I had tried damn near every product on the market. Okay, well, the drugstore market. What do you want, I am cheap and a single mom! Still, nothing really helped. I had decent results with Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Cleanser, and Olay Daily Facials Cleaning Cloths, but it still wasn't good enough. I still broke out like a 16 year old working the fryer at McDonald's.
UNTIL I found the oil cleansing method! I was uncertain at first. I mean, seriously? My face was like an oil slick 3 hours after washing it, you could fry french fries on it.... (Yes, I am hungry and am craving french fries - don't judge!) But, I figured at this point I would try ANYTHING to stop the face funk. I am 37 and it was embarrassing to have more zits than my sons friends!
Here is what you need:
- Castor Oil - Cold Pressed. Organic is better but the grocery store version is fine too.
- Olive Oil - I recommend a higher quality olive oil.
- Container for your mixture - I recommend a small pump bottle, it's easier to work with and control the amount your dispense. Usually 1 pump from a small (2oz.) bottle is sufficient.
- Washcloths - I recommend the cheaper styles. The thicker ones just seem to smear the oil around.
- Shea Butter - Not necessary but recommended for additional moisturizing around the eyes afterwards.
My stash. Ignore the shell, you don't need it.
Unless you want to try to hear the ocean, then go nuts. It's just there to look pretty!
Here is my routine:
I have a small pump container (I think I bought it from Walmart or Dollar Tree), a stack of washcloths ($0.48 each at Walmart), and some Shea Butter for moisturizing around my eyes afterwards.
My ratio of castor oil to olive oil is 30ish/70ish (Hey, it's my blog, I can use nonsensical math formulas when I want!). I have found that when I do a 50/50 blend it actually tends to dry out my skin too much and I end up breaking out again.
Sometimes I do this while in the tub, sometimes I do this at the sink. Depends on the day. I will say this however, that although doing it in the tub is messy and leaves a beautiful (sarcasm) ring of crud around the top of the tub, you will not need lotion afterwards!
- I take 1 pump of the mixture and slather it on my face.
- I massage it in (ahhhhh, feels soooo nice!) and let it rest for a minute or so.
- I then get a washcloth wet with hot(ish) water. Please not too hot! I would feel horrible if you burned your face! Wring out the excess water and lay it on my face for about a minute. I then wipe off the residue and makeup (ew!) and rinse the washcloth.
- Repeat until it feels like the oil is most of the way gone.
- Apply a very small amount of Shea Butter around my eyes while my face is still damp and voila!
I digress, my face is clearer than it has ever been, a few people have said I am "glowing" (um, sure it's not the neon sign above my head that says "Bullshit accepted here"). I get to pamper myself a little twice a day which is always good for the soul, and when I do this in the bathtub I don't have to mess with lotion so the rest of my skin is happy too!