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Ok, I think there's some general confusion about the point of oil cleansing.
Regarding whether or not it works or not: Obviously, like every other acne treatment in the world, it will work for some and not for others.
Regarding what oils to use: Castor oil is necessary for the cleansing part of oil cleansing. You can use any non-comedogenic oil for the carrier oil. EVOO, Jojoba, grapeseed, sunflower and safflower are common and popular.
Regarding the proportions: Castor oil can be drying, so it's best to start out with a smaller portion of castor and a larger portion of your carrier oil(s). Personally, I started with 15% castor and 85% EVOO, which I then switched to Jojoba/Grapeseed, sometimes in conjunction with one another and sometimes just one or the other.
Regarding purging: Castor oil is a drawing oil, so yes, you may experience a purge. But, like the efficacy of this method, it will vary from person to person.
Regarding the whole oil vs. oil idea: This isn't about oil cleansing "tricking" your oil producing glands into not producing oil anymore. I do believe, from personal experience, that stripping your skin of it's natural oils is a bad idea. Those oils are there naturally, and they should stay there. However, when that naturally occurring oil mixes with other things, including dead skin cells, dirt on the skin, etc, these oils can form plugs in the pores. Clogged pores = acne, of one kind or another. We all know that. While the idea of OCM causing the glands to just stop producing oil is NOT accurate, OCM DOES help to, over time, dissolve the oil that has caused plugs in the pores, and the castor oil draws these dissolved oils OUT of the pores to the surface, where they can be wiped away. With clear avenues for escape, the natural oils and the sneaky devils that combine with the natural oils to cause clogged pores are less likely to get trapped in the first place.
Drying out your skin is uncomfortable and will make it seem as though you're producing more oil, for sure. I suspect many of us have experienced this ourselves. And that impression is enough to make drying out the skin unappealing, in addition to (IMO) not being healthy for the skin. One of the nice things about OCM is that it doesn't damage the skin barrier, the way so many cleansers with sulfates and other detergents in them do. There are plenty of sulfate-free cleansers out there, though, so that shouldn't be one's only reason for trying this.
Any method of acne treatment is going to run the risk of making matters worse, or helping the acne you have but causing new and different acne in the process. You have to accept a certain amount of risk in this matter since the generally accepted methods of treatment are so hit or miss.
Supporters and detractors alike should approach the subject respectfully.
MiBFTo said:Ok, I think there's some general confusion about the point of oil cleansing.Regarding whether or not it works or not: Obviously, like every other acne treatment in the world, it will work for some and not for others. ....
MiBFTo, thank you. I just spent the better part of my work morning (heh!) reading this thread and other internet sources and have decided this is worth an attempt though clearly, I've deemed plenty of methods, including the DKR, as worthy of attempts which I lose interest or belief in at varying speeds. Your reply was cohesive and thoughtful and has encouraged me to give it a shot.
Tea tree oil is more of a treatment, than something you want to include in oil cleansing. If you use the jojoba that will give you a moisturizing effect, the hazelnut will make a good astringent, and I would apply the tea tree with a q-tip to spots that need to be neutralized.
Tea tree oil is more of a treatment, than something you want to include in oil cleansing. If you use the jojoba that will give you a moisturizing effect, the hazelnut will make a good astringent, and I would apply the tea tree with a q-tip to spots that need to be neutralized.
thanks for the info....so a 50/50 mixture of jojoba and hazelnut?
Well, you're not really going to have much luck, IMO, without castor oil. That's the ingredient that's drawing, that will pull impurities from your pores. And I've never heard of using hazelnut oil as part of oil cleansing, though I suspect it would be beneficial in a toner.
Red bumps?
I've been at the OCM with a 50/50 blend of jojoba and castor for six days or so now, with excellent and near-immediate results to my jawline acne and seemingly-permanent (though not any more!) nose and chin blackheads. But now I have strange red spots all over my cheeks and forehead that I've never seen before easily concealed by a light mineral powder, but the texture of my skin is terrible. They do not itch or burn.
What gives? I bought some EVOO and may switch to that tonight. I do the OCM once a day and wash with water or a Kiss My Face Olive Oil & Chamomile bar alternatively.
EVOO broke me out pretty badly. I recovered fairly quickly, but my skin did NOT like it. I think EVOO is typically called for when you've got dry skin, so if you're oily, you might want to rethink it.
My suggestion given your mix is to back off of the Castor oil a bit. Castor oil is a drawing oil and can be super drying if it's overused. You're probably seeing those bumps because of your high castor oil content. I'd back off to at least 25/75% castor/jojoba.... and historically my skin hasn't liked frequent use of jojoba, either. Grapeseed seems to be going ok, though. You might want to consider adding another carrier oil to your current mix, and aim for a 25/25/50% mix of castor/jojoba/grapeseed or safflower or sunflower. I've tried mixing a bit of jojoba in with my current mix, which I like well enough but most days I just use the grapeseed and castor.
I just wanted to say that I have not read through all of the posts, but I think the original poster really added too many variations and I would suggest anyone who wants to try this go to theoilcleansingmethod.com
I came across this on a beauty thread a while ago. I am almost 30 years old and started getting acne pretty bad when I was 17. I have tried proactive, dermatologist rx stuff... anything you name it!! Normally after cleansing, using toner and moisturizing with clean and clear moisturizer the next morning my face is an oil slick.
I have been using a blend of 25% castor oil to 75% Evoo. In only a few days after starting I noticed my face looked really pale, then I realized it was because all the inflamation was gone. My skin tone was evening out. My dark circles under my eyes have disappeared and my face is pretty much clear.
The biggest, strangest difference is that my face just feels normal. It does not feel oily or dry. It feels like the skin on my arm or my leg.... it is no longer a big oil slick!!! I can not even describe how different this is... it is finally NORMAL!! This is my complete routine..... I added a light scrub only because when I started I could feel dead skin on my face and needed to remove it. I only use it when I feel those little bumps starting from dead skin.
I use a small small amount of Apricot scrub, st ives. Probably only a teaspoon... just enough to get some on my finger tips and then I use that all over. (wet face first)
After that I use about a quarter size amount of oil. I massage it into my face especially anywhere I have blackheads. I massage for about 3-4 minutes on the whole face... always get the under eye area too since it seems to help dark circles.
Then I get a washcloth and run very hot water and soak it and wring it out. It is hot enough to be uncomfortable on my hands but by the time I wring it and get it to my face it does not burn my face. I let it cool for maybe 1 minute. While it is on my face for the first time I pat it all around. I don't wipe off any oil though. Just kind of getting the steamy cloth into my skin.
I rinse it and steam it again for another minute. This time I wipe off the oil, but I don't try to get all of it, just most of it.
I steam once more for a total of three times and this time I wipe off all of the oil. I do not do anything else after that. I really think if you want to use BP or something like that you should do it in the morning under your makeup or use a little before(several hours before), but I think once you cleanse with the oil you need to leave your face alone!!!
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So many people are trying to change it and add stuff and substitute other stuff and they are completely missing the point. Then they don't under stand why it isn't working. I used to be the same way. In fact this is probably why other things have not worked for me in the past. If you want to try it, do it as stated. After trying that for a bit then you can make adjustments. Also a big part is GET ALL THE OIL OFF... I think not getting the washcloth hot enough is where some people are getting messed up.
Just my two cents for WIW. I have been completely shocked and impressed by this method! It is the only thing that has worked for me. My face has not felt like this since I was pre-puberty, lol!!
So I just started doing the OCM - only at night - and it's been 2 days so far. My skin is looking better & the boyfriend said it was really smooth already. I use a 30% castor; 70% jojoba oil mix but I have a couple of questions. Has anybody added emu oil to their OCM? I was hoping something could help with the minimal red marks & old acne scarring and emu oil sounds like an answer.
I apply Taz at night but I'm a little confused as to how to do it after the OCM. Do I apply it after I dry my face and then moisturize with jojoba? Or do I not have to moisturize at all and just leave the Taz as is since the OCM moisturizes?
Please help!!! Thanks 
I have been using tea tree oil and eucalyptus oil diluted in water for the last couple of weeks. I wash my face with Burt's Bees deep cleansing creme, then put honey or coconut oil on for about 15-20 min. After this i apply the diluted oils to my face and let it dry. Usually it leaves my skin somewhat dry, but not really bad. I apply sweet almond oil to the dry spots and haven't had any really bad breakouts or anything from it. I haven't had any really bad breakouts since i've been doing this! Essential oils are really good for your skin!
I have some blackheads but for some reason I cannot get the blackheads to open up completely when using the OCM. its only been 3 days but im not sure if i am doing something wrong or what? can somebody help me out with some suggestions to make the OCM work better?! thanks!!! 
This poster (I forgot his name 
) has his theories right indeed. Only non-polar solvents can dissolve other non-polar substances. Oil, being a non-polar compound, cannot be dissolved by water. Try all you might, they will never dissolve.
Which is why I suggest trying sulfur. Sulfur is a non-polar substance, and you can mix it, beat it, yell at it and sing Michael Jackson till the cows come home, it will never dissolve in water.
I've tried it to make a spot treatment using sulfur powder and water; I had to resort to dissolving the sulfur in oil.
So if you coat your face in a thin layer of sulfur powder (I think its called Flowers of Sulfur), it'll draw out the oil from the pores and dissolve them.
Now here comes the problem. How do you wash off a non-polar solvent with a polar one like water. This is why you need a mild cleanser - I use Spectro Jel Blemish-Prone Skin, Fragrance Free Cleanser [Edited link out] . It contains Dimethicone, a wondrous compound that works with both polar and non-polar substances.
It is a Silicone based Surfactant & Emollient Moisturizer, which means it gently lifts oil and sebum (non-polar) from pores, and rinses them out allowing them to breathe. It'll also wash off the sulfur on your skin. As an Emollient Moisturizer, it allows interaction with both polar and non-polar substances, preventing excess loss of moisture from the surface of your skin while preventing excess production of sebum, preserving the natural oils of the deeper skin layers.
Here is all the ingredients in Spectro Products - http://www.spectroskincare.com/facial_cleansing_02.aspx , [Edited link out] and what they do.
I am not a representative or worker of Spectro, I have just been using their products for the last year and they have worked wonders for my skin, as far as a cleanser and moisturizer is concerned. But their products are currently only available in Canada 
Now here comes the problem. How do you wash off a non-polar solvent with a polar one like water. This is why you need a mild cleanser - I use . It contains Dimethicone, a wondrous compound that works with both polar and non-polar substances.
Hmm....if you are going natural i would beware of the "Cones". Dimethicone is supposed to be not so nice for the skin. But if you don't care about that, sounds great!
I have some blackheads but for some reason I cannot get the blackheads to open up completely when using the OCM. its only been 3 days but im not sure if i am doing something wrong or what? can somebody help me out with some suggestions to make the OCM work better?! thanks!!!
Oat flour is supposed to be really good for that....it just seems quite labor intensive to get the actual oat flour unless you can buy it at the store. I haven't actually tried it myself, but I too have a lot of blackheads that i'm probably gonna try it for.
Now here comes the problem. How do you wash off a non-polar solvent with a polar one like water. This is why you need a mild cleanser - I use . It contains Dimethicone, a wondrous compound that works with both polar and non-polar substances.
Hmm....if you are going natural i would beware of the "Cones". Dimethicone is supposed to be not so nice for the skin. But if you don't care about that, sounds great!
Wow, another one 
. I'm really getting tired of telling people to do your research before posting crap on these boards. Where's your evidence? Any sources?
There are hundreds of "-cone" compounds in existence; dimethicone is just one of them. What you said is like saying don't drink any form of alcohol whatsoever, it'll get you drunk! There are over 1000 types of alcohol, and only two of them is edible and intoxicating at the same time - methanol and ethanol!!! Almost all the rest are industrial and fatal if consumed, except sugar alcohols.
Sorry, got off track for a sec. Where was I? Oh yes, Dimethicone.
Dimethicone is an excellent skin care product but whether it is right for you depends on what you are looking for. It is a type of silicone oil. Silicone oils in general add glide and smooth properties to skin care products.
Dimethicones are unmodified silicone oils. Unmodified silicone oils stay on the surface of the skin as the molecules are too large to penetrate deeply into the skin. Because it stays on the surface of the skin, dimethicone provides a skin barrier.
This is an excellent ingredient for someone whose skin barrier has been disrupted or has been seriously compromised and needs added protection. Healthy skin takes 8 hours to repair this barrier. Soaps and other harsh products, especially those that contain sodium-based surfactants do drastic damage to your skin and this barrier, causing your skin to take a lot longer to repair this barrier. During this while, your skin is highly proned to infection from bacteria and other environmental factors.
Dimethicone will help take over some of the normal functions of the skin barrier, such as preventing transdermal water loss. It is a good product to use in dry, hot climates.
So in a nutshell:
Dimethicone has been proven to seal moisture into the skin. Dimethicone has also been found to prevent certain bacteria from infecting the skin, as reported in this 2002 study in the Journal of Parasitology.
I wouldn't exactly refer to it is as CRAP because not everyone agrees on the use of Dimethicone in products. I didn't put any sources because i don't know exactly if they are good or bad for you, and it's a debated topic actually. But most people like to know things before they use them and some consider Dimethicone a harmful ingredient. The thing about Dimethicone is that it isn't water soluble and can potentially irritate skin -like all other things we put on the skin. It's your own personal choice whether you think it's good or not for use.
I wouldn't exactly refer to it is as CRAP because not everyone agrees on the use of Dimethicone in products. I didn't put any sources because i don't know exactly if they are good or bad for you, and it's a debated topic actually. But most people like to know things before they use them and some consider Dimethicone a harmful ingredient. The thing about Dimethicone is that it isn't water soluble and can potentially irritate skin -like all other things we put on the skin. It's your own personal choice whether you think it's good or not for use.
Which is why we post the facts (and suggestions, not necessarily opinions), and let the audience decide. You have posted your opinion without any said facts on dimeticone. And dimethicone being an irritant is an opinion, not a fact, because only a small portion of dimethicone users have experienced irritation, as with all facial products.
I have included opinions in my post above, but I have also provided the facts and sources. It's now up to you; use it or don't. Simple intellect.
This is total bunk. Most of my acne had been improving over the last few months with a few breakouts. so i bought cold-pressed castor oil and grapeseed oil. I tried this 2 days ago, and it was fine. now i have rashes all over my face. I'm an esthetics student and my instructor asked me "what's going on with your face? it looks like an allergic reaction". i told her about OCM and she said that castor oil is comedogenic and can cause these reactions in people. now i don't even feel like leaving the house.
Bryan,
While I sincerely applaud your use of scientifically generated data to back your claims, I find your views to be closed-minded. Insulting people rarely wins people over to your point of view. It doesn't make you any friends, either.
Scientific thinking involves the constant challenging of what we think we know in order to reinforce the strength of our arguments. So I propose this to you:
Follow the Oil Cleansing Method yourself for a reasonable period of time. I don't know how your oil measuring strips work, but if possible, take a baseline reading shortly after application to assess the amount of residual oil left by your cleansing. See how your sebum production using the OCM varies from sebum production using your current regimen. If you don't already have data regarding oil production with your current regimen, take the time to assess this first before you introduce any changes.
Think of this as a challenge.
Susan