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On a fairly regular basis, particularly when someone learns my age, I am asked how I keep my skin so young and healthy-looking. What's my secret, what products do I use?
Since 2003, I have not put any soap, cleanser, or moisturizer on my face. The only thing I do put on it is pure, organic plant oils. If I wear makeup, which is rare these days, I use the oil as a makeup remover.
My skin has never been softer. It is neither dry nor oily, and before it was both. While I still have the occasional mild acne breakout at specific points in my menstrual cycle, it tends to be fairly mild and heals quickly. And I am regularly mistaken for 15 or more years younger than I actually am. (I'm 41.)
Ready to re-think everything you know about cleaning your skin?
The thing is, when you use soap or cleanser on your skin, you are stripping your skin of its natural oils. But those oils have a purpose - they make your skin softer and more supple and they provide a protective layer to keep dirt out of your pores. When you strip the natural oils off your skin, your skin responds in the only fashion it can: it produces more oil. So a few hours after you've stripped your skin down to [what feels like] super-clean, it's an oil slick again. You probably either re-"clean" it, blot the oil, or cake the oil with powder to absorb it. And the process begins again.
In reality, when your skin has that "super-clean" feeling, it is unprotected and vulnerable. After a while, you will learn to feel comfortable with a natural amount of oil on your face... it will not be nearly as oily as the bounce-back oiliness you probably have now.
According to instructables user @tigator, "...I used to have rosacea, and not even those prescription creams helped. However (and you rosacea sufferers may be happy to hear this), since doing oil cleansing my rosacea is GONE - completely. :) I highly recommend those with mild to moderate rosacea to give this a try. I'm not promising it will work for you, but it certainly took my rosacea away."
DISCLAIMER: The information shared here is based on the experiences and research of the author and other healers known to her. This information is shared with the understanding that you accept complete responsibility for your own health and well-being. You have a unique body, the action of each remedy is unique, and health care is full of variables. The results of any treatment suggested herein cannot always be anticipated and never guaranteed. The author is not responsible for any adverse effects or consequences resulting from the use of any remedies, procedures, or preparations included here. Consult your inner guidance, knowledgeable friends, and trained healers in addition to the words written here.
Since 2003, I have not put any soap, cleanser, or moisturizer on my face. The only thing I do put on it is pure, organic plant oils. If I wear makeup, which is rare these days, I use the oil as a makeup remover.
My skin has never been softer. It is neither dry nor oily, and before it was both. While I still have the occasional mild acne breakout at specific points in my menstrual cycle, it tends to be fairly mild and heals quickly. And I am regularly mistaken for 15 or more years younger than I actually am. (I'm 41.)
Ready to re-think everything you know about cleaning your skin?
The thing is, when you use soap or cleanser on your skin, you are stripping your skin of its natural oils. But those oils have a purpose - they make your skin softer and more supple and they provide a protective layer to keep dirt out of your pores. When you strip the natural oils off your skin, your skin responds in the only fashion it can: it produces more oil. So a few hours after you've stripped your skin down to [what feels like] super-clean, it's an oil slick again. You probably either re-"clean" it, blot the oil, or cake the oil with powder to absorb it. And the process begins again.
In reality, when your skin has that "super-clean" feeling, it is unprotected and vulnerable. After a while, you will learn to feel comfortable with a natural amount of oil on your face... it will not be nearly as oily as the bounce-back oiliness you probably have now.
According to instructables user @tigator, "...I used to have rosacea, and not even those prescription creams helped. However (and you rosacea sufferers may be happy to hear this), since doing oil cleansing my rosacea is GONE - completely. :) I highly recommend those with mild to moderate rosacea to give this a try. I'm not promising it will work for you, but it certainly took my rosacea away."
DISCLAIMER: The information shared here is based on the experiences and research of the author and other healers known to her. This information is shared with the understanding that you accept complete responsibility for your own health and well-being. You have a unique body, the action of each remedy is unique, and health care is full of variables. The results of any treatment suggested herein cannot always be anticipated and never guaranteed. The author is not responsible for any adverse effects or consequences resulting from the use of any remedies, procedures, or preparations included here. Consult your inner guidance, knowledgeable friends, and trained healers in addition to the words written here.
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Signing UpStep 1Choosing Your Oil
Most instructions I've seen for this method suggest using either pure extra-virgin olive oil ("EVOO") or a mixture of EVOO and castor oil. I recommend starting with a lighter oil like sesame, almond, or avocado.
I do recommend using organic plant oils only. Don't use mineral oil, and avoid non-organic oils if you can.
Many people have asked me about using a variety of oils. I'm including this information on comedogenic (pore clogging) and non-comedogenic (non pore clogging) oils, which is copied from a page on www.soapnuts.com since that site seems to have gone down. Please note that I have only tried a few of these oils myself. Do your own research and experimentation to find the oil or combination of oils that works best for your skin. Unless you're having a bad reaction, like an allergy, I recommend choosing an oil to start with and using it for at least a month before you switch to something else.
Low Pore Clogging Probability:
Almond (Sweet Almond) oil
Anhydrous Lanolin
Apricot Kernal Oil
Avocado Oil
Castor Oil
Emu Oil
Evening Primrose Oil
Jojoba Oil
Olive Oil
Peanut Oil
Safflower Oil
Sesame Oil
Sunflower Oil
Medium Pore-Clogging Probability:
Corn Oil
Cottonseed Oil
Crisco
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Mink Oil
Soybean Oil
Sulfonated Castor Oil
High Pore-Clogging Probability:
Cocoa Butter
Coconut Oil
Wheat Germ Oil
Using a small funnel, fill a small container (I use an empty 1-ounce dropper bottle) with your chosen oil. Be sure the bottle is clean and dry. Moisture inside the bottle can cause the oil to mold or go rancid. You can buy these dropper bottles for around $0.75 to $2.00 each.
I like to add a bit of tea tree oil to my basic oil because I feel like its germ-killing properties help avoid acne breakouts. Some folks use lavender. Just be sure you only add a very small amount - in a little 1-ounce dropper bottle I add 1 or 2 drops of essential oil.
I do recommend using organic plant oils only. Don't use mineral oil, and avoid non-organic oils if you can.
Many people have asked me about using a variety of oils. I'm including this information on comedogenic (pore clogging) and non-comedogenic (non pore clogging) oils, which is copied from a page on www.soapnuts.com since that site seems to have gone down. Please note that I have only tried a few of these oils myself. Do your own research and experimentation to find the oil or combination of oils that works best for your skin. Unless you're having a bad reaction, like an allergy, I recommend choosing an oil to start with and using it for at least a month before you switch to something else.
Low Pore Clogging Probability:
Almond (Sweet Almond) oil
Anhydrous Lanolin
Apricot Kernal Oil
Avocado Oil
Castor Oil
Emu Oil
Evening Primrose Oil
Jojoba Oil
Olive Oil
Peanut Oil
Safflower Oil
Sesame Oil
Sunflower Oil
Medium Pore-Clogging Probability:
Corn Oil
Cottonseed Oil
Crisco
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Mink Oil
Soybean Oil
Sulfonated Castor Oil
High Pore-Clogging Probability:
Cocoa Butter
Coconut Oil
Wheat Germ Oil
Using a small funnel, fill a small container (I use an empty 1-ounce dropper bottle) with your chosen oil. Be sure the bottle is clean and dry. Moisture inside the bottle can cause the oil to mold or go rancid. You can buy these dropper bottles for around $0.75 to $2.00 each.
I like to add a bit of tea tree oil to my basic oil because I feel like its germ-killing properties help avoid acne breakouts. Some folks use lavender. Just be sure you only add a very small amount - in a little 1-ounce dropper bottle I add 1 or 2 drops of essential oil.
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what is the best oils to use for dry skin that breaks out. Will it also help with the lines and sagging around my eyes? Also, I have to wear mineral makeup during the day b/c I have a rare skin disorder that make me photosensitive to any type of light - indoor/outdoor. I can't use any sunscreen (except for titanium diioxide in mineral makeup, which makes me even drier.
last month I stopped using cetaphil - which I thought was mild - but after years it dried me out and aged me big time.
what do you recommend for me? thanks!!!!
I'm desperate to heal my skin. I shouldn't have aged this much is four years. I never go in the sun and eat healthy.
Oils like: almond oil (organic), geranium oil, coco nut oil, avocado oil, olive oil, lavender oil, rose oil, rosemary oil, chamomile oil and calendula (marigold) oil, are great for dry skin. Vitamin E is great for building collagen to get rid of lines and sagging around the eyes. I would apply Vitamin E on your problem area's at nigt and sleep with it.
Your probably breaking out because your not remove All of the make up off so this can be solved by removing it with any oil like say olive oil.
and lastly try using aloe vera oil,or gel ( just make sure there's no alcohol in it) as a sunscreen. Aloe vera is a natural sunscreen that won't dry you out.
all in all ( long post i know) putting oils on ones face is a great moisterizer.
i hope you take this advice into consideration. if you have any questions let me know!
I got it because I thought it woudl be good for anti-aging - and to fight the damage that has already been done to my skin. But unfortunately something in it is too strong and I can't use it.
Do you think the basic oils that you are recommending have healing properties like these oils - meaning that they might be able to hear my pigmentation, bags, and other things?
Also, do you use a new wash cloth every day or do you use one for a few days - just curious about the bacteria that might build if I use a washcloth for too many days. How hot is the water that you use - is is tap or filtered.
I'm sorry to bombard you but I have been battling this for so long.
Thanks!!!!
how is the coconut oil working for you? as i use alot of coconut based products (mainly for the smell) and love them, but unsure about putting it on my face since around my nose can be pretty oily as it is!
If you buy refined coconut oil, it won't smell much like coconut, if at all. Unrefined coconut oil will, and will be better for you. i use it for most of my cooking, too. :)
I often use a steam room after I work out at my gym, which feels great on my skin and is a godsend in winter, but do you know if it would be detrimental to this method at all? And secondly, which of the "low pore clogging probability" oils would you say has the best overall success with the most people, in your experience?
Thanks! :)
I don't know about you, but I figured because I normally have very oily skin I would go with a light (low pore clogging prob) oil, sesame seed oil, and I think its great. At least for the face, I tried using it on my legs and it doesn't really make a big difference. So, from my experimentation, I think sesame seed oil would be most beneficial for the face.
Maka has saved us all with her fantastic instructable! Try it!
as for which one works for most people, i'm just one person, so i don't know that i could say. the folks i've talked with who enjoy using this method use so many different oils! one friend i know who used to have horrible breakouts now swears by coconut oil even though it's on the list of scary pore-cloggers! the best method is trial and error. :)
I "stumbled upon" this article (and have since fallen in love with Instructables.com) and it made sense. Eureka! Of course if I dry my skin out it's going to try to over compensate. I had sweet almond oil already and tried it that same night. I could immediately tell a difference within a few days.
I have been "washing with oil" for 3 weeks now and my pores are smaller, my skin texture is much more supple, I've even noticed some of the laugh lines aren't as noticeable. I only had a few small blemishes come up in the first few days, and I actually am feeling more comfortable going out in public without foundation on. I've been able to completely cut out all commercial facial products and most importantly my oily skin is finally under control!
For me, I have found that alternating a light mild sugar scrub (cane sugar / sweet almond oil) and the oil wash every other night gives me amazing results.
A resounding thank you for sharing this!
you won't actually *need* a moisturizer with this method, though, so if you can find a sunblock product you like that isn't in a moisturizer, you might want to switch to that.
The reason I'm looking to switch is that I can't use soap on large portions of my body due to the problem with dry skin, and even though my face is fine, I can't help but think that not having the soap pouring down my body would from my face would be helpful. A friend of mine stopped using shampoo on her hair, and the quality of her hair has improved greatly (she washes her hair with the conditioner and skips the shampoo completely).
if you've only found one sunblock that works for you, it'll be pretty tough to give it up! most of them do contain things that block pores and cause acne. ehow.com has some recipes for homemade sunblock, but i haven't tried them so i can't recommend one.
(p.s. do you have this same username on LJ?)
(and yes :-)
tnx!
Other than that, it's working great so far! I haven't used my moisturizer since I started, and my skin feels sooo soft! I've been using the oil on my neck and shoulders too.
thanks for the great instructable!
you might want to lower the temperature of the water you're using. but also, if your skin feels dry after you wash it, you can just take one drop of your oil and pat it over the dry areas and massage it in gently.
I am planning to try this technique soon, but I have a couple of questions... Does the type of oil vary based on the type of climate you live in? I live in the desert, and it's so dry here that I have to run a humidifier every night to keep from having sinus problems. Should I choose a heavier oil?
Also, I've been using moisturizer with sunscreen for years... What do you do to keep from getting sun damage on your face? Do you ever wear sunscreen, and if you do, do you just take it off with the oil at the end of the day?
Thanks! :)
i try to use a very natural sunscreen with as few ingredients as possible when i do wear one, and i just remove it with oil when i get home.
[shakes head]
i'm really very frustrated with what feels like an attempt to sell a product on my instructable. :(