OCM - Oil Cleansing Method

ETA: This article has been updated & moved: http://aishawood.blogspot.com/2008/04/ocm-oil-cleansing-method.html

Thank you :)

Original article below for reference.

ETA #2: Comments have now been disabled due to spam. Please leave comments on the post above.

My first post, I'm here to pimp OCM (oil cleansing method)
Fed up of trying hundreds of skin care products, only to find nothing really works? Or they work wonders, then one day you wake up and find it no longer works? Do you spend a small fortune on expensive skin care products?
In my skin care cupboard I have; A bottle of OCM and a bottle of witch hazel. This is all I really need, and it costs under a fiver.

Many cleansers on the market these days contain many chemicals, or atleast parabens which have been linked to breast cancer. All-natural cleansers are either expensive, or difficult to get hold of. The oil cleansing method is cheap, easy & highly effective. All you need to do is adjust the quantities to suit your skin type (something you can't do with market cleansers). If your skin changes, you just change the quantities. Easy!

Useful Resources

The thousands of google results for "oil cleansing method"
OCM Discussion on LongHairCommunity - 41 pages of feedback, tips & info!
Livejournals NaturalLiving community's memories on OCM - Many questions answered.
Investigate the safety of your current skincare products

The Method

When cleansing and moisturizing your skin, it is imperative that you keep in mind that oil disolves oil. Do not be afraid of applying oil to your face. Oil, alone, will not cause you blemishes. Pimples, cysts, zits, blackheads and whiteheads are a result of several different factors including hormones, bacteria, dead skin cells and the buildup of these factors. Your skin naturally produces oil because it needs it. It is not a malicious force to be reckoned with, it is there for the benefit of your skin. It is naturally occurring. Oil helps lubricate, heal, protect, and moisturize your skin so that it may function properly. Properly functioning skin is beautiful, clear, and glowing.

While I'm talking about the benefits of oil applied externally, I'd like to mention how important it is to moisturize from the inside as well. WATER! Drink no less than 8 glasses of water a day. If your skin has issues with blemishes, drink up! Water will help release and remove the toxins from within, leaving behind glowing, dewey, toned skin. Carry a bottle of water around with you throughout the day so water is always available.

Now, to the point of this article.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) is used for moisture, while Castor Oil (CO) is used for cleansing. Castor Oil tends to be a bit on the thick side, so a mix of the two (EVOO/CO) is frequently used. This allows for the Castor Oil to really sink into the pores and draw out the dirt and grime to the surface. You can vary this ratio to match your skins needs. More EVOO for moisture or more CO for cleansing (25/75 EVOO/CO for Oily skin, or 75/25 EVOO/CO for dry skin). EVOO is incredibly high in antioxidants, while CO is excellent for drawing and healing. CO has been the focus of many books and medical discussion because of its seemingly "magical" healing properties. It only makes sense (after a bit of research) that one would use CO on their face to help treat blemishes and acne, or simply to make their skin look and feel better.

As quoted in The Oil That Heals by Dr. McGarey, a country doctor (unknown?) states, "Castor oil will leave the body in better condition than it found it."

The Routine:
Massage a substantial amount (the cup of your palm, while hand is held open) of EVOO/CO into your face and neck.

This is to be done over makeup or any visible dirt. Take this time to give yourself a facial massage. Really work the oil into your skin. Take your time, breathe deeply, and relax. Sit down to do this if it helps.

You, of course, do not have to sit and relax, but keep in mind that stress isn't good for your skin and you should take any moment you can to destress and let tension float away.

Take a washcloth, terry cloth or flannel preferred, and soak it in steamy hot water. Wring it out and drape it over your face.

What we are doing is steaming your face as an esthetician would, but without the steam machine. You want to open your pores. This helps release any impurities from deep within your pores.

As the washcloth begins to cool, gently wipe the oil and dirt away. This will also help remove any dead skin cells that are stubbornly clinging on.

Rinse the washcloth out in hot water and wipe away any remaining impurities. You may have to do this two or three times more to remove any remaining dirt and oil residue, but it will come off leaving your skin with a beautiful, healthy glow. No additional cleansing is necessary.

After you have rinsed well, you can either splash your face with cool water to help tone and close your pores, or if your face feels tight, you can moisturize.

If your skin feels tight, take a tiny drop of your EVOO/CO, rub it between your clean, damp palms and pat it into your damp skin. Massage any oil residue into your skin so there is no film of oil left sitting on the surface. Being prone to breakouts, myself, I've found that this is perhaps the most important step.

Your skin should glow now.

Taken from http://community.livejournal.com/naturalliving/437205.html

Personal Tips

Here's some of the things I've found out/learnt since I started using OCM.

Don't be afraid to experiment with this method! Adjust the oils and the ratio to suit you. Some people find extra virgin olive oil far too heavy for their skin, so they substitute with another moisturising oil such as jojoba or sweet almond. Some people leave out the castor oil altogether. You can add skin-friendly essential oils to the mixture to suit also (be careful with essential oils - always use the correct dilusions, anything more and you could end up with skin sensitivities! I think the safe dilution is about 1 drop of essential oil to every 10ml of OCM mixture) A great site listing the properties of both carrier oils and essential oils

Castor oil is usually sold as a laxative, and is quite cheap. Cold pressed is best.

If you get problem skin in other areas of the body this is great to use all over! Even if your skin is not problematic it will help keep it in condition - I tend to rub the excess oil left on my hands after applying the oil to my face into my hands, cuticles & arms - it keeps my nails strong and healthy, and my skin clear & soft.

Also massage this over your eyelids (when your eyes are closed!) being careful not to get any in your eyes - the castor oil thickens and darkens eyelashes!

For a time I was using OCM in both the mornings and the evenings with great results. Then my skin changed and I found this was too much, so I started using it in the evening only and again I got great results. This is what I mean with experiment, if your skin changes it doesn't necessarily mean the method no longer works, it is more likely to be internal changes - whether it's hormonal or diet or whatever. Work with your skin :)

Around the time of my period I get horrible breakouts. These being hormonal there's not alot I can do to prevent nor treat it. I tend to apply Hypercal cream - A natural blend of the plants hypericum and calendula. Hypericum has pain relief properties, so it helps to soothe those painful spots, while calendula is highly effective in healing and will help your skin heal as quickly as possible.

Other money saving diy beauty

The "No 'poo" Method - A method using rinses of bicarbonate of soda for cleansing and apple cider vinegar for conditioning instead of shampoo!

Make your own Sugaring Solution - Natural Hair Removal

Absolutely tons of natural beauty recipes