My goodness, I’ve come a long way in the past few years. There was a time when I shuddered at even the thought of applying oil to my skin, for fear that I’d become a walking, talking oil slick—or worse, erupt in breakouts.
Now, I not only endorse oils as moisturizers (Décleor’s Neroli Serum, Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate and the recent discovery Aïny Nourishing Radiance Serum are all favourites), but I’ve actually CLEANSED my skin with oils. Yes.
If you’ve ever heard of the Oil Cleansing Method then you know what I’m talking about.
The whole idea behind oil cleansing is that like attracts like. Oil dissolves oil—and so it’s supposed to be the very best thing for removing ALL TRACES of makeup, grime and sebum without stripping or irritating your skin. Because if you’ve ever used a toner, you know that most regular cleansers tend to fail on the job.
In the beauty mainstream, probably the most famous example of an oil cleansing product is Shu Uemura’s Cleansing Oil, which was first introduced in 1960 and now comes in all kinds of variations for different skin types.
People go CRAZY for this stuff—I can still recall a press trip to New York where my PR companion was on a mission to buy some, since Holt Renfrew was out of stock here in Canada—but as far as I can tell, it’s really just mineral oil. And while I don’t doubt that it works for removing makeup, mineral oil is not something I want to put on my face, thankyouverymuch. (Pretty much every facialist has told me that it clogs pores… and I’ve even read that it can accelerate aging.)
Fast forward to 2006, 2007. There have been other cleansing oils on the market but it was Dermalogica who created a mini-sensation amongst beauty editors with PreCleanse:
This product is different to the Shu stuff because it contains botanical oils like apricot, sunflower, orange and lavender instead of the nasty mineral oil.
But both products basically work the same way: you massage the oil into dry skin to remove all the grime, etc., and then gradually add some water to emulsify (it will turn white). Then you rinse with water—but Dermalogica actually encourages you to wash again with your regular cleanser. (Not sure if this is a marketing thing designed to make you buy another separate product… or because some people don’t get all the oil off and need to wash again.)
Anyway, I have used the Dermalogica product and like it much, much better than the Shu. It also smells terrific.
BUT! Ever in pursuit of clearer, glow-ier, more poreless and perfect skin… I recently came across a new discovery…
Did you know that there is actually an older, cheaper, all-natural and some say even MORE effective way of cleansing called the Oil Cleansing Method (or OCM)?
It’s a bit of a cult secret but extremely popular on several beauty forums (see: here, here and here—don’t you love the Internetz?). And what it’s supposed to do is not only CLEAN your skin but also dissolve blackheads and clogged pores, improve cystic acne, tighten pores and even improve the appearance of wrinkles.
Sounds amazing, right? Full deets are here, but in a nutshell, here’s what it involves:
1. To dry skin apply a blend of castor oil and either olive, jojoba, grapeseed or sunflower oil.
You need to play around with the ratios to find one that works for your skin, but because castor oil is very deep-cleansing it should only comprise 50 percent or less of your mixture. The castor oil is the stuff that really draws out the blockages in your pores. (Ewww…)
There are other oils you can use too. If you’re concerned about the comedogenicity of them (and if you keep reading, you’ll know that you should be, there’s a handy chart here.
2. Massage the oil into your skin for at least 5-10 minutes.
Here’s where things get grody. As you continue to massage, you start to feel little grainy bits… which I understand are the clogs coming out of your pores!
Gross! Cool! Fascinating, right?
3. Drape a hot, wet towel over your face and let the steam sink into your pores until it cools down.
Then wipe your face, rinse the towel and repeat a few times. There’s no emulsification step—you’re just steaming and then wiping away the oil several times. At this point all of it (along with the dirt) should be gone, so you shouldn’t have to wash your face with a regular cleanser or toner. (But if in doubt, I’d wash again, since it’s very, very important not to leave ANY trace of that now-dirty oil on your skin.)
How often you cleanse this way is up to you… but here’s what happened to me when I tried this for just a week or so:
As I hinted last week, to say it was a total disaster would not be an understatement. At first, I loved the idea that I was deep-cleansing my face—who wouldn’t?
I used a combination of castor oil and plain old extra-virgin olive oil. But within a couple of days, my skin got dry—like, incredibly dry and flaky.
I dropped down my percentage of castor oil to about 25 percent, and continued. But then it was like I had a rash all over my chin. Almost like an allergic reaction—I think I developed what’s known as comedogenic acne. Except THEN the rash turned, in places, into the worst cystic breakout I’ve had in a very long time. Who knows if that was caused by the dryness (since a layer of dead skin can clog pores) or the oils, or a combination of both.
But at that point I had to say sayonara to the Oil Cleansing Method. And now I’m kicking myself for overreaching, because as I mentioned on Friday, what with my cod liver oil and this great stuff for rogue pigmentation issues and these fancy European luxury botanical prodz, everything was going SO WELL. Now, I’m working on trying to heal these little (okay, maybe not so little) suckers it left as a goodbye present on my chin.
Will I try it again? Maybe. I know I definitely removed all traces of the oil, so that wasn’t what made my skin freak out. I’m wondering if I just used the wrong type of oil (olive is supposed to be more comedogenic than jojoba, for example). And overall, I’m a bit frustrated, because the testimonials I’ve read about how the OCM has transformed people’s skin are simply aMAZing. I want some of that skincare goodness!
So tell me…
Have you ever tried the Oil Cleansing Method?
If not—have I intrigued you or scared the living daylights out of you?
Got your own skincare overreaching story? Please share. (And lemme know what stuff you swear by NOW…)
172 comments
Monday, November 15/2010 at 1:09 pm
I use oils to clean my face. I bought it off of Etsy and while my skin broke out a bit for the first week, it was great after that! I also use a serum on my face and do regular steam facials at home.
You might just have to stick with it a little longer? Plus, I’ve heard Castor Oil is hard on your face. Maybe try more of a mix?
Tuesday, November 16/2010 at 11:34 pm
Yes possibly – I’m thinking my mix wasn’t quite right and I was allergic to something. If I do it again I’ll use much less castor oil and jojoba instead of olive oil. Or maybe just jojoba alone… I’ve heard you can still get results with that.
But first I need to wait until things clear up! I was afraid things would just get worse and worse if I kept going… I had to chicken out!
Which oils do you use?
Monday, March 26/2012 at 6:33 pm
I’ve been using oils on my face for about a year now. I started with olive oil, attempted almond oil, then grapeseed oil, and have been most happy with rosehip oil. My estethitician told me, I don’t know what you’re doing with your skin, but keep doing it! I’ve never tried the Oil Cleansing Method, and think I would be too scared too. I’d be afraid of irritating my skin so much by clearing everything out that it would break out to ANYthing I put on it afterwards. I feel like using it as a moisturizer does a natural cleansing over time.
Tuesday, September 6/2011 at 12:34 am
I have very sensitive skin and I’m using the ocm with grapeseed oil and only about 10% castor oil the grape seed oil is lighter, has a very mild astringent quality and supposed to be great for sensitive skin
Monday, November 15/2010 at 1:39 pm
Hi M!
Great post. I too have tried that method (because I read so many rave reviews about it online) but my skin freaked out. Actually, it broke out so bad that it took quite awhile for my skin to recover. I just think it works for some skin types but not all, especially noy if you have sensitive skin (like me).
Tuesday, November 16/2010 at 11:36 pm
Oh no! Sounds like we had a similar experience. I have sensitive skin too so maybe our skin just can’t handle the castor oil.
How long did it take for your skin to return to normal? This rash I have now is driving me nuts… it doesn’t seem like it’s going anywhere and it’s been a week now since I’ve used the OCM.
Tuesday, September 4/2012 at 2:47 pm
Agree, I tried it once months ago using Castor oil and had a bad reaction. Now I’m using just Hemp seed oil, because it’s just like our skin with a 3:1 omega 6 to 3 ratio (like our bodies), and since it’s a zero on the comedogenic chart. It’s working. I can’t use cleansers and have severe Seb Derm, Rosacea, and get acne breakouts – cystic. I’ve only just begun using it, but so far it’s been amazing. It’s the only method that has taken off all of the dead skin cells from my Seb Derm, and cleared my pore plugs without using a scrub.
Monday, November 15/2010 at 2:08 pm
I used to do the OCM & occasionally go back! And have made my own in the past (thanks to those sites your linked to, aren`t they amazing resources?). Great post!
Tuesday, November 16/2010 at 11:37 pm
I LOVE those beauty forums! Such a wealth of info there. And on the EDS forum there are so many recipes! I want to try the ACV toner and aspirin mask…besides OCM they seem to rave about those two the most.
What did you use for your OCM mix?
Saturday, June 8/2013 at 8:57 am
hi michelle,
i tried the castor oil routine and had – have – a terrible time too.
please don’t try the aspirin mask. or vitamin c – ascorbic acid mask.
i have tried both these and had horrible burning.
i think if you have sensitive skin these aggressive things are best to avoid.
shame though
Monday, November 15/2010 at 2:13 pm
I started doing it earlier this year, and had been so excited that I told friends about it. Few weeks later, I realized that this wasn’t for me. Didn’t do everything that people claimed, and well it was annoying. So I ditched it. But a few of my friends still do it cause it worked for them. So its one of those hit or miss things…though omg cystic would have driven me insane >_<
Tuesday, November 16/2010 at 11:38 pm
Oh too bad. Did you have any results at all from OCM (positive or negative)?
I agree, the reviews are so compelling… that’s what sucked me in. My cystic bumps are subsiding now but the rash is not budging. It really did a number on me!
Monday, November 15/2010 at 3:41 pm
i can’t speak for the OCM but have been using cleansing oils for over 5 years now and i swear by it. i use waterproof eye makeup and foundation – cleansing oil is the only thing that will remove everything completely. i have used Shu Uemura, DHC, Softymo, Shiseido (all Japanese made) and they have been great. i would not say they are just mineral oil. i have acne prone skin and they have never broke me out, ever. i use Softymo because it is cheap and effective. i don’t particularly want to make my own oil blend.
Tuesday, November 16/2010 at 11:49 pm
Oh sorry I didn’t mean to imply that Shu and some of the other cleansing oils (eg SK-II) are JUST mineral oil… but I do believe they are mostly mineral oil. I know it works really well at removing makeup but I’m not a fan of that particular ingredient. It is a highly refined petrochemical that sits on the surface of your skin and yes for some (but not all) it can exacerbate acne. Personally I think there are better natural options – or if you didn’t want to make your own, the Dermalogica would be a good choice.
Friday, December 31/2010 at 5:46 pm
Hi Michelle! First of all I want to say I really like your website. And I also wanted to ask what the better natural options you mention are, and how to make our own if we want to. Thanks a lot!
Saturday, January 1/2011 at 12:11 pm
Thanks Jennifer!
If you wanted to do your own homemade oil cleansing, it would be basically the same thing as I described in the post – a mix of castor oil + either jojoba, olive, grapeseed, or sunflower seed oil. There is more info at this link: http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com/ I think most people have to play around with the proportions a bit – although keep in mind that if your skin is very sensitive I can’t recommend this AT ALL! I would do a patch test before using it all over your face, and be careful not to do it too often – maybe once or twice a week to start, so you can monitor how your skin reacts.
As for store-bought oil cleansers, here are a few that don’t contain mineral oil:
http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P254604
http://www.purminerals.com/Mineral-Melt
http://www.dermstore.com/product_Huile+Demaquillante+-+Cleansing+Oil+for+Face_5672.htm
http://laventine.com/olive_forte_cleansing_oil.asp
I think these are less likely to break you out as they don’t appear to include castor oil.
Monday, November 15/2010 at 4:47 pm
I just started using the OCM yesterday (after I followed your handy links on the last post) and I’m thinking I might be the perfect candidate for it. I have larger pores and very oily skin. I first started having acne when I was in grade four, and have dealt with almost every kind imaginable. My skin has improved A LOT since I started taking Carlson’s Cod Liver Oil in September. I also have been using bio oil on my skin since April…after my scars have faded significantly, I plan to switch to jojoba.
Yesterday after ten minutes of massaging an oil mixture into my skin, only one gunky pore clogger thingy came out. I woke up and my skin was smooth and not oily or dry. Juuuuust right. We’ll see how it goes tonight.
Tuesday, November 16/2010 at 11:52 pm
Cool! Glad to hear the CLO has improved your skin and I hope this works for you too! If I was doing it again I’d be less aggressive with the castor oil… not sure what percentage you’re using but I found even 1/3 was too much (made me super dry and flaky). And I wonder if the flakiness contributed to the subsequent cystic freak out.
What oil mix are you using? Please come back and let us know how it goes!
Wednesday, November 17/2010 at 12:50 pm
I’m currently using 50% sunflower oil 50% castor. Again, I have fairly big pores and had quite huge acne problems throughout high school and have really oily skin.
I’ve done the OCM three nights in a row now. The first night I definitely noticed one gunky thing come out…but I haven’t really had many gunky things since. I think it might be because of the incredible shape my skin has been in with the bio oil, cod liver oil combo. Also, I don’t cleanse in the morning (just water and a gentle rub with a wash cloth) and at night I use herbalism from Lush…a gentle all-natural exfoliating cleanser. That’s my secret weapon. I’ve used it FOR YEARRRS and it has been a life saver for me. It started me on the road to better skin years ago. That being said, I’m doing this OCM to see if I can get a deeper cleanse especially to be rid of the large pores on my nose.
It might be my imagination…but they seem like they’re starting to shrink…I’ll come back in a few days to report on what happens.
Monday, November 22/2010 at 12:54 pm
Ok, HUGE success. I am up to 50/50 with sunflower castor oil, and yes, a few whiteheads did surface, but BUT, all this hard stuff is coming out of my face every day. I feel good about this…again, it has so much to do with my skin type. Big pores, oily but what I would call thick skin. I’m in baby.
Monday, November 22/2010 at 4:43 pm
Oh wow – I am so jealous! I only ever got that “grainy” feeling with OCM. And STILL suffering from the rash thingie, which I’m going to have to go to the derm about if it doesn’t hurry up and clear. I am wondering if it actually had to do with the castor oil I used – have read that all are not equal in terms of purity.
So happy it is working for you though! For everyone reading here would you mind sharing which specific brands of castor + sunflower oil you’re using, and where to buy? thx Angela!
Monday, November 22/2010 at 4:39 pm
Herbalism from Lush is your Holy Grail product? Ok – must investigate!
Monday, November 15/2010 at 5:29 pm
I am a HUGE fan of the Dermalogica pre-cleanse and – because I always learn something when I read your posts – I now know I’m using it incorrectly. Jeebus. I was missing the “add water” bit. Feel like I must leave work to go home and pre-cleanse forthwith.
Tuesday, November 16/2010 at 11:54 pm
Yeah the whole emulsification step is tricky. It took me a little while to get the hang of it, so not to worry! I just make sure I apply the oil to completely dry skin, massage it in for about a minute or so, and then I wet my hands and work the oil into a white lather. (Just a little water is all you need – not too much.) Then it’s MUCH easier to rinse off when you do the emulsification.
Monday, November 15/2010 at 6:41 pm
Great post and sorry about your skin!
Currently I’m using Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple as a pre-cleanse before Boscia’s Purifying Cleanser for my oily skin. I’ve been thinking about the oil cleanse for a while but am willing to wait until I’ve worked through the accumulation of products at home at the moment! Good to know where are alternatives to the Shu Uemura (I had forgotten about Dermalogica for a while). I’ll follow up with a comment should I ever give it a whirl!
Tuesday, November 16/2010 at 11:56 pm
Please do! I think it’s one of those things – big risks but potentially big payoff… I gambled and lost (!) but might try again at some point when my skin recovers from this rash. Ugh!
I use the Boscia cleanser as well and quite like it!
Monday, November 15/2010 at 8:58 pm
Oh no! I’ve never tried the actual OCM, but sometimes I’ll put jojoba oil on my Clarisonic brush and wash my face with that, then follow up with my regular gentle foaming cleanser. I guess that’s my spin off of the OCM?
What happened to you might have been the purging period, but still, when stuff like that happens…it’s really weird and kind of not normal.
I’ve heard many good things about the precleanse, and I was thinking about buying some. Now it’s definitely on my list of things to try.
I have oily skin, and I, too, also used to be scared of oil! Jojoba oil is excellent, I’ve heard that it mimics sebum. I still haven’t gotten the cod liver oil…I’m lazy haha. But I’ve been good and I now take a multivitamin, vitamin C, fish oil, vitamin A, and vitamin D supplements. I do intend on ordering it…I guess I just want to see if what I have on hand will do anything.
In addition to the clarisonic and occasional wash-over with jojoba oil, I use Retin-A and glycolic acid (usually alternating). I also give my skin a break at least once or twice a week by just putting on a lotion with licorice extract (very light and moisturizing and calming) on top of my skinceuticals B5 hydrating gel. Their C and E Ferulic acid is good, too…it’s expensive, though. Sigh.
I’ve been battling a nasty cyst on the side of my face…it’s nearing its end but it’s gonna leave a bad purple mark…putting retin-a and glycolic acid on it at night helps a lot.
Wednesday, November 17/2010 at 12:07 am
Oh wow you really like to mix things up – jojoba + Clarisonic? Cool!
Yeah, every day that goes by where I still have this rash leads me to believe it wasn’t a normal “purge” but an allergic reaction. So I just think people need to be aware that they could really eff things up with this method… OR it could work. It’s risky!
Funny you mention Retin-A… when I went to the acne clinic to get the cystic suckers taken care of before my event last week, I got the doc to give me a sample of Retin-A. He said I might not like it because my skin is so sensitive and he also mentioned it can CAUSE breakouts. I’d never heard that before. So I’ll be shelving that for now, but maybe in the future I’ll do what you do and alternate.
Skinceuticals is AWESOME stuff, just awesome if you can afford it. I have a post on deck about the CE Ferulic – did an interview with a derm a few weeks back and she said using it gives you 8x the antioxidant protection. Dems love the stuff.
One more acne clinic tip – which I probably should turn into a post. I asked about the purple marks (post-inflammatory pigmentation) and the doc said it’s best to come in and get a cortisone injection if you can because when you just let a pimple run its course it WILL cause the mark, even if you don’t pick or squeeze. Annoying.
Oh and last thing – re: your supplements. The good thing about CLO is that it will replace the need for your fish oil, A and D. So you won’t need to pop as many pills. I’m not a fan of fish oil because they’re all highly processed and actually rancid.
Wednesday, November 28/2012 at 1:12 pm
Acne clinic??? I have seen a dermatologist for years with acne/rosacea/dermatitis, and nothing was ever offered to “get the cystic suckers taken care of”! What do they do? How can I get it???
Monday, November 15/2010 at 9:04 pm
Never used this method but I’ve tried using Fancl Cleansing Oil and it broke me out completely. I used it for A YEAR because I though my breakout was cause by some other stuff i put on my face but once I stopped using the Oil on my face, my breakout sort of stop. I am still using it for my eye makeup because regular makeup remover cannot remove all and using Bodyshop Cucumber Milk Cleanser for my face.
So no, I doubt I will try this. I’m scared of another breakout session! My face is scarred beyond repair.
Wednesday, November 17/2010 at 12:10 am
Yikes! That’s terrible but glad you were able to figure out that the oil was the culprit. That’s what makes this method so confusing… some people purge at first but then it goes away and they get great results… whereas others, like you (and maybe me!) break out because of the oil itself.
I don’t blame you for not wanting to go near oil again! But for the scars – are they the purple marks or actual indentations? If the former, I wrote about some products here that I’ve had good results from: http://beautyeditor.ca/2010/10/27/why-hydroquinone-is-bad-for-you-albeit-effective-and-the-whiteningbrightening-line-i-recommend-instead/
I also highly recommend you look into cod liver oil as vitamin A is super duper healing for skin wounds. There are some amazing testimonials in the comments here: http://beautyeditor.ca/2010/09/02/the-single-best-product-evah-for-your-skin-is-not-in-fact-an-actual-skincare-product/
Wednesday, September 12/2012 at 1:21 am
Cleansing oil! Living in Japan for 40 year has taught me the joys of the English language. In Japan, cleansing oil is a makeup remover. Afterwards, a face wash of some kind is always used and so written on the instructions. This is the reason for the “double cleansing” routine. Recently a few companies here in Japan have come out with a cleanser that does away with the double cleansing routine and, again, will say so on their products. So be careful!!
Tuesday, November 16/2010 at 11:52 am
I received Shu Uemura’s Cleansing Oil in a swag bag months ago but I have been too scared to touch it. I’ve had problems with acne since teen years (and had to resort to Accutane twice) so putting oil on my face is a big fat NO. I will only use it to remove eye make up but I do it with a Q-tip so it doesn’t touch the rest of the face.
I have to say that I’m baffled that people would recommend oils for oily skin. It might work but I don’t want to be the guinea pig on this one!
Hope your skin recovers
Wednesday, November 17/2010 at 12:18 am
Thanks A! Totally get your oil paranoia
Oil Cleansing Method aside, I don’t think we need to be so afraid of oils altogether… I know derms are always telling us to avoid them like the plague but I think even acne-prone skin can get good results with them as moisturizers, depending on the oil used. (For example, Pure + Simple, a natural beauty boutique here in Toronto, has a whole line of facial oils including this one for acne-prone skin: http://www.pureandsimple.ca/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1005&category_id=490&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=27)
The idea is that people with oily or acneic skin often strip their skin of oil, causing the oil glands to work overtime… whereas adding back some oil can actually help things calm down and oil production normalizes.
That said – I still think acne is mostly an internal issue. (Unless you’ve effed things up like I have with the OCM.) Is your skin clear now? You know I can’t talk about acne without pointing you towards my cod liver oil post. There are so many testimonials in the comments of people who’ve tried it and had great success with fewer breakouts! http://beautyeditor.ca/2010/09/02/the-single-best-product-evah-for-your-skin-is-not-in-fact-an-actual-skincare-product/
Wednesday, November 17/2010 at 1:43 am
I’ve been acne free for years (*thanks God*). I just get “normal” pimples every once in a while. I escaped the 10 year on and off ordeal with just a couple of small indentation scars.
I don’t go completely oil-free. My moisturisers have a teeny tiny bit in them (better for wrinkles) but I try to stick to oil-free for most other products. Just a touch of grease sometimes stresses me out. Haha, traumatized.
Thursday, November 18/2010 at 5:56 pm
Oh good! I’ve heard some horror stories of people who’ve had repeat rounds of Accutane only to have it stop working after about a year… I’m glad it ended up being effective for you!
I really should be as diligent as you are with skincare products, but I get so tempted to experiment all the time! I really did a number on myself this time as this rash on my chin is NOT going away. Why oh why did I think it would be a good idea to rub olive oil into my pores?
Wednesday, November 17/2010 at 5:41 pm
You shouldn’t have used olive oil, it’s slightly comedogenic. Instead you could have used an non-comedogenic oil like safflower, sunflower or jojoba(!) oil.
Thursday, November 18/2010 at 5:57 pm
Yep I definitely think the olive oil was the problem. And here I thought my skin was getting so resilient… I didn’t think it would ever freak out like this! If I do try again I’ll definitely go for jojoba.
Tuesday, September 6/2011 at 12:43 am
I’ve heard that jojoba can be kind of heavy too, but I’ve heard from alot of people that they like sunflower oil, grapeseed or rose oil. You can pretty much use any natural cold-pressed oil, from what I’ve read the cold-pressed part is supposed to be very important.
Saturday, November 20/2010 at 1:02 am
I’ve used Kose Softymo Deep Cleansing Oil before, and love it. It completely removes all traces of makeup (even waterproof) in seconds, and actually made my extremely breakout-prone, sensitive skin brighter and clearer in just a few weeks. It also made my pores tighter and less visible! Only problem is that you can only usually buy in Chinatown or online. I got mine for about $10, and for that price, there’s little risk to at least trying it.
Monday, November 22/2010 at 4:44 pm
Thanks for the reco Sam – going to look into this! This is one that you have to emulsify, right? (like the Shu ones?)
Sunday, November 21/2010 at 6:35 pm
Your post prompted me to reconsider my really poor face wash regime. I am totally scared about trying the OCM as that sounds way beyond me and my not-currently-healthy-skin-despite-my-attempts-to-clean-it. Anyway, I read Angela’s comment on using herbalism from lush and started looking into cleansers. I used the acne detective chart you linked as a guide for considering my next move. Long story short, I went out to get some proper cleanser and toner, and now my skin feels amazing. It’s all thanks to reading this awesome article!
Also, I have used Dermalogica products before without great results, but I may have been using them incorrectly… I don’t remember now. At any rate, their tinted moisturizer is still my favorite thing, because it feels light but has a powerful punch of tint. Hooray! I pray I’m on the right path to glowing skin now.
Monday, November 22/2010 at 4:46 pm
Yay Paula! Ok now I have to know – what cleanser and toner did you end up buying?
Oh and since you mentioned acne… have you seen my cod liver oil post? I always plug it when anyone mentions acne – if you read through the comments there are quite a number of testimonials about how it has helped! http://beautyeditor.ca/2010/09/02/the-single-best-product-evah-for-your-skin-is-not-in-fact-an-actual-skincare-product/
Thursday, December 9/2010 at 1:11 pm
I was reading about OCM last weekend and decided to try it out. I used 25% castor oil and 75% sunflower oil 3 times and I now have a terrible rash on my chin just like you said. My chin also got really flakey and dry. Did yours ever heal up? My acne has always been worse on my chin so it makes me wonder if it was an allergic reaction or if it’s the pores healing the junk out of them. I’ve stopped using OCM for now until this heals up. I might try it again if this rash goes away but I’ll be scared.
Saturday, December 18/2010 at 1:53 pm
Oh no! Sounds like we got the exact same result. That’s exactly what happened to me and it just got worse and worse – the rash on my chin and forehead (the two areas I was concentrating the OCM the most). Then I started getting those annoying underground pimples (too many for it to be the normal PMS ones I get) and I think going to the doc for cortisone shots made the whole situation explode! (I would def stay away from hydrocortisone creams.)
Anyway, I had to go back and he put me on antibiotics and some kind of sulfur cream that’s supposed to be for rosacea… he said it was an infection and I think possibly an allergy too (he didn’t say but from my research I think perioral dermatitis).
My conclusion is that OCM is like playing Russian Roulette – you just don’t know in advance whether it’ll make your skin amazing or become your skin’s worst nightmare. My theory is that A) the castor oil dried out my skin barrier to the point where bacteria got in or B) the oil itself was contaminated in some way and that got into my skin. I will NEVER try it again.
I suggest you go to a doc to get some help – as much as I was hoping it would go away on its own, it didn’t. Now I’m waiting for the drugs to kick in here. Yuck!
Wednesday, March 28/2012 at 10:04 pm
Just wanted to post a response to the OCM debate! I have very acne prone skin, and cystic acne, and using plain jojoba oil as a “cleanser” works wonders for me. It was only when I added the castor oil, that I got the dry, flaky, skin, which I’m hoping I can get rid of. If you’re sensitive, stick with the pure oil, and skip the Castor Oil. Hope this helps someone!
Friday, December 31/2010 at 4:27 pm
I’ve actually heard of this before! My friend raved about how it worked for her, however she has very oily skin. Mine happens to be dry and i have tight pores, so I’m afraid to try this. I think this treatment would really only work for those who have oily skin. I know a lot of people who have put oil on their faces have very nasty breakouts for a week or two, and then it subsides. However, if you have very dry skin I would suggest using Argan (Moroccan) Oil. It’s great, and doesn’t clog pores! Josie Maran makes sells it (for about 48 bucks a pop!), but you can find other brands for half that price on Amazon.
I think I’ll play it safe and stick with my cod liver, biotin pills, and Argan Oil… they’re amazing (: Also, I’ve noticed Lush products are phenomenal! They’re all natural and have products for every skin type. I’ve achieved naturally radiant skin without bending over backwards (: Loved this article though!!
Saturday, January 1/2011 at 12:00 pm
Hey Alexandra – definitely agree with you on the OCM, I think it’s best for very oily skin, NOT sensitive types. My skin is only now just recovering from its OCM freak-out… so it can take a really long time, definitely more than 2 weeks for me. Castor oil is nasty stuff!
Have heard mixed things about argan oil (some say it’s great others say it broke them out) so I haven’t tried it yet although I have the Josie Maran one. I’m a bit nervous to put any oil on my face now after this bad experience!
What changes have you noticed from biotin? I used to take it (for nails) but it never seemed to make any difference…
Wednesday, January 5/2011 at 8:53 pm
I use DHC oil to take off stubborn foundations like Revlon Colorstay. Since I’ve got very sensitive skin, I use it just before shower – the warm water helps cleaning away the oil. I’d rather buy ready-made cleansing oils, tested in laboratories, than making my own concoctions because of a bad experience with home-made masks. And DHC makes reasonably priced cleansing oils.
Also, I clean my face again with another product (Cetaphil’s Cleansing Lotion for sensitive skin) to make sure all oil residue is taken care of. It’s actually another take on the OCM called “double cleansing”, very popular these days in Japan. It is not too harsh on my skin and it works wonderfully.
Maybe you should give it a try.
Thursday, January 6/2011 at 1:48 pm
Thanks Mari – have heard of DHC but never seen it (is it in Canada?).
I did do the “double cleansing” when I tried OCM so it’s definitely not that that made my skin freak out…. I washed it all off very thoroughly with a gel cleanser every time, so there was for sure no trace of oil left on my skin.
I think there is just a small percentage of sensitive-skinned types like me out there who cannot tolerate castor oil for whatever reason. Might be the preservative in it, might be the oil itself, might be that it’s simply too drying and leaves your skin barrier compromised, letting bacteria in.
Interestingly the antibiotics my doc put me on did *nothing* whereas a roascea treatment called MetroGel that I borrowed from my mom is actually helping. (Which leads me to believe it’s some kind of dermatitis thing.) Going back to the doc yet again to see what’s up… will do a follow-up post when I’ve figured out this mystery!
Thursday, January 6/2011 at 4:20 pm
I’m wary of non-prescribed products because my skin is very sensitive – but that doesn’t mean I don’t like experimenting new things. Without prescription.
Whatever works!
It is true that many people mistake their rosacea for acne, so the treatment actually makes things worse. I myself cannot tell them apart, but thermal water is good against both for some unknown reason.^^
Oh, DHC is from Japan. I think it has merged with a USA company. It is a rather inexpensive brand. For Japanese standards, that is. To me, it is somewhat expensive.
Monday, January 10/2011 at 7:11 pm
Yeah I don’t know – I don’t think this is rosacea either, possibly the MetroGel just helped to calm things down after the topical stuff my doc gave me dried out my skin (I’m pretty sure he just prescribed the standard anti-acne stuff instead of *listening* to how I got this through OCM…and it started with a RASH).
Anyway, ugh – sensitive skin is just the worst. New theory: it’s some kind of staph thing that got in when the castor oil dried out my skin barrier. My doctor is completely useless so I’m trying some other ideas right now… will update soon!
Saturday, January 22/2011 at 8:54 pm
Have you tried castor and coconut oil? I find the coconut oil moisturizes while the castor oil cleanses.
I also exfoliate twice a week on top of the oil cleansing method with sugar and olive oil.
Tuesday, January 25/2011 at 7:02 pm
I have not and no plans to! For my skin, castor oil is EVIL. I only used it 3x but I’m still (months later!) trying to get rid of the infection it caused.
Coconut and olive oils are probably fine, but after this experience, I’m not putting them on my face either.
Tuesday, January 25/2011 at 4:53 pm
holy crap, i’m starting to think that my next to perfect skin must be almost all genetic since i don’t do any of this stuff and all i use is drugstore bought oil of olay cleanser and moisturizer. i really want to try this method though, but i’m so scared! my perfect skin is my identity, lol. I might have a mental breakdown if it doesnt work.
Tuesday, January 25/2011 at 5:59 pm
I would have to say that if what you’re doing now works for you, don’t change it! Speaking from years of crappy skin and trying everything to get it to just be okay, if I ever found something that helped clear my skin up consistently, I’d never try anything else again.
Tuesday, January 25/2011 at 7:10 pm
Kate, have you seen my cod liver oil post? http://beautyeditor.ca/2010/09/02/the-single-best-product-evah-for-your-skin-is-not-in-fact-an-actual-skincare-product/ That’s my #1 skincare secret – it really works for clearing up breakouts. (Unfortunately the evil OCM required something stronger – antibiotics – but before I did this to myself, I’d been taking cod liver oil for a year or so and my skin was great!)
Tuesday, January 25/2011 at 7:07 pm
Yes, I think perfect skin has a lot to do with genetics and also diet… but the scary thing about OCM is that you really can’t predict what it’s going to do. That’s what makes it so risky. What kills me is that my skin was FINE before I tried it… I could pretty much use any skincare product without it breaking me out. Never in a million years would I have dreamed it could do this to my skin!
Tuesday, February 1/2011 at 1:27 pm
I tried OCM for three weeks. At first my skin was absolutely beautiful! I have oily skin, and my skin was finally balancing out! My makeup was lasting longer and my pores were actually shrinking. Three weeks to the day that I started the method, I woke up and my skin was a disaster. The pimples started on my forehead that morning. By the end of the day, the entire right side of my face was breaking out. The next morning was even worse. That was two weeks ago and my skin is finally starting to calm down. My forehead is still broken out, but at least the bumps are small. I have never had pimples on my forehead or on the sides of my cheeks, but they were everywhere. I literally have not looked like this since middle school. I used a 90% sunflower oil and 10% castor oil misture only at night. I will NEVER do this again and I don’t recommend it to anyone.
Tuesday, February 1/2011 at 4:47 pm
Yikes! Sounds like we had a similar experience, although it only took 3 times—not 3 weeks—for my skin to freak out. I’m with you, I would never recommend this to anyone either!
Wednesday, February 2/2011 at 3:53 pm
My story sounds so much like yours. I had awesome skin; it was a little oily, but it rarely broke out and it was smooth and even textured. However, I got on a natural kick and came across this oil cleansing method and now I’m kicking myself for ever trying it. I used a 50/50 blend of castor and olive oil and then I moved on to castor and Jojoba and then I switched to Argan oil. At first, things were going great and my face was less oily than it had ever been but then the bumps started to appear. It’s been five weeks since I have put any oil on my face and I still have a rash on my cheeks. I haven’t been to the dermatologist yet, but that’s my next step. I was just wondering if your rash has cleared and if you found anything that has worked to get your skin back to normal. Thanks for the info!
Friday, February 11/2011 at 4:54 pm
Hey Nicole! So sorry to hear you had the same crappy experience (although it comforts me to hear that I’m not the only one out there!). Honestly, it sounds like exactly the same pattern so I’d definitely go to a derm ASAP before it gets worse… nothing I tried at home had any effect. (And make sure you go to a really smart, reputable doctor – the first guy I saw was kind of an idiot and told me the antibiotics weren’t working when really they just needed more time.) My derm (2nd guy) said it takes 6 weeks to see results with antibiotics so you have to hang in there. Minocycline was what he prescribed for me. Next I’m going in for Vbeam laser next week to get rid of the pigmentation it caused. SUCH A NIGHTMARE!!
Anyway, good luck and let us know how you get on. Castor oil is evil!
Friday, February 11/2011 at 5:05 pm
what if you just do the oil cleansing method once? I ask because i have great skin but stubborn blackheads on my nose. I cant find anything short of squeezing them to get them out. I’m tempted to try this but just once, and then maybe wait a few weeks? maybe it was just too much for the skin to handle day after day in succession? I don’t know, just a thought.
Friday, February 11/2011 at 6:00 pm
Well, I only did it 3 times and not in succession either – I think it was over the course of a couple weeks! And it STILL wrecked my face worse than anything I’ve ever experienced in my life. My derm said if your skin can’t tolerate something then even using it ONCE can cause a severe reaction, yes, even as bad as the one I had.
The problem is you have no real way of knowing in advance… maybe you could just try it on a small area of your face, like your nose? I would hate for someone to go through what I did though… not fun at all.
Monday, February 21/2011 at 7:02 am
For those who are breaking out and getting rashes from OCM, you have to be really careful about the oil you use. First of all, a lot of oils, like Olive Oil from the grocery store, are processed and refined, and may contain trace amounts of other chemicals from the processing, which could cause a reaction. Choose organic, cold pressed oil, virgin or unrefined oils only. Secondly, you have to watch the expiration. It’s important to store the oil properly because oil actually goes bad after just a couple months (or sometimes even quicker, depending on the type). Don’t go by the expiration date on the bottle. It may be fine for cooking for up to a year, but not on your face. Rancid oil can cause you to break out very badly. So buy only fresh oil in smaller sized jars and store it your fridge. Thirdly, be careful not to introduce any dirt or bacteria from your hands or face into the clean oil. Use clean hands, and always pour the oil from the jar out onto a cotton ball or other container. Don’t touch the opening of the clean jar with your hands. Use clean cotton balls or cotton squares to remove the dirty oil from your face, or if you choose to use a face cloth, you’ll need to change it out for a fresh one. If you are not careful to get all of the dirty oil off after cleansing, it will sit there on your face and cause breakouts. If you have a hard time getting the excess oil off, you could try rinsing with an astringent or toner, and then just pat a little fresh oil on your face afterward if you feel dry. The first time I tried OCM with olive oil I broke out so horribly I thought I would never try it again. I got a rash on my forehead and cheek, and huge cystic acne on my chin. It was a nightmare! But keeping all of these guidelines in mind, I was able to start OCMing again and I never break out at all. I currently use organic sunflower oil by itself without any caster oil (I found the caster oil to be way too harsh for me). Some oils are lighter or heavier than others, you can experiment with different ones, or mix them.
Thursday, February 24/2011 at 5:55 pm
Thanks for the tips Harmony! Interesting about the expiry dates – I used new bottles of both castor and olive oils but I suppose they could’ve been sitting at the store for ages, so who knows how fresh they were?! Then again, my derm says some people just have reactions so things and there’s no predicting it. I agree, castor oil is way too harsh.
Anyway, good for you for being brave enough to try again! My reaction was so severe that I’ll not be experimenting further.
Thursday, February 24/2011 at 6:23 pm
woooaaaah. that sounds like waaaay too much work. i think i’ll just stick to my oil of olay from shoppers thankyouverymuch.
Monday, February 28/2011 at 7:15 pm
I was thinking the same thing!
Friday, February 25/2011 at 2:25 pm
I use OCM and I like it. However, I almost never use castor oil, just olive oil, and I only rub it in for 30 seconds or so before steaming. I use it more as a way to cleanse my face in general than to get blackheads out. Every once in a while, I get a red spot or small pimple, but mostly it leaves my skin clean but moist. I have combination skin, and rather sensitive. I never went whole hog with OCM, because it was introduced to me by someone who was using olive oil only, it was only in reading more about it that castor oil was brought up – perhaps my restraint on the castor oil and the massaging in has kept my skin from getting irritated.
Saturday, February 26/2011 at 1:42 am
I have tried the OCM with much success. I became interested in it, because so few options are available to me–I have a severe petroleum contact allergy, and I’m sure you know that petroleum and petro-chemicals are EVERYWHERE in beauty-product-land. I decided to try extra virgin, cold pressed/extracted, organic coconut oil (Nutiva, which I already use for cooking) and castor oil. I had to play around with the ratio a bit to avoid breakouts, but it was worth the trouble! My skin has been SO much happier. I personally use a blend of 75% castor oil and 25% coconut oil. I massage it into my skin, but I use a very little bit (little less than dime-sized amount). I don’t massage for very long, just long enough to give it a good rub into my skin. Then, I take a steaming washcloth and lay it over my face until it begins to cool. I do that twice…..which, interestingly enough, this whole method does not work nearly as well if you only do the washcloth once. Then, I rinse out the washcloth and wipe my face. I bought a huge pack of washcloths from Costco, and I use a clean one every night. I follow with a toner of organic ACV diluted in water. I have not really had any breakouts, or needed moisturizer at night this entire winter…which is saying something, as I live in the Midwest. Hope this is useful if someone else is considering the OCM.
Thursday, March 10/2011 at 7:52 pm
I’ve just started using the OCM as well as trying to change other bad skin care habits. Suddenly wondered why I was trying to correct such extreme results by following them with the opposite!? Using an oil reducing cleanser which would dry my skin out and then having to correct this by adding moisture… all extreme and I figured not very good.
So I’ve been doing this just under a week now as well as using a home made moisturizing balm (beeswax and olive oil – also good for my mum’s rosacea) and I’ve come up with a couple of big’uns on my forehead but my skin is so soft and I’ve never has this result with the blocked pores on my nose. So I’m determined to stick it out…
Currently waiting on my order of new oils to try out a lighter mixture than EVOO, but I just hate the idea of going back to chemical filled cleansers again.
Saturday, April 9/2011 at 6:25 pm
Hi! I just stumbled along on to your site and I am loving it! I have cleansed with olive oil and castor oil, 90 percent olive and 10 percent castor, those were the directions for sensitive skin. It worked well. I only do it periodically, as the sight said it is not something you should do every day, especially with sensitive skin. Maybe that is why your skin broke out. I am loving this site! Thanks for all your hard work and info!
Saturday, April 16/2011 at 12:38 pm
Welcome! Glad the OCM is working for you… I didn’t do it every day, I believe it was just 3-4 times total over the course of about a week or so. My derm said doing it just once is enough to cause a mega-freakout on sensitive skin. I think some people (like moi!) just can’t handle it.
Wednesday, April 13/2011 at 12:12 pm
I just read this over at Paula Begoun’s website (I’m a huge fan) and remembered this post of yours, thought I’d pass along the information
http://www.cosmeticscop.com/BULLETIN/041211-full.htm?utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Read+More+%C2%BB&utm_content=Oil-Cleansing+Method+for+Oily+Skin%3F&utm_campaign=04.12.11+Beauty+Exclusives
http://nomadic-d.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, April 19/2011 at 3:01 pm
I just started OCM, and it has definitely caused a bunch of acne all over my right check and forehead. My left cheek is actually getting better–but I mix Castor Oil with DHC cleansing oil, which has rosemary and olive oil (I think it’s a lot more pure than evoo from a grocery). I’m going to keep trying it for a while, and hope that the acne goes away. I follow it up with clarisonic and dhc mild soap and don’t really plan on changing that, since I’m terrified of leftover dirty oil on my skin.
It’s really baffling that I can see my skin tone is getting more even and my left cheeks is looking more plump, but the rest of my face looks like I’m a teenager again. I really hope OCM works for me. I’m sorry it didn’t work for you! But you should definitely check out DHC. I love the deep cleansing oil and the Alpha Arbutin line.
Saturday, May 7/2011 at 9:30 pm
Just experimented with the OMC method 40 minutes ago. I have extremely oily skin. In the past I’ve gotten moderated success with my current regimen a cream cleanser created by Neutrogena’s Skin I.D. I also go for the occasional microderm treatment, I get o.k. results. A pimple here or there and I have large pores. However, my complexion is never great. I work-out a great deal, I run outdoors so I sweat alot. I’m wondering if I’m on the brink of disaster opting for the OMC method with such an active lifestyle. Going forward the next few weeks or days or day, I plan to use the OMC method at night and see what happens. I’ll keep you guys posted. I’m afraid
. I’ve read so many enthusiastic testimonials. Just checked my mirror I have what appears to be a white head on my chin, was this brought to the surface during my facial?? Someone mentioned Herbalism from Lush, wondering if this would be a better option? Wish I had the magic remedy to skin care woes.
Wednesday, May 11/2011 at 11:39 pm
My experience is certainly not everyone’s so you kinda have to be up for taking the risk! I noticed my skin felt drier right away and then over the course of about two months I gradually got the rash… and then the horrific blistery breakouts.
If you haven’t seen my cod liver oil post, I’d definitely recommend that you try that instead: http://beautyeditor.ca/2010/09/02/the-single-best-product-evah-for-your-skin-is-not-in-fact-an-actual-skincare-product/
Thursday, June 2/2011 at 3:26 am
This is the first time I’ve been to this site, and I never leave comments, but I felt that our experiences with the OCM were too uncannily similar to leave unsaid.
Much like you, after reading glowing review after glowing review, I decided that I absolutely had to try the OCM. After about the third day of trying it (castor oil + grapeseed oil), my skin started to break out along the sides of my face. I, however, stuck with it, thinking it was the ‘purging’ I had read so much about. After about a week, it spread down my neck and became intensely itchy. Stupidly, I kept it up for about a month, hoping it would get better. Needless to say, it did not. Even after I stopped, and switched back to everything I had used previous to looking as though I had some terribly contagious skin disease, it still didn’t go away, so I went to my GP. He said it looked like and allergic reaction, so we tried a course of oral steroids (I had been using topical steroids off and on weeks at time prior to seeing him) to no avail. He then decided to try me on antibiotics. After being on 8 days of hardcore antibiotics, my skin is finally almost clear, which tells me it was definitely a bacterial infection. I’m thinking that your theory about the castor oil somehow causing a staph infection deep in the pores is along the right track. It also makes sense looking at your experiences with various treatments. I had been using grapeseed and olive oils previously for moisturising purposes with no problems, so I honestly believe it had to be the OCM/castor oil, especially now reading about your experiences with it.
I’m really sorry you had to go through that experience, as I know full well how frustrating and embarrassing it is to have spots all over and not really knowing why. And I’m especially sorry the first doctor you saw wasn’t helpful. It makes me all the more appreciative of good doctors. As this is an old post, I’m sure your skin has cleared by now. I only wish I had seen your post before I put myself through all of this as well. Thanks for the great, informative post, and I will certainly be reading more.
Sunday, June 26/2011 at 2:05 pm
Hi Heather! So good to connect with someone else who went through the exact same thing! My skin is cleared up now and I hope yours is too… the antibiotics were the only thing that worked to get rid of the damn infection. I’ve come to the conclusion that some of us just have skin that can’t handle the castor oil. I think all of this talk from pro-OCM people about “sticking with it” because of the “purging” is very misleading and harmful. It only took a few times to cause a severe reaction that I would never wish on anybody.
Saturday, July 16/2011 at 3:03 pm
r u still using OCM method or no…
if yes which oils u r using now??
Sunday, July 24/2011 at 7:52 pm
Nope, I would never do OCM again!
Tuesday, June 18/2013 at 10:18 am
I am a huge believer in natural beauty products, and I make all of my own lotions, shave lotions, etc – but I suffer from adult acne. When I found out about the OCM, I was SO excited – the science of it totally makes sense, so why wouldn’t it work? I used 30% Castor Oil and 70% Grapeseed (gentle, astringent) and a bit of tea tree. I am quite fluent with natural oils, so I knew this combo would be a great fit for me. The first two days, my skin looked amazeballs – all of my blackheads on my nose and chin had dissolved, for the first time in my life. I thought, “holy balls, this is just too easy”. The third day, I broke out in an acne-rash all over the rest of my face. I’m assuming that it’s the comedogenic acne that you spoke of. I thought that I had to work through it, so I did. I would wash my face at night, and the bumps would get bigger, inflamed, and by the morning, they seemed to be drying out. It never went away. I did it for 2 straight weeks, using absolutely nothing else, and I had to call it quits. My face has never been this bad, in my life, and I’m 38.
I’ve finally realized that natural may be great for my lip balm, scrubs and lotions, but I need chemicals for my acne. I was really bummed, I really wanted it to work, but clearly, it just clogged my pores, everywhere else.
Wednesday, August 10/2011 at 7:25 pm
I LOVE your site and can’t believe I didn’t come across it sooner! Yes the oil cleansing method can be good…but, like every beauty situation, it depends what’s going on with your skin i think, no? I don’t believe anyone when they say their skin is one way all the time. ANYWAYS, the OCM has worked for me, but not the DYI form. I have combo. clogged prone, slightly oily, easily dehydrated skin. I have to be very careful to not break out.Fun times….
I currently use (and usually just reach for this in the winter) Earth Science cleansing cream in the morning. It’s natural oil blend and cheap! Beautiful morning cleanser and evening cleanser with a wash cloth and/or toner after. Just massage, massage, massage to remove makeup and yuck!
Oh wait….I just read the end of this post. Yes, I can see it’s not for everyone. But for anyone that can handle it from time to time, I do recommend this cleanser. Check out reviews on makeupalley.com
Saturday, August 13/2011 at 5:33 pm
Thanks for the reco! Yes, I’d probably be ok with commercial oil cleansing products… it was the attempt at a DIY blend that slayed me.
Tuesday, August 16/2011 at 8:06 am
Exactly the same thing happened 2 me. I did the oil cleansing method with a blend of castor oil and sunflower oil. I cleaned thoroughly afterwards and after a few days, i developed the worst case of acne ever. I don’t know how tto treat it. and it has left horrible scars all over my face.
Monday, October 10/2011 at 2:37 pm
Nkem, I would check with your derm – I needed antibiotics to resolve the infection.
Monday, August 29/2011 at 1:48 pm
I know this is an old post but I read where you said” And while I don’t doubt that it works for removing makeup, mineral oil is not something I want to put on my face, thankyouverymuch. (Pretty much every facialist has told me that it clogs pores… and I’ve even read that it can accelerate aging.)”
While of course there are I’m sure MANY educated and informed facialists out there, this is a clear example of why one should take what they say with a grain of salt. That statement about mineral oil is downright false. Mineral oil DOES NOT CLOG PORES. It’s comedogenicity number is a ZERO( olive oil is a two) Shu Umuru chose it as the base oil probably because of this. Mineral oil is the least likely of all oils to irritate or clog pores. Also no oil has been proven more moisturizing than mineral oil.
I think mineral oil has gotten a bad rap in skin care because it’s cheap. So it’s the major moisturizing oil in the majority of cheap skin care. Cheaply made products are many times poorly formulated with lots of cheap ingredients. Secondly because it’s derived from oil( a natural and organic product by the way). Poorly formulated products can break you out.
Now do I slather my face in mineral oil? No way because mineral oil contains no antioxidants no vitamins, no minerals. Basically no added benefit besides locking in moisture. But as an ingredient in a well formulated product? Bring it on. Mineral oil besides being the best at moisturizing also helps skin care formulations “blend” better.
I love the cleansing oils. The traditional OCM uses oils straight. The commercial cleansing oils contain an emulsifier which is what mak0) es the oils “foam” and rinse off easily. Super easy to DIY. Just purchase an emulsifier(polysorbate 80) add to your oil blend, scent with essential oils if you like and that’s it. I like mine kind of like a jelly so instead of the liquid poly80I use emulsifying wax( coconut oil derived). Takes off any makeup. For everyday washing or after the oil I am a pure soap fan, though.
Monday, September 12/2011 at 12:07 pm
I have very sensitive combination skin. I’ve used the oil cleansing method off and on for a few years now. It really should be done consistently for best results, but I sometimes find it too time consuming, especially for my morning routine. Anyway, when I first started, I used virgin coconut oil (never refined) along with the castor oil, and had pretty good results. Coconut oil is a very thin oil and absorbs well without leaving my face feeling coated in sludge. But the few times I tried olive oil, I found it to be way too heavy and broke out horribly! Big cystic lumps. Yuck. Many people have had bad results with olive oil, so that could have been your problem. Also, the castor oil must be pure. You can’t buy the typical stuff you find in grocery or pharmacy stores. There are all kinds of things added to it that will definitely irritate your skin (tried that stuff once too–never again). You need unrefined castor oil, which can usually be found in health food stores.
Most people find there’s a “detox period” where things might get a little worse before it gets better. You have to give it some time to see if it really works for you (if you go back to regular cleansers, you sort of have to start all over again), but you definitely shouldn’t have major irritation or a severe reaction. I would say something is definitely wrong with the oils you’re using if you react that badly. If I haven’t been oil cleansing for a while and go back to it, I’ll get little breakouts here and there for a few days, but overall my skin is so much smoother, the little bumps and blackheads that plague my chin and jaw line diminishing greatly even after just one oil cleansing.
There’s definitely some trial and error involved, but I think OCM can work for most people as long as you make sure you’re using pure, gentle oils. And everyone reacts to various oils differently. Some can’t handle the castor oil at all (it can be very drying), and for what it’s worth, I’ve had pretty good results using virgin coconut oil alone.
I am going to experiment with safflower oil next…
Sunday, October 9/2011 at 6:42 pm
I tried the OCM and 2+ months later I’m still trying to fix my skin. It seemed to be OK for the first week or so but then all hell broke loose! It looked like I had a beard of acne! Everyday I woke up and had at least 5 new, painful, big, white heads and then there were at least 5 more that night. My face hurt so bad I could barely touch it. It was cystic acne mixed with painful whiteheads. I was too embarrassed to leave my house and I’ve been dealing with problem skin for 15 years so imagine how bad it was.
I finally went to the dermatologist and he gave me a prescription for a pill but I knew that it would just take awhile for everything to calm back down. I have so many tiny clogged pores now from this that I can’t even get rid of them an it’s not like I can really “get” to them because they are actually under the skin trapped with no real…”exit”. Not like a blackhead that you can see the top of, no these are trapped white bumps deep in my skin that if I stretch my skin out you can see SO many of them.
Never again will I try this and I thank God that I didn’t do it near my wedding day as I don’t even know what I would have done. I felt like a monster.
Monday, October 10/2011 at 2:39 pm
What are you taking from your derm – is it an antibiotic? My skin has completely returned to normal so hopefully that’s what was prescribed… it does work but may take 6 weeks or more.
Wednesday, June 12/2013 at 5:45 pm
This exact same thing happened to me after I tried OCM with castor/olive and grapeseed oil for around 2 months. My entire lower face broke out in hundred of tiny bumps of trapped sebum and some swollen cysts that took MONTHS to get out. It is literally 5-6 months later and my face is finally just now getting back to normal with the help of Retin a micro, an antibiotic, Spiro and numerous trips to get extractions and microderm. if you have oily skin I would advise against this. This was the worst breakout of my life and the worst thing I have ever done to my skin. Now I have the red marks to remind me. How did yours finally take to clear up?
Monday, October 17/2011 at 12:10 pm
Ladies…here is a link for an oil cleanser for HAIR! I’m so curious about it…haven’t tried it personally, but I’d love to:
http://www.beautyencounter.com/buy/dolce-milano-sheer-oil-cleanser/811293015127/217680
If anyone out there buys or tries it…let me know your review!
Tuesday, October 25/2011 at 8:12 pm
Thank you for posting about this- so it seems from make-up alley and a few other google searched there are the unlucky few that react awfully to OCM. I’m another victim, currently on anti-biotics thanks to reading this and your prompt. Can I ask what else you or anyone else did whilst taking the anti-biotics to get your skin back to normal. Currently Im using Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion on the deep swollen cysts and steaming and clay mask but not sure I should be . Doc was no help, was all news to him.
Saturday, October 29/2011 at 6:37 pm
I switched to oil cleansing about three or four months ago and have never loved my skin more. I tried jojoba oil instead of olive, right off the bat – it’s supposed to be better for acne-prone skin – and the results just got better and better. I was able to clean much less frequently than I previously thought I needed to with a ratio of 50/50 castor and jojoba, with a few drops of lavender oil in (I love the scent, plus it’s great for acne). Within just two or three weeks, my skin cleared up, and after about 6 weeks, even my blackheads (of many, many years!) were gone! I’ve recently begun to add a little bit of honey to the mix, to help hydrate my winter skin, and it works well, as long as I mix it very thoroughly with the oil before cleansing.
One thing I learned is that high quality, cold-pressed oils makes a HUGE difference – the last time I cleaned my face, I used some new, very high quality castor oil, and not only was able to use less of it and spend more time massaging it into my skin, but after a few minutes, there were gritty little baby blackheads ALL OVER my face! It pulled up stuff that the cheap oil had left behind.
Here’s a link to my favorite website for effective, natural beauty, and the author’s take on the oil cleansing method – http://www.crunchybetty.com/nitty-gritty-on-the-oil-cleansing-method Good luck, and I hope you all find a way to enjoy oil cleansing!
Sunday, October 30/2011 at 2:24 pm
I’ve read this whole post and everyones comments and it’s sad to say but yes, i’ve fallen victim to the horrible ocm breakout and i’ve only cleansed with it 3 times. To me it looks like a rash, a cluster of super duper tiny inflamed pores or something. First it was just on my forehead near the hairline and also on my chin and now it’s spread to my cheek. Do you think I should see a dermatologist right away? It sucks because i’m in japan at the moment and I fear I won’t be able to get them to understand my ordeal! I want to slap myself for thinking this was a good idea. Sometimes natural is not always better..How long did it take for your skin to clear up??
Sunday, November 13/2011 at 3:08 pm
I used Olive Oil Extra Virgin and did it for six months my skin looked great, then I changed the brand and what you are describing happened to me. I do not think all oils are created equally. I makes sure to steam and wipe my face well now. I use only Tantillo Extra Virgin. Not willing to risk a break out like that again. I also use fresh lemon juice after to make sure and dissolve any of the soft olive oil in my skin but only a couple times a week,
Tuesday, November 15/2011 at 5:46 pm
I do this and my skin has never been better.
When I first started I broke out but the following things helped.
I replaced the olive oil with jojoba oil
I reduced the caster oil down to about a third
I use a new clean flannel each and time wash them at 95 to make sure they are clean
I added a couple of drops of tea tree oil to clear my skin which I don;’t need now apart from around my period.
Hope this is helpful
Tuesday, December 6/2011 at 6:00 pm
Guy just a quick fyi about castor oil. i tried this cleansing method myself a year ago. its really great but.. castor oil accelerates hair growth. I dont recommend using it as a cleanser for this reason. Use it on your eyelashes though as it makes them grow longer in a week or two.
Friday, December 16/2011 at 3:34 pm
i make my own cleansing oils with a mixture of factionated coconut oil, argan oil and vitamin e. I buy an emulsifier called cromollient SCE at a place called Garden of Wisdom online – mix this in with the oil at a 10-15% ratio.
I’ve been using it for years, my skin is always clear and in the winter it stays moisturized as I dont strip it with harsh cleansers.
Sunday, December 18/2011 at 9:47 pm
I am using the OCM and am happy with the results. I have been using it for about 3 weeks now with good results. Castor oil is great but it can be very drying. I added grapeseed oil and jojoba oil (which is great for oily, acne skin) and the dryness has stopped. Also add other oils in small amounts (think 2-4 drops), lavendar oil, rosemary, bergamot. Try adding one drop of tree tree oil. Don’t use regular cleanser while using the OCM, it will strip your skin of moisture. If you need to remove excess oil use alcohol free witch hazel. My understanding is that your face needs about a week to adjust to the OCM and it might freak out (dryness, zits). OCM has converted me and I even made a beard oil for my honey to soften his bear and keep his skin moist during the winter. Plus since I made it, he smells exactly how a man should!
Monday, January 9/2012 at 11:39 pm
I use Ultrabland from Lush. Almond oil base with honey, rose water, beeswax and other goodies. It’s thick and creamy in the pot and I take a bunch in my finger rub it between my hands and massage my face and then finish off with a hot washcloth. My skin feels and looks amazing.
Tuesday, January 31/2012 at 1:31 am
For the past year or so, I’ve been having horrible reactivity issues with my very sensitive, very dry skin. I switched makeup companies and I switched skincare lines. I saw some incremental improvement but still had breakouts, flaky dry skin, and patches of eczema. After spending the better part of an afternoon researching, I decided to try the oil cleansing method with straight jojoba oil. I found lots of recipes that included castor oil, and I even mixed up a little bottle, but even at less than 25% castor oil, a quick test demonstrated that it was going to be much too harsh for my baby-sensitive skin. The jojoba has been wonderful! It’s winter, so I’m still a bit dry (and experimenting with the best way to address that), but the redness and breakouts and rashes are gone and I’m happy, happy, happy. My skin has always felt tight after even the gentlest cleansers, but no more. I only cleanse in the evening, and per the advice of my aesthetician, I use very gentle strokes and only for about 30 seconds when rubbing the oil in. I highly recommend jojoba oil to anyone with sensitive skin who is afraid of OCM. It has been a lifesaver for me.
Friday, February 17/2012 at 8:58 am
I’ve heard that the castor oil does wonderful things, and this page pretty much sums it all – http://vegetableoils.org/castor_oil/
It sounds versatile enough to be used on a daily basis. What do you guys think?
Saturday, March 3/2012 at 12:53 am
I’ve been using the OCM for about 3 weeks. I REALLY think I like it. I have super dry sensitive skin. My skin did get dry & flaky at first too, but then I added more olive oil & jojoba.
I think you should try it again if you are comfortable doing so. I would try a patch test on your arm or something first though just to make sure you are not actually allergic to the castor oil.
I did break out pretty good the first week or so, luckily no cystic acne though, although I’ve had that before too – yuck. I have been doing a slight ‘variation’ on the OCM. At night after cleansing I do use a toner. It was after I broke out the first week or so, then I started with the toner at night, and I haven’t broken out now. I’m not sure if it’s from the toner that I don’t break out anymore, or my skin has just adjusted to the OCM. My friend uses it, and she said that your skin will get worse before it gets better, just like when you use a perscription cream on your face.
So, yes….I really like this method & maybe I’ll get brave & try again without the toner at night someday. I think it is shrinking my pores too, now that you mention it
Saturday, March 3/2012 at 1:10 am
Ooops! (Sorry for the separate post)
I was just thinking that I also read that you CANNOT alternate the OCM with any other cleansing method or your skin will royally freak out.
(I’m not sure if it’s the PH balance of your skin that getting adjusted or what)
Thursday, March 8/2012 at 6:19 pm
Hi I was looking up if casto oil is safe to use on the face and found this site and after reading your story I dd a little more research on it and found out that some people break out in rashes after using it so perhaps it just doesn’t work for your skin! maybe if you found a substitute for it in the ocm you could keep trying it and see what’s right for you !
Monday, March 12/2012 at 7:11 am
So I have been oil cleansing for months now. I have psoriasis and extremely dry irritated skin. So castor oil, even in the smallest amount was too harsh for my skin and it would aggressively overproduced oil to combat the irritation, which would turn into scaly dry painful acne.
Now I use a mix of primrose, camellia, and avocado oils. They are all really calming and moisturizing. I also add a few drops of essential oils of lavender, yang yang, and neroli. This seems like slot but I also was my entire body with oil now. I think the main thing with people who have issues is they are either not massaging the oil enough or being too aggressive with their skin. The acne might be because you are lifting bacteria that had settled in the deeper layers of your face and now are all coming up at once.
Tuesday, March 20/2012 at 4:45 pm
I have been using the OCM for three months now. I started out using 1/3 castor, 1/3 olive oil, 1/3 Aragan oil. My nose and forehead broke out in a flaky rash that burned so I changed my oils to 1/3 Aragan Oil, 1/3 Apricot Oil, 1/3 Avacado Oil and 3-5 drops rose hip oil. No break outs and my skin looks and feels amazing. I “wash” my face at night and put a small amout of shea butter on it after I am done with the OCM. Yes even after cleansing with the oils I still need a little moisture on my face. In the morning I wake up and put my make-up on. My dark spots, freckels and blemishes have faded, my wrinkles are gone and my face has a healthy glow. I have a friend that has very sensitive, oily skin. She uses the OCM at night and in the morning she uses withhazel with cucumber as a toner. Her face has never looked so good. Oh and my husband (who is going bald and has psoriasist) is using pure castor oil on his head and the sores on his head have vanished. I think that is you have very oily skin castor oil is OK to use but if your skin is combination or dry, dont use the castor oil.
Monday, April 9/2012 at 12:19 pm
Hey Michelle, I was just wondering..what is your skin type??
Thursday, May 3/2012 at 2:49 pm
Helloo! It may have been the EVOO you were using. Did you know that roughly 69% of imported extra virgin olive oils are actually very fraudulently labeled, and aren’t even extra virginal at all?! (see link below for the 411 on EVOO):
http://www.crunchybetty.com/when-your-extra-virgin-olive-oil-isnt-so-wholesome
I use a combination of Castor and Jojoba oil (which is highly recommended for oily and acne prone skin).
Friday, May 4/2012 at 11:09 am
I use OCM and only use about 25% castor oil. Make sure it is organic. I have read that it causes breakouts and that it is because it is pulling toxins out of your skin. Give it time to pull it all out. My skin looks fabulous. I don’t see blackheads anymore even with a 15x mirror. I use it every night. I moisturize around my eyes only with coconut oil and I put that on my lips as well. My skin glows, I never need foundation, my wrinkles are fading and so is the brown spot on my face from pregnancy 12 years ago. My pores are shrinking and I don’t have that oily sheen by the afternoon anymore. I am 45 and am constantly asked about my skin.
Tuesday, May 8/2012 at 12:35 am
Ahhhh. Glad to see I am not alone. What a nightmare the OCM has been! Seemed great for a few weeks and now after never having an issue with acne (I am 31) my skin is a wreck. I did a course of cipro (antibiotic) almost a month ago and no improvement and then switched to gentle cleanser per the dermatologist. Had a vitalize peel from him this past thursday and no improvement – the nurse thought it was odd today when I called to ask if it was normal to breakout while still shedding skin from the peel. I am wondering if I should try another antibiotic? New blemishes pop up hourly and it’s painful and itchy. DON’T TRY THE OCM!!
Wednesday, May 9/2012 at 12:42 pm
That sounds terrible, Natalie. I really hope the derm can figure it out soon. It might be worth trying another antibiotic. Cephalexin (Keflex), 1g/day for a week was what worked for me. I think it’s more effective against gram positive bacteria than cipro would be. I’m fairly sure my breakout was probably caused by a staph organism. Though definitely don’t take it if you’re allergic to any cephalosporins, and it’s not recommended if you’re allergic to penicillin. It could have also been a case of your breakout being more inflammatory a month ago, without much bacterial involvement (and therefore wouldn’t have responded to any antibiotic), whereas now it’s very much a bacterial infection, which is how mine seemed to evolve. But especially if you have pustules (those big juicy-looking blemishes with white tips), I would still definitely be considering a bacterial infection. It might be worth bringing up the possibility with your derm anyway. It sounds like he might be at a bit of a loss, which is understandable, since I don’t think this situation is all that common. Anyway, sorry I tend to ramble. Either way, I really hope you can get it all worked out soon. Best regards.
Saturday, May 12/2012 at 5:54 am
This post is hilarious! You and your oils! Now I’m intrigued by the castor/olive oil cleansing method but am scared of having the same reaction as you. I just received a sample of the Shu Uemura brightening cleansing oil (purple bottle) today but I used it incorrectly. I massaged the oil in my face with my hands then used a wet Clarisonic but it didn’t emulsify! Will try again tomorrow…
1LipstickDiaries.tumblr.com
Monday, May 28/2012 at 10:56 am
I used the oil cleansing method using extra virgin olive oil and it made me get patches of dry skin and on other areas of my face I broke out.. i persisted and carried on for about 3 weeks, and it got slightly better but it was still an issue.
So I stopped and started cleansing my face with oats instead and I haven’t had any problems since. As well as cleansing with oats every night I massage my skin afterwards with organic sunflower oil and leave that on over night to moisturise and once a week I use a deep cleansing mask. In the morning I just rinse with water and use my normal moisturiser.
I think you just have to work out what’s right for your skin.
Wednesday, June 13/2012 at 12:16 pm
Not sure if anyone has mentioned this yet.. but something I’ve been trying for the past few weeks after using the OCM 2x a week is using the Queen of Helene Mint Julep Masque. I feel like it helps to suck up the last bit of oil that might be left over on my face. I don’t do this frequently, since I don’t want my skin to dry out. But I had a though earlier today after watching some videos by Lisa Eldridge (makeup artist) on skincare of trying to use the masque as more of a cleanser (mix it with water) and after doing the OCM using the cleanser of created to wash away the left over oil. If it isn’t too over drying, this might help with getting the left over oil off and allowing for the OCM to be used more frequently. Wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this. Btw, I just found this site today and it’s awesome.
Monday, September 3/2012 at 2:17 pm
So, what is going on with those annoying whiteheads?
One useful thing to understand is the difference between whiteheads and blackheads, and how they form. Blackheads are caused by sebum that is too viscous (and clogged with dead skin cells), which oxidizes (hardens and turns black) because your pores are large/open. The sebum actually continues to slowly build up underneath, but the top of the blackhead gets pushed out of your face at the same time (thats why, when you run your nail across your blackheads, little bits come off – the top is slowly coming out of your skin, but its building up underneath).
When you use OCM, you break down those oils. They rush to the surface, leaving an open pore behind. This is obviously the goal you want to achieve – less viscous sebum, which will naturally flow out of your skin, cleaning and moisturizing as it goes.
BUT, the reason that the oil is so viscous has nothing to do with whether your skin is clean or not – its due to the quantity of fats that your liver produces. So the oil that your skin is actually producing will remain viscous, unless you alter your diet.
So, you have to keep using the oils in order to keep thinning out your sebum. But now that the blackhead is gone, your pores are likely to shrink. This means that your OCM doesn’t penetrate the pores as easily. So the viscous oil builds up behind the pore, which it can’t get out of because the pore is shut (this is worse if your skin is also dry and flaky). This produces whiteheads.
Where people have had better results seems to be when they use thinner oils. These are more likely to penetrate the smaller pores than, say, olive oil (which is still quite viscous). Also, you need to be really particular about using the warm cloth to open up your pores (I recommend massaging the oil in a bit more AFTER you’ve opened up the pores). If your skin is dry an flaky, try massaging in a tiny bit more of the thinner oil when you are done – this will counter the effects of the castor oil, and help to keep your pores a little bit open.
Hope this helps!
Wednesday, September 5/2012 at 9:39 pm
skin always has a period when you start a new routine that it purges and brings everything to the surface. No matter what you use, its deep cleaning. After a week or so it will begin to clear. Its the process : )
Tuesday, October 16/2012 at 12:38 am
I just tried to oil cleansing method for the first time and afterward my face felt really uncomfortably dry around my nose and lips so I did as other sites have advised and rubbed just a tiny bit of the oil back onto my skin and blotted the excess with oil blotting sheets. Not my face feels uncomfortably greasy yet dry at the same time and I think I got some in my eyes cause they’re dry now too. Idk if this will work for me because I can already see my skin freaking out and forming those ugly red marks that lurk under the skin for the next three years but don’t actually come to a head
Tuesday, October 16/2012 at 12:56 am
Ok I just followed my oil cleansing experience up with vit e cream and my face feels a little better but honestly it’s so raw I feel like I washed my face with turpentine and a tire brush. I don’t know if I will be doing this again with another oil
Wednesday, October 17/2012 at 1:07 pm
Worked nicely for the first week, typical for me, but then pores began to plug the 2nd week.
Did an excellent job of getting the plugs out of my pores, but had to stop as it was just too difficult to get the oil residue off my skin after the hot wash cloth and cold water rinse.
Also I didn’t use castor oil, just hemp oil, because I have rosacea and seb derm, and just very sensitive skin, and my pores clog easily.
I figured the hemp oil was about as mild as any oil out there. If it’s that hard to get hemp oil off after the cleansing, then I seriously doubt castor would be a smart choice.
Sunday, October 21/2012 at 12:35 am
hi michelle,
You know what, when I read your post, I thought im reading my very experience. We have a veru very same case. I developed little bumps on my chin and it was the first time that happened in my life. I used that cleansing oil everyday, and now I stopped it because of that incident. Maybe I will try to use it again after my pimples heal. I will try to use it maybe twice a week only.
Monday, October 22/2012 at 3:25 pm
Oh my YES! I just spent the last week with the exact same experience. I treated it with Fresh milk cream, honey, and tumaric twice a day and it cleared up like magic. I will continue to experiment but will also make sure that at least one of my daily routines includes the cream and honey facial cleans. It is a God send.
Wednesday, October 31/2012 at 1:27 pm
Sorry I haven’t read the other comments here, but the problem might be the olive oil. A study just came out that I read about on Crunchy Betty’s blog in which most major-brand extra-virgin olive oils available, when tested, were revealed to be heavy blends of all sorts of other oils and not, in fact, pure EVOO. She lists the “good” brands, so you could check there, but maybe try some other oil (jojoba! Argan!). Apparently quite a few people have problems with olive oil (and you’re only supposed to be using extra virgin, btw); it’s not my favorite. Best of luck.
Wednesday, November 7/2012 at 2:31 pm
I just bought all of my oils yesterday to start the OCM!After much research,I went with a blend of grapeseed(50%),jojoba(25%),and coconut oil(25%).Plus a big splash of tea tree oil.I avoided castor oil all together,it seemed to have mixed results across the board.
I generally have blackheads like crazy,occasional cystic acne and occasional whiteheads.Not great skin for a 30 year old.
I apllied the oil and started massaging in an up and outward motion on my skin.I timed it at about 12 minutes.I then ran a very hot,soft washcloth under water and gently applied it to my face to remove to oil and open the pores.I rinsed and repeated about 3 times.
My skin was a bit red after(though not irritated)but I think it was just beacause of the massage.My skin really looked fresh and dare I say,plump.
I woke up this morning and fully expected some whiteheads or something more gnarly.None of that happened!It was some,not oily and still felt very clean.I will also add that I felt a gritty,sandy texture coming out of my skin while massaging(could be sebum plugs,could be dry skin)
I think I will do the OCM 2x a week to start.It is a bit labor intensive(but worth it)and i don’t want to shock my skin into a weird state.I also purchased Cetaphil Cleanser and moisturizer to use on my non OCM days.
I really liked the way my skin felt after,I think this is a great method of skincare but do your research to get the right mix!Good luck!
Monday, November 19/2012 at 3:13 pm
I’ve got the same rash of whiteheads after using the OCM just twice. Has anyone tried treating the rash with tea tree oil? I’ve read tea tree oil will cure a bacterial skin infection…so if the rash is actually a skin infection, I’m thinking it might work. I’d prefer to use something more natural than harsh antibiotics. Thoughts?
Tuesday, November 20/2012 at 8:54 pm
Hi! I just started OCM after having severe black heads, allegedly as a result of moving out west to a drier climate(5 years ago). Between the sun and lunch runs my skin began to become extremely clogged/bumpy as a result of becoming too dry to allow any impurities out (so i was told). An esthician said it was a result of my skin creating a layer over my pores as many of you have mentioned. Having never had acne, I thought the possibility was crazy and continued over the past few years drying my skin out with just about every product/laser available. I have switched over to the 302 line (which I couldnt say enough positive things about) and recently started OCM – its only been a week and I am starting to experience small bumps- where my pores had been clogged, and with a little push (I know I shouldnt pick!) the pore immediately uncloggs. That said, I do think its working, but how long should I allow the “purge” process to continue before I conclude it works for me? I love how soft my skin has finally become, and I know theres years of build up so I dont want to give up too soon. OCM just seems to make sense – not stripping, and not over-chemical-izing my skin is the only route I have yet to try.
Friday, November 23/2012 at 9:14 pm
I’m not shocked your skin dried out so horribly; that happened to me too. Let me assure you though, it’s not the OCM. Like many other people, the OCM has transformed my skin. However, when I first started the OCM my skin became raw, flakey and really dry. I knew it had to be one of the two oils I was using, so I eliminated one of them: castor oil. After the first time of using just pure olive oil, I noticed an immeadiate difference; my skin was still a little red and patchy, but it was noticably softer with no tightness or dryness whatsoever. Within a week of just using pure olive oil my skin was completely back to normal. What I really love about the OCM is that I never have ANY clogged pores, in fact, I can BARELY see my pores. My skin is firm and taut with no wrinkles or fine lines at all. PLEASE give this method another shot. It’s the obvious choice for anyone who wants clean, healthy, flawless skin. Have fun with it, play with oils, make your own customized cleanser! I’m now using a tamanu, jojoba, lavender mix that has worked magic on my skin. From a biochemist’s standpoint, the logic of the OCM is sound. Give it another shot, you won’t be disappointed!
Tuesday, November 27/2012 at 12:44 am
I just used it for the third time last night and broke out almost instantly. I have the little white bumps on my forehead and chin and it’s spreading to my cheeks. It itches horribly! I put A &D ointment on it but don’t know if it will work. Any suggestions as to how I can get rid of this?
Wednesday, November 28/2012 at 11:03 am
I’m having success with Derma E Skinbiotics Treatment Oil – it’s tea tree oil. I found it at a local Whole Foods type store. The label says it fights skin issues from fungus to bacterial issues and even MRSA. I apply at least 3 times a day to clean skin, avoiding areas near my eyes and mouth. I use a clean towel each time I dry my face after washing because the rash seemed to be spreading very easily. I dip a clean q-tip into the oil and dab only on the boils. I’ve been using a clean q-tip for each boil to help prevent spreading. I started with over a dozen boils and am down to only 2 pesky newer ones that are drying up quickly with the tea tree oil. I’ve been applying the tea tree oil for less than a week now and as of yesterday have stopped seeing new boils pop up. My skin did get dry and flaky in the areas where I reapplied for several days but the boils are disappearing! I hope this helps!
Monday, December 24/2012 at 1:01 am
I use ponds cold cream as my winter cleanser and love it. I just put it on before a shower then rub off with a washcloth at the end of the shower. No need for moisturizer and I wake up with less oily skin in the morning.
I am prone to breakouts and have given myself some when I don’t use a clean washcloth each time.
You can’t beat the great feeling of cold cream on your face after a dry winter day.
Wednesday, December 26/2012 at 12:23 am
I know I missed the boat on this and am commenting about 2 years too late, but your skin was purging. As any good esthetician would tell you, it takes at least 3 weeks to adjust to a new skin care regimen. With the oil cleanse method, since it is SO different from mainstream commercial cleansing products that strip the skin and break down the acid mantle, this is even MORE true. At first, you WILL break out. No maybe, WILL… But it’s a good thing. Those under the surface break outs that would have come up anyways, probably one at a time, are all coming up at once to reveal the beautiful skin underneath!
As ladies, our initial reaction is to stop doing whatever it is that is breaking us out and then get our skin clear ASAP, but you’ll skill have all those nasty blackheads… You just have to get over the uncomfortable and vain hump.
Saturday, January 26/2013 at 12:41 pm
I have been a professional skin care therapist and esthetician for 6 years. I have my dermalogica certificates for training as well as others. The point of doing a pre cleanse it to remove the oils dirt and bacteria off of your skin so you can cleanse your skin. Once all of that is off you still need to cleanse your skin itself. You wouldn’t take a chocolate out of a bag and eat it without taking the chocolate out of its wrapper would you? Put some lipstick on your arm wash one just with cleanser, and the other with pre cleanse and then cleanser. You will see the difference. Also the oils in professional (not drugstore) products are molecularly changed and refined so they do not clog your pores. Olive oil that us not refined is way too thick to be putting on your skin. At home skin care is also a nice idea, but not so effective. Cucumber slices vs cucumber in an eye cream is very different. The part if the cucumber that is most effective is taken in concentrate and put into the professional product. Making it way more effective. Take the time and money to buy professional and love your skin. It is more effective goes further and is mug better for your skin. It’s worth giving up a few new clothes, or some liquor.
Saturday, January 26/2013 at 12:43 pm
Much* I phone autocorrect oopsie
Saturday, January 26/2013 at 1:00 pm
Did you read the post? I did cleanse my skin after the OCM. I had a reaction to the oils themselves (probably the castor).
Saturday, January 26/2013 at 6:19 pm
Oh yes I did read yours. I was responding to the other comment someone made asking about pre cleanse.
Saturday, January 26/2013 at 6:33 pm
Oops! Responding from my phone so couldn’t see the thread!
Saturday, January 26/2013 at 7:34 pm
Haha no worries I’m doing the same thing
Tuesday, January 29/2013 at 10:15 am
I had the exact same experience. It was so bad I had to leave work one day. It felt and looked like a chemical or steam burn. It took weeks to completely heal. I am not really sure why I tried it in the first place since I have great skin. I don’t have to do much to keep it that way.
I will continue to use the OCM on maybe a monthly basis or a few times a year. It does a great job of deep cleaning but I think that for me, it is not a good daily practice.
Thursday, January 31/2013 at 3:26 am
I tried OCM for a little over a month before giving up on it – I’ve had acnegenic skin my entire life and now in my late 20′s, am suffering from it again after childbirth and thought OCM would be my night in shining armor. I was so pleased with the results during the first few weeks but now almost 2 months later, I am left with awful patches of flakey, dry, irritated (read: angry and red!) skin on my eyelids (both sides, upper and lower lids) and upper lip. Nothing helps the dryness, anything I put on it is sucked up like a sponge within minutes. The most unfortunate part about all this is the acne that was there, that actually went away because of OCM, are now coming back because I had to stop. I am so discouraged to try it again, I’m not sure what my next step should be besides going to a dermatologist.
Friday, February 1/2013 at 10:01 pm
I was basically in the same situation as you when I started the OCM. My skin was 95% clear with the exception of 4 or 5 stubborn bumps. I was looking for a way to get rid of those so I tried a 70/30 mix of EVOO/castor oil. The first week was great; I broke out a little bit, but I was unplugging clogged pores and that was good enough for me. Then, by the third week, my skin was literally 20 times worse than it was before I started the OCM. I have cystic acne along my jaw and temples (something I’ve NEVER had before) and painful smaller bumps covering my jaw and cheeks. After this happened, I found out that EVOO is extremely comedogenic, so I assumed that that is what causes my breakout. I’m considering doing the OCM again with jojoba oil, safflower oil, and castor coil, since none of them clog pores. The only face products I’ve used since then (almost FOUR months ago) are ACV as a toner and the Aztec Indian clay mask, and those have barely minimized this hellacious breakout. Basically, don’t use EVOO if you do the OCM.
Sunday, February 3/2013 at 10:09 am
Hello,
I have been using the OCM for 3 weeks now. I just want you to know that my skin is in wonderful shape! I am really pleased with the results. I have very sensitive skin and I have a reaction to almost everything (Aveda, Nutrogena, Clinique, Mary Kay,). I was so nervous when I started, but I am happy I did. I use a blend of about 20% castor oil and 80% carrier oil (olive or grapeseed, my faves). I massage the oils in my face and use a hot towel to remove the oil (2x). I follow up with a an oil to moisturize (I was using grapessed but I have recently switched to Safflower Oil). Here is the hook, I only do the OCM 2 to 3 times a week (usually Sunday and Wednesday evenings). The other days I cleanse my skin with Trader Joes All-In-One Cleanser. I also use a mask on my skin Sunday Morning of Bentonite Clay, Apple Cider Vinegar, and Honey. My skin is glowing….Hope this helps!
Thursday, February 7/2013 at 3:50 pm
I had the same problem! I had perioral dermatitis prior to doing the OCM, but my doctor prescribed a cream antibiotic to clear it up. I am worried that the new bumps that showed up after doing the OCM are just a new flare up of perioral dermatitis. I have started using my antibiotic again, so hopefully it goes away. If the bumps stick around for others, you might want to see your doctor. Perioral dermatitis looks like little acne bumps around your nose, mouth, and chin, but it doesn’t go away.
Tuesday, February 19/2013 at 8:22 am
Hi,
I make skincare and blends oils – I think it could be down to your oil blend – I find castor way too drying and in my Absolute Cleansing Oil I dont use it for that reason. Can I suggest you try sesame in your blend – it is widely used in Ayurveda. If you’d like a plant packed serum to help with your rash then email me and I can send you something that’ll hopefully help. Dont give up on it yet.
Friday, February 22/2013 at 6:33 pm
Hi! Since using the oil cleansing method, I have suffered blackhead outbreaks and some random marks have appeared on my face.
Sunday, February 24/2013 at 8:11 pm
I have been using ponds or coconut oil on my face for a month or so now and I love it my only upset is that I didn’t listen to my mom years ago. I have read castor oil is drying and will cause wrinkles so I encourage you to try it again but leave out the castor oil. When I use the coconut oil I just rub it on, leave it for a few minutes and wipe it off with a damp warm cloth. If this technique leaves behind to much of an oily layer on your skin use a hot rag but lay it on your face for a minute or two before wiping the oil off.
Thursday, May 9/2013 at 7:51 pm
Hi Linda i used the ocm and got the worst cystic and itchy acne breakout in my life. I think it was caused by the castor oil (cold press)as i started using this alone, then i mixed with extra virgin olive oil. Anyway I am now on antibiotic, eczema cream mixed at the dermatologist and epiduo. The healing process is very slow i started the meds since saturday(4/5/2013) . . the only good thing i saw fro using the ocm is that it appeared to have cleared the white heads in my nose and cheeks. now that i have discontinued the ocm the white heads are coming bak.
I am curious about the coconut oil. How is your results so far. I am trying to find a natural remedy to clean my face.
Tuesday, March 12/2013 at 10:39 am
I recently tried the OCM and for the first week, it worked great. After that, i started breaking out. More like a rash of acne. It’s been a little over a week and my face is still broken out. I’m wondering if it will go away on it’s own, or will i have to go to my dermatologist… Oh the frustration.
Tuesday, March 12/2013 at 11:25 am
I had a rash for a month or two before it turned into acne – so it definitely didn’t clear up on its own. I would suggest going to a derm for antibiotics sooner rather than later!
Saturday, March 23/2013 at 6:51 pm
Hi. This comment might be a little outdated, since it has been two years since you wrote this article. But here I go antway:
After battling with adult acne for nearly ten years and tryyimg everything from proactiv to oral antibiotics, and achieving nothing but temporary results. I decided to take an all natural aproach to cleanse my skin.
I use baking soda with a few drops of lime just and one drop or two of tea tree oil. It works wonders to remove make up. I stopped using comercial toner a long time ago bc the cotton ball would just come out clean so i found it to be unnecessary; instead I use apple cider vinegar diluted in filtered water (concebtratoon will vary depending on what your skin tolerares) as a toner inmediately after i wash it. And very important i never ever ever put a towel to my face, I always let it airdry. This is all I use at night. During the day I apply a light moisturizer and sunscreen onlt if going out. Once a week I exfoliate with a mixture of extra virgin cold pressed olive oil coffee and sugar. And about three times a week I apply pure honey to my face and leave it on for about 30 mins.
Following this regime relugiosly mi acne has completeky cleared. I get an occasional zit here and there, but nothing major. For the first time in a very long time I can actually leave my house with no make up and no embarrassment.
Thursday, March 28/2013 at 3:18 am
just sounds to me like you didn’t give it enough time. your skin probably isn’t used to such deep cleansing and is breaking out due to the purging of toxins and grime.
Thursday, March 28/2013 at 5:37 pm
OMG I had to stop after a month because I was getting awful cystic acne allllll over. After I stopped it has gotten considerably better. Currently it’s three weeks after the fact and my skin is almost back to normal though I have these awful acne scars all over and no matter what essential oils or fading creams I use it’s going to take a while till I don’t have to use large amounts of concealer
. This really sucky for me because before the OCM I had scar free skin, which I haven’t had in years, due to accutane treatments a few months before, but was starting to get minor break outs again and thought to try the OCM. For me Acutain has been the only thing to stop my breakouts, though not as sever as most who get put on the medication. I do get sever hyper-pigmentation due to my darker medium tan skin tone. All that being said I think I would try the OCM again and think it was definitely the olive oil that clogged my pores. I would also say to anyone wanting to try to be very proactive about breakouts. Breakouts are caused by skin irritation and not likely a ‘transition’ stage of your face adjusting to the oil.
Monday, April 1/2013 at 9:49 pm
I also had a TERRIBLE reaction the the OCM, it tooks MONTHS and usage of benzoyl peroxide to resolve it, and then my skin was ridiculously irritated because of the BP. When I first tried the OCM, I used olive oil.
I’ve recently read a lot about the acid mantle and the skin’s natural barrier, and how we are constantly destroying it by washing with foaming cleansers day and night. Since I was still breaking out, I decided to stop the foaming cleansers and try Jojoba oil to remove the makeup from my face at night. It’s been 2 days and so far so good, I basically pour a generous amount of jojoba oil on a cotton pad and gently wipe off my makeup.
I then rinse with cold/warm water and pat dry. The last step is spraying my face with some rose water to help restore the acid mantle.
My face has been through hell and back in the past year, so there’s a lot of damage and I’m not expecting a miracle, but after 2 days I did not get new breakouts.
On days where I do not wear makeup (i.e. stay at home), I skip the Jojoba oil and simply rinse my face.
So basically, if the Jojoba oil doesn’t break me out, it means that a bad reaction to the OCM might simply be due to using the wrong oil.
I really do think olive oil is terrible for acne prone skin, and that Jojoba oil (which is actually a wax) is much much much safer.
Cheers,
Coco
Saturday, April 20/2013 at 12:11 pm
Be careful using Jojoba on your face! Keep in mind, Jojoba oil is actually a wax that is similar to your skins natural sebum. Sounds good for your skin, right? Well, it actually will penetrate deep into your pores and mimic sebum, and this actually makes acne much worse, especially cystic acne. Acne is caused in part by excess sebum that clogs pores and then becomes infected with p. acne bacteria. While Hojoba can be wonderful to moisturize other parts of your body, I strongly discourage you to use on your face!
Monday, April 22/2013 at 12:33 am
Thank you Angela for this very sound advice. I agree about being careful using Jojoba, especially if you have acne prone or seb derm skin. I have both, and just learned this lesson the hard way. I tried it and I had a horrible reaction. Lots of hives all around my neck and severe burns around my lips and chin and under my nose. If you try it, I recommend avoiding the sensitive areas of the mouth and nose. I’m the boy in the bubble type sensitive, having thick facial and scalp Seb derm and Rosacea, so maybe you can get away with it, but I’d advise not risking it. Also it burned my eyes badly, any of the oil around the eyes gets in and really stings.
However, I haven’t given up using oil. I really do believe it’s all about the oil that works best for your skin. I’m really concentrating on high linoleic and linolenic acids. My seb derm is made much worse and maybe caused by too much production of oleic acid. I’m now using Grapeseed oil. Hempseed is also good, but it’s heavier, and the color and smell is strong. Grapeseed is very lightweight and calming, also has about a 6-8 SPf. I’m a red head so that really helps.
I’ve also been burned badly in the past by both hempseed oil and grapeseed in the same mouth areas. But I’ve learned, with these 2 oils, due their high linoleic acid content, they go bad quickly. You must get a high quality fresh oil, keep it in the fridge, and watch out for signs it’s going bad, then discard it.. and get a new one. My skin is great right now, but I’ve learned some hard lessons along the way. I’m using the NOW brand pure 100% grapeseed oil, and I’m happy so far….
Thursday, April 4/2013 at 8:42 am
Hi Michelle–I know this is an old post but wanted to chime in and ask a question. I stopped using the OCM a month ago and I’m still breaking out–the worst it’s ever been. I just started a 2 week oral antibiotic from my doctor, and also a prescription benzoyl peroxide cleanser and gel in the PM (Clinique Acne Solutions in the AM). Do you have ideas on when I can expect to get my skin back?? I can’t understand why it’s getting worse, 4 weeks after stopping the oils.
Thanks!
Thursday, April 4/2013 at 10:01 am
Hi Kate, if I recall correctly my derm said it can take up to 6-8 weeks for the antibiotics to kick in. So a 2 week course may not actually long enough if you had a severe infection. Good luck!
Monday, April 22/2013 at 12:59 am
Hi Michelle,
I thought I’d chime in, hope you don’t mind. I’ve had acne, often cystic, seb derm, contact dermatitis, and rosacea for 26 years or so. What is working for me now is using oil to leave on my face and scalp, without the rubbing. If you use a high linoleic acid oil like grapeseed or hempseed, then the oil will help dissolve the hard oleic oil trapped in your pores and bring it to the surface without the need to rub. This will also mean, no clogging in the follicle. That’s what normal oil is supposed to do, bring it to the surface, not get trapped because it is heavy and hardens.
Then just wash with your favorite mild cleanser or just rinse with water if that’s all you need, each morning and evening before bed. I need to cleanse due to my seb derm and dead skin buildup.
Then, just put some more of that oil on after the wash, because you do not want to have dry skin, just a light film should do it. If you don’t put some oil on after stripping off the skin mantle oil by cleansing, then your oil glands with produce more thick and heavy – waxy sebum to compensate, and that is what you are tryign to stop or at least slow to a normal pace.
Also, these great oils, with their great essential fatty acids, have antibacterial properties, so they should also help to get rid of any existing acne. When I get a small makings of a pimple, I just put a little extra oil on, and within a day or 2, it stops it’s progress, kills the bacteria, and pulls the hardened wax to the surface, and heals/dries up without the infection or white head.
I feel I’m on the right path towards controlling my condition now.. I’m also supplementing with lots of omega 3′s and 6′s (udo’s/hempseed oil). Avoid omega 9′s (oleic acid), we get too much in our Western diet as is, we want the thinner lightweight omega 3 and 9. Good luck and let us know!
Monday, April 22/2013 at 1:20 am
Sorry post was intended for Kate, not Michelle..
Sunday, April 7/2013 at 1:06 am
I use the oil cleansing method twice a week and it has changed my skin for the better. I use one part castor oil to 2 or 3 parts olive oil, depending on how dry or oily my skin is. When I first started, I did get major breakouts, but I soldiered on and it cleared in about three weeks. I then realized that my skin was purging in the beginning of the experiment. My skin now is less oily (still oily but much less than before) and breakouts are at bay.
Monday, April 8/2013 at 10:05 am
I use a great Australian product for my OCM called Moogoo. It’s all natural and they have different formulas for different skins. I use the combination and its great. I have a family history of extremely bad eczema and have sensitive skin and this product is fantastic. I also use their milk was for the mornings. Check out moogoo.com.au – worldwide shipping and it’s amazing!!!
Friday, April 19/2013 at 9:42 am
I have skin that is thick and prone to congestion. I’ve tried all sorts of things to get of the acne and blackheads.
OCM didn’t do much for me when I tried it years ago, but I didn’t stick with it. It didn’t make my skin worse, but I do think the type of oil makes a difference.
I’ve been using a commercial twist: the hot cleanser. I’ve been using Eve Lom Morning Time Cleanser. It’s definitely helped in my quest for clear skin.
Sunday, April 28/2013 at 3:06 am
I have sensitive skin that is acne prone with constantly clogged pores, and I’ve been considering OCM. This article and the comments are definitely turning me off of the idea a little bit, but I thought you guys might be interested in this handy little web page:
http://www.beneficialbotanicals.com/facts-figures/comedogenic-rating.html
It shows the comedogenic ratings of oils, waxes, etc..
I’m sure it’s pretty arbitrary, but overall a useful reference. If I were to try OCM, I might go with sunflower oil. I’m allergic to mineral oil, and I wouldn’t put olive oil on my face if you paid me :p Have any acne-prone people tried it with sunflower oil (for more than a couple of weeks)? If so, how did it go?
Monday, May 20/2013 at 9:57 am
Help me out, guys! Last week, I came across about this Oil Cleansing Method/Oil Massage(exactly like Michelle’s step by step description of it but without the steam) which was supposed to get rid of blackheads and tighten the skin. The description was so promising so I decided to try it out. However, after a day or two, I noticed that I’ve developed some pimple-like rashes which are very itchy. They won’t go away. What do I do? Help me please!! =(
Monday, May 20/2013 at 10:48 am
Hi, my face did the same thing and got so bad with blackheads and whiteheads. Since April, my face just started getting back to normal. But it didn’t start to go away until my dermatologist prescribed my oral antibiotics (doxycycline) which I took one daily for 30 days. If u go that route, read the insert carefully. With that I continued my normal face routine of twice daily wash with 5% benzoyl wash morning and night, morning clindamycin phosphate topical lotion (topical antibiotic), and nightly retin-a. My advice, if the breakout does seem to be going away, start the oral antibiotic ASAP.
Thursday, May 23/2013 at 9:23 am
I have just started on OCM yesterday. I was reading several comments posted on this website and realised that people do not do it everyday. I have also read that one should not mix OCM with commercial cleansers as this will confuse the skin, I am wondering if we don’t do OCM everyday, how does one clean her face on those nights when she is not using OCM? Will appreciate some advice. Thank you.
Friday, May 24/2013 at 12:05 am
I tend towards sensitive skin, which had been increasingly sensitized at the start of the year. But started moisturising with oil a few months ago, and noticed a great improvement. THEN I tried OCM… and I had the same problem as you describe. I feel like the cleaning was too intense… it was okay once or twice a week, but gradually left my skin dry and–then suddenly–a dry, flaky, pimply rashy mess. Now I’m being treated with antibiotics for perioral dermatitis. Don’t know whether it’s a coincidence, the oil caused it, or if my doctor has it wrong.
Sunday, May 26/2013 at 7:40 am
I have had acne since I was 14 and tried wverything to make it stop. Now I am 40-something. I started dry washing with sunflower oil – just rub it in and wipe it off with a dry cloth. I never use water. I haven’t had a breakout in months! Love it! I tried it with the castor oil but it didnt work as well n Also, I apply neutrogena healthy skin lotion that has aHA’s.
Friday, June 7/2013 at 3:14 am
I suffer from blackheads I was using OCM for about a couple months and made the mix for oily skin. I was rubbing it in for way too long (sometimes about 30 mins) and at first, it made my skin so nice and soft and seemed to clear it up so nicely. A few weeks in however, it started to take a nasty turn. I started getting pimples where I had never gotten them before and a few weeks later, my face is covered in blackheads and tiny bumps.
I’ve been off it for about 2.5 weeks and it my skin seems to go up and down in recovery. Is this something that will eventually regulate itself or is it something I need to see a dermatologist about??
Wednesday, June 12/2013 at 5:58 pm
I also had a terrible experience that many have talked about on this site that happened to me after I tried OCM with castor/olive and grapeseed oil for around 2 months. My entire lower face broke out in hundreds of tiny bumps of trapped sebum and some swollen cysts that took MONTHS to get out. It is literally 5-6 months later and my face is finally just now getting back to normal with the help of Retin a micro, an antibiotic, Spiro and numerous trips to get extractions and microderm. If you have oily skin I would advise against this. This was the worst breakout of my life and the worst thing I have ever done to my skin. I rarely had pimples before this. Now I have the red marks to remind me.
Thursday, June 13/2013 at 7:44 am
I used the same mixture… except I used about 90% organic extra virgin olive oil and 10% castor… and I had the same type of breakout in the same spot, my chin just to the side of my mouth. The breakout started after using the oil mixture for about 2 weeks and it was actually painful, I’ve never had real acne before so this truly blindsided me. I still have residual small acne blemishes there (a month later!) and they’ve now become very itchy. I would give anything to go back and NEVER use the oil-cleansing method, especially because I’m getting married in 3 months and feel like I’ve ruined my skin.
Sunday, June 16/2013 at 3:52 am
I started using the OCM about a month ago with castor oil and olive oil. Even though I didn’t notice a huge difference I did notice my skin wasn’t oily and my skin felt smooth with a slight glow. After a couple of weeks I started to break out a bit probably b/c of my washcloths. I read depending on what detergent and/or fabric softener/sheet you use can cause problems.
My friend gave me her bottle of DHC Deep Cleansing Oil face wash. I am really pleased with it. I wash my face with it every other day and just use wet cotton pads to wipe on the other days.
Still not a huge difference but an improvement that I am pleased with. My pores appear smaller, complexion more balanced.
I do suggest to do an allergy test on inside of arm with any of these oils. I did it with the castor oil, DHC, olive oil even though I use it in cooking.
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