Got pesky blackheads? Slather oil on your face!

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.

I've done two applications so far with a 40% castor oil/20% jojoba/20% grape seed/20% sesame see oil. My skin is normally very oily and blackhead prone but after I did the treatment it became dry. Maybe I have too much castor oil. I really don't see a difference yet in the blackheads. I don't think I want to do this everyday but I will for at least two weeks. My skin does look more supple. I was scared to try the evoo after hearing that some people are breaking out. What do you all think of my mix?    

too much castor oil would be the cause of the dry skin.

After I read your post, Jules, I had to try it. My skin is combination and prone to blackheads and cystic acne.

Just tried 50% CO/40% EVOO/10% Tea Tree. So far, so good - glowing skin: check. Blackheads reduced: check. I think I'm going to try a light scrub on it as well before the next go round, to get rid of any excess skin and clear the way for the oil to do its thing. Cheap and fabulous! I'm excited about it all.

Runs, Try a sugar scrub with the oil.  All I did was mix up my portion of the oil and add just a tiny bit of regular sugar.  Worked like a charm.  Sugar is very scrubby.

Nenewa, there could be so many things that are causing the dryness.  Like Kathy said, it could be too much castor oil for you.  Your skin also might not like one of the other oils you are using.  Maybe using the hot wash cloth is too much for your skin.  It's hard to pin down, you know?  My only advice is keep trying different amounts of oil until you find something your skin likes.  In the meantime, use some of the plain oil (no castor oil) as a moisturizer.  Just use a little dab, rub it between your hands, and then rub on your face and focus on the driest parts.  I hope the dryness dies down quickly!

Thanks jewels that 's what I did last night. I had already had a batch mixed up with the percentages so I didn't want to mix another one. After I did it I just put some jojoba oil on my face and it helped alot. My face was still tight after I finished the OCM but before I put the jojoba on. I do notice a glow about my face that I didn't have before. I'm still waiting to see the blackhead dissappear completely. I think they are getting better, time will tell.

for some reason my skin which was really oily before is getting really, really dry. like cracking skin, but i'm only using EVOO?

Weird.  I guess your skin doesn't like EVOO.  It's kinda neat, and frustrating, how different skin can be from one person to another.  I hope you get it figured out!

Isn't it funny that us women get so excited over new skin care discoveries??  When I first read this post I got soooo excited and am still excited!  Jewels, thank you so much for posting this and for including the links.  I wish I had time to read all the posts but I'm getting tired.  I'm going to definitely try this SOON.  I have spent so much money on skin-care products and I know that natural stuff has to be WAY better than all the other crap I've been putting on my face.

Has anyone posted anything here about how to help bags or wrinkles around the eyes?  Maybe I should read the rest of the posts before I ask....

Anyway, I'm excited and can't wait to try it!!!!  THANKS AGAIN, JEWELS!!! 

Last night I noticed some red little bumps. I kept messing with them but this morning they were pretty much gone. What does that mean? I remember reading that someone else had this problem.

I have been using a 25%/75% mix of castor/sun flower oil.  I have only done this for one week.  I generally have clear skin except ofr a few blackheads around my nose and chin area that regardless of how many times are squeezed out are always back.  Just recently (this is also the TOTM however) my chin has broken out.  Not terribly and just very tiny ones.  I do not believe they are new pimples though I think they may be some of the ongoing pimples I have had and are just now coming to the surface. I dunno

did anyone else experience a period of breaking out first before clearing up?

Jewelsmcblah, good tip, and thanks! I think that'll help as well.

I'm breaking out as well, lizshuler, but I'm pretty sure it is TTOM related. I think I'm going to spot treat the spots, but I'll try to resist my instinct to mess with them and just put on tea tree oil.

The breakout could be your skin purging out the nasty stuff.

I just got done trying the castor oil/extra virgin olive oil cleanse (1/2 tspn co & 2 tspns evoo) and my skin looks so clean and smooth, I love it!  I used my facial steam machine along with it.  I know I'll be tempted to wash my face in the morning with my face soap but I will do what the link suggested and just wash it with water.

Jewelsmcblah--the site says not to do the cleanse every day.  You might have said this already but how often do you do it?  Also, on the days you don't do it, do you cleanse your face with anything else besides water?

Thanks!!

Diana

I'm really really lazy.  I'll do OCM for a few days straight and then skip a day and wash with water only.  Then the next day I'll do OCM for a few days in a row.  Yadda yadda yadda.  Some people do OCM every single day.  Honestly I can't be bothered to do it that much.  I haven't used soap since I started this.  It's been oils and water/toner only.  The "toner" I use is witch hazel and tea tree oil.  I have used regular moisturizer though.  I have a big bottle and I hate to waste stuff.

I'm bumping this up so I don't lose it.

I have a question that might sounds, hm silly maybe? I have dry, sensitive skin and I get these under skin bumps along my jaw and chin. They drive me nuts! As a nurse I tend to lean more toward conventional treatments rather than homeopathic/natural stuff. I've tried every OCM and Rx as well wasting time and money, the only semi-helpful thing was my birth control. Even that didn't get rid of them, just slowed them down. I'm almost 26 and dealing with adult acne. Is this something that might help me too? Seems like it would by reading everyone's responses. But what's the best course of action for dry skin? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, you have no idea. Thanks ladies!

Original Post by jessiep:

But what's the best course of action for dry skin? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, you have no idea. Thanks ladies!

 When you tried the OCM method did you use a higher percentage of EVOO with a real small percentage of the castor oil?  How about Ponds moisturizer, have you tried that?  It really works for dry skin and has never broken me out.  My sister puts vaseline over her face before bed and doesn't have any pimples and always has really nice skin......I guess it's just a matter of experimenting, although it sounds like you've done a lot of that.

I didn't realize castor oil was so drying, that expains some stuff. I usually use an exfoliating wash in the morning shower and a cream cleanser, like neutrogena, in the evening. I get the typical monthly breakouts so I use an on the spot treatment for those. Once they start to dry up or drain I use vitamin E oil to speed the healing. This is a constant cycle and it's getting old. My face looks tired all the time, probably due to the abuse it's been subjected to. I've stopped wearing foundation completely, even to hide blemishes. I'm down to just a swipe of mascara because I'm so paranoid.

I'm going to try the 80/20 combo and see what it does. What's better: sunflower oil or tea tree oil or a mix of the two?

If you're going to use Tea Tree just use a few drops.  Make up your mix 80% Sunflower (EVOO, Jojoba, Almond, Grapeseed) 20% Castor, then add just a few drops of Tea Tree.

Ahhh!  I got a cold sore!!  I'm afraid to wash my face, lol.