The Oil Cleansing Method: A Review

Written on February 12, 2010 by in Craving...Lifestyle Creation, Craving...Reviews

This was supposed to be a video post, but it’s been so gray and dreary here the last few days that I can’t seem to get good lighting no matter where I go! So you’ll have to deal with text instead.

What is the oil cleansing method, you ask? And what kind of silly person came up with that idea? I mean, it’s OIL. Right?

Apparently it’s not that straightforward. Who knew?!

To get a total rundown of the idea, check out this website. They recommend using a blend of castor oil and extra virgin olive oil, but I use 100% jojoba oil and it’s worked fine for me so far.

The basic idea is that the oil breaks down the oil in your pores, and then it all washes away together. The specific method they recommend is steaming your face with a hot washcloth and then washing away with cold water, but I just put the oil on my face before getting in the shower. Before turning the water cold (which I do to wash my hair anyways!), I scrub my face really well with a washcloth.

It doesn’t sound like it would work well, but it’s done wonders for my skin. I’ve got ridiculously sensitive skin, that’s also combination and tends to get really oily in the t-zone. Except that it also has a tendency towards dryness, so what happens if I’m not really careful is gross oily skin with a layer of dry flaky skin on top. Ew! That doesn’t happen with the jojoba oil/OCM; when I get out of the shower my face feels nice and clean, but not tight. There’s no dryness and it’s even helped with my oiliness! I still get the occasional blemish, but it happens maybe once a month or once every two months – my skin is pretty clear, overall. It should be noted that I didn’t exactly have problem skin before; there was the dry/oily issue, but I’ve haven’t had too many problems with recurring zits in years.

It’s not expensive, either – I’m not sure what the price of castor oil and extra virgin olive oil would break down to, but I bought a ten dollar 4 oz bottle of jojoba oil from Whole Foods in the first or second week of November, and it’s still got somewhere between half and two thirds of the bottle left. There’s also the green benefit – no icky chemicals or weird fragrances going on your skin (this might be more of an issue for me than most people, as like I said, my skin’s sensitivity is near legend amongst my friends).

So – what do you think? Sound like something you’d like to try? Or are you going to stick with more conventional methods? And while I’m at it with the endless questions, what’s your best skincare tip?

Update early 2011: I just wanted to add that I’m still using the OCM and I would never switch back to conventional methods now! My skin tone and texture has evened out a lot, my skin is still clear aside from the occasional one pimple, and it’s much less oily than it used to be, to boot. I highly recommend it!

16 Comments - Speak your piece
  • http://www.retrochick.co.uk Retro Chick

    Your skin sounds almost exactly like mine, except I do get occasional breakouts.

    I’ve recently started using Ponds Cold Cream and a hot flannel and it seems to be working really well. I think it’s basically the same theory as cold cream is an oil as well.

    Maybe the old ways are the best!
    .-= Retro Chick´s last blog ..Retro Chick Presents: Make Up Tutorial – Smoky Eyes =-.

  • http://www.geekthreads.blogspot.com Audi

    I’ve been using this method for several months and absolutely love it! I use a mixture of jojoba, Vitamin E, and calendula oils. I follow that with a 50/50 mixture of powdered kelp and powdered green tea, which I use like a scrub. It’s very gentle and doesn’t strip away the oils, plus it’s natural and costs literally less than a penny per application.
    .-= Audi´s last blog ..Goodbye to a Visionary =-.

  • johanna

    I tried OCM but it actually made my skin worse, which bummed me out b/c I know lots of people who’ve had really good results w/it, & I loved its simplicity (& cheapness). Now I use acne.org products & they seem to work well for me (though I have to be careful–sometimes I inadvertently end up w/bleached collars b/c of getting the stuff on my clothes). I would prefer OCM if it only worked for me!

  • http://www.bonne-vie.net birdie

    Sounds like something I’ll have to try… Interesting!
    .-= birdie´s last blog ..Value You =-.

  • http://tuxedocatphotography.blogspot.com Sadie W

    Hi Michelle! I was over at Keiko Lynn’s blog browsing the comments of her recent tattoo post and found the link to your blog. I’m glad I did!
    From what I read, it seems like you’re in Austin (me too, I live in S Austin). I scrolled down and saw your picture and you look so familiar. This may sound wierd, but I think I saw you at Target a few months ago and you complimented me on my jacket. :) It made me feel pretty. Don’t know if it was really you, but it would be quite cool if it was. :) Anyway, I’m happy to have stumbled upon your awesome blog and look forward to reading more!
    .-= Sadie W´s last blog ..Something Peculiar =-.

  • http://treslola.com Kate

    My skin is gross right now… so might just give this a go… can’t hurt right?

  • http://meslunettesfolles.blogspot.com alliXT

    my skin care tip is partly diet (had wicked skin years ago that has cleared up nearly all the way since giving up dairy), and partly product – I use Dr. Bronner’s baby mild soap, diluted, to wash my face. Some days I switch it up with Dr. B’s peppermint oil (you have to be sooo careful not to get it in your eyes). For makeup remover I’ll dilute an all natural baby shampoo and scrub with my eyes shut before doing the Dr. Bronner’s.

  • http://sew-and-so.blogspot.com Becky

    It sounds interesting, and I’m generally all for trying the more natural methods. But I’ll have to pass on this one– I have rosacea, and one of the treatment things I hear over and over is that anything I put on my face needs to be oil free! (So I’m using skin care stuff made from mostly natural stuff specially formulated for my skin problem… I wish it wasn’t so expensive. *sigh*)
    .-= Becky´s last blog ..The Personal Style Project, phase 1 cont.: Who are you? =-.

  • http://www.innyvinny.com Alicia

    I should revisit this method in the shower because my sink was a lot worse for the wear. LOL.

  • Red Doll Shoes

    For my skin I use LUSH products: cleanser, toner, and moisturizer. I have oily skin and acne, but the acne has been under control for about a year. The reason for this is a combination of several things, but I think the kicker was me going on birth control. My acne cleared up about 80% after that. I’ll have to give this OCM a go though. I might like it. :)

  • http://www.mischiefmydear.com/dramatispersonae Ashe Mischief

    I’ve been meaning to try this for ages now… now I know that I can pick up some jojoba at Whole Foods. Overall, my skin is pretty clear, with few breakouts. But I’ve got the oily/dry issue, along with really gross pores. I’d LOVE to clear those guys up….
    .-= Ashe Mischief´s last blog ..Sneak Peeks at Schemes Ahead…. =-.

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  • Philip

    I love OCM.

    I’ve had acne for years and my skin was oily and sensitive and discolored–there was always something going on, and I was always self-conscious of it.

    Six months ago I stopped washing with my face with soap, just water and a light scrub. About 2 months ago I started putting Vitamin E oil on my face–the texture and color immediately improved. Two weeks ago I started putting a castor oil/grapeseed oil mix on my face each morning, before jumping in the shower. I finish with a splash of apple cider vinegar and water. My pores are much tighter, I’ve had zero break-outs, my color has evened out, my skin always feels soft and smooth, never oily, and my acne scars are much less noticeable.

    This, after years of blowing money on Proactiv, which did shit.

    Try OCM. It freakin’ works.

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  • Hmando509

    I tried the ocm I have oily skin , before I use Mario badescu products they are very good but , want to try the ocm , and now I have tiny little bumps all over my face , also cystic on my chin , went so wrong , I use castor oil with evoo , something went wrong :( .

  • http://www.skinandlocks.com Chelsie@skinandlocks.com

    I just started the OCM about 2 weeks ago and have been tweeking the blend to find the best match for my skin. I use a shot glass to mix my oils for same day use. I always use castor oil as this draws out blackheads like no one’s business and I blend it with extra virgin olive oil. I also use one of the following in the blend: vitamin E, sweet almond oil, or any variety of carrier oils. Then I put a few drops essential oil, I am using a great bottle which is jasmine and sandlewood. My skin at a normal distance from someones eyes looks pretty good with an outbreak here and there. My skin upon getting any closer reveals a ton of whiteheads and then get closer and there are a billion ga-zillian blackheads, super annoying. I used to extract these pesky blackheads a few times a week with my fingers by squeezing them out only to have them come right back.

    So I put the oils on my unwashed face, massaged and could actually feel the blackheads or plugs surfacing. Every OCM session I do, I get more and more of the blackheads and whiteheads to come out and can literally see them on my oil soaked hands from massaging and on my face. My pores are beginning to look clean and a tad smaller. My husband has noticed that my skin is glowing. I put some on his nose the other day and ever since then, he keeps saying I want  to try that again! I have added a section to my website that is dedicated to the OCM, come check it out if you like http://www.skinandlocks.com -