Oil Cleansing Method (OCM)

I went off birth control a few months ago and soon had large, painful cystic acne on my chin and jawline. I've struggled with acne on and off since my adolescence- even did two rounds of Accutane, which left my skin glowing for a lovely six, seven years... but the spotted red cat always ultimately came back. I started oil cleansing relatively recently, so I am crossing my fingers that it continues to work so well. I experienced no purging, and actually saw an immediate improvement. Here's what I did: Purchased 1 bottle of ordinary castor oil. $4 1 bottle avocado oil (it's the one from Whole Foods which also has Vitamin E in it) $6 1 bottle Neem oil, which maybe was unnecessary $7 1 glass bottle for mixing with a dropper cap (important) $3 So the whole method could cost you as little as $13. Pour an inch or so of avocado oil (or any carrier oil you like, jojoba oil might also be good, although for me I think that would be too drying with the castor oil) into your clean glass mixing bottle. Then pour in a bit of castor oil. Apparently people experiment with their ratio. I am using about 60 percent avocado, 40 percent castor oil. Cap the bottle and shake it. Have a clean facecloth or even a paper towel handy. Wash your hands well and use the dropper to deposit a quarter size amount of your newly mixed oil into your palm. Now rub the oil onto your dry face- leave your makeup on, and again, DON'T GET YOUR SKIN WET FIRST, that will prevent the oil from doing its job, as water and oil don't mix. Oil dissolves oil. That's the key here. Rub/massage your problem areas for as close to 5 minutes as possible. You will probably get bored, but you will also begin to feel comedomes, black heads and whiteheads rolling free of your pores! When I first started this the heads of my cysts came off, and my skin felt so, soo clean... Once you've done this, wet your clean washcloth with very hot water and hold it over your face, steaming your pores so that they open further. They will have already opened a bit with the warmth from your rubbing. Hold the washcloth over your face for two minutes- if it cools, quickly reheat it. Then wipe off all the oil with the washcloth. You can rewet the washcloth and wipe the oil off two or three times if you like. If you're not comfortable putting oil on your face yet, after cleansing this way you can put on lotion if necessary (and any zit cream you still want to use, I'm trying out the Neem oil with what seems to be good results). However, you can also use a few drops of your same oil mixture to moisturize, too. In the morning you don't need to wash this way- just wipe your face down with clean hands and water. I use the oil cleansing method after the gym and before bed. I'm delighted to have found a simple, healthy, and inexpensive solution. Hope this helps other people! Acne can be so debilitating. For anyone who is reading this right now and feels bad about their skin-here's a little nugget that has gotten me through bad days: when you're all broken out and are feeling uncomfortable being around people because you assume they are thinking, 'wow, what a pizza face-' Remember what you yourself think when you see someone whose skin is upset. You probably don't think awful things. Your heart probably goes out to them, right? Most people you meet will feel the same way. So hold your head high and make the best of your day, no matter what your skin looks like.

I've suffered from acne since age 11. I'm 18 now, and for many years was known as the girl with the pimples. Age 12-14 was the worst, as there was not one inch of clear skin all over my face, and I had painful cysts, black heads, and white heads. I've tried everything from over the counter washes, to acid peels, to honey masks, to even putting 10% benzoyl peroxide on my entire face. All of this, plus time, did calm down my acne. However by age 17 I was still too insecure to go outside without foundation, and still couldn't go a day without a break out. But I think I've found the cure in the OCM. I've been using it for 3 weeks and I haven't seen my skin looking this beautiful since I was honestly about 9 years old. I did have a purging period, but it only lasted 5 days and only gave me about 6 zits (a small price to pay). The reason I think so many people are experiencing even more break outs is because either (A) They're using oils that their skin is not compatible with, (B) They're not rubbing in the oils long enough or (C) They're not removing the oils well enough. Before starting the OCM, I did my research and decided I wouldn't be using castor oil in my mix since it scores a 1/5 on the comedogenic scale, and since I have acne prone skin I decided I'd only be using oils that scored 0/5. I used 50% cold pressed organic hemp oil and 50% cold pressed organic sunflower oil, both of which scored 0s. I also added 3 drops of tea tree oil. I used this in the evening everyday and rubbed it in for 10 minutes, then I used my hands (not the wash cloth) and very hot water to rinse my face for 2-4 minutes, then only used the wash cloth to steam my face for an additional 2-4 minutes. Harsh exfoliating can sometimes make acne worse so I recommend not to use it to rub. You guys should also use the OCM at least once every other day. One reviewer said he/she used it every 2 weeks? Your pores will become clogged again by the time you come around to using it again, what's the point? But the most important rule of the OCM is to never, everrrrr use it and use any over the counter crap washes at the same time! Clearsil, clean & clear, cetaphil, all these washes will do is confuse your skin! Your skin will freak out and it'll just produce more oil, which will equal more break outs! If you absoulutely must use a wash, find one without any kind of sulfate. I recommend Dr. Bronner's tea tree wash, or Dr. Bronner's hemp oil and peppermint wash. I hope the OCM helps other people as it's helped me, after 8 years of suffering, I'm finally confident in my skin. Happy cleansing. :)

Have had moderate acne my entire adult life...not severe but constant level of blemishes. Tried antibitoics, topical solutions, different contraceptive pills, expensive creams, you name it I tried it. Had oily nose that needed powder touch ups throughout the day and wore quite a lot of foundation to make me feel moreconfident. Have been using OCM for about 2 months and my skin went a little crazy in the first month even thought it was much less oily but I stuck with it and now my skin is clearer, softer and my scars seem less obvious. I rarely need to moisturise and am wearing much less make-up. Fingers crossed my acne days are behind me. My oil mix is 70% castor, 20% grapeseed, 10% jojoba with a few drops of tea tree oil. Currently using OCM daily (in the evening) and just washing with plain hot water in the morning. Good luck and stick with it until you find the right ratio of oils. It is still early but I am hopeful this will be the last thing I try!

The first time I tried the oil cleansing method I followed the advice of 60% EVOO and 30% castor oil, I had a major breakout!!! I came back to this method about two weeks ago. This time though, I did intense research. If you have oily/acne prone skin you should really use jojoba oil and/or grapeseed oil with castor oil, olive oil is way too thick for oily skin, not to mention jojoba has an acid in it that's tough on acne. Also I would start out 60% castor oil and 40% jojoba. My skin is so oily I went up to 75% castor oil and 25% jojoba oil. The results from this mixture are amazing on my oily skin. At first my skin purged and I did freakout, but I didn't quit the method, I stuck with it. I am not kidding when I say your whiteheads and blackheads will come out your skin as you do this method! There was a period where they just kept coming out for like 3 days in a row! I use this method everyday and overtime my skin is becoming less oily! Usually I have to wipe my face with a blot cloth by noon and now my skin isn't getting oily until like 3 and best of all my face doesn't itch from acne! I don't even look for acne anymore because everytime I leave out the door in the morning I can see my face is clear more and more. Stubborn acne scars I had are gone. I would just like to also say yes this method does work because castor oil has amazing antibacterial properities and oil does loosen the harden oils in your pores, but if you start from the inside you won't have to spend so much time on the outside. I have really cut out foods that raise insulin levels(the master hormone!!!) like sugar, greasy, processed, white bread,etc. I have incorporated anti-inflammatory foods into my diet as well (acne is an inflammatory skin disease). A major thing that has helped is I have really stuck to drinking 64 oz of water a day. The amount of acne I get has gone down SO much and the oil cleansing method makes the acne I get come out in like 3 days of getting it, it's amazing!

I started using grapeseed oil as a cleanser about a month a go because of its astringent, healing and moisturising properties. and after a month of use the results are amazing, my pores look unclogged, my blackheads are reduced, I have had no breakouts what so ever and my skin is actually glowing! I have seen that many of you have had a bad reaction to the OCM because you have used coconut oil, personally I would not recommend coconut oil for the OCM if you have oily/acne prone skin or any type of acne prone skin, as coconut oil actually have a very high comedogenic rating compared to other oils suck as grapeseed oil or sweet almond oil (which I also highly recommend). this means that when coconut oil Is applied to oily or acne prone skin it is more likely to clog pores if used as a moisturiser or if it is not washed off thoroughly, and due to the greasiness of the oil it is most likely to leave residue on the skin anyway leading to blackheads, breakouts and possibly cystic acne. I am saying this from experience because I tried coconut oil for the OCM and after a few days of using it my skin FREAKED OUT, I have spots everywhere and I was embarrassed to even leave the house. however sweet almond oil and grapeseed oil are actually know to unclog pores and get rid of acne so I would highly recommend them for the OCM or as a moisturiser. if you would also like to use any other oils I would recommend doing some research on the comedogenic ratings of the oils and the uses of the oils as you may find that some oils are used more for moisturising and dry/flaky skin that for cleansing and getting rid of acne. some people have had very positive outcomes from using coconut oil, but the majority of them had originally dry /combination or dry/flaky skin. if you are relying on just reviews make sure that that person has a similar skin type as you because you might end up wrecking your skin.

I was skeptical, but also desperate after 12 years of acne covering my body. But to be honest at this stage in my life, the pimples I found most troublesome were the stubborn, ever-present ones right on my breasts. (Does not promote intimate feelings turns out) Nothing improved it or really effected it in any way actually, but the thing I settled on longest was oil free cleanser plus oil free moisturizer and the occasional bp mask. Then 6 months ago I lost my mind a little and threw out all of my personal hygiene products and replaced them with things from the kitchen. And I feel like the world's biggest chump. I took accutane, antibiotics, birth control -all as a vulnerable teen and the thing that finally makes me resemble an adult is in covering my face and chest in frickin olive oil. I didnt even have to try different oils or adjust the proportions. 1/3 castor oil. Please use hot water. Everyone says not to exfoliate but I do every day with a washcloth after and this part is key. So what ive learned is be kind to your skin (lame, why yes it is) and don't be afraid of oil be afraid of everything that isnt in your kitchen. Unless there happens to be a dermatologist in there then be afraid of that too. *sigh* (Seriously my BOOBS do you know what that does to a person)

For as long as I can remember, I've had acne in some form or another. I started precocious puberty at the age of 6, which meant that I basically started breaking out at that age, and I was diagnosed with moderate rosacea when I was 14. Fun, yeah? Anyway, while my skin has never been bad enough to need anything prescriptive, the persistent redness coupled with a smattering of blackheads and pimples has been a constant source of embarrassment to me. That is, until I started the oil cleansing method. A few (very, very biased) words on coconut, jojoba, and olive oil: Don't even look at them. I know that they're often touted as magical miracle oils, but I think people with acne-prone skin are playing with fire when they try them. Most of the "oh-my-god-ocm-gave-me-a-cystic-breakout-HELP!" reviews are from people who used any of these 3 oils in their mixes. If they work for you, then great. Personally though, I wouldn't risk a skin temper tantrum by using something so comedogenic. I use a mix of 30% castor oil and 70% sunflower oil with about 6 drops of tea tree oil for anti-bacterial properties. A 30ml quantity ( I sterilised and re-purposed an old serum bottle) lasts me 2-3 weeks. After massaging the mix into my face for 5 minutes, I do the washcloth steaming thing 7 times and wipe it all off, then rinse with cool water and swipe with lemon juice as a toner. The whole process takes around 15-20 minutes in all. I swear OCM has given me mild OCD as well as beautiful skin -. I get very anxious if I massage for less than 5 minutes or steam less than 7 times! In the mornings I just rinse my face with some hot water or go over it with a baby wipe if I'm in a rush. When I first started cleansing like this, it wasn't like my acne just vanished away magically. The spots healed in the same time they normally would. However, here's the great part: NO NEW PIMPLES FORMED. My blackheads were mostly gone after 2 weeks of this routine, and my rosacea improved to the point of my friends and family noticing that I no longer looked like a tomato in a dress. My skin, when makeup-less, still isn't 100% perfect, but now I only get a few pimples on my chin when I'm pre-menstrual and my rosacea just looks like I have rosy cheeks. A tinted sunscreen is all I need to make it look like I have flawless skin, whereas before I'd need a maximum cover foundation and some powder. TL;DR: Don't use oils that are known to be pore-clogging. Don't cut corners when it comes to regularity and method. Use a clean washcloth for every wash.

I've been using this OCM method for over a year with great results. Using other cleansers left my face dry & itchy...causing me to touch my face more, etc. After a few months of using OCM, it cleared most of my cosemtic acne and all I had left was the cystic acne that was occuring because of unbalanced hormone levels. I was able to see that I was getting new acne the week before my period. So I got back on birth control (Ortho-cyclen ... generic: mononessa or sprintec). The birth control helped clear the cystic acne. Nothing you put on top of your skin will ever cure acne that is hormonal. I've been on epiduo...antibiotics...aczone etc. It wasn't until I was back on the pill that I started to see the cystic acne go away. Now back to OCM, it's a great simple way to cleanse your skin at night. I use 50/50 castor oil and jojoba oil. I also made my own scent by adding in Geranium oil, Jojoba oil, Juniper berry oil, Lavender oil, Lemon oil, Lime oil. I rub that mixture in for a few minutes then I put a warm wash cloth over my face and then I wipe it off. I follow it with a homemade mosturizer that consists of jojoba oil, vegetable glycerin, aloe vera gel, and a little bit of water in a spitzer bottle. I have not had dry skin since I've been using OCM. And in combination w/ the birth control I've been acne free for the past 2 months!

I have been using hemp seed oil on my face as a moisturizer on and off for about 2 years now and I have never felt like it caused me to break out, although I do have acne-prone skin.I just recently started using it in the Oil Cleansing Method. MY BACKGROUND I'm 24, I had mostly clear skin growing up but at age 20 I got the Mirena IUD and it broke me out horribly, I started getting cystic acne which I used to not get, after a year when I finally clued in that it was the Mirena making a mess of my skin, I had it removed and switched to the copper t-novo iud (which does not release any hormones) since then my skin has still been a struggle, not as bad as when I had the mirena - when I had the mirena I'd get acne all over my my cheeks, chin, my temples, and my forehead. Now without the mirena it is just my cheeks and chin that tend to get acne. I've tried a lot, acid peels (salicylic and lac tic acid), I've tried so many topicals, Proactiv, and I even had a few laser treatments which HURT. A lot. Some more than others, but yea pure torture. My acne eventually came back. I've also tried clean eating, I've noticed dairy and sugar (especially combined- icecream!) break me out, but even avoiding those and drinking 8-12 cups of water a day I still break out, and on top of that my red scarring was extremely slow to leave. REVIEW OF OCM - 2/3 Hemp seed Oil, 1/3 Castor Oil So like I said I used to moisturize with Hemp seed, and now I recently started using it in the OC method. At first I thought it was pretty good, I could feel it removing little blackheads and the tiny clogged pores very easily, but then I decided to add castor oil to it and I love it!!! It is the perfect mix for me. Before using this method my skin looked dull and lifeless, like it was lacking collagen. Basically, I looked gaunt, like I was under-nutritioned even though I eat quite healthy. This oil combo not only greatly reduces my redness, but it plumps my skin like nothing other!! But the great thing about the plumping, is that I put it under and on my eyelids too, and they don't swell up whereas other oils and also vaseline cause me to have gross puffy swelling. Note that this plumping of my skin only happens if I steam my face with the oil on, if I skip the steaming I don't get this so the steaming is very important. MY ROUTINE I OC at night every night and occasionally in the AM. At night, I grab my oil from the fridge (Hemp Seed oil Must be kept in the fridge) and I start massaging it all over my face, over my makeup (sometimes if I have heavy mascara on, I will rinse my face with water just to get most of it off, and then towel dry completely, but I don't use any other cleanser apart from the oil). So, I put it onto a dry face with clean hands and I begin to massage it into my skin for about 10 minutes, and then I soak a face cloth in hot hot water, ring it out a bit and drape it over my face, trying to seal it around my face with my hands. I re-soak it in hot water usually 3-5 times, I keep going with the steam until I feel I've gotten enough to give me the plumping effect. Then I either wipe the oil off with the cloth in an upward motion (I don't resoak it because I don't want to take all the oil off) orr if I had just gotten out of the shower or something and the whole bathroom is very steamy and hot, I will massage again and maybe even take some time to massage down my neck to get flow going in my lymph nodes. And ta da! Done. I don't apply any moisturizer because hemp oil penetrates the skin so amazingly well (and its a 0 on the noncomedigenic scale). In the morning, I wake up with significantly less redness than what any less skin routine would give me, and cute collagen-filled cheeks! So in the AM I just leave my skin be, unless it was a hot night where I was sweating a lot, then I do the OC again, but this time taking a bit less time to massage it in (depending on how much time I have) Anyways if you've tried OCM and it wasn't entirely pleasing you to the degree you hoped, I HIGHLY SUGGEST you try it with hemp seed oil and castor! It even leaves my skin looking matte! I seriously can't say enough about it. The only downside is it needs to be kept in the fridge or freezer. For me this isn't much of an issue because my place is small and my bathroom is right next to my kitchen. Totally worth it though, if you have to run down to a kitchen that is far away, I suggest just washing your hands thoroughly and then going to your kitchen to get the oil, and then start massaging it straight onto your skin while you're still in the kitchen, no need to grab it and bring it to the bathroom with you just to have to go put it back again. Ps- I've tried this with coconut oil, olive oil, and grapeseed oil, I would say that Hemp is superior to all of them. (Can be found at a health foods store!)