Recommended Oils
You'll want to use a little castor oil mixed with a carrier oil. Castor oil is very cleansing. Start with one of the following ratios listed below. If your skin feels too oily, use more castor oil. If your skin feels too dry, use less castor oil. Castor oil is very drying, so don't use too much. You should be able to find these oils at your local health food store, Amazon, or Mountain Rose Herbs. It may take time to find what works for your skin. When I started OCM, I used 100% olive oil because my skin was so dry. Now that my skin has adjusted and isn't dry anymore, I use 10% castor oil, 90% jojoba oil.- Oily Skin: 30% castor oil to 70% carrier oil
- Normal Skin: 20% castor oil to 80% carrier oil
- Dry Skin: 10% castor oil to 90% carrier oil
- Really Dry Skin: 0% castor oil to 100% carrier oil
Moisturizing Carrier Oils:
- Jojoba--all skin types, especially acne-prone, oily, sensitive, and normal
- Sweet Almond--all skin types, especially dry, itchy, and normal
- Avocado--all skin types, especially dry, itchy, sensitive, and aging
- Apricot Kernel--all skin types, especially dry, sensitive, aging, and normal
- Grape Seed--all skin types, especially acne-prone and oily
- Kukui Nut--all skin types, especially dry and normal
- Olive--all skin types, especially dry
Oil Cleansing Steps
- Rinse Face. Rinse face with water.
- Massage with Oil. Lightly massage oil in a circular motion over your face for two minutes. Massaging your face can lead to firmer, more radiant skin by minimizing fine lines and wrinkles, releasing tension, and improving circulation. Just remember that when you're getting bored and wondering if the two minutes are up yet.
- Remove Eye Makeup. Gently rub oil across your eye lids and eye lashes to remove eye makeup.
- Steam. Soak a washcloth with hot water. Hold it over your face for 10-15 seconds.
- Wipe Off. Gently wipe oil off your face and eyes with your washcloth. When I'm finished, my face feels clean and moisturized, never greasy. I'm still amazed that oil can clean my face.
- (Don't forget to admire your beautiful, glowing skin in the mirror.)
Customize with Essential Oils
You can make your cleansing oil even more luxurious and customized to your individual skin type by adding essential oils. Essential oils are natural compounds extracted from parts of plants, flowers, and trees. They have been used throughout history for their medicinal and therapeutic benefits. They are extremely concentrated so you only need to add a few drops to your bottle of oil. Click here for more essential oil safety. You can find essential oils at your local health food store, Amazon, or Mountain Rose Herbs.
- Mature Skin/Wrinkles: frankincense, helichrysum, geranium, lavender, myrrh, sandalwood, carrot seed
- Dry Skin: rose, lavender, geranium, sandalwood, rosewood, ylang-ylang, chamomile
- Oily Skin: lemon, cedarwood, cypress, juniper, lavender, lemongrass, grapefruit
- Acne-Prone Skin: tea tree, lemongrass, lavender, geranium, peppermint, rosemary, sandalwood
Questions About OCM
How often do you wash your face with oil?
I do OCM most nights to wash my makeup off, but many people do it less often. I wash my face with water only when I shower in the morning. I don't use facial cleansers anymore because they strip too much of the skin's natural protective oils.
Do you need to moisturize after OCM?
My face was quite dry when I started OCM, so I had to moisturize. Over the past two months of doing OCM, my face has gotten less and less dry so I don't even need to moisturize anymore. But I do it anyway to help prevent wrinkles (it's never too early). I also use oil to moisturize, which you can read about here.
Does washing with oil make you break out?
No, I get less blemishes now then I did before OCM. Occasionally I'll get a tiny blemish when I'm lazy and don't wash my makeup off at night. Do OCM for at least three weeks to give your face adequate time to adjust. Be patient. It took some time before I figured out what oils worked for my skin and for my face to adjust to this new way of doing things.
How does OCM save you money?
Here's how much money I'm saving by switching to olive oil/castor oil. Not only do I save money, I don't have to worry about all the chemicals in commercial cleanser anymore. I also use oil as a natural make-up remover so that saves me even more money.
$3.90/oz. Clinique Foaming Cleanser ($19.50/5 oz.)
$1.68/oz. Olive Oil ($9/24 oz) & Castor Oil ($10/8 oz.)
Read More About OCM:
The Oil Cleansing Method
Nitty Gritty on the Oil Cleansing Method
Have you tried the oil cleansing method? What do you think?
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Thanks! I am totally going to try this. I'm already thinking about future wrinkles too! Ha. So I better get cracking.
ReplyDeleteKendra, I tried your face and body scrub and loved it. So I'm definitely going to try washing my face with EVOO. I also found another scrub I love. This is the recipe:
ReplyDelete1 cup brown sugar (I used white sugar because it's more exfoliating.)
1/2 cup sweet almond oil
1 tsp vitamin E oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
I made it in a jar that I keep in the bathroom! Thanks for your great posts! Keep it up!
Lori
Thanks for the recipe Lori! I'll have to try it.
DeleteCool! I use EVOO and witch hazel to wash off my make up so I'm halfway there, and I can't wait to try this. I am worried about breakouts, so I will probably try the tea tree in it since I have some. Yep, you got me buying essential oils. :)
ReplyDeleteLove,
Paige
I have done it successfully, and I have acne-prone, oily skin. I used the EVOO, then removed it with a warm washcloth, followed by tea tree oil diluted with water as a toner. My skin felt really soft and didn't break out.
ReplyDeleteI've read that you can also use baking soda and soap as a scrub. I've done it, and it works, but it seems like I smell an ammonia smell and I don't know if it's because I used a commercial soap or what, but I figured there was a reaction going on that I probably didn't want, so I stopped. Anyone else tried it?
I've actually used just baking soda and water as a scrub and it works great! I try to do it just once a week so I don't over-exfoliate, but I love the way my skin feels after doing it. I used to use the St. Ives apricot scrub, but have since replaced it with baking soda. I'm going to try Kendra's sugar/oil/honey scrub for when I'm really in the pampering mood. :) But just to answer your question about the baking soda, I've used it on it's own (not with soap) and it seemed fine. Just make a paste with some water, put it on your face, and GENTLY rub it around on your skin. You can even let it dry like a mask, then wipe off, or you can just wash it off right away.
DeleteHarleyQ,
DeleteI've never used baking soda as a scrub but will have to try it. I'm glad to hear EVOO works for oily skin! Thanks for sharing!
Try baking soda and honey instead of soap. It works great and isn't quite as sloppy as soap or plain water and baking soda.
DeleteI've tried OCM a few times, but for some reason I keep stopping! I really love the way it makes my skin feel, and I wake up the next morning with glowing skin! I just splash it with some cold water in the morning and I'm done. I even have a post sitting in my drafts waiting to be published, but I want to do OCM for at least 1-2 weeks straight before I can honestly recommend it to my readers, you know? Anyways, I guess what I'm saying is seeing this post reminded me to get back to it and get that post published already! :)
ReplyDeleteYou can do it Sarah! I believe in you! :)
DeleteWitch Hazel as a toner!
ReplyDeleteYou've inspired me! When I finished off my bottle of expensive Mary Kay cleanser I decided to try out EVOO. So far it's only been a few days, but I love the way it leaves my face feeling! You are amazing, Kendra! So glad I can follow your blog!
ReplyDeleteHi Kendra... to use the tea tree oil as a toner-- what is the ratio to water or vinegar or both? I'm currently using an RX topical product before bed and another RX in the morning-- expensive! Would like to find a healthy and affordable alternative for blemish free sensitive skin. I am enjoying your Blog very much-- good stuff! Thank you = )
ReplyDeleteThere are many ways to use tea tree oil on your face. Essential oils are super concentrated so you only use a little at a time. You can add a drop to your cleanser you're about to apply to your face. Or you can add a drop to the cotton ball that is saturated with your toner and apply. Or you can add a drop to your moisturizer you are about to apply. Tea tree oil is one of the few essential oils that is safe to use without diluting. So you can actually just put 1-2 drops on your fingers and apply directly to your acne-prone areas.
DeleteI guess it depends how much you want to smell like tea tree oil. It's got a very strong smell. If you don't want to smell like tea tree, use it with your cleanser. If you don't care about the smell, apply it directly to your face. Hope this helps!
Hi Kendra,
ReplyDeleteI started using the OCM this week! I ran out of my commercial cleanser, so I thought it was a good time to start. I am also using apple cider vinegar, lavender essential oil, and jojoba oil. I can't tell you how excited I am about this! My old cleanser wasn't working for me anymore, and I was really wanting to try something more natural. Thank you for inspiring me and for the info on your blog. I am only on like day 4, but I will let you know how it works for me!
Also, I keep bugging Aaron to call you to let you know when we'll be in town. We'll let you know soon!
A friend told me about OCM months ago and I bought castor oil to do it, but have yet to open the castor oil. How much oil are you supposed to use at one time? Can you premix the two oils and like shake each time or do I have to hang out with two bottles and a measuring spoon in my bathroom?
ReplyDeleteI haven't mixed my oils, but you totally can do that.
DeleteYou are amazing in what you know and have figured out. I need to try this when I am done with what I have. I'm pinning this for later reference. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThat looks really nice!
ReplyDeleteMy girlfriend was using Olive Oil for her rosacea and I had already started using Jojoba for makeup remover. Now I use the Jojoba to wash my face in the shower and then after I get out of the shower I apply Avocado oil.
ReplyDeleteThe fine lines on my forehead have disappeared, my face is never greasy, and my lips are always soft.
Thanks so much Kendra! I am super excited to try this. I am heading to grab the castor oil tomorrow and I can't wait to give it a try. it sounds like everyone just loves it and I am sure going to dry the baking soda exfoliate too:) Thanks for another fabulous post!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to try this. I've had oily , acne prone skin since I was 12. I pinned it and tweeted it. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletedefinitely will try! I have yet to find a cleanser/moisturizer that is affordable and that I am truly happy with
ReplyDeleteSo you spend 10-15 minutes steaming your your face every night? That seems like a long time.
ReplyDeleteOops, I meant 10-15 seconds. Thanks for catching that! :)
Deletegreat tip! :)
ReplyDeleteIf you add essential oil to to oil, how much do you add? Do you just pick one essential oil or do you mix them? Thanks
ReplyDeleteStart with 10 drops of essential oil per 4 oz of oil. You can pick one essential oil to add or you can add multiple essential oils.
DeleteYou are being featured at tonights Link and Greet party at CountryMommaCooks.....have a wonderful
ReplyDeleteweekend : )
I've never heard of OCM before reading this post. I'm VERY interested. As a matter of fact, I recently decided to look for a better and natural way of cleansing, moisturizing, and preventing wrinkles. I had a natural product in mind, but it's very expensive. I think I'll try this first.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! I'll share this on my FB page too.
Wow, this is a great idea! At first I was a little taken back at the thought of using oil to clean my face as I have very oily skin. But then I saw the different types of oil to use depending on your skin type. I may have to try this now. Thanks for sharing on Marvelous Mondays!
ReplyDeleteHi Kendra =D I have been reading a lot about OCM for the past few days. May I ask for your suggestion and advice on the oil mixture? My husband has an oily and acne prone skin. Should I use castor oil (30%), olive oil (30%) & jojoba oil (40%)? What do you think?
ReplyDeletePlan to purchase the oils soon via online =) So excited!!! Read so many good reviews and can't wait to give it a try.
Thanks in advance! =)
Olive oil is pretty heavy so I wouldn't recommend it for acne-prone skin. I would suggest 30% castor oil and 70% jojoba oil. If it's too drying, add less castor oil and more jojoba oil. Good luck!
DeleteI'm new to all the ocm i've started about 2 weeks now. I was a clinic junky but one day searching on how to make my own dedorant, went into searching how to clean face naturally and read olive oil, honey, homemade vit c serum i'm so so so excited with all these recipes, but i'm confuse in regards to the % how do u measure that out? Sorry for now knowing but in order for me to get the right potioned need to learn how to measure with percentive. Thank you
Deletegosh, i have combo skin! i am oily and acne prone in my tzone but have dry cheeks! seems like this makes things more complicated...
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for this great post! When I read this I just didn't believe it. BUT - I have been using your recommendation for oily skin for a week now and I am amazed. My skin has always been extremely oily - even now at 45! I usually go through about a 8-10 of those little blotting sheets per day. Now I am only using a couple and have noticed a dramatic difference in my skin. Thank you so much for solving an issue I have had for my entire adult life!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy to hear it's helped your skin!
DeleteI'm happy to report that after a month of using this method I will never go back to my previous cleanser again! I literally threw my clinique cleanser in the trash. I no longer wear foundation because I DON'T NEED IT!!!! :-) I have shared this info with several co-workers, friends, and family all with different skin types and issues. Of those who have reported back, they have all had great success. Thanks again!!!
DeleteI have been doing this for the last few weeks... and I LOVE IT! Because I have sensitive eczema prone skin, castor oil sadly breaks me out with eczema! But no worrys!! I replace the castor oil with tea tree oil!! I use 15% tea tree and 85% EVOO, and let me say, it's amazing I used to have a terrible problem with blackheads and nothing could get rid of them... Never say never!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this! I haven't thought of using other oils! (Haha! Stupid I am!)
Tea tree essential oil is amazing. I'm glad it's helped!
DeleteI like this idea because I am fed up with trying to find skincare that is non-toxic. But, do you leave the bottles on your bathroom counter? What about the oil getting rancid from not being refrigerated?
ReplyDeleteGreat question! I keep my oils in my bathroom cupboard since sunlight will cause them to go rancid faster. I haven't had any oils go rancid yet and some of them I've had for nine months. Mountain Rose Herbs lists the shelf life as two years for all the oils I listed on my post. If it's an issue, buy smaller bottles of oil.
DeleteTo prevent my big bottle of olive oil from going rancid, I move it to the kitchen once I run out of oil in there. I cook with olive oil a lot so it gets used up pretty quickly. And then I buy a new bottle of olive oil to put under my bathroom cupboard. Essential oils don't go rancid. They just lose their potency after time.
KENDRA,
ReplyDeleteI AM 48 WITH NORMAL TO SLIGHTLY DRY SKIN A COUPLE OF LIGHT BROWN SUN SPOTS AND SOME FINE LINES AND WRINKLES IN THE EYE AREA ALSO MY BLACKHEAD PORES ON MY NOSE CAN LOOK LARGE AT TIMES, I AM A LITTLE LOST AS TO WHICH OILS TO USE FOR CLEASING AND MOISTURIZING PLEASE ADVISE. THANKS
JULIE
Try a ratio of 10% castor oil and 90% olive oil for cleansing. For moisturizing, I would suggest apricot kernel oil.
DeleteTHANKS KENDRA I AM SO EXCITED TO TRY THIS AND I TOLD MY DAUGHTERS TO GIVE IT A LOOK ALSO
ReplyDeleteJULIE
Hi! Dumb question here- how do you measure out the oil? For example, if I'm doing 70/30, do I mix together 7 tsp carrier oil and 3 tsp castor oil? Just wondering so I don't mess it up! Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteSure, you can do it that way. I just eyeball it.
DeleteThanks for your review! I've also heard that tea tree oil facial cleansers have the same effect on your skin.
ReplyDeleteKendra,
ReplyDeleteI am 44 and used to have great skin but when I hit 40 I started to break out especially on my chin. I cannot seem to get rid of the bumps and/or acne on my chin along with some scarring. I also have lines/wrinkles around my eyes and on my forehead. I have tried all the expensive products out there and nothing seems to work. What oils do you suggest for cleansing and moisturizing to help with my problems? I can't wait to try this!
Question, one reader asked about mixing the oils, and you said you dont mix your oils? I thought thats what the chart above meant to do.. so much castor oil and so much carrier oil mixed together? can you clarify? thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteI get out my two bottles of oil each night, pour some carrier oil into my hand, pour a drop of castor oil in my hand, mix the oils together, and then wash my face with it. I mix the oils in my hand each night instead of mixing them together in a bottle. It's totally okay to mix the castor oil and carrier oil in the same bottle. I just don't do it that way. Hope this makes sense!
DeleteHi I m a guy and have dull and extremely oily skin. I m an active person and sweat a lot and also spend time in the sun. Should I just come home daily and wash my face with water then dry it and do this ocm? I m thinking of using castor oil and olive oil.
ReplyDeleteSure. But you don't need to dry your face before doing OCM. I do OCM with a wet face.
Deletecan i mix jojoba and castor oil?my skin is very sensitive ,oily , acne some of brown spots i am sick and tired with my acne i hop it will help me out
ReplyDeleteYes, you can mix them.
DeleteI am really excited about this method. I have a question though. Can I premix the oils and keep them in a bottle together? Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYou can premix them.
DeleteThanks so much for your post! I'm so excited to try this as a cleanser. Just a couple of questions. I'm 21 and have problems with acne/blackheads (all that "teenage" stuff!) and tends to be a bit on the oily side. What mix of oils would you suggest?
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'm confused as to how often I should use this, and what a good natural moisturizer would be if I ever need to use it. Thanks again!
Super! Another post about natural oils. I love natural oils. I love anything natural on my skin and in my hair. I do use Mary Kay, but I try not to use it too much because of its prices. My daughter's been after me for something natural for her face, and I have some things in place, but will definitely try this with her this coming week. I think she'll be excited.
ReplyDeleteAnother great idea I got from someone else is aspirin. Crush one aspirin in your hands, mix it with a bit of water to form a paste, and rub it all over your face (not the eyes). Leave on for 5 min. (that is plenty of time, don't leave on for longer), rinse off, moisturize. Do it! You'll be amazed at how acne and other red spots disappear.
Can you replace the castor oil and use argan oil?
ReplyDeleteNo, the castor oil is the cleansing oil. The argan oil is a moisturizing carrier oil. Use them together in one of the ratios listed in the post.
Deletei just started this method but i have a question: i normally go to the gym in the late mornings, come home and shower. i throw on some makeup and then will wash my face before bed. what do i use to wash my face after the gym, being that i do the ocm at night before bed?
ReplyDeleteAfter going to the gym, you can wash your face with water and a washcloth. You can also use a toner if you want. Or you could do OCM after the gym and wash with water before bed.
DeleteThank you!!
ReplyDeleteI have heard all kinds of nasty things about castor oil. Is there another oil that can be used instead?
ReplyDeleteYou can use any of the carrier oils listed and omit castor oil. You might need a toner to help wipe away all the oil after you are done washing your face.
DeleteI have just finished reading your post The Oil Cleansing Method and was motivated to email you immediately.
ReplyDeleteI also use a similar mix to clean and moisturizes my skin and have been doing so since 2009 - without looking back. I booked a series of facials before my wedding and specifically wanted to use only natural products. I had been having a great deal of trouble with my skin and nothing 'western' was working. My Neil's Yard Remedies therapist - who used Neil's Yard Remedies products exclusively (which are known to be 'natural') - was the one who suggested using something else for my skin that was even more basic than NYR products.
His recipe, which I still follow today is 10ml Jojoba oil, 1-2 drops lavender essential oil, 1-2 palmarosa oil.
My skin has never been better.
As a side - i also exclusively used lavender oil on my temples for pregnancy headache during both my pregnancies.
Thanks for your lovely post!
Thank you for sharing!
DeleteHi Kendra,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I stumbled upon your post. I've been using all natural, organic and gentle facial products for several years (Kimberly Sayer of London), but was perusing other methods in an attempt to cut costs. One that I looked at - and rejected - is a well-known Japanese company that uses olive oil for cleansing, so this is not new. Their other products contain ingredients I don't want to use, however. I looked locally and found some very nice creams appropriate for the face,and similar to what I was using before, with all natural ingredients. So now I am cleansing with olive oil, and using creams from this local company. I use an organic lavender toner sometimes, also made nearby. Previously, I was purchasing a much smaller bottle of lavender toner that was more money (from the line of products I was formerly using). For all natural moisturizers, check out http://www.islandthyme.com/, and the the lavender toner, http://www.pelindabalavender.com/. Island Thyme lists all the ingredients on their website, so you can see what you are buying.
My esthetician rejects the idea of using olive oil as a cleanser, but perhaps she is trained to do otherwise. I am enjoying it. I have mature skin, and like the way olive oil makes my skin feel.
On a side note, I have used Island Thyme vanilla lip balm for years now and love it, I always keep it in my pocket. In October a strange thing happened with my lips - some new lip balm or other product in contact with my lips made them chapped and peel, and they would not heal. I spent hours and hours researching on the internet, but with so many possibilities, was never able to pinpoint the culprit ingredient/s. I did learn a lot though. One of your readers posted a comment about a home made exfoliating scrub for the face, and I found and used a similar recipe on my lips at that time. It used olive oil, sugar, vitamin E oil, and honey. Since I used that on my lips and liked it, I think I will incorporate that into a weekly facial scrub.
It took months for my lips to heal. Now that they are healed, I'm back to only using my Island Thyme vanilla lip balm and they are fine, and I have tossed all my other lip balms. That's my story. I look forward to reading more on your site. Thx.
Thank you for sharing!
DeleteHi Kendra...i just wanted to ask whether to do clean your face using oil everyday ...i have oily n sensitive skin..is a mixture of almond oil n castor oil ok..or should I use another carrier oil???
ReplyDeleteI clean my face using oil every night and I love it! You can do OCM as often as you want. I'd probably use jojoba oil and castor oil with your skin type, but sweet almond oil would probably be fine.
DeleteHi Kendra,I'm 15 and i have blackhead-prone skin and bumps on my forehead,can this OCM cure this?
ReplyDeleteBlackheads and acne in general is a result of several different factors including diet, hormones, bacteria, dead skin cells and the buildup of these factors. So I don't know if OCM alone can "cure" your skin. The best way to find out is to try it for at least 3-4 weeks. It takes some time for the skin to adjust. Also, you might want to check out these 27 natural remedies for acne. http://www.crunchybetty.com/27-quick-and-crunchy-home-remedies-for-pimples
DeleteHi Kendra,
ReplyDeleteI have oily t zone area and red dry cheeks. Also black heads and enlarged pores on my nose. What oils would you suggest?
You could start with olive oil and see how your skin does with it. If your skin doesn't improve or gets worse, try jojoba oil which is good for combination skin.
Deletethis is the best article I have read on oil cleansing! Some of the other articles and receips called for glycerin and some kind of liquid soap. Why is that?
ReplyDelete