Clean your face with oil? Yep!

I have been reading about this Oil Cleansing Method for the last few years on various blogs and online articles.  My initial reaction was, "Yeah, like I need MORE oil on my skin".   I actually have combination skin, but keeping my makeup from sliding off before the end of the day has always been a challenge.  In addition to that challenge, I was still having to deal with occasional acne and blackhead problems and troublesome dry, flaky patches.  The very last thing I wanted to put on my face was oil.   I often used harsh cleansers on my face in an attempt to keep oily areas under control and used products on my face designed to inhibit oil but it was an ongoing battle and the dry areas of my face were getting pretty bad.  My age was definitely showing in my skin. I would try expensive moisturizers on the dry areas but the only ones I really thought were helping were just too expensive for me to make a regular part of my daily routine.

I had been treating myself to occasional trips to a nearby spa for relaxing time in the jacuzzi and sauna area.  I would splurge on a massage or pedicure once in a while so I decided I would treat myself to my first real spa facial.  It was awesome and the aesthetician was very professional and knowledgeable.  She told me something about my skin that truly surprised me.  She said that my skin was dehydrated and lacked deep moisture.  I asked her how that could be when I struggled so much with oily areas.  She explained that the excess oil production was caused because I was regularly stripping away the natural oils in my skin and not replacing that with the proper moisturizer.  hmmm.  I had long ago learned that over-washing my hair caused it to be more oily.  She confirmed that this is based on the same principle. My body was working overtime trying to replace the natural oils that I was scrubbing away.    Of course she set me up with some amazing natural cleanser, moisturizer, and face serum.  It was some awesome stuff and while I did make the initial purchase, I knew that I would not be paying that price for face products on a regular basis.

The next time I ran across someone on the internet talking about the oil cleansing method I figured it sure wouldn't hurt to try.  Here is the basic method I used:

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 BASIC OIL CLEANSING METHOD

Get that hair out of the way with a headband

Apply a couple tablespoons of oil to face with fingertips and gently massage until entire face is covered               (I chose organic coconut oil but I will list some other popular oils later in this post)

Soak an absorbent washcloth with hot water (not too hot!) and wring out excess water
while still leaving it pretty wet.

Lay the steamy cloth over your face and enjoy the warmth until cloth cools to room temperature
(doesn't take long)

Gently wipe face with cloth and then repeat the Steam/Wipe until your face feels clean.

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The first time I tried this I thought my skin felt kind of oily, but resisted the urge to steam/wipe a 4th time.  Literally within a couple of minutes my skin had soaked up any trace of oil from the surface and I had soft, smooth skin that wasn't the least bit greasy.  It was only a quick step from the basic method to adding my favorite essential oils and even other natural ingredients (like organic honey) to mix up my own face cleansers at home.  I no longer have problems with acne breakouts, I no longer have problems with dry skin or oily skin, (my makeup will still slide off after a day of Mississippi summer heat - but that's just because the heat and humidity melt it off!)    I immediately began formulating my own facial cleansers, masks, toners and serums using essential oils and other natural ingredients with great results.  I never dreamed that I would ever be cleansing my face with oil twice a day, but I can't imagine doing it any other way now.  I'm convinced :)

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Some Oil Options for your OCM routine

• Coconut Oil -  Nutrient and mineral rich. It not only detoxifies but also increases antioxidant levels which both provide anti-aging effect on the skin.  Rich in Lauric acid and medium chain fatty acids which give it anti-bacterial properties. Helps reduce inflammation.
• Sweet Almond Oil - In addition to anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties, it also helps with dark under-eye circles and has been used to treat spider veins and broken capillaries under the skin.
• Jojoba Oil - Often used in beauty products as it closely resembles the natural oils our body produces.  It is not actually an oil, but a liquid wax which makes for a longer shelf life and helps prevent other oils combined with it from turning rancid. High in vitamin C which has been proven to be very beneficial to the skin.  Well tolerated by people with skin sensitivities
• Grape Seed oil - Contains 73% linoleic acid which is great for dermatitis and dry itchy skin. High in anti-oxidants. Helps lighten sun damage and dark spots on skin. High levels of vitamin E. Helps treat broken capillaries and spider veins.

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The above list is only a very short list of options and the descriptions of each are by no means exhaustive.  The benefits shown are just a few of the many benefits of each that I have selected to share as they relate to skin care specifically.
I recommend that whatever carrier oil you choose, that you make sure it is 100% pure, and preferably organic, for greatest benefit.  All of the above oils are ones that I have used in my beauty recipes and I love them all.  Since I began making my own oil cleansers and beauty products with essential oils I have seen such a dramatic improvement in my skin. I will share here one of the cleanser recipes I've made. I chose this one because it is the one I am using today.

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Coconut-Honey Anti-Aging Cleanser

INGREDIENTS:
4 Tbs. Organic Coconut Oil
2 Tbs. Organic Honey
1 Tbs. Jojoba Oil
4 drops Frankincense Essential Oil
2 Drops Geranium Essential Oil
2 Drops Copaiba Essential Oil
2 Drops Lavender Essential Oil

Small container (I used a little plastic container I got at the dollar store. I recommend a glass container, but I knew this wouldn't last long enough for the essential oil to degrade the plastic!)

TOOLS:
Small container of really hot water
Metal measuring Tablespoon
Spatula or whisk for mixing

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METHOD:   Measure out 1 Tbs. of Coconut oil and hold  the bottom of the metal Tablespoon into the top of the hot water.  Coconut oil will melt quickly. Once melted add to the small mixing bowl.  Repeat this till all 4 Tbs. of coconut oil are melted and in bowl.   Measure out the Honey 1 tbsp at a time and hold over the hot water also just enough to smooth it out a bit. (makes it easier to blend with oils).

Add the Jojoba oil and essential oils then blend well.  For this batch I used a small rubber spatula and kind of pressed the mixture against the sides of the bowl to combine them well -- but next time I will likely use a whisk or an immersion blender to get them combined more quickly.  



Pour mixture into your container and allow to solidify. Coconut oil will liquefy when above 76 degrees.  If this happens, the oil and honey may separate. The quick solution is to put your container in the fridge for a few minutes until coconut oil starts to solidify again and then just stir it up.  This recipe can be used in liquid form or solid form - just make sure your ingredients are mixed well for full benefit.

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Links to items mentioned in this post:

Carrington Farms Organic Coconut Oil

Billy Bee Organic Honey

Plant Therapy Jojoba Oil

Variety Pack of Carrier Oils  This is a handy, reasonably priced set that will give you a variety  to try.
(Fractionated Coconut oil, Avocado oil, Sweet Almond oil & Grape Seed oil) 
NOTE:  Fractionated coconut oil remains in a liquid state regardless of temperature.  If you choose to use fractionated coconut oil in this recipe, there will be no need to melt and your final product will be more liquid in nature than solid.  It will still work wonderfully, just make sure you put it in a container that will not leak and may be more prone to separating because the honey is so much heavier.

The essential oils used in this particular recipe came from Young Living. You can get a customer account at this link:   Young Living Essential Oils  or contact your Young Living Distributor.

I also use oils from Edens Garden. You can find their oils at amazon using the following link:

Edens Garden Essential oil

You can also order directly from their website:   www.edensgarden.com

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If you decide to give this recipe a try, I'd love to hear how you like it.  Regardless of where you purchase your ingredients, please be sure to use high quality for the best results. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.