Why I Wash My Face with Oil

I’m kind of a product junkie. I love stuff. Potions, lotions, crèmes, serums. I like them all. I am a sucker… an advertising agency/marketers dream. Like… if something is the color green, or brown… then it MUST be more natural (like… derived from plants, or the dirt). Dry skin? I get new lotion. Summertime? Make it smell like coconuts and the ocean... I'll buy it. Winter? Cinnamon and vanilla. Wrinkles? That definitely calls for a new night or eye cream, right? Sure. Zits??? Gotta zap those with a new tube of something or other. Face wash? Don’t even get me started… I have dozens. So, that all being said… wanna hear something weird? Something that may just blow your ever loving mind? I have been washing my face with… wait for it… OIL. Yup… oil. Specifically, a mix of Olive and Castor Oils. Annnnd... guess what?? My skin has NEVER…. EVAAH looked better. It kind of glows… not in a greasy, oily way… in a weird, balanced way. I read about the Oil Cleansing Method while researching natural things and such (it's been around for like 5,000 years). I mean… if I am working to put more natural food into my body, it only makes sense to be more conscious of what I am slathering all over my largest organ… my skin, right? It sounds counter-intuitive, I know. Putting oil on your face, to cleanse it. But… it is basic chemistry, actually. “Like dissolves like”. I was a little apprehensive to admit that I had been cleaning my face with oil because it sounds SO strange, but I admitted it to my girl, Courtney the other day and she was like, “WHHAAAAAAAAAAAAT… GIRL I DO THAT TOO AND I LOVE IT!!!” And this girl is stupid gorgeous. You’d hate her. I love her and even I hate her.

I can’t say that the same thing will work for everyone, but I will tell you this. I have had a nose full of blackheads since the 3^rd grade. My think my dad has them, and I know my brother has them… it’s just our big, greasy noses. I just kind of resigned myself to it. It’s my nose, and it has blackheads. The End. They would go away temporarily after a visit to the esthetician, but they would ALWAYS be back in a few days. I kid you not, after the 2^nd day of cleaning my face with oil… 95% of the blackheads on my nose were no longer visible. I about freaked out. I could not believe it! The oil and the steam DISSOLVED the oil and the dirt that (I thought) was permanently at home in the pores on my nose. I believe in miracles. I beeeeee-lieve!!!!

 

If you want try it out, here are the basic instructions…

1. Get a plastic or glass little bottle and put your oil mixture in it (see below for suggestions around how much of which kind to mix). I bought a couple of travel size plastic bottles from Target.

2. Pour a quarter size amount of oil into your hand.

3. Massage the oil into your face and neck (no need to remove your make-up, it will come off).

4. Take a clean washcloth and soak it with hot water.

5. Place the washcloth over your face and let the steam get into your pores until the washcloth is no longer hot.

6. Repeat a few times if you have time.

7. Gently rub/rinse the remaining oil off of your face with the washcloth. 

8. You probably won't need your regular moisturizer, so you can skip that.. unless you have insanely dry skin. If you do, take a dab of olive oil and just use that. 

Some suggestions in creating your blend of deep cleansing oil:

Oily Skin: Try a blend of 30% Castor Oil to 70% (Sunflower Seed Oil or Extra Virgin Olive Oil).

Balanced Skin: Try a blend of 20% Castor Oil to 80% (Sunflower Seed Oil or Extra Virgin Olive Oil).

Dry Skin: Try a blend of 10% Castor Oil to 90% (Sunflower Seed Oil or Extra Virgin Olive Oil).

Notes: 

1. You can wash your face this way 1 or 2 times a day. If you decide to only wash 1 time a day, you may want to do it at night. Doing it at night will allow you to wash off all of your makeup, dirt, sweat, etc.  You can just wipe your face off with warm water and a washcloth in the morning. Your face does not get that gross overnight.

2. You need to mix the oils. Do not use just one. You can find Castor Oil in the medicine/laxative section, it will cost you less than $4.00. 

If you want A LOT more information about this method, why/how it works, here is a great website. http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com/