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.

You all are probably right. I just liked the thought of using the grapeseed oil for some reason. I want to try the sunflower but I couldn't find it. I did it last night and all is fine today. The last two times I only did the castor and jojoba and then castor and grape. I think it may be the sesame that's causing the bumps, I don't know.  I'm going to try to find the sunflower and make a new batch with castor, jojoba and sunflower and also get some evoo for my belly.

Sounds like it's the sesame.  I found sunflower oil in the organic section of my grocery store.  It's not a little grocery store.  It's a big overpriced one like...I dunno...like Schnucks.  Try looking in a big store like that.  You could probably find it at Trader Joes or Whole Foods too. 

Wow, I've never heard of that before. Maybe I'll try it in my spare time =D I'd love to get rid of my blackheads!

Yay, this is exciting! I am totally psyched about trying this. Tonight I wanted to at least start somewhere, so I did just the olive oil. It felt weird at first, I have to admit, but it was nice to take some time to massage it in. When I was all done and wiped off, I already noticed some things

• Though still dotted with red blemishes, my face looked so much cleaner!
  
• Blackheads definitely still there, but look less obvious somehow (maybe just because I want them to?)
• SMOOTHEST my skin has ever felt!

I look forward to adding the castor oil and continuing!

Thanks for posting such helpful info. :]

Leileah,

The castor oil is going to make all the difference in the world.  Also, to help get rid of your blackheads, while you have to hot towel on your face, squeeze the areas where you have blackheads very gently with the towel....not hard though, just gently and that'll help them ease out a bit. 

Keep us posted on how it works for you when you combine the two oils.

Diana   :-)

I also have a boy and he has blackheads on his nose.  Ok If i mix olive oil and tea tree oil will that work on him.. I rub it on his nose let it sit and then put a hot wash cloth and gently squeeze the area? 

I started doing this two weeks ago, with olive and castor oil (with a few drops of tea tree), and my skin has never looked this nice. I've had no breakouts since I started, and my skin tone and texture is wonderful. My little brother has horrible acne, so I am going to try this with him when i am home from college this summer to see how it works on his skin. 

ruberti6, the castor oil is what gets deep down into the pores to clean them out.

What the heck.. I have been to 2 CVS stores and have not been able to find castor oil!  I have been using EVOO and soy bean oil.  I want to add castor oil to the mix because I think that it will unclog the pores better!  HELP!  Where can I get it!  I looked everywhere in CVS this morning.  Yes even with the laxatives.  I found mineral oil, but not castor!  Where do I get it!! Thanks!

I've been doing this for a week and a half and I'm still happy with it! I do have a couple break outs, ttom and all, but it's nothing compared to before. I told a good friend of mine about this and she loves it to, she's passed it along to a few co-workers as well. Then last night I conned my hubby into letting me do it to him, he gets just a couple little black heads on his nose. He fell asleep while I was massaging his face! After I steamed it all off of him he was so relaxed that he went straight to bed. This morning I caught him looking at his nose in the mirror and feeling his cheeks and neck. When he saw me he acted like he wasn't, but it was cute. He asked me to make him a little batch to take with him on the road to 'help him sleep'. Funny guy!

Dove, ask a pharmacist where they keep it in their dept. I finally found mine at walmart with their help.

It's awesome! I tried it and it's wonderful. I have adult acne so I am excited to see if this works long term.

I bought Castor Oil right off the shelf at CVS. No problems.

Dove, if you look under Medicine Cabinet Laxative Liquids on the CVS website two castor oil products show up.  So at least some stores carry castor oil.  Here's what they look like.

http://tinyurl.com/578rz7

http://tinyurl.com/6gceny


 

this is so frustrating!  I guess I am the only one that is having problems finding the stuff!  I am going to try yet another store tomorrow. 

That's where I went to Wholefoods to get my oils. I must have overlooked the Sunflower Oil because I didn't see any. I will try again today maybe. Lord knows I do not want the pregancy breakouts and since I cannot use what I'm normally use I need this to work. I must say that I still have the blackheads. I have a few on my cheek that I want gone so bad. Maybe I'm not doing it enough to make them go away. I wonder how long it takes for them to totally dissappear.

Wow! This is literally AMAZING!

When I can afford olive oil, I'm definitely going to try this. I'm guessing rapeseed oil doesn't work quite so well....

so i've been doing this for a while now...i'm doing EVOO and Castor oil 75/25 with a splash of grapeseed.  I still have some dry spots on my face, which seem like their getting worse.  I want to try Jojoba oil by itself...anyone else tried it?

Original Post by dove2424:

this is so frustrating!  I guess I am the only one that is having problems finding the stuff!  I am going to try yet another store tomorrow. 

 Dove- I looked in the vitamin and laxative sections of CVS for what seemed like an hour.  The clerks were not really helpful at my store.  I finally found the castor oil in the children's medicine section.  Try that!

Lilreenz, try using a little plain EVOO or Jojoba as a moistuizer after you OCM if you're not already.

I FOUND IT!!  It was with the children's medicine section.  I am so glad I get to add this to my oils tonight! 

Awesome!  Let us know how it goes.

Update from me:

I got my first pimples.  The first one popped up right after I added geranium EO to my oils.  I think that irrated my skin so I haven't used that EO since.  The other pimple was cystic and located on my jaw.  I'm pretty sure that had to do with Aunt Flo because I usually have one or two cystic pimps around that time of the month.  So yeah, it's still going well for me.