Health & Support

Sounds counterintuitive doesn't it? It's called the Oil Cleansing Method. I've been doing it for a week now and I notice a big difference in the look and feel of my skin. I've had blackheads on my nose and chin since I was about 12 years old and I could never get rid of them. I'd wash my face and they'd be right back. I could still see them. Even masks didn't really work. With using this oil stuff they are starting to go away! I keep running to the mirror to check and yeah, it's seriously working. My pores are still big, so I have empty holes in my face but I suspect that will change once all the gunk gets out.

I have acne prone skin that's oily, dry, and normal in some spots. Though I haven't had a problem in awhile, I get cystic ance too. It's only been a week but so far so good, no pimples no nothing execpt glowing skin and empty pores.

I use Extra Virgin Olive Oil (yes, the stuff you cook with) mixed in with a little Castor Oil (yes, the stuff that makes you poop). I also mix in a little tea tree oil because that's always helped with my skin.

So who's going to try this?

http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com/
http://www.thebeautybottle.com/index.php?opti on=com_content&task=view&id=6&Ite mid=2

edited to add the following

Okay, for those of us who are having problems here are some Trouble Shooting tips.  I would add this to the first post but since it's been edited by a mod it won't let me.  Boo.  Maybe I'll add it to my second post. 

Anyway, everyone's skin is different.  You have to find what works for your skin.  Same thing when you use commerical facial cleansers...you have to figure out what works for you.  If you're having breakouts that you believe are related to OCM try these Trouble Shooting Tips:

1.  Your skin doesn't like EVOO (or whatever oil).  Try different oil.

2.  Your skin doesn't like Castor Oil.  Does it work without castor oil?  Some people do a modified version of OCM without castor.  Some people have luck with just EVOO or Jojoba (or whatever). 

3.  Your skin doesn't like the ratio of EVOO (or whatever oil) to Castor.  Change your ratios around.

4.  You're not spending enough time rubbing the oils in.  Give it at least 5 minutes.  Take some you time and enjoy.

5.  You're not getting enough dirty oils off your skin.  Spend more time with the rag on your face and take more care to get the oils off.

6.  Your skin does not like your washing off technique.  Lay a hot rag across your face.  Hold it in place.  Let it sit there until it cools a little.  Gently wipe your face.  Repeat.  Don't scrub.

7.  Your skin doesn't like the hot rag approach.  Try doing OCM in the shower and forgo the hot rag.  Instead, rub your oils in for AT LEAST 5 minutes then wash with water only.

8.  You're not soaking your wash cloths in dish soap and very hot water for a long time before sending them through the washing machine.  Laundry detergent cannot get the dirty oils out of your rags.  Dirty oil rags can cause you to break out.  Only use a rag once. 

9.  Your skin is too dry.  Try using plain EVOO (or whatever oil) as a moisturizer.  Or try bumping down your % of castor oil.

10.  Are you over washing your face?  Are you using your normal harsh cleanser in the morning then doing OCM at night?  Try washing your face with just water in the morning.  It's not gross, trust me.

11.  Are you under washing your face?  Are you washing your face with water only in the morning and doing OCM at night?  If you have time, do OCM in the morning and at night.  If you don’t have time, try using a light cleanser in the morning.  Look for one that's oil based.  You could probably find something good at a health food store.  

12.  Are you doing OCM everyday?  Try doing it only once every other day.  Maybe everyday is too much for your skin.

13.  Are you NOT doing OCM everyday?  Maybe you should try it.

14.  Maybe your skin needs extra pimple busting power.  Try adding a few drops of EO to your mix.  I highly recommend tea tree oil.  Other all around skin helpers include lavender, rosemary, geranium, and rose.  Do some research and see what might help you.

Original Post by jewelsmcblah:

You wrote that your face wash is an acne scrub?  Is it exfoliating?  If it is, that could be your problem right there.  Most people don't need to exfoliate their face everyday.  That stuff can rip up your skin and make acne worse.  I'm no expert but I'd think exfoliating would be suffcient at once or twice a week.

Correcto-mondo!!! People with dry-normal skin should exfoliate only once a week. Those with combo-oily skin need to exfoliate twice a week. Over-exfoliating can irritate the skin way too much and cause inflamation, which breaks down collagen in the skin, which means wrinkles in the future!!! Bad stuff.

wow, thanks so much guys. this makes so much sense the more i think about it! i'm going away this weekend, so i decided to wait till monday to start this out. but i am definitely going to try it. nothing has really worked till now, and i love the idea of using something natural on my skin. i will definitely keep you updated with the results!  

You guys have no idea how excited I am about this! I've been following the thread for a couple of days now, and I finally have time to stop at the store this afternoon. I never had any sort of acne problems in high school or the beginning of college, but I feel like something in my skin started changing at the beginning of this school year, my last year of college, and i'll have 2-4 large pimples on my cheeks at any given time, I hate it! I just want to to something nice for my skin. I'll be back to read everyone's stories and share my own!

Original Post by blinx:

just using castor oil and sunflower oil in the balanced skin percentages.

Blinx - Where did you get the caster oil from in the end?  I tried Boots but couldn't find any.

Can't wait to see the results.

I bought the castor oil from Wal-Mart, but it was behind the counter, so I had to ask for it.

My son has had such a big improvement in the past few days that he told his younger siblings that they had to start doing it once a week, even though they don't have any acne at all. He figures that it will get them in the habit, and they will have a leg up on any future problems.

Original Post by compoundkid:

Blinx - Where did you get the caster oil from in the end? I tried Boots but couldn't find any.

Can't wait to see the results.

Boots actually :D I had to ask for it in the end, it's behind the counter - I'm guess because of the effects caused by drinking too much or something. The girl said it was £1.26 and I just heard the "26" and panicked for a second :D

With regards to how it's going I don't think I'm managing to steam well enough, so instead of just using the flannel to steam until it's cool, I might for the first steaming use a bowl of hot water with a towel over my head - something I used to do that worked quite well - and then continue in the usual way after that.

I've not compared the photos myself yet, I'm trying to hold off until at least Sunday, then I'll share some :)

Thanks Blinx

I didn't ask on the counter because it was very busy when I went in (lunchtime rush on pharmacy items??).  I'll go back and ask.

I am new to this site, and wow do I love it!  I am 46 and STILL have clogged pores and occasional break outs.  I have had this problem all of my life.  I am so excited about this OCM.  At first when I read it, I thought...hmm adding more oil to my skin when my pores are already clogged?  But, I have faith in what you guys have said, and I want to thank you for it.  I will keep you posted...

It definitely hasn't made my skin oily and hasn't caused any breakouts so far :)

Vendicare, that's awesome!  Glad to see he's getting good results already.

I don't have much of an update.  Everything is still going well.  I'm not getting as oily as when I used tradional cleaning methods.  My nose is still clear, but I've still got clogged pores on my chin.  Boo.  They are starting to clear out though.  Thank goodness.

I'm glad so many people are giving this a shot.  I'm still amazed that it's actually working as described (no regular products do).  Blinx, can't wait to see the photos.

I hate my chin blackheads with a passion. They really bother me, but hopefully they'll start to go :)

I was using organic natural cleansers up until a while ago when it got too hard to get them here, I switched to Superdrugs tea tree stuff or whatever it is and I'm sure it's done me no good. Two months and skin was exactly the same. I think the natural stuff did better and I always felt better using it.

I did try a few years ago using yoghurt and oats, but didn't last very long since it was such a pain to make and store and wash off. Just curious - where do people keep their mixed up oil?

I have a few of those blackhead strips left (the ones you stick on your nose) which I think I'll just try next week to see if there's a reduction on the err, gross stuff, they yield. :)

i put some olive oil on for 5 minutes. my face looked better afterwards.

I'm trying this, too.  I did it last night and again this morning.  my skin doesn't feel any different than from what I was doing before (acne scrub 3-4 times/wk (i know, i know BAD), acne wash every time i washed--am/pm-- that i didn't do the scrub, alcohol-free toner, acne spot med, and spf moisturizer).  But I feel a LOT better about what I have put on my skin.  I'm really looking forward to seeing results!  I'll keep you guys updated.

All right, I've been doing it for 3 days, and I'm feeling pretty good about it! My skin feels really nice, and I like doing the whole process. However, I'm still breaking out! Is this because I'm bringing all of the gross stuff to the surface, and it needs to get a bit worse before it gets better? It could also be because I'm about to start my period... but what is the waiting time before skin starts clearing up?

Christy, it could be one of those things where it gets worse before it gets better.  Give it two weeks.  That'll give your skin plenty of time to purge.  Do you usually break out around that time of the month?  It could be just your regular hormonal acne.  What % of oils are you using?  Also, you skin might not like EVOO.  There are a number of things that could be going haywire.

Question: Do I just rub it onto my face, let it sit and then wash it off? I'm pretty fanatic about a clean face (I wash twice a day naturally) and putting oil on my face seems weird...and I'm not sure how to go about it but I wanna lose these little blackheads around my nose! So do I let it sit and then rinse off or do I wash with it like a face wash? Also can I use a face wash afterwards or do I let it be? I don't wanna be anymore shiny than I already am hehe.

You massage the oil in for as long as you like.  Like 5 minutes or so.  Then you steam your face with a hot wash cloth and wipe the oil away.  Don't use a cleanser or soap afterwards.  That would defeat the whole purpose.  Let it be.  You're actually cleaning your face with the oils.  OCM has made me less shiny.

Original Post by jewelsmcblah:

You massage the oil in for as long as you like. Like 5 minutes or so. Then you steam your face with a hot wash cloth and wipe the oil away. Don't use a cleanser or soap afterwards. That would defeat the whole purpose. Let it be. You're actually cleaning your face with the oils. OCM has made me less shiny.

Ah ok, I'm gonna try this out tomorrow morning. Thanks.

I'm still sort of breaking out too, but it's starting to calm down now. I figured it was one of those things where it got worse before better and I think it is starting to get better now. I'll have been doing it a week tomorrow.

ok, tried this out for the first time last night, and so far so good! my skin felt great this morning, and i'm definitely not oilier than usual or anything. can't wait to see the results after a week!