It’s time to come clean: Sometimes, I get super enthusiastic about stuff, whole-heartedly dive into making a change and then … my new great discovery turns out to be sucktacular.
Case in point: After reading the shampoo-free article, I later wrote an article extolling the virtues of baking soda wherein I mentioned being on the shampoo-free train. And when I gave up using shampoo, I meant every enthusiastic word of it. I loved it. It was so easy! My hair smelled great! My hair was adjusting! And then came week three, when my hair was no longer pliable. At all. It not only felt like straw but one of the cowlicks on my forehead (Hi, my name is Pretty) was doing this horrible Alfalfa thing. RIGHT ABOVE MY LEFT EYEBROW.
On the upside, I totally took Shauna’s advice from her article on how to keep long hair healthy and soft AND I LOVE IT. I, in my scarecrow hair, ran out and bought the 3 products, have used them regularly for over a month and I will not ever go back. I have lots of gray hair; its very nature is to be crinkly and dry and witchy. These products completely smooth those suckers out.
What has this experience taught me? To really test something before I share my unbridled enthusiasm.
Can you feel what’s coming?
For the last seven weeks — maybe longer — I have been washing my face with oil. Straight oil. No astringents; no makeup removers; no expensive moisturizers. Instead, every night these last several, several weeks I have been taking about a half teaspoon of coconut oil and rubbing it all over my face. OIL.
Did you know that as an over-40-year old person I still had breakouts? And like awful, painful pimples?(Probably hormonally related, but still!) Suffice it to say, super gross and scarring. Guess how many zits I’ve gotten since I began washing my face with oil? No seriously. Guess.
None. None breakouts. I have gotten a couple tiny blackheads to rise to the surface (DON’T JUDGE) — for which I was really grateful. But other than that, nada.
Here’s why using the Oil-Cleansing Method (OCM) is the greatest face wash method ever in the history of cleaning faces:
• All those man-made, chemical-laden skin cleansers remove the natural oils from our skin. So to protect itself, our skin makes more oil. Basically, apart from being incredibly expensive? These skin cleansers and moisturizers make our skin all out of whack. At first, too dry. Then too oily. Then, maybe some weirdo patchy combination. And this is the result of our skin’s constant efforts to find the right balance to heal itself.
• Man-made cleansers are water based. Water does not dissolve oil. And all those oil-free cleansers we use to remove oil and debris from our skin? They aren’t actually helping much, because of one little scientific fact: Oil is a non-polar substance. As I gleaned from A Human Touch of Chemistry:
There is a particular saying in chemistry called ‘Like dissolves like’ which basically means polar substances will only dissolve polar substances and so is the same for non-polar substances.”
Oil does not dissolve in water. Call them narcissistic: At an atomic level, oil molecules are more attracted other oil molecules than they are to water molecules. Point being, if you want to get rid of oily skin, you need a face wash with oil.
• Oil removes makeup, even waterproof makeup. You don’t need different cleansers for different tasks; one oil will do.
• Oil pulls out the gunk and debris from your pores and moisturizes your skin. It can remove excess oil, but not throw your skin out of balance. (Or so my experience has been.)
Have I sold you on this? Ready to give it a try? Here’s how you get started.
Part 1: Create your blend
I originally decided to try this cleansing method after reading this piece on Simplemom’s blog. She gives several recipes for how to go about washing one’s face using the OCM.
• For those with normal skin, you could start off with a one-to-one ratio of castor oil and EVOO [extra virgin olive oil].
• For those with acne-prone or oily skin, reduce the proportion of EVOO, and try three parts castor oil to one part EVOO.
• For those with drier skin, start off with one part castor oil to three parts EVOO. This is what I use.”
Personally, I found the castor oil way too drying and I eventually eliminated it altogether. I use plain old coconut oil — the same exact stuff in my kitchen — because of its antibacterial properties (and lovely scent). Others prefer EVOO, because its pH is the same as human skin.
Part 2: How to wash your face
The actual process is really simple.
1) Rub about 1/2 teaspoon of your oil blend all over your face. Need more? Use more. Simplemom suggests rubbing it all over your skin for about 1 minute, giving yourself a nice face massage. Sometimes I do that; other times I’m super lazy and move more quickly. Gently, but quickly.
2) Wet a washcloth in tolerably hot water, wring it out, and lay it on your face. You’re basically steaming your face until the washcloth cools. I skip this step a lot. But it’s nice to do, because it opens your pores and really cleans them out.
3) Wipe away the oil with the wet cloth. Then dry off with a hand towel.
And that’s it. I’ve been using this method for just shy of 2 months and the OCM has been, hands down, the greatest face cleanser, makeup remover and moisturizer I’ve ever used. My skin is very healthy; no breakouts; I love it.
For more details definitely visit Simplemom’s blog.
Traci
Traci Arbios is a founder of TheFullMoxie.com. She also loves cheese. LOVES. E-mail her at traci@thefullmoxie.com
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What have you heard about washing with honey? Where do you get your coconut oil?
I’d just recently heard of the honey method as well- Lisa, mother of Lizzie who we did the make-up tutorial with has been doing that. I will see if I can get her to weigh-in on that option as well.
Yes, Traci do share, where are you getting the oil? Is it the same exact stuff you get in the grocery store? I want to try.
The coconut oil you get is the exact stuff in the grocery. I got mine at Whole Foods quite some time ago (READ: years), went the organic route — but I’ve seen it at Trader Joe’s, too. If you go with coconut oil, read the ingredients to make sure it’s 100% pure coconut oil — usually labelled 100% Pure Extra Virgin. (So basically, avoid the beauty section stuff, as they add palm oil or paraffin or whatever to it.) It’s the exact same stuff you cook with.
Haven’t tried the honey thing, although honey is also naturally antibacterial. The perceived downside for me is that it’s sticky — but, that might not even be an issue. Lisa would definitely be the expert and better able to weigh in here.
Oh my yes, I must chime in! I’ve been using a pure, organic honey/EVOO combination for about six weeks. (one source here: http://www.crunchybetty.com/honey-challenge) The honey is a fabulous antibacterial and antimicrobial cleanser. It is a little drying, thus the oil. I too was prone to monthly breakouts and my little concoction has stymied them! Hooray!
Very intrigued with the coconut oil though…just the smell is enough to send me into a pina colada state-of-mind!
Cheers!
Honestly, I’m always in a pina colada state-of-mind. Might as well smell like it. :^)
I use 50/50 Grapeseed Oil and Castor Oil with a few drops of Tea Tree Oil. My skin is pretty acne prone. I have been doing this for about a month now. I have to say that at about the 1 1/2 week mark I almost stopped. My skin started to break out a bit more. But then I realized I had just returned OVER $50 of skincare products to the store and my skin needed a few weeks to really adjust.
At 33 my skin has never looked of felt healthier. I also use pure vitamin E around my eyes at night. And for some added moisture if I need I use Argan Oil as a moisturizer, you can also use the argan oil in your hair, to help with curls or just dry hair.
My only disapointment is that I didnt try this sooner!!!!
Do you remove eye makeup with something else?
Nope! Just coconut oil or whatever OCM you are using. It removes ALL makeup, even waterproof mascara. For me, there is literally no need to buy all that other stuff anymore. Which thank GAWD because it was way too expensive for my meager budget.
Love this post! You are such a great and personable writer! I tried the EVOO and castor oil method and I didn’t really love the castor oil so I quit. But I LOVE coconut oil and I don’t know why I didn’t think of using that instead. Thanks for the great article!
So, just to be clear: you ONLY use coconut oil, or do you use a combo of coconut AND EVOO? Thanks so much! I’m very anxious to try this
I just use coconut oil. Some just use EVOO, or a combo of EVOO and castor oil, and others a combo of coconut and castor.
Ok. I’m sold. Just starting out on my awesome menopausal adventure, (yes, I’m an early starter) I’ve been going crazy with all these stupid hormonal shifts that keep showing up on my *FaCe* ! ! I’m excited to try this ~ thanks for sharing it ~ and for the giggles!
I was introduced to coconut oil about a week ago and LOVE IT. Right now, I’m only using it as a moisturizer. What I do is rinse my face, use a cotton ball of Apple Cider Vinegar to cleanse my face, and then use coconut oil as my moisturizer. I am going to try your method this weekend, thanks for the article. Question, do you think applying CO before putting on your makeup is a bad idea?
Do you use any moisturizer afterwards, or does the coconut oil make your skin nice and soft for you?
Good question. Honestly, I do okay, but sometimes I rub a little more coconut oil into my skin to moisturize. It doesn’t mess with my complexion at all, whereas every moisturizer I’ve used inevitably gives me skin issues and using sunscreen is just a disaster for me. I would LOVE to find a good sunscreen that didn’t cause me to break out.
I am definitely going to have to try the coconut oil. I’ve been so curious. I am 35 and have sensitve, fair, acne prone skin. Most products for sensitive skin cause me to break out and most skin products for acne are too harsh. As far as sunscreen goes, I get colorescience sunforgettable sunscreen from amazon. It’s a super light mineral powder that you can use all over. it comes in colors(if you want to wear it as makeup) or clear. It’s a physical block sunscreen instead of chemical. It’s pricey to begin with, but it last a really long time.
I need a new sunscreen. I’ll have to check that out!
Exra virgin coconut oil is actually a really effective natural sunscreen.
I did not know that! Awesome.
Hey I was wondering if you could answer a few questions I Have with using this method of coconut oil. I’ve been doing this for a bout 2 weeks, close to 3 weeks now. The first half the time has been great. But this last half of time my skin has gotten really dry, more so on the bottom half of my face and around my mouth. My skin as also started feeling either really grainy or like I can feel my pores. I feels crazy. It doesn’t look bad and doesn’t bother me except for the dry feeling. The weather has been changing around here lately, so I don’t know if that may be related. Could you tell me your thoughts on what is causing the weird texture and how I should handle this extra dryness I’m experiencing? thank you.
Well, I’m no skin expert so take my response with a grain of salt. But coconut oil is definitely drying, and if you have issues with dry skin, it might not be the best oil for you. My daughter (an aesthetician in training) suggests jojoba oil. It’s supposedly the oil with the closest ph balance to human skin, which is science talk for “good.” I’m thinking of trying it in these winter months, as my skin naturally gets crazy dry now, too.
Thank you for getting back with me.
I grew up using jojoba oil as a way to getting rid of acne and it DEF drying, but my skin is also different from yours so it may work beautifully. I’m really interested to know how it worked it for you!
Hi there. I skimmed through all of the questions, so hopefully I am not repeating myself. You only said to wipe off the oil with a wet cloth. Can you just wash it off with water instead of using another cloth?
Thank you!
Well, it’s up to you, but the problem with washing your face with water is that oil and water no-mixy. It’s easier to wipe off the oil. The residue left behind actually moisturizes your face. But the most important thing is to do what works best for you.
Hi, I’ve been using 3 parts cold pressed castor oil to 1 part EVOO for about 2 months. My skin has never been softer, clearer or more even toned. I’ve even talked a couple of friends into trying it and they’re hooked as well.
I don’t use a second washcloth. I hold a hot washcloth on my face for about 20-30 seconds and use the same washcloth to wipe my face then let air dry. I was hugely skeptical at first but now I’m tossed my commercial moisturizers and makeup removers. I cannot speak highly enough of oil washing!!!
This is great! For years all I’ve used on my face is oil. Oil to clean. Oil tomoisturize. Oil to treat weird patches. I use almond oil for almost everything, but I also have a bottle of vitamin e oil on my desk. Every time someone sees me rub a half teaspoon or so into my skin they freak out. No one ever can believe it’s all I use.
I have no acne, my skin isn’t shiny, and I look about 10 years younger than I am! I started using it exclusively about 5 years ago, but I used almond oil to moisturizer before bed beginning about a decade ago. I read somewhere that’s all Jackie O used and I thought she was beautiful. Anyhow, I encourage more folks to give it a try.
Almond oil! Excellent!
For starters, I am a young (HELLO HORMONAL) 22-year old with extremely oily skin. I am talking I-could-fix-your-squeaky-door-hinges oily. I have had acne since 8th grade with a speckling of dark purple acne scars on my face. My face is also fairly red with large pores (and black heads). My skin is very sensitive too. My skin is irritated by fake metal, scented lotions, being around too much animal dander. Searching for good skin care has been.. tiring.
Last night, after spending countless hours researching and finding a whole hoard of conflicting information, I just went for it. I fearlessly dug into the coconut oil (Extra Virgin 100%) and applied it all over my still-wet face after using a beewax bar of soap. I think I may have been a little too excited and liberal with my dose but YA LEARN. It was extremely greasy but what did I know? I woke up and was pretty upset. My face looked even REDDER and a big pimple on my cheek had come to a gruesome white head overnight.
I skipped any makeup. I attended class, tried not to think about it. Just earlier, I took a shower (using just water on my face) and then followed the steps you so clearly describe here (rubbing with oil, warm washcloth, I added taking deep breaths and thinking about how beautiful my skin will be, and then wiping). I don’t want to speak too soon. BUT WOW. Just one time! My skin is radiating. I look sun-kissed. Sure, my face isn’t a sight of perfection but it is a process. I hope I have ended my search.
It’s been almost a year of coconut oil cleaning, and I swear by it. The oil pulls the gunk out of your pores, so yes, at first you may have breakouts. But they clear — at least they did for me. And over the last year I have only had the rare, occasional hormonal zit (which is like a cyst– a deep, vert painful pimple-thing that never surfaces and just leaves a scar. I got PLENTY when I was pregnant, and now, they are extremely rare) which actually leaves faster than they used to– and no breakouts. Like, none.
Good luck!
Hey, Good Evening. This blog seems so interesting(: I have a question. I have oily-Acne prone skin. I recently bought A authentic Raw black soap, followed by some face scrub which contains various oils. Well, I was wondering if using so many oils in my OILY face bad or not? should I use that face scrub daily, once every other day? (Coconut oil, Olive oil, jojoba oil, almondoil, vitamin E , and Raw organic sugar.) all mixed into an exfoilator , I would say. Thanks. (:
I have absolutely no idea. While Im flattered you asked, the fact is, I’m not a skin expert — I just know that I’ve tried the OCM and it worked for me. I think your best bet is to consult an esthetician. Good luck!
Do you only wash your face at night?
Usually with the oil just at night, yes. But sometimes twice per day.
So do you use a regular face wash in the morning?
Hi! I tried to CO this evening to remove my make-up/as facial wash. I have a question. What if you still have make-up remaining on your face after the initial “wash”. I used the CO as described above and then wiped my cheeks gently and saw I still had make-up on. I repeated the process, but really had to continue to wipe to get all the make-up off. Have you ever experienced the need for multiple “washes”? Is it ok to repeat the process?
Yes. Often, with stubborn mascara, I’ll just use a small amount of oil and remove excess mascara. But yes, you can repeat. I’ve not ever had an issue doing that. Also, I don’t necessarily do the steam part. I just apply the oil, rub, and wipe it off. Never had an issue.