbing! Which has got to be better for my face. It feels so SOFT!!
Wow! I just tried the OCM, and my face feels amazing! I can definitely feel the difference, and I think my complexion looks better. Now I just need to locate a lavender oil or something to make it smell even better!
I live in Sicily (for ten more days) and I have a local friend that makes olive oil bar soap and I love it! Here is her website because I (for one) am too lazy to make my own. She also sells olive oil and homemade sundried tomatoes. I’m not making any money from this… just wanted to share!
http://www.siculolio.ch/indexE.html
Emily´s last blog ..ROMA!
I just started doing this after finding this post and so far I love it! Also going ‘poo free, too, and so far so good.
Hi! We loved your post over at KiwiLog and decided to feature it as part of our weekly mom blog round-up. Thanks!
KiwiLog´s last blog ..Mom Blog Round-Up: October 19th
I have been doing this for about a week now and all I can say is WOW. I am 48 and have the skin of a teenager – breaking out once a month and always, always have struggled with blackheads on my nose. I also break out along my jawline line your previous poster mentioned.
Since I have started using the EVOO and castor oil, I cannot believe how great my skin looks. I haven’t needed to use any moisturizer and my nose is almost totally clear. All these years going for facials and it only took two natural ingredients to finally clear up my nose.
Thanks for posting this – I am eternally grateful.
Love
Pamela
I have tried every product for my problem skin and nothing was working. Just this week I started using calendula oil and I can’t believe how well it works. My base oil is almond and I really just love it and oh so simple! I will try blending with castor oil soon. Thank you!
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I tried the OCM last night for the first time and LOVE IT!!! I have been poo-free for a month now and am extremely happy with the results. So next my next step is to get rid of my body lotion…….any suggestions, EVOO maybe?
This is great! I can’t wait to try it at home. I always struggle with appropriate moisture, so I could really use this.
I have been using the OCM for almost a month now. I like how my skin feels, although I don’t have the “wow” glowy sking. I want to keep experimenting with my oil ratio. But, I was wondering about cleaning your wash clothes. Mine smell like EVOO after I wash them. Any suggestions?
I must admit that I am a bit surprised but I really like the results of the castor oil and EVOO. I’m even more surprised by how soft and wonderful my hair is after going ‘poo free. So now wise one, I must ask you – what can I use to replace body wash in the shower, my body lotion (of which I am an addict), and a treatment for dry winter feet? Thanks for simplifying our lives!
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This sounds heavenly!!! I can’t wait to try it!
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I just wanted to say thanks…I love your site. It’s great reading…concise and informational. I love that you are the same amount of green as I am. Enough to make a difference, but not insane. The no shampoo method is really working out for me. My hair is your length and I love the new found body that my hair has! Just washed it for the first time in 5 weeks (before my cut) and I didn’t like it! My hair was flat (the softness was nice though) and wouldn’t hold style at all.
I really hope the oil cleansing method works too! I am on day two and I already love how my skin feels. I am fearing a breakout though!
I’m going to begin this oil method, as soon as I get the Caster oil.
Any advice for forehead wrinkles and commas between the eyebrows. The dermotologist is recommending botox, but I’d like a more natural option.
I really appreciate these articles. I’ve enjoyed going poo-free.
Since I have fairly “normal” skin throughout the year I thought I would just try the EVOO. I am amazed – truly. I can’t say my skin feels “tighter” or that my pores have decreased in size (yet – it’s been 1 week), but my skin is silky soft, no breakouts and it’s CLEAN, something I truly didn’t expect could happen without using soap. Though I don’t technically need a moisturizer during the day, I do like having protection from the sun, so I now use a generic moisturizer that contains SPF & I’m good to go in the mornings! Thx for such an easy & wonderful alternative!
I’ve been using OCM for a week now. I’m really loving how my skin is improving. I’m finding that EVOO is a little too heavy for. So I’ve been using Grapeseed oil (that’s what was in the cupboard). I would like to try almond or coconut oil. I have had acne since age 11. I’m african american with combo skin. I only recently learned my skin was also sensitive. I’m so happy to be seeing results so quickly. I just pray it lasts. My goal is to enter 2010 with clear, glowing skin! Wish me luck.
I wanted to comment on this, because I know several have asked about using this on acne-prone skin. I am 29 and have struggled with acne since my late teens. I have to say, while the OCM DID make my skin feel amazingly soft, about a week after switching my face broke out worse than I have had happen in years! I wanted SO much to love this alternative to harsh soaps with BP or Salicylic acid, but my face hurt too much. I had to switch back to the old stuff (Skin ID). I plan on trying this again, if I get pregnant again, so I can be chemical free. I hope that the breakout was just my skin getting used to the switch, we’ll see in the future, but for now, I wouldn’t recommend this for people with moderate to severe acne combined with sensitive skin.
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I also want to note that you can use honey and water to wash your face if you have sensitive skin.
I think EVOO would be too heavy for me, but almond or coconut oil would work, so I’ll give those a shot, mixing it in with honey
Right now, my routine has just been to wash my face with water. I don’t wear makeup, so the warm water splashed on, and dabbed off is more than enough to cleanse my face
FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com´s last blog ..Radical Proposal: Simulate a job loss.
I have PCOS so my skin is extremely oily and prone to break outs, especially along the jaw line.
I am going to try this for sure!
Thanks so much for this post!! I just started using a 50/50 mix of castor oil and EVOO – with a few drops of lavender essential oil mixed in. After only 3 days – my skin is soft (normally it is so dry during the winter months). Daily moisturizers didn’t come close to making my skin this soft!
OK, this is another good one. I used castor oil as a moisturizer recently and was surprised by how un-greasy it was on my face. It also has been recently that I realized that my normal skin only needed to be washed once a day. At least at this time of year. I am having fun reading all of your green health and beauty tips!
Dee´s last blog ..Thanks for the street cred, Mom-101.com
I tried this method several years ago and it completely destroyed my already acne-prone skin – I’ve never had worse skin in my entire life. I ended up with nearly every single pore being clogged and it took months before it cleared again. I tried using several different combos of oils and stuck with it for 3 months, but in the end it was a total disaster. Nice idea in theory, but I don’t think I’ll ever try it again
Little Red Hen Mama´s last blog ..Reducing Waste
I have had several “non-poo” friends with uber curly hair who use only conditioner.. their hair is de-frizzed and gorgeous. I will have to let them on about the hair treatments!!
I am really excited to try out this OCM face washing method: I constantly cringe at what I’m putting on my face to maintain ‘ok’ skin. It is very sensitive and when it comes to foundation I can only wear phacician’s formula or mineral wear! So this makes perfect sense to me.
Question though: I am very fair and practically live in face moisturizer year round, so how do you replace that / do you have a good spf to recommend?
I’ve been using this method for a few months now and have loved it UNTILL…maybe month 2 or so my forehead has a breakout in small subtle pimples! Even as a teen I never had acne or breakout problems…just dry skin…so this is throwing me off big time! I dont know whether to pin point the problem on the night time oil routine OR the small amt. of coconut oil I use in the AM. A friend warned against coconut oil (said it causes breakouts) but then I heard thats a myth? Anyone use anything thing else in the AM?
I gave this a good shot for 3 weeks. I was encouraged by how nice my skin looked, at first. However, after 3 wks, i started getting ALOT of little tiny bumps and 2 bigger ones on my forehead. And so I stopped the OCM, disappointed. Everyone is different, I know. It has been almost 2 weeks since i stopped and those bumps are still there. Odd! I wish these little bumps would go away!
And, by the way, I was using a 50/50 blend of castor oil and organic EVOO…
Dee, I found a 90/10 blend of grapeseed oil and castor oil worked much better for me than the olive oil, which was way too thick for my skin. The castor oil at a 50% concentration could be very drying, depending on your skin type, at that concentration. But, I have dry skin.
Hi there, I’m wondering how long this keeps? do you have to make up a batch every day or every week?
I’ve been using sunflower oil as a moisturizer for months and I was excited when I read about OCM. I started using it two weeks ago. Loved the way my skin felt. About 5 days into it, my entire face broke out into a red, itchy, bumpy rash. Pretty gross. It’s now been about five days and I’m still dealing with this reaction. I can’t find anything from anyone else w/ this experience. Wondering if you have? My skin loves the sunflower oil so I’m wondering if I my skin can’t deal w/ the castor oil? Help!
Years ago my grandmother told me to put vaseline on my face when I had a pimple. I said the oil would make it worse and she said no that the pimples were’nt caused by oil. I tried it and the pimple whent away.
I will definitely be trying this method of cleansing my face. I can no longer use the acne washes and medicines since I am pregnant with my third child. I at least know this won’t hurt my baby.
Kimberly-
I hope this works for you. But I just want to caution you, I have always had problems controlling my moderate acne. I was so excited about OCM but after using if for about 3 weeks my face broke out so badly!! It was worse than it has ever been in my life and I got acne in places I never had before. It is has been 4 months and I am still trying to get rid of it. I have been using Benzoyl Peroxide to get rid of it and it has taken forever and I think I am close to having it be gone but I still have a lot of red marks that need to heal because the acne was so bad.
Now I will say that I tried the regimen on acne.org and they recommend using Jojoba oil to combat the extremely dry skin that accompanies the medication use and I have been using that with great success. So maybe if you combine the castor oil with jojoba oil it would work better. I used olive oil with the castor oil and I guess it just wasn’t right for my skin.
I hope you find something that works for you!
I am going to start this tonight! I am ALL about simplifying my life and teaching my children the harms of chemicals…do things naturally… I can’t wait to give this a week and see how my skin feels!
Just wanted to chime in as the comments continue to pour in on this post months later… Result are different for everyone. I know several of you have commented in order to “warn” people, but in assuming most readers here are mature adults, simply keep in mind that you may need to tweak the OCM method for awhile to find what works for you.
If you find negative results, such as a breakout, simply tweak the ratio of oils, or try a different oil, especially if you really want this to work. Don’t just give up after one go.
Using olive oil had been working well for me, but so many people had been mentioning that grapeseed oil was working well for them, so I decided to give it a go. Well, it didn’t take long for me to get little white bumps all over my face. So, I switched back to olive oil. It cleared up immediately.
So be patient… You’ll find the combo that works for your skin!
what would you recomend for dry cracking feet? I have tried soaking my feet in water and gently scraping the dead skin away and useing vasoline care on them at night. My Mom has this problem but her feet crack so bad that they bleed and crack clear to the inner meat. Do you have any ideas you could share? Also I’m going to try the oils on my oldest son’s achne and your advice on hair loss and scalp treatments. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
Very interesting…I’m going to try it
jana
Jana @ Weekend Vintage´s last blog ..Womens blouse-Butterick 2683
I recently developed an allergic reaction to antibacterial soap. In general eating the right foods such as oily fish and other vitamins from fresh vegetables works well. Also skin is damaged by smoking and excess exposure to strong UV light from the sun.
I’ve been washing my hair with baking soda and apple cider vinegar for a year now and using Dr. Bronner’s as body wash but my face wash is the last thing I still buy “commercially” as it were. Thanks for the post, I’d been looking for an easy alternative, I’ll have to start trying this out tomorrow! <3
I’ve been using the OCM for a few weeks now. I loved it at first, but the past few days I’ve had really bad breakouts. I was just wondering if this is normal and will pass. I really don’t want to go back to Pro-Activ! Am I doing something wrong or is it a possibility that this won’t work for me after all? I’ve tried the olive oil and castor together in different ratios.. not sure what to do.
You might try the castor oil with jojoba oil instead of olive oil. I have really bad acne but have used jojoba oil to help moisturize my skin and it does not cause me to break out. I have found it pretty cheaply at acne.org. Good luck!
I’ve read that all oils draw PCB’s and other toxins from plastic, so I wouldn’t put my oils in plastic, or buy them in plastic either. I would keep them in dark glass. Pour a bit into your hand, wiping the edge of the glass onto your hand to stop any drips to keep the glass from getting slippery.
Also, I don’t bother steaming my face. Castor oil, from the study I’ve done, has “drawing” or absorptive properties by itself, so it’s easier to just rub your mixture of oils on your face, then remove with a really hot, wet towel. Quick and easy. Even better is to rub it on, wash your hands, then go turn down the bed or finish the dishes before washing it off…..all the better to absorb your dirt, grime and nastiness. You could also put it on first thing in the morning, go make your coffee, lay out your clothes, then jump in the shower. The point is to let it sit a while on your face before wiping off. I see no problem with doing it twice a day as long as you are rinsing/wiping it off well with a hot towel.
When I first tried this, the whiteheads on either side of my nostrils, around my nose, and under my eyes disappeared after the first washing! I’m 47 and have always had some large pores with resulting white or blackheads. Gone in 60 seconds, to coin a phrase.
And if you’re thinking it might be too oily for you: No. I even have to apply more oil after wiping the mixture off my face. Otherwise it’s a little too dry. My skin has even been known to crack a little AFTER cleansing with the oil method, due to my estrogen and peri-menopause status! so that’s why I must add a tiny smidge of oil and water to my face once I’ve wiped off the cleansing oil. A teenager could just wipe it off with a hot towel and be done. In theory, without the stripping that is done by soaps, a teenager should have less oil production after washing this way.
Wish someone had told me about this a few decades ago.
http://www.newdirectionsaromatics.com/
A wonderful website where you can purchase top quality (seriously!) essential oils for wholesale price. I’m not a representative of the place, I swear, just a really happy customer. The oils are imported from all over the world and shipped from Canada. They’ll sell them in small quantities (like 1/6 of an ounce) which is great for those who just want to try it out. I’m telling you, depending on the oil, some of them are less than $5. The oils have changed my skin and hair so dramatically. Worth a look!
I’ve been using the OCM for a while now. I use my own blend, and it took some time and experimentation to work it out.
1 cup coconut oil
1 cup jojoba oil
15 drops neroli oil
5 drops lavender
2 drops tea tree oil
I have always had an oily T-zone, but wit really dry, flakey patches on my forehead. This mix seems to work best for me.
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