Dare You To...

Here's a dare I've taken on that people have noticed.  I've gotten compliments on my glowing skin, and some have asked me what I'm up to.  If you want to stop worrying about what's on your face and finally have glowing, balanced skin, then this post is for you.

Just as I got rid of the unpronounceable ingredients in my body lotion, I wanted to avoid the artificial cleansers in my face wash, too.  What good does it do to use coconut oil to moisturize my face, if I'm still washing it with strange chemicals twice a day?

Well, I'd heard of "oil cleansing" before, and you may have, too.  There's a website dedicated to it (The Oil Cleansing Method.com, and it's outlined extensively with various options in The Skintervention Guide by Liz Wolfe.  THere's also a helpful tutorial on Mommypotamous.

It may seem counterintuitive, but using oil topically actually helps balance your skin.  It's nourishing, cleansing, and moisturizing.  It helps your own skin realize it doesn't need to overproduce oil, and, thinking back to basic high school chemistry: like dissolves like.  Oil can do your skin good.

Click below to read more to learn how to oil cleanse! 





Different manuals and websites offer different instructions, varying both in the "recipe" for the oils and in the process itself.  Feel free to talk to your doctor or skincare profressional, or simply Google it and find what sounds good to you.  I've been at this for half a year, now, so I've found my own routine.  
Here's what I do:

Prepare the oils: I use 1 part Castor Oil to ~5 parts olive oil. (Sources suggest using anywhere from 5 - 10 parts on the olive oil; experiment with a ratio that works for you).  Combine in a container and shake to combine.  (Note: The Skintervention Guide and Mommypotamous offer alternatives to these oils; you can choose for yourself based on your specific needs. Visit their websites for more information.)

Each night:

1. Start with makeup-free, dry skin. (Clean face using coconut oil! I dare you to!)
2. Pour a small amount of the oils into the palm of your hand (I use just enough to form a tiny pool in the center of my palm--about a dime- to a nickle-sized amount.  Use your hands to spread this oil all over your face! (Yes, you heard right. Oil, on face. Everywhere.)  Rub it in well, focusing on trouble areas.
3. Take a face towel and run it under hot water. (It should be hot enough that you wouldn't want to leave your hand under it, but not so hot that it will burn you!) Then wring out the towel, so it is not dripping but still hot and slightly damp.
4. Bring the towel up to cover your face, and let the heat seep in.  Ahh, feels good.
5. Use the towel to wipe the oil away, leaving your face fresh and clean!

Follow up with moisturizer  (I use coconut oil or, at night, Beauty Balm).  Then, in the morning, I just need to rinse to wake myself up, and my skin feels great.

It may sound like work, but oil cleansing feels really nice, and can feel therapeutic and relaxing at the end of the day.  And, like anything else, it quickly becomes routine with practice.

My experience: Of course, my skin isn't 100% acne free all the time--this depends on what I eat, how stressed I am, etc., but in general my skin has had a more even complexion, appeared smoother and brighter, and is never dry like it used to be.  My skin feels nourished; I don't need to drench it with moisturizer or cover it up with makeup anymore.  I'm finally free!

And disclaimer: As with any change in your personal care routine, there may be an adjustment period for your skin.  It may get worse before it gets better, but it may also just get better.  Everyone is different, but the results are SO worth it!

Dare you to try oil cleansing! Swap your expensive skincare regimen for simple oils.  It will save you time, money, and sanity.  Bonus: it works.  Feel free to ask questions, research on your own, and let me know how it goes. :)

Have YOU tried oil cleansing?
How do you wash your face at night?