Cleanse Your Face With Oil? - REVISED

Being someone who has suffered from acne since the good 'ol middle school days, there's almost nothing I wouldn't try, in effort to overcome it. So, when I discovered the 'Oil Cleansing Method,' I was intrigued.

I gave it a shot last January and let me tell you, my face has never been so soft and so hydrated through the winter months. However, it is now mid-April and I have the worst case of acne that I have ever had!!! The culprit? The Oil Cleansing Method. A much anticipated trip to my dermatologist confirmed that. According to her, while this method can fair nicely for some individuals (most likely those who don't suffer from acne and typically have dry skin) this is not an appropriate alternative for anyone with combination, oily or acne prone skin.
That being said, I apologize to anyone who also converted to this method only to discover it did more harm than good. And to anyone considering it, my advice is - DON'T DO IT!!!!

If you still feel the urge to give this method a shot...read on. More information can also be found here.



The Oil Cleansing Method works like this:

Step 1: Pour a quarter sized amount of oil into your palm and rub your palms together to heat the oil.

Step 2: Begin massaging your dirty, make-upped face with your fingers in slow firm motions. Spend extra time around your problem areas. This is the oils chance to work into your pores and dissolve impurities.

Step 3: Soak a clean washcloth under hot water, wring and place on your face until it cools. The steam from the hot washcloth will assist in lifting the dirt and crud out of your pores. Once the washcloth has cooled, gently wipe your face. NEVER scrub. Scrubbing is bad news bears!

Step 4: Repeat step 3, twice more.

Still interested? Here's how to make your very own oil cleanser:

The Fixins':
Castor Oil* - does the cleaning
Almond, Grape seed, Jojoba, Olive or Sunflower Seed Oil - does the moisturizing and nourishing
Travel Size, snap top container

What To Do:
Step 1: Carefully fill your clean travel size container about 20% full with the Castor Oil.
Step 2: Fill the remaining 80% with your desired second oil of choice.

For acne prone skin, add a couple drops of tea tree oil to your bottle.
Give your skin a week or so to adjust to this routine.

*Yes, castor oil is also used as a laxative. Don't be alarmed, that's simply another qualification on it's resume.