Oil Cleansing Method (OCM)

Tried this method after reading the "Highly Recommended" post on acne.org ([link edited out] I only read about 2 pages that were filled with positive reviews, but I should have looked further into it. A little background: I had almost completely clear skin prior to using this method, but I use around 5 products per day including Tazorac, Aczone, Sulfur Wash, Birth Control, and Clindamycin (sp?)... so I thought "Wow, this would really lessen my routine and since I'm basically clear, it shouldn't be too bad..." After about 3-4 days, I noticed my pores looked clogged and bigger around my cheeks and forehead AND I have whiteheads and small pimples on cheeks/jawline (haven't had to deal with this since my teens [now 22 y.o.]). I now know that this method just clogs your pores and yes, initially, I had high hopes and it made my skin feel awesome/moisturized/ what have you... I am glad I stopped after 4 days, since I am super afraid I will get cystic acne (never had it before). Wish I never tried it, not for everyone, it may work for you, but if you are acne prone/oily skin, I really don't think this would be beneficial. If you have somewhat clear skin now, don't try this... seriously it took me so long to get clear and now I wish I had stayed with my routine. As someone else said: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." P.S. For anyone thinking I was doing it wrong- just stop, I did everything as instructed- used all natural ingredients, organic, clean towels, the ratio, etc. etc. You don't need to tell me that I wasn't doing it right.

I'm 20 years old and never had skin problems until I got off the pill with the age of 17. I started to break out quite badly. I used some conventional skin treatments and anti-acne-cremes. After about two years my skin got a lot better and I only had some spots. So I wanted to get rid of those spots - I always had two to ten pimples on my face. I decided to stay away from harsh remedies, so I searched for natural treatments and came across the oil cleaning method. At first - aside from some really big spots - it went well, but after about five days I started to get small closed comedones on my whole face. Every part of my face was suddenly bumpy. The spots weren't inflamed and I thought it was only the process of the so called "purging". Due to the fact that I always read to just stick to it and wait until the purging-phase is over, I did so. After one month my skin was a total mess. Some of the small bumps got inflamed and I even got some cystic acne, which I never had before. I had to go back to taking antibiotics. I would never ever suggest to trying out this treatment! STAY AWAY FROM OIL!!! Especially if you have oily skin as I do. And yes there are people, who have oily skin and no, it's not only dehydrated skin, which needs more moisture to get less oily... FYI: I did a lot of research about the oil cleansing method! I nearly read every posting/feed/forum about this topic. I also tried different oils (all with a rating of 0-1 on the scale). I never used the same washcloth twice.

I've been seeing a particular user commenting on the lower rated reviews here and encouraging people to continue with the OCM method even if it's not working, or giving 'helpful suggestions'. If it's not working for you, STOP. YOU are the one who has to deal with the nasty effects of the OCM, not some random user bleating about how great it is. Fact of the matter is, like every product on the planet, this method won't work for everything. If it does, great. If it doesn't, don't psyche yourself out thinking it will suddenly and magically work. That being said, I did this one time. I went to the Oil Cleansing website and followed their instructions. I forgot what I put in my mixture specifically. Let's just say it didn't work very well and I wasn't interested in trying again. Not to mention I also tried using coconut oil as a moisturizer because of all the rave reviews random people online gave it. I used organic, cold-pressed, unrefined virgin coconut oil as an evening moisturizer, and hell hath no fury, seriously. I had the worst breakout of a life time. I used it for several months before calling cold turkey on it. Never again. I even tried hemp oil for a bit, but that just didn't agree with me. Oils just don't work with my skin. And I'm not a huge advocate of Paula's Choice, but she does discuss oil cleansing on her website. Myth: The combination of oils and hot steam used by the oil-cleansing method will 'deep-clean' skin in a way that no other product can. Hot steam is irritating in every way possible. Irritation stimulates oil production directly in the pore and makes pimples look even redder. Using hot steam on a regular basis also can cause small blood vessels in your skin to rupture, over time creating a network of surfaced red capillaries. So, keep that it mind guys. Be gentle to your skin. I would also like to add that oils cannot purge your skin. The 'purging' phase is a hideous, ugly myth that people love to perpetuate on the internet. True purging is caused by peels, scrubs, AHAs, BHAs or retinoids. If the oil is breaking you out, that's because it is clogging your pores and your skin is more likely irritated if anything.

I just started OCM about a month ago. I used 1/3 hemp seed oil, 1/3 sunflower oil, 1/3 castor oil. I have acne prone skin and have tried EVERYTHING from the time i was 12 up to now 24 years old. The reason I wanted to do OCM is because I have blackheads and scars covering my entire face and now minimal pimples. I wanted my pores to unclog and shrink and this seemed perfect. I choose the hemp seed oil and sunflower oil because they will not clog your pores. The first two weeks was fine. I had blackheads literally coming out onto my hands. Two weeks later my face exploded. I mean, red spots everywhere, blackheads, little white heads, and big pimples on the jawline. My face felt like a giant scab. I wasnt sure If I was going through the so called "purging stage" or if my skin just didnt like it. So i did my research and I found that castor oil causes major problems for people. I changed my ratio to 1/2 hempseed, 1/2 sunflower, a teaspoon of castor and a few drops of tee tree. In stead of just rubbing the oil off with a washcloth and hot water, i just used african black soap (supposed to be great for your skin) to make sure all the oil was off my face. Then I either use a honey&cinnamon mask or Oatmeal&cinnamon&honey mask. After I wash off with water and apply a toner of 1/2 raw organic apple cider vinegar (with the mother) and 1/2 distilled water. Then I put on very very little spot treatment (I just used equate) The next day my face improved 50%! It wasn't dry, the redness was decreased, the bumps also decreased. I know this seems like an overload but everything I used was all organic (except the spot treatment) so there isn't chemicals in these things to kill your skin. All this together cost me about $40 but it will last me for at least 3-6 months easily. I hope this helps some of your who are researching some helpful hints for your "purging" stage. Some people cant handle OCM and if this last for more than a few weeks I suggest stopping before you scar your skin.

I wish I could give this negative 1 million stars! This gave me the worst acne of my life at 27 years old. I tried this horrible cleansing method for a couple months and it literally clogged up what seems like every pore on my face. 1 month after stopping and I'm still dealing with the consequences. Cystic acne all over my cheeks and neck, and just a very bumpy, splotchy overall appearance. My face never looked like this in my entire life. I started the OCM with mild acne. I don't even know if it was mild, it was pretty much non-existent compared to what is now sitting on my face. THIS is acne. I could star in one of those Proactiv commercials as a "before" picture. I probably have moderate-severe acne at the moment, and it is really depressing. Anyway, the OCM started pretty well. I would feel little grains come out, my face would glow, etc. After a few weeks however, I would notice my face had a very bumpy texture. It looked like there were hundreds of bumps just underneath the surface. I was worried but continued on thinking that it was just a phase to get past. WRONG. The bumps emerged over the upcoming weeks as very cystic, pus-filled lesions. I had some of the biggest zits of my life all over my cheeks and jawline, even on my neck. I immediately stopped the OCM, but even 1 month later I'm having trouble clearing up the damage. I wouldn't be surprised if I clogged up every single pore on my face with oil. It now hurts to move my face and I wouldn't dare be in the sunlight. It's just horrible. Please do NOT try this cleansing method unless you want a face full of acne. I truly wish I could turn back time and NOT try this. UGH!

So. Here goes... I'm 25 years old, and I've had moderate to sever acne since I was about 11. I went to dermatologists, used Pro-activ, benzoyl peroxide products, etc. At first the benzoyl peroxide products worked, until I built up a tolerance to them after years of use. Same for the prescription drugs from my doctors. So, for the last few years I've been a little "hosed", but continued to use the benzoyl peroxide washes and creams. Just because I knew nothing else. My skin got worse. My skin became more irritated. I became older and more angry. I also began working at a natural grocery store with wonderful people and products and was told about the "oil cleansing method". So, I said, "oh, what the hell?!" I threw out all of my crap washes and creams and purchased: Grapeseed oil, tamanu oil, tea tree oil, raw honey and a crap load (yep) of vitamins. Now, while my skin is NOT 100% miraculously cured, it is no longer angry. It feels like skin. It isn't irritated or raw, or flaky AND oily at the same time. I have no more cysts, and my tiny "funny bumps" as I call them are minimal. I cleanse at night only with majority grapeseed oil mixed with a few drops of tamanu oil and tea tree oil. I massage it into my dry skin for about 2-3 minutes then wipe/rinse with a hot wash clean (a new, clean one each night). Then I follow with a brief RAW honey wash. A gentle 30-60 second wash just to ensure that the oil has been completely removed (it also puts some other good oils in there). Sometimes I'll use a TINY bit of tamanu and tea tree oil as an overnight spot treatment. In the morning I rinse my face in the shower and spray on some rose water. Because my acne is primarily due to imbalanced hormones (I'm also a vegetarian...which seems like it would help with the hormone issue due to all of the GMO crap in meat) I've also started taking: Evening Primrose Oil - 3 a day at 1,300 mg each. Fish Oil - 2 a day at 1,000 mg each. Zinc - 1 at 50 mg. A women's multi vitamin and a probiotic. Vitamins are extremely important if you have hormonal acne. And again...why not? Just do it. I've been doing this for a little under a month, and while I haven't been "cured" it's a whole hell of a lot better than it was, and I can actually feel myself begin to regulate a bit. So who knows how it will be in six months? I'm shocked that it took me until now to hear about and try. I'm glad I started working where I do with the people I do.

If you go online a research which oils to use for the OCM, you'll find that they all use castor oil. Well I didn't have that when I decided to try this so I made a mixture of 1 part grapeseed oil, 1 part jojoba oil, and 1 part coconut oil with just a few drops of TTO. I recommend you steam your face before applying the oil. Then rub GENTLY in circular motions for a few minutes. You only want to try this if you have the time to do it properly. This isn't a method to be rushed. After a while you may feel tiny "grains" all over. If you do, it's your blackheads coming out. Gross, I know. This happened to me the first few times I did this method. After you have taken your time to massage your face, get a washcloth and dampen it with water that's hot but not burning. One area at a time, place the hot cloth on your face and gently remove the oil. When you are finished you will still feel oil on your face. This is fine, especially if you have dry skin. Heck, this is even great for oily skin but if you don't want any excess oil on your face just use a mild toner to remove. Good luck, and remember this doesn't work for everyone!

I would urge no one to try this. After going on Roaccutan and having very clear skin, I thought I would try achieve radiant glowing skin with the OCM. It worked fine for the first few weeks, but this literally has ruined my skin. I have such awful scars left behind from the OCM. I used it twice a week, and believe the castor oil is the bad ingredient for me. It clogs rather than cleanses. I also think any harsh scrubbing/exfoliating with hot flannels and cloths aren't too good for acne sufferers. If you really wanted to try it then I would recommend only patch testing it on a very small area of the face, testing it for a month or so, then deciding whether it works for you. Please don't try over your entire face. I am still cleansing with Jojoba oil, but just on it's own (only twice a week, and Cetaphil the rest of the time), as it seems to cleanse and moisturise my dry/combi/oily skin. Jojoba oil does not seem to cause any problems for me either. It's all trial and error, so just be careful. This seems like it can easily be too much of an error. It really isn't worth it.

At first I liked my results, then I noticed I had a new cystic pimple. I continued this for about 5 days and I broke out horribly, I used a ratio of 50/50 CO and EVOO. NEVER AGAIN WILL I USE THE OCM. Since then I just wash my face with water and use a cotton ball with diluted tea tree oil to remove any residue of make up and use a honey mask every day until it's time for bed then use a diluted ACV toner and my skin looks way better.... I'm glad for anyone who has had good results with this OCM method, but I will never do this again...

I was scared to death to try it I just new i'd wake up with 50 pimples and I didnt! I had to switch out olive oil and use jojoba oil tho, since the switch i've had great results, I do get dry though (which is weird cause I have oily skin) so i have to moisturize afterwards. I only use at night (more than that is too drying) and somtimes use sugar to exfloilate. I'm one of those ppl who have used everything under the sun (except for accutane) and so am excited to see great improvement from natural things. it has only been a week though so we'll see how it continues (i hope it last!), but as of now i cant believe that oil has helped my breakouts! sometimes you have to let nature do its stuff! ^_^