For years, I was on the hunt for a good skincare regime. I’ve never been a fan of face cleanser, due to all the chemicals they contain. But, without knowledge of any other options, I settled for the drugstore face wash for far too long. Face wash left my skin feeling so dry. I could barely go a minute after washing my face before re-moisturizing with lotion. Having dealt with acne and oily skin for many years, I took my skin care seriously and was very careful when trying new products, which made me hesitant to try anything different. After many hours of research, I finally decided to try the Oil Cleansing Method.
The whole concept behind OCM is to use a substance that your body naturally produces to remove dirt, oil, make-up, etc. In other words, you’re working with your skin, not against it. This method works by using the oil mixture to dissolve the oil that has harden over your pores.
To try the Oil Cleansing Method, you need two different oils. The recommended base is castor oil, then you choose a secondary oil to dilute it. Castor oil is well-known for it’s many health benefits, including it’s anti-inflammatory, cleansing, and healing properties. However, it has a very thick consistency, which I’ve found sticks to your skin and can be difficult to remove. There are many different options for the secondary oil. Here are some suggestions:
- Jojoba oil
- Sunflower oil
- Grapeseed oil
- Avocado oil
Crunchy Betty goes into further detail about which oils are best for different skin types (dry, oily, mixed, etc). Based on her article, I use jojoba oil to dilute the castor oil. I mix the oils in a 1:1 ratio, but the OCM website recommends a mixing ratio of 2:1. I premix the oils in a plastic travel bottle, which usually lasts about 2 months or so.
A lot of this is trial and error since everyone is different. You have to learn what works best for your skin, specifically.
Here is my daily regime with the OCM:
- Wipe off the majority of make-up using a tissue.
- With clean, dry hands, apply the oil mixture to your dry face. You can use a small amount, about the size of a penny. Gently massage the oil over your whole face for 1-2 minutes.
- Rinse the oil off using your hands and warm water. I usually have to massage the oil off my skin as I splash the water on my face (remember, castor oil is sticky).
- Use a clean, dry wash cloth to pat your skin dry.
I have been consistent with this routine for 2+ years now and I love it. There is no going back to my old ways. Again, a lot of this regime is trial and error, until you discover what works best for you. But once you do, it’s totally worth it!
Here are the products I use:
Below are links with more information regarding the Oil Cleaning Method:
http://crunchybetty.com/nitty-gritty-on-the-oil-cleansing-method
http://wellnessmama.com/7569/oil-cleansing-method/
If you decide to give it a shot, I wish you the best of lucky! Feel free to comment or message me with any questions.
XOXO,
Kelsey Nicole
