The Oil Cleansing Method

Want to get your face really clean and healthy?  Slather it with oil.

Seriously.

I've had problems with my skin for almost 10 years.  Oily one week, dry and itchy the next, sensitive all the time.  I'm prone to breakouts.  I'm pretty sure I've tried every affordable cleanser on the market, and nothing worked.  Plus, I felt really icky about slathering chemicals all over my face.  Then I found the Oil Cleansing Method (OCM).  And for the first time in almost a decade my skin is clear and relatively happy.

Here's the way it works:  Our skin produces oil naturally, and traditional cleaners strip the oils from our skin.  So our skin goes into overdrive to replenish the missing oils and then we get all kinds of unpleasantness.  With the OCM we tap into the principle that oil dissolves oil (science!), so we use oils to dissolve the gunk and clean the surface of our skin without using harsh chemicals that strip the good oils.

It will take you some time to figure out the blend of oils that work best for your skin.  Don't be surprised if it takes several months to find the right routine.  I've been doing this for a year, and I'm just now feeling comfortable with this whole natural skincare thing.  If you're wondering why I don't just keep trying store bought cleansers here's the answers:  

1) Cost.  After repeatedly spending money on the latest "miracle cleanser" and ending up with disaster after disaster I'm worn out with risking my money on store bought cleansers.  When I buy oils I am assured that even if the oils I buy aren't the best for my face I can use them in other things around the house.  The only oil I have ever bought that has gone to waste was jojoba oil because I discovered I'm sensitive to it (most people are not; I'm a weirdo).  Every other bottle of oil I've bought to experiment with has been used for something.  I can't say the same for bottles of store bought cleansers that have cluttered my counter tops and shower caddy for years.

2) Safety.  I have yet to see a bottled cleanser that doesn't contain chemicals I don't want on my skin.  Your skin is the largest organ on your body.  If you're careful about what you eat why would you mindlessly slather chemicals on your skin?

3) The journey.  I like the journey.  I like learning about what my body needs to be nourished.  We're all different, and that's a good thing.  I have come to resent the fact that cosmetics companies are constantly trying to make money on our weaknesses.  Instead of trying to force my skin to "behave" I choose to learn what my skin is trying to tell me.  When I give my skin what it needs to work the way it was designed to work the problems seem to take care of themselves.

Okay.  So I've either sold you on this method or you've walked away scratching your head and thinking I'm a nutcase.  If you're still reading you're probably wondering where to start.  The best post I've read - the one that started it all for me - is Nitty Gritty on the Oil Cleasing Method by Crunchy Betty.  Read her post first, and make sure to follow the link at the end and read her troubleshooting post as well.  If you're just starting out I recommend a combination of castor oil and grapeseed oil for oily skin or jojoba oil for dry skin.  If you have really dry skin you can incorporate some coconut oil, but go easy on it because it may clog your pores to start with.  Play with the ratios and see what works for you.

My current favorite cleansing blend is based on Jenni Raincloud's OCM Cleanser.  I've been using this blend for about six weeks and I'm very pleased with it.  This would not have been a good starting point for me because the oil in my skin was so unbalanced when I started, but now that my skin is healthier I'm amazed at how well this cleanser works.  Here's what I use:

2 tbsp coconut oil
1 tbsp avocado oil
1/2 tbsp tamanu oil

1 1/2 tbsp castor oil

1 tbsp shea butter

8 drops tea tree essential oil

5 drops lavender essential oil

2 drops frankincense essential oil
2 drops peppermint oil

Heat the coconut oil, castor oil and shea butter in a glass bowl, placed in a pot of water.  Only turn your stove top to medium heat.  (I have a small mason jar that I use exclusively for mixing things like this).  Once the butter is fully melted, remove the jar from heat and allow it to cool for about 5 minutes.  Add essential oils and pour it into a 4 ounce jar.  Let cool until cleanser hardens; this could take up to 12 hours.  You can put it in the fridge to speed up the process, but you'll need to let it come back to room temperature before you'll be able to scoop it out easily.

To use it scoop out a nickel to quarter sized amount and massage it over a dry face.  Soak a washcloth or muslin cloth in water that is as warm as you can stand and hold it over your face until it begins to cool.  Wipe off the oil.  Rinse the cloth.  Repeat 2-3 times until your skin no longer feels slimy.  

You might need a toner and moisturizer.  You might not.  It just depends on your skin.  

So what do you think?  Ready to try this crazy thing called OCM?  Have you been using it and now you have wisdom to share?  Leave a comment - I'd love to hear your thoughts.