In 2007, I began using Oil Cleansing Method to clean my face. When I first read about this method of cleansing, I was extremely hesitant. It seemed to go against everything I had ever believed about skin care. ADDING oil to your face? What on this earth? But I soon became convinced that what I had traditionally used on my face was actually doing damage to my skin because those over-the-counter cleansers:
1) remove the body's natural oils from the skin causing it to overproduce oil to compensate for the oil that was washed away, and 2) include ingredients like fragrances that irritate the now vulnerable skin.
From the time I first began to tell others about OCM, I've received many questions about it. Here is what I have learned:
1) How often should you use OCM?
Personally, I do an OCM treatment on my face every other or night, maybe every two nights. It's important to note that I use bareMinerals make-up and feel no need to wash this off my face at night. Maybe I should, but I don't, and I don't have any problems with break-outs or build-up. My husband does a treatment about three times a week or so.
My sister has begun to use OCM to cleanse her face, too, and she does it about five nights a week. She wears traditional (non-mineral) make-up and on the nights she doesn't do OCM, she uses her trusty Clinique face wash.
2) What kind of skin types can use the OCM?
I would guess any skin type. I have combination dry/oily in the T-zone skin and it works great for me. My sister's skin tends to be more oily than dry, and she has found great success with this method, too. She has also battled acne on and off throughout her life, but OCM has not caused any flare-ups.
3) My skin feels dry after I use the OCM. Why?
It's possible you are using too much castor oil. The castor oil is the part of the system that actually carries dirt, make-up, impurities, etc., away from your skin. Too much can be drying. If you find your skin is too dry, try changing up the proportions in your oil mixture. Instead of one part CO to three parts of your nourishing oil (we use EVOO), try one part CO to four parts or five parts nourishing oil.
4) Do you still use moisturizer?
I think you'll find if you do an OCM treatment at night, you don't need to put on a moisturizer before bed. I still put on just a tad in the mornings after I shower if I have dry patches on my face.
5) Have you had any break-outs since you started the OCM?
Actually, no. When my hormone levels fluctuate with each cycle, I might have a blemish or two pop up (blemish . . . I'm terribly proper, aren't I?), but other than that, my skin is really quite clear. And sometimes even glowy. (Or maybe that's the minerals talking.)
If you want to read more, here's a few articles I can suggest in addition to the one I linked to above:
Cleaning Up With Oil: The Oil Cleansing Method
Suite 101.com: The Oil Cleansing Method
Aisha Wood: OCM
I would love to hear about your experiences with OCM! I haven't used soap to wash my face in YEARS. I love to hear how it works for others!
