I’m just going to put this out there from the start:
I haven’t washed my face in 2 months.
Yes, you read that correctly. I haven’t washed my face in 2 months…Well, not with soap, anyways. And you know what? I absolutely love it! I do NOT miss my old facial cleansers one single bit!
And believe me, I’ve tried every kind. Liquids, bars, creams, foams, etc. You name it, I’ve tried it. And no matter what perfect list of promises was listed on the packaging, my face always still felt either too dry, too oily, too pore-y, or worse, just plain pimply… Eww..
So a few months ago, I came across this crazy idea: washing your face with oil.
To which you may be thinking, “Oil? What?! No way! That goes against everything I’ve ever been taught!”
And you’d be absolutely right. It does go against everything we’ve been taught – but maybe that’s not such a bad thing!
The basic concept of this skin care and cleansing method is that the oil used to massage your skin will dissolve the oil that has hardened with impurities and found itself stuck in your pores. The steam will open your pores, allowing the oil to be easily removed. Should you need it, the smallest drop of the same oil formula patted over damp skin will provide the necessary lubrication to keep your skin from over-compensating in oil production. (Source)
After using the oil cleansing method for a few weeks, I decided that I absolutely loved it, and officially threw away my last bar of face soap. Then I ventured out to find a couple more homemade products to round out my all-natural face wash routine. So this is part 1 of a series of upcoming posts about the short list of natural, homemade products I use to care for my skin.
When you think about all the products being marketed to us to help us “improve” our skin – soaps, moisturizers, scrubs, toners, astringents, anti-aging this and that… The truth is we don’t need any of those overpriced, chemical-laden, concoctions.
All you need is a few homemade alternatives for healthy, refreshed, naturally beautiful skin!
The Oil Cleansing Method
I won’t go into too much detail on the oil cleansing method, as there are a lot of really great posts (check out the links below!) that explain it much better than I could ever do. But I will share with you one excerpt, which is a good introduction:
Do not be afraid of applying oil to your face. Oil, alone, will not bring you blemishes. Pimples, cysts, zits, blackheads, whiteheads…these are a result of several different f
actors including hormones, bacteria, dead skin cells and the buildup of these factors. Your skin naturally produces oil because it needs it. It is not a malicious force to be reckoned with; it is there for the benefit of your skin, allowing your largest organ to function properly. It is naturally occurring. Not only does your natural oil help lubricate, it also heals, protects, and moisturizes your skin so that it may function properly. Properly functioning skin is beautiful, clear, and glowing. Learning to work with your skin, not against it, will save you tremendously. (Source)
Basically, you use a mixture of castor oil, carrier oils, and optionally, essential oils, in differing ratios, to “wash” your face. It also makes a great makeup remover!
Below is a recipe for my favorite oil ratio, along with my preferred technique for washing, and some extra notes. Steps 4, 5, and 7 are completely optional, and I only do them if I have the time or if I’m feeling up for a good pampering session. 🙂
Note that I have combination skin. If your skin is more oily, you’ll want to increase the castor oil. If your skin is more dry, you’ll want to increase the carrier oils (more info on proper oil ratios are in the resources below).
Recipe
- 1 part castor oil + 1 part olive oil + 1 part grape seed oil
- A few drops of essential oil, optional (lavender or tea tree are my fav)
- Add oils to a squeeze bottle and swirl to combine.
Technique
- Start With a Dry Face. Pour a quarter-sized amount of oil mixture into your palm.
- Massage Your Face. Vigorously rub the oil between your palms to warm it up. Gently apply the oil to your face in a circular motion. Massage it into your skin, but don’t rub too hard. Continue to massage the oil into your skin for 30-60 seconds.
- Steam Your Pores. Turn on the tap to very hot water (as hot as you can stand, but not scalding!). Saturate a wash cloth, wring it out, then lay it across your face to steam your pores open. Leave it on until it cools back down to room temperature.
- Massage Again. (optional) Massage your now steamed, oily skin again for another 5-10 seconds to work out any impurities from your pores.
- Steam Again. (optional) Rinse the wash cloth, wring it out, and lay it on your face a second time.
- Clean Your Face. Once it cools down, rinse it again, then gently wipe your face clean, removing all the dirt and impurities from your skin and pores. Rinse the wash cloth and wipe your face again until there’s no more oil left on your skin (about 1 or 2 more times).
- Moisturize. (0ptional) Your skin will look and feel better right from the first time! Your face will be brighter, dewey-looking, and very soft. If needed, you may moisturize with a tiny bit of one of your carrier oils (in my case, either olive or grape seed), but most likely, you won’t need to. Coconut oil is also another great moisturizer – just a tiny bit goes a long way.
Extra Notes
- It’s best to do this at night, before going to bed. Some people do it every other night, some do it every night, and some (like me) just do it a few times a week. Go with whatever feels natural and necessary for you. In the morning, I just splash some warm, then cold water on my face, or I use a honey mask/scrub about once a week.
- Don’t be alarmed if for the first few days, your skin looks like it’s getting worse – that’s normal! It just means that the oils are working and are cleansing your pores by bringing all the lingering dirt and impurities to the surface. It will get better!
- Your personal oil ratio will depend on your skin type. Castor oil is drying, while the carrier oils are more moisturizing. Start with small batches at first, until you find the right ratio for you.
- Some readers have asked where they can find the little flip-top squeeze bottle you see in the pictures. I found them in the travel size section of my drug store (Shopper’s in Canada), but my friend, Megan, at A New Day has graciously informed me that you can find them at CVS in the US as well.
- One of our readers brought up the issue of using castor oil during pregnancy (castor oil can cause preterm labor), but after checking with my midwife, I’ve been assured that it’s only dangerous if it is ingested internally – if used topically (and specifically with OCM, it should be completely safe, but please still check with your midwife/doctor before trying it!)
More Oil Cleansing Method Resources
- Thank Your Skin has an amazing comprehensive guide that covers everything from which oils to use, the pros and cons of OCM, and even a few case studies with actual pictures of people who have used it.
- Crunchy Betty has a great guide, which includes information on the best oils to use, as well as some of the best ratios for different skin types.
- Simple Mom also has some great pointers from her personal experience with this method.
- Natural Living Mamma shares some very helpful background info on this method, including how to use essential oils with it.
It is my day 1 of using oily castor oil to cleanse my skin and follow with drops of rosehip to moisturise and thereafter put on my night cream. Tonight I will steam twice as suggested. I will also do this for 7 days after which I will do it 4 x a week. Thanks for sharing. I will monitor my progress. I hope this will help with pigmentation, wrinkles, cows shoes and of course the dead cells around the mouth leading to a youthful look. Thanks.
I tried doing this, but unfortunately didn’t work out for me. I used castor oil, for like two/three weeks but I started getting pimples. I guess this just shows that these things basically depend on your skin type and it’s not for everybody. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Elna
I struggle with severe Atopic Dermatitis, with sensitivity to 8 chemicals, that are routinely found in almost every body, household and cleaning products. Natures Nurture has been indispensable in walking me into chemical free cleaning and solutions. While tackling the larger problems, I had little success in finding a way to wash and moisturize my face. I was nervous, it’s my face after all, and already fatigued and distressed. I have a carrier oil I use successfully, and read the information, recipes, other sites referenced, and finally decided to try. It has been amazing. After the first night, my face was clean, moisturized, soft, and less fatigued. One week, no irritation, no hives or itching!
This is amazing, Lynn! So happy you’re finding help and relief!
I oil cleanse at night and I was wondering if I could, in the morning, use a handmade goat milk bar soap. Would this be too stripping and deting or should i give it a shot? I have normal to dry skin. Thank you!
Hey Gracie,
My advice is always to do what works best for your skin. So I would totally try the goat milk soap in the morning for a few days, and see how your skin responds. If it’s fine, then you know you can keep using it. If not, then you either need to find another morning cleanser, or try using just warm water in the morning. Hope that helps!
Wow, I really want to try this out. I’ve noticed oil accumulate on my skin within 3 hours of washing my face, so I was wondering if this could help me too?
Definitely worth a try, Joquim!
I’ve read in numerous articles about the OCM that it’s generally strongly advised that you DO NOT use olive or coconut oil as part of one’s oil cleansing mixture(s). In fact I know that at least, Crunchy Betty shares information about this in her OCM post(s). While I know both works and have personally used them for removing eye makeup, that it, as well as coconut oil, and will likely break the person out unless they have 100% perfect skin, not a problem their entire life, but that even then it poses hazard. Both olive and coconut oil have not so forgiving comodegenic ratings. Thought I’d throw that out there as science- based, factual information I’ve read as well as well experimented with in case not everyone finds this particular method helpful or result in irritated skin. I have combination skin as well and I use (only cold pressed oils)
– 25% Castor Oil
–50% Almond Oil
& it varies with the other 25%, between rose if I’m drier, Argan, which has been acclaimed for any skin type, and have been meaning to buy Seabuckthorn oil. Love sharing the benefits and options of not supporting the mainstream skincare market seething with dangerous chemicals so thanks for sharing and am only commenting, which I never do, to share some knowledge I didn’t hear right away but have learned over the last few years of switching to “cleaner” products, so no hatin’.
Haha, thanks for jumping in and dropping some knowledge on us, Autumn – no hatin’ at all, only love and respect. 🙂 This is quite the old post, and I’ve experimented with lots of oils over the years, so I think this one is due for an update soon. Thanks again for the reminder and sharing your story. 🙂
I’ve been thinking about trying oil for a few months. I’ll have to try!
Hi, I really like the OCM as I myself have been doing this for almost 2 months now alternating cleansing every other day. But lately I’ve noticed that the skin around my mouth had became really dry and there are a lot of white waxy stuff purging out from my pores. What does this mean? I’m I overdoing it? I really like how glowy and smooth my skin look after oil cleansing but it’s also uncomfortable to have this extra dry patch of skin around my mouth. Hope to hear back from you soon. Thanks!
It could be that you’re doing it too often, but also could be one of the oils you’re using. Try experimenting with different oils or different ratios to see if that helps.
Hi, I’m wondering what other methods you use to remove make up at night? If I don’t use the OCM every night, what are some other non-harsh ways to remove make up? TIA!
Just straight oil! Jojoba oil or coconut oil is great for this, although coconut can cause issues with sensitive skin. I’ve also seen recipes floating around that mix equal parts oil (like jojoba), water, and witch hazel. Haven’t tried this since I just use OCM for the rare occasions that I wear makeup, but if you give it a go, let us know!
How am I supposed to take my makeup off when I’m not doing the ocm? I don’t wear foundation or anything really heavy, but I’ve read not to use soap. Help?
Depending on how much makeup you usually wear, you could get away with using straight coconut oil or jojoba oil to remove your makeup. I use a small amount in my palms, and rub it all over my face, paying special attention to the eye area if we’re dealing with mascara, eye liner, shadow, etc., then rinse with water, and tone with diluted apple cider vinegar to get the rest of the residue off.
You could also try the recipe at the bottom of this post; I haven’t tried it, but it looks promising: http://wholenewmom.com/whole-new-budget/best-homemade-eye-makeup-remover/
I use organic (white) rye flour as a skin cleanser. A half-dollar size amount in the palm of the hand, mixed with enough added water to make a paste… Rub it into your face and wash with warm water. Very economical and very easy, and I love the way my face feels. I don’t even feel the need to moisturize afterwards (no “tight” feeling). I got the idea from people who used it as a shampoo because it was the right PH for hair–which is also the right one for skin. I may try the oil method, just out of curiosity, but I’m really satisfied with the rye flour.
Interesting, Edith! Will have to look more into that one. Thanks for the tip!
Hi there!
I’m all about natural skin care and have been meaning to try the OCM for some time now but have been very skeptical. I’m currently using almond oil to cleanse my face and remove make up but have yet to add castor oil.
Not only is my skin oily and acne prone but I also deal with constant flakiness. I exfoliate daily with a washcloth but still deal with the flakiness. It’s very frustrating. I wear powder foundation every day so I need to exfoliate before I apply my makeup. Otherwise it just looks horrid. My question is will the addition of castor oil to my cleansing routine help keep the flakiness at bay? I’ve also been using honey in the mornings to cleanse and as a mask but my skin hasn’t improved. Sorry for the long post! I’ve been dealing with this for some time now and just want to find a method that works. Thanks!!
I like your method such a brilliant technique to use for natural skin care.
Thanks a lot for sharing wonderful post….
Thank you for this blog post! I love using oil for the skin, and had a chance to try out the Oille Natural line of organic skin care from Brooklyn, NY. I highly recommend this product to anyone looking for a natural, luxury facial or body oil.
For more information here is my blog post on the products: http://www.beautyreawakened.com/blog/2014/8/20/oille-natural-reawakened-review
xox Jacqueline – Beauty Reawakened
You can apply the lemon juice to your face with a cotton ball at night and rinse
off your face in the morning. The first thing you need to realize is
that contrary to what many skin experts believe, the food that
you eat has a lot to do with acne. Lemon juice can brighten the skin, fade freckles,
and lighten age spots.
Heyy really found ur method very interesting. Definately want to try it out.I have hard cystic acne over my face n have been trying to get rid of them since long.I have been recommended salicylic peels as a cure.but m not sure if dats safe n will work.does anyone has any suggestions for this.
Good morning, I’m 62 years old & my skin has always been very good although it tends to be a little dry. I’ve never had acne. In my mid-20’s I developed a skin condition & was prescribed a steroid based cream which I’ve used for the past 40 years. At my dr.’s suggestion, (different dr.), I’ve stopped using the cream. I wash my face w/Cetaphil & use shea butter afterwards; however, the shea butter is too heavy. I started using organic extra virgin coconut oil on Sunday & I love it. The only problem is that my mouth becomes tingly and extra dry. the only thing that works on my mouth is vaseline, which I hate. Can you give me some suggestions. I just discovered your website today & am subscribing. Thank you very much.
Hi just wondering where you can get castor oil and grapeseed oil? As I looked at the local supermarket but didn’t see??? Thanks!
I get it from my local health foods store, like Whole Foods, etc. You can also find them online at Amazon.
I’ve just been using coconut oil. I put it on my skin, leave it for a couple of minutes so some of the oil can soak in (it soaks in really well compared to a lot of oils), maybe brush my teeth in the meantime, and then wash the excess off with warm water, washing the impurities away with it 🙂 my skin is so clean and soft and makeup just melts off!
The recommendations I have seen all say to use OCM at night time. Here are my issues: The pores on my nose are large and oily, but only occasionally have a whitehead. I also have red bumps on my lower cheek/jawline and my chin which would probably become whiteheads if I left them alone. I am 49 and through menopause. I’m also a picker (blush-hardest thing to admit). Problem is if I feel any kind of bump on my skin I have to pick. This is a problem from last 2 years, and I have horrible scars now. Currently I have several open sores on my chin area that I’m desperate to heal. Then going forward I would like to take better care of my skin, going natural. Now, other horrible problem, which relates to the using of OCM at night time. I sleep with a C-Pap mask on. I’m not sure what if any affect putting the mask on after washing (OCM) will do to my skin. Has anyone else had this issue? Does anyone have any suggestions to help me make the best decisions? Thanks so much for your help!
I am 31 years old and have been battling with acne for 15 years. I only get acne on my chin and around my mouth. I have tried Accutane (twice), two bouts of tetracycline, and many topical creams, etc. Some will help temporarily but my acne always comes back. I have been doing lots of research online and I think my acne might be hormonal as it is only on my chin and around my mouth – nowhere else. So last week I started taking supplements to see if it will help. I have started doing OCM two weeks ago (3 parts jojoba oil: 1 part castor oil with a few drops of tea tree oil). I wear Jane Iredale mineral pressed powder during work days (five days a week). I have been using OCM in the evenings when I wear makeup. I have broken out badly on my chin, the worst it has ever been. Every morning I wake up with a ton of whiteheads on my chin and around my mouth since starting OCM. Is this my skin purging? If so, how long is the purging process? Is there anything else I can do to help? I also use apple cider vinegar/water toner once or twice a day. In the mornings, I splash my face with warm then cold water and if my skin feels tight I dab a bit of jojoba oil on. I need help as to why my chin has broken out so badly! It has made me very self-conscious.
I’m so sorry Amanda, I know how frustrating that can be, but it does sound like the purging process to me. Though it usually lasts anywhere between 10-20 days on average. If it doesn’t let up, it may be that your skin doesn’t like one of the oils you’re using, or maybe that your ratio is off. I would decrease the jojoba oil a bit to a 3:1 or a 2:1 ratio. The castor oil helps to dry out excess oil on the skin so you may just need a bit more of it. You could also experiment with other carrier oils like sweet almond or grape seed oil.
Once you’re past the purging stage, it’s also a good idea to exfoliate your skin at least once a week as well. Hope that helps!
I’m so glad I stumbled across this article!
I’ve had acne since I was 15 (now 21) I’ve tried Accutane and I’ve been on antibiotics and have used topical treatments, but nothing has made a dramatic difference in my skin.
At this point my skin is dry, irritated and super sensitive.
I can’t wait to try this, but I have a few questions.
1. Does it take off face makeup completely?
2. Can I use it everyday (since I put makeup on everyday) or even twice a day?
3. I also workout everyday, so I’m wondering if I can use this after a workout too?
Yes, it will take off a full face of makeup – you just have to be very diligent in massaging the oil to get it deep down to clean out the pores, and pay special attention to the eye area if you wear heavy eye makeup.
You can use it everyday, but if so I would keep the castor oil to a minimum (or even eliminate it completely) most of the time. Castor oil can be very drying, so using daily or twice a day, on a regular basis may irritate the skin over time.
Honestly, if you’re already using OCM at night (or mornings) to cleanse your face, you probably won’t need it after a workout. You can try just splashing your face with warm water and kind of rubbing it in with your hands (as if you’re scrubbing with soap). That should be sufficient enough to wash of any sweat from your face.
Good luck!
You’re right – oil is not a dirty word!
Getting rid of the dirt is all you need to do. Whatever gets rid of it is adequate.
I make my own soap (I need it – I’m a dirty guy) and one of the important parts of doing that is leaving some of the oil ‘unconverted’ so that it can help offset the effect of the soap stripping away the natural oils of your skin.
Nice post!
I used few months ago a recipe with castor oil and i saw some improvements, but not what i expected. I hope this recipe will help me more. Nice post!
I had pimples as early as grade school, worsened in high school and now, in my 20s, it’s terrible more than ever. I don’t just have ordinary acne but I have cystic acne – a lot of it. Some of my acne can’t be seen but if you touch my face, you’ll be able to feel the cystic acne that can be as beans (not exaggerating). This acne dilemma is not only painful physically but also socially and emotionally. If you also have acne, I believe you would strongly agree with me. I have very oily, sensitive and acne-prone skin. In the middle of the day, I had to use Clarisonic Pro. The amount of oil on my face is more than enough to make the blue oil-absorbing sheet turn completely transparent.
It sounds like the bathing methods used by the Greeks, Romans and a few other ancient cultures. You might be interested in the use of a similar method to the OCM. It’s used on the whole body and uses a strigil that helps exfoliate.
Please! I need your help! I hope I am not too late to get an answer from you. First of all I loved your post! I really liked the idea of going natural and using oil to clean my face. After a lot of resistance I decided to give it a try and used 50% castor oil 25%jojoba oil and 25%avocado oil. My skin is pretty good, I have almost no acne just a little bit of black heads on the forehead and sometimes next to my mouth. I tried this method because I like oils on my skin (I already use Argan oil before sleep) and because I wanted to deep clean my face. The posts I saw online were amazing too.
I have tried the OCM 5 times during 2 weeks. The first time I did it was like heaven but now my skin freaked out. I never have acne and my chin and the sides of my mouth have so many pimples and little spots that I do not know if they are black heads, white heads or what. I does not itch and my skin does not feel dry or oily. I searched online and got desperate because I saw many people saying the OCM destroyed their skin and made cystic acne appear.
I really wanted to keep doing it but I am afraid now and I am completely lost. Can you give an advice? I would really appreciate it.
Thank you!!
Monique, it’s true that some have developed cystic acne from OCM, so it may not be for everyone. You could just be using the wrong combination/proportions of oils for your skin, that’s why it’s good to make small batches so you can experiment with them. But of course, if you’re completely uncomfortable going any further, you could just stop OCM and look for a natural, organic skin cleanser to see if that helps. Good luck!
I suffer from blackheads I was using OCM for about a couple months and made the mix for oily skin. I was rubbing it in for way too long (sometimes about 30 mins) and at first, it made my skin so nice and soft and seemed to clear it up so nicely. A few weeks in however, it started to take a nasty turn. I started getting pimples where I had never gotten them before and a few weeks later, my face is covered in blackheads and tiny bumps.
I’ve been off it for about 2.5 weeks and it my skin seems to go up and down in recovery. Is this something that will eventually regulate itself or is it something I need to see a dermatologist about??
Hi Jennifer, there is definitely a transition period with OCM where your skin will start purge itself of all the underlying impurities trapped under you skin. It usually lasts around 2-3 weeks. It’s good to also make up small batches so that you can adjust the oils according to how your skin is responding. That being said, OCM may not necessarily be for everyone (as with anything else) and if you feel that you need to see a dermatologist, then that will have to be a judgement call on your part since I’m not familiar with your situation, nor am I a professional who can provide that guidance.
I can mention though, that for blackheads, I like to use a baking soda scrub that helps exfoliate the skin and remove dead skin cells and blackheads: http://naturesnurtureblog.com/2012/08/13/natural-skin-care-baking-soda-for-blackheads/
Best of luck to you and hope your skin starts feeling better soon!
I just started the OCM, maybe 2 weeks ago, and so far its working very well, but I’m having trouble with the stubborn skin on and around my nose. I have combo skin, so I use the same ratio that you do, maybe alittle more olive oil, and my nose is drying out terribly. I’m not sure if its the castor oil, or the lavender essential oil (I put a few drops), or maybe the water is too hot (though I don’t so). I also put some coconut oil on my skin afterwards as a moisturizer but it doesn’t seem to be working. Its like my skin absorbs the oil and is still dry. Is this normal when first starting out? Or is it just me?
Hi Carmen, I think you your castor oil may be too much, which could be drying out the skin on your nose. I would try a small batch with a little less castor oil for a few days and see how that goes. Some people don’t use castor oil at all, so don’t worry about using too little. It takes some experimenting to get the perfect ratio for you, and I hope you find your soon!
Help! I started using OCM about 5 weeks ago and loved it in the begining. My ratio was 1:4 castor to EVOO. I have dry skin and used to be acne prone years ago but now only get an occasional little pimple here and there. My skin is sensitive and I decided to try the OCM because even though I was clear I was dry and thought this might bring my skin to a more healthy condition. I am beside myself right now with how broken out I am:-(( I started to break out at about week 3 and panicked and switched from the EVOO to jojoba thinking maybe the EVOO was too thick. I also have been adding 1-2 drops of neem oil to my mixture per the recomendation of the person at the vitamin store I go to. What to do?? I am so confused:-(( Should I stop?? Thinking I may. I have been so consumed with this whole process and have been spending so much time online reading about it and not wanting to leave because of how broken out I am. I am sad that it may not work for me because it felt so nice in the begining and my face was so supple. Afraid to stick it out and let it get much worse. Thoughts?? Thank you
Fascinating. I am going to have to give this a try, but I do love a foaming face cleanser too. Thanks for sharing!
Have you heard of anyone trying this with kaolin clay? It’s my newest obsession and I’d be curious if the combo works and is maybe ultra-effective at deep cleaning pores. I only recently started really taking care of my skin and the 10+ years of acne and blackheads that have plagued me need some miracle-working!
Going around leaving comments on all the blogs I used as references when starting the OCM- Thank you!!
This has worked beautifully, even my mom can’t stop commenting on how great my skin looks. I’ve dealt with horrible, face completely covered in acne since I was 16. I even went on Accutane, which helped a lot, but I was still dealing with consistently recurring pimples. OCM has given me so much confidence!
My concoction that I’ve found works best is a combination of:
2 parts Castor Oil
1 part EVOO
1 part Jojoba oil
2-3 drops Tea Tree Oil
1-2 drops Rosemary Oil
Which all helped with my combination skin, and keeping those pimples down, with rarely any making their way to the surface of my skin. I still wear makeup, because I always have and that’s not something I can just stop. But I do feel leaps and bounds better about my face.
Hope this helps someone out there. Thanks again!
Can I use OCM day and night, 7 days a week? Or is it wise to just do it a couple times a week at night?
I’ve read that it’s important to not use certain types of facial cleansers if I plan to do the OCM, however, if this is so, I would like to know which cleanser to buy, so I can use this in the morning. Do you have any recommendations? I have combination skin, that used to be acne prone, but I rarely get acne anymore. I am 25 years old and I want to try OCM, because I want my skin to glow and have more of a supple feel to it. I’ve also heard it gets rid of blotchiness and I have a little bit of that going on.
Thanks very much for your help!
Megs
Megs, it’s not recommended to use it both day and night, every day and night. At most, people have done every night but depending on your skin type, that may be too drying. In the morning I just use warm water to wash my face – no cleansers or anything. You’re right, you shouldn’t be using cleansers along with OCM because they can undo what the OCM is doing – restoring balance to your skin. You can try to do OCM every night, but if you notice your skin getting a bit dry, you may want to switch to every other night. On nights you don’t use OCM, you can just do the OCM process but with just straight coconut oil. It’s also a great makeup remover!
Since your skin is not acne prone, I would suggest using a combination of olive oil and either grapeseed oil or sweet almond oil, along with the castor oil. Remember that castor oil is the drying factor, so you’ll want to start with small batches until you perfect your ratio.
Hope that helps and don’t hesitate to ask if you need more help! Best of luck!
What great information. Who knew! I am more of a visual person. Would you be willing to do a video for us from start to finish? Like showing us the ingredients, then how you put the recipe together and then how you apply it. I think it would help for me to be able to see it before I try to do it myself. I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks for your consideration!
Hello there. Just recently i decided to slowly make the change of every product i use into all natural resources. I began with skin and hair products .i started using oil for my face a few months ago. I threw everything out. I cycle between coconut oil, vitamin e oil, olive oil, etc. i put a generous amount all over my face, massage for about a minute and use a hot wet towel to whipe it off, & then i pat a little on after for moisture. I’ve also been boiling a pot of water and steaming my face for about 10 mins every other day. I’ve read article after article about how amazing this is and have to admit my face FEELS better. Problem: since beginning this regime i have broken out with acne all over my face. I’m 28 years old. I went through puberty, adelesance, & all through my 20’s with a total of about 6 pimples. I’ve always had very clear skin and now out of nowhere i look like a 15 year old kid. All i need is braces and glasses. So bc of this, I’ve been looking up natural acne cures: banana face mask, tomato/lemon juice/gram flower face mask.. Nothing is working. I really do not want to go back to chemical filled commercial products! Do you have any idea what it’s going on and any suggestions a to how to get back to my beautiful proceline skin? If not, do you know sometime i can talk to? All the dermatologist is going to do is suggest more chemicals 🙁 Thank you so much for your time & i hour to hear from you soon!
Hi Misty!
ChWell I’m so happy that you’ve decided to ditch all those nasty chemicals! But I’m also sorry that you’re having breakout issues. 🙁 Can I ask about your exact OCM method? You say that you’re cycling between coconut, olive, and vit. E oils but does that mean that you’re rubbing those oils individually on your skin? Are you using any castor oil at all? Just a small amount in your oil mixture can help with the breakouts. Also, you might want to try different oils and combinations – the resources list at the end of this post has some great external links to check out, especially the one from Crunchy Betty which has a list of oils for different skin types.
Hope that gives you a place to start and let me know if you have more questions!
Hi, I’m starting now to use the OCM method but I have doubts regarding the regimen to the remaining days. Say I use the OCM every other night, what do I use on the night in between? Also what kind of sunscreen should I use during the day? Can you recommend a brand/ type. What about anti-wrinkle products? Are there any natural ones that you recommend that would go with the OCM method? Thank you!
Joana, When I don’t use OCM, I just use warm water to “wash” it at night. But I don’t wear makeup everyday (or ever, really), so I can get away with that. If you do wear makeup, you’ll obviously have to wash it off, so others have looked for and found a natural facial cleanser that they’re happy and comfortable with using on the occasions that they do need to wash off their makeup. Or you could try just straight coconut oil, which is also a great makeup remover. I also use coconut oil as a moisturizer and it has a low amount of SPF to help protect against sun damage. And for wrinkles? Coconut oil!!! Have I said coconut oil enough? Lol, seriously it’s a miracle oil. Do a quick Google search on the benefits of coconut oil on the skin and you’ll be amazed.
If you only use the OCM a few times a week, what do you use the other days? I just started a little over a week ago and I love it!!!
When I don’t use OCM, I just use warm water to “wash” it at night. But I don’t wear makeup everyday (or ever, really), so I can get away with that. If you do wear makeup, you’ll obviously have to wash it off, so others have looked for and found a natural facial cleanser that they’re happy and comfortable with using on the occasions that they do need to wash off their makeup. Or you could try straight coconut oil as a makeup remover at night.
I’ve been trying the OCM for a while now. I think I went overboard at first with all of the natural remedies and have caused my skin to freak out. I’ve got terrible acne along my jawline and the sides of my chin. I’m trying to get back to basics, as I can’t bear the thought of going back to soap. Right now i’m using about 1/2 castor oil, 1/3 jojoba and 1/3 grapeseed oil as I’ve always considered myself to have oily/acne prone skin. However, I’m trying to use only ocm and see how my skin reacts and I’m beginning to think I have dry skin. It feels like my skin is now dried out and breaking out which is a painful and frustrating combo. Do you recommend I move to a different carrier oil and/or ratio?
Thanks!
Hi Rebecca, aww I’m sorry your skin is getting dry. 🙁 I really think you might want to try decreasing the castor oil. Using 1/2 castor oil seems like a lot. Your choice of jojoba oil is a good choice for oily/acne prone skin, so I would stick with it.
Here’s what I would do. Use 1 part castor oil, 2 parts jojoba oil, 1 part grapeseed oil. Or you could switch the jojoba and grapeseed to see how which you like better, but the castor oil should be no more than a quarter of your recipe. Make smaller batches (using teaspoons) at first until you find the right combo for you.
Also, what are you using to moisturize afterwards? A small drop of coconut oil or olive oil rubbed all over your face afterwards can also help with the dryness and healing.
Hope that helps and wishing you the best of luck! Let me know if you have more questions and I’d love to hear how it goes! 🙂
Thanks Sarah, I will try that. I think from years of having acne I’ve ingrained the notion that I have oily skin. Since I’ve been treating my skin that way, it has appeared oily trying to overcompensate for me stripping it dry with harsh medications and washes. I haven’t been using any oils after washing recently in an effort to see how my skin reacts to my OCM mixtures. I’ll try less castor in my mixture first, see how my skin reacts and then see if I still need to add a moisturizing oil aftwards. Thanks again! I appreciate your response!
When you say “1 part castor oil, 1 part oilive oil” etc.
How much does that mean when putting into a squeeze bottle? I have never bought oils before so I am unsure how they even come until I go to the health food store.
Thanks! 🙂
It just means if you’re using tablespoons, for example, then you’d use 1 tablespoon castor oil, 1 tablespoon olive oil, etc. Hope that makes sense!
Hi, I’m going to try OCM as I have really dry skin but I notice that you say once you’ve done it for a few weeks you might not need to do it every night. If you don’t do it every night then what are you cleaning your face with if not the OCM method? How do you get rid of the make up? Also is this ok to use on my eyes? Will I not get those irritating little milia bumps? Thanks so much, looking forward to the advice! Bryony!
Hey Bryony, actually a great makeup remover is just straight coconut oil (or olive oil), which is gentle enough to use on and around the delicate eye area. Coconut oil specifically may also help firm up that area and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, so there’s a win/win! 🙂
But OCM itself should not be used every night, and especially on the eye area, since the castor oil is to harsh for that delicate skin.
Hi, do you have any suggestions for removing waterproof mascara? I do not use it very often, but if I do, it is so hard to remove without almost scrubbing that sensitive area. Which natural oil would work best for removal? The above comment suggests coconut oil, but I´m not sure if that works fine for waterproof also?
Any suggestions are appreciated! Thanks!
Hi Hella, just did a quick search for you and it seems like some people have had good results with coconut oil so I would go ahead and try it. If it doesn’t work, I found this link with another homemade recipe you may want to give a shot: http://wholenewmom.com/whole-new-budget/best-homemade-eye-makeup-remover/
Best of luck and please let us know how it works out!
Thanks a lot!
I love this method too but I’ve read you shouldn’t do it everyday. What do you suggest I do daily to remove makeup?
I love that my skin is less dry and irritated, but I’m still getting a couple pimples at a time. I also just started on fertility hormones so that’s probably the cause. Should I up my castor oil ratio even though my skin is pretty dry?
Yeah, I wouldn’t use this everyday – every other day at most. If you can find an all-natural, gentle facial cleanser that you’re comfortable using, I would go that route on the days that you don’t use OCM. I don’t really wear much makeup, if at all, so I’m not sure how this works in conjunction with OCM though, so that’s why I’d suggest finding the most gentle cleanser probably from an organic store.
Hi,
Thank you for your reply. And after i wash with warm water, do i need to use a moisturizer then wear make up or just use make up alone? And at night can the method use as makeup remover? Do i need to use additional oil?
Your post is very detailed and i gotta try this method asap. My skin is very oily and acne so if i use this method at night, what am i gonna wash my face in the morning? And the castor oil i found is castor oil usp so is it the right one?
Thank you
Hi Cici, I just use warm water to wash my face in the morning. If you found the castor oil at the drug store, it’s probably not the right kind. You want to pick some up form a local health food store. The Palma Christi brand is what I use. If you can’t find it locally, you can purchase it online from my Amazon store. Just click on “Carrier Oils” on the left hand side: http://naturesnurtureblog.com/nature-shop/amazon-store/
Hi! Where do you buy these oils? Thanks. Coz you mentioned you are from canada.
Hi Ayah, I just buy them either at my local health food store. You can also find them in my Amazon store under “Carrier Oils” on the left side. http://naturesnurtureblog.com/nature-shop/amazon-store/
Hi, I’ve been cleansing my face with hazelnut oil for the past year or so. I’m forty and feel that my skin has found what it needs. I cleanse at night with oil, and just with warm water in the morning. Perfect, frugal and natural, what could be more perfect? Spread the word!
I’ve read to not use this method every day..when you aren’t using the OCM, how (or what do you use) to wash your face? Or do you just not?
Ann,
When I don’t use OCM, I just use warm water to “wash” it at night. But I don’t wear makeup everyday (or ever, really), so I can get away with that. If you do wear makeup, you’ll obviously have to wash it off, so others have looked for and found a natural facial cleanser that they’re happy and comfortable with using on the occasions that they do need to wash off their makeup.
I have been doing this for the last few weeks! I get lots of hormonal acne around my chin and jaw, and have been looking for ways to get it to calm down. OCM really appealed to me, since I have a very small budget and can’t afford expensive skin stuff. I find that all acne cleansers dry out my face so much! Also, in the fall, I get really dry skin around my eyes. It was so bad this fall, even though I was using gentle cleansers and moisturizing eye cream.
I use a mixture of grapeseed and EVOO. I haven’t yet bought castor oil, but I think I will have to try it since it seems to be the effective cleanser! I have noticed that my skin feels amazing, and my chin spots have calmed down, but not gone away completely. I have been doing this every night that I wear makeup.
I have to try with castor oil and see if it improves any more!
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: http://naturesnurtureblog.com/2012/07/01/treat-acne-other-skin-conditions-with-banana-peels/
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 – you can find the brand I like to use in my Amazon store here, under “Carrier Oils”: http://naturesnurtureblog.com/nature-shop/amazon-store/ 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: http://naturesnurtureblog.com/2012/08/13/natural-skin-care-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: http://naturesnurtureblog.com/2012/08/13/natural-skin-care-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.
http://sarahdawndesigns.blogspot.com/2012/08/pintastic-monday-link-party-3.html
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!