The Oil Cleansing Method Explained
What The Heck Is It?
The basic concept behind this all natural, organic, skin care remedy is that massaging your face with oil will dissolve makeup, dirt, and the excess oil that has hardened with impurities and lodged itself into your pores. Steam then opens the pores and releases the impurities so they can be easily wiped away with a wash cloth. Should you need extra moisture a small drop of the same oil can be patted over wet skin to provide necessary moisture and prevent your skin from over-compensating in oil production.
You Want Me To Slather Oil On My Face? Are You CRAZY?!
Everyone wants clear, glowing, blemish free skin but it seems so unattainable. The skin care industry wants you to believe that in order to have perfect skin you must strip it of all oil and only use oil-free products. Consumers are so strongly influenced by these claims that they load up on products full of harsh chemicals that strip the skin of it's natural moisture and leave it feeling tight and dry. Inevitably the skin then, in an attempt to mitigate the damage, over-produces oil. What you are left with is an endless cycle of stripping, scrubbing, and disinfecting that doesn't really ever work. The breakouts happen anyway. Fear not - oil alone will NOT cause breakouts. Breakouts are a result of hormones, bacteria, and dead skin cells. Your skin produces oil because it needs it to properly function. Oil is not evil it is beneficial and natural. It protects, moisturizes, and heals your skin.
What Do I Need?
You will need a clean soft washcloth and two oils. The most important of which is castor oil. This healing and cleansing oil has potent anti-inflammatory qualities. Since this oil is so strong and so thick it needs to be mixed with another oil. In fact, using too much castor oil can actually dry your skin which is why you need to dilute it with another oil of your choosing. Which secondary oil you chose is entirely up to you and the specific needs of your skin. It is best to choose organic cold pressed oils that are non-comedogenic. Below is a list of my favorite oils:
Argan
Avocado
Borage
Evening Primrose
Hazelnut
Hemp Seed
Jojoba
Neem
Pumpkin Seed
Rosehip
Sea Buckthorn
Sesame
Sunflower
Rosehip
Some suggestions in creating your blend of deep cleansing oil:
Oily skin: Try a blend of 30% castor oil to 70% secondary oil.
Balanced Skin: Try a blend of 20% castor oil to 80% secondary oil.
Dry Skin: Try a blend of 10% castor oil to 90% secondary oil.
You can vary these percentages to match your skins unique needs. If your skin feels too dry, you'll need to use less castor oil. Keep in mind that castor oil is the drawing, cleansing, and purging oil for your pores. It's okay if you find you only need a very small percentage of castor oil in your blend.
How Do I Do It?
The first thing to remember is that we are trying to deep clean the skin while at the same time balancing it's oil production. This should be done in the evening. In the morning a simple wipe with a hot wash cloth should suffice as your face is already clean from the night before. You don't want to over wash your skin as this will only irritate your skin and cause oil over-production.
1. You'll need a soft washcloth, your oil blend, and hot, running water.
2. Pour a quarter sized amount of your oil blend into the palm of your hand. Rub your hands together to warm the oil and smooth it over your face.
3. Massage the oil blend into your face. This will remove makeup, dirt, and other impurities. There is no need to use a makeup remover or to wash your face prior to oil cleansing. This will even remove waterproof mascara.
4. Massage the oil deep into your pores using firm, slow motions across the skin. Take your time and focus on your problem areas. You really want the oil to work deep into your pores so that blackheads and impurities can be dissolved and then steamed away.
5. When you are finished massaging pick up your washcloth and soak it in clean, hot water. The water should be warm enough to further soften your pores and remove the oil but not hot enough to scald the skin. The steam will coax our pores to release the oil carrying the impurities.
6. Cover your face with the washcloth and leave it until it cools. Then gently wipe the oil away and rinse the washcloth thoroughly in hot water. Repeat this step 2-3 times.
7. If your skin feels tight, apply a drop or two of your secondary oil by gently patting or massing it onto your damp skin. Your skin is now clean and glowing!
