My face was like a porcelain doll’s until I entered college. Then the fun began. I was on Accutane three times for a year at a time. I don’t even think that is really recommended in the medical community. I ordered Proactiv. Which by the way is the possibly the world’s best sham. You see, why does Proactiv need Justin Beiber to plug it constantly on MTV if it actually works? If something works, it needs a pretty small marketing budget.
My skin is nearly perfect now. Why? Because I use one ingredient to cleanse and moisturize my face and entire body. Organic Coconut Oil. You can also use coconut oil to cook with, add to smoothies, remove your makeup, the list goes on basically forever.
Prices of coconut oil are rising due to the sharp increase in demand. But the cost is well worth it. I order a gallon at a time, and it usually lasts me about 5 months. I use it for cooking and lotion. So it tends to last quite a while. Besides, think about how much you are spending on your overprices salves and creams for your fee and your cleansing routine. These items can easily run someone from $20 a month at the low-end up to $250 a month on the high-end of the spectrum.
Just buy Organic Coconut Oil and use it for cleaning your face and also moisturizing it, and you will have a much more simplified and effective skin care routine. I only buy the Nutiva">Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. I think it tastes better than the Spectrum brand and it is not grainy at all, it has a very smooth consistency.
How do you wash your face with coconut oil?
Mix a designated amount of coconut oil and castor oil for your skin type in a jar. For example, if you have normal skin, use two tablespoons of each in a jar.
If you have oily skin, use one tablespoon of coconut oil and three tablespoons of castor oil. If you have dry skin, use three tablespoons of coconut oil and one tablespoon of castor oil. Screw the lid of the jar on tightly and shake it well. Pour a small amount into your palm.
Massage it slowly into your pores, taking your time. Make sure that you don’t leave any oily patches on your skin, but rub all the areas in thoroughly
Take a washcloth and submerge it in water that is as hot as you can stand having on your face. Wring it out and place it on your face for two to three minutes. The heat will further open your pores. Remove the washcloth from your face.
Massage your pores again for a minute or so, making sure that you reach all areas of your face. Take a clean washcloth, cover it with warm water and wring it out. Gently wipe the remaining oils from your face. (Adapted from About.com’s description of the Oil Cleansing Method)
Swipe on thin layer of coconut oil after you are done cleansing in place of your normal moisturizer. If you normally go to bed after washing your face, or do not plan to put on any makeup, you are good to go, this is your entire skincare routine.
If you do plan to put makeup on for the day, allow the coconut oil to soak into your skin for several minutes prior to the application of makeup. Your skin will be a better canvas after the oil has been allowed to soak for a few moments, otherwise it can tend to be a little slick and look oily in combination with makeup.
Why does coconut oil work as a cleanser and a moisturizer? Well, put simply, like dissolves like. People are so brainwashed by marketing that the general principle quoted above has all but been replaced in the minds of most consumers. This is too bad, because cleaning your cash with harsh fake chemicals and shocking it into producing more oil to overcompensate for such a shock, is what exacerbates acne. This is how the large companies sell their product. You have acne as a result of washing with their product, you freak out, and quickly buy more because you must need it. Your poor pores become addicted to overcleansing and your skin’s natural balance mechanisms are completely out of whack.
Our bodies have natural processes that allow toxins and dirt to be cleansed from them rather naturally, and all that is needed is a tiny bit of help from coconut oil for our skin to be radiant. See this post from Simple Mom. She breaks it down a lot better than I can.
