Homemade Facewash — The Oil Cleansing Method
posted by Andrea | 02/23/2011
A few months ago, I decided I wanted to try homemade cleaning and beauty products.
I started small, by replacing a few of my cleaning products with vinegar {I’ll talk more about this later}. Then I started using vinegar and safety pins as an alternative to fabric softener.
However, the one homemade product I’m most excited about is my homemade face wash.
The Oil Cleansing Method
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Yup, we’re washing our face with oil — which I know sounds absolutely ridiculous. But believe it or not, my skin has never looked better!
I did a bit of research and found that traditional cleansers strip skin of its natural oils, leaving it tight and dry {which is why I had to slather lotion on my face at least 4 times a day}.
However, the oil cleansing method uses caster oil to cleans the skin, and sunflower oil or olive oil to moisturize the skin; resulting in soft, glowing skin without the need for extra lotions or products. {I’m not a dermatologist, but if you’re interested, you can read all about the Oil Cleansing Method here.}
Don’t worry, it’s REALLY simple to make, and practically free!
Ingredients:
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1. Caster Oil — found in the laxative section of your grocery store
2. Sunflower Oil or Olive Oil – we’re using sunflower oil
3. A small plastic bottle with tight sealing cap – I found mine in the travel-size section for 89 cents
4. A soft washcloth
Making the Oil Cleansing Face Wash
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Mix the two oils in a small, flip-top plastic bottle according to your skin type.
NORMAL SKIN: Mix one-part caster oil with one-part sunflower oil.
OILY SKIN: Mix two or three-parts caster oil with one-part sunflower oil.
DRY SKIN: Mix one-part caster oil with two or three-parts sunflower oil.
Using the Oil Cleansing Method
- Pour a quarter-size amount of the oil mixture into your hand
- Gently massage the oil into your skin for about one minute
- Run a clean washcloth under very warm water
- Lay washcloth over your face and let it sit for another minute – this is key to “steaming” the impurities out of your pores
- Rinse washcloth and gently rub the remaining oil, dirt, make-up, and residue off your face
- Repeat rinsing if necessary
- Enjoy really smooth and moisturized skin with out the need for lotion!
Why I LOVE the Oil Cleansing Method
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1. It’s really inexpensive. If you already have sunflower oil or olive oil in the house, your total expense will probably be less than $3.00. And you’ll be able to make enough face wash to last you for many months!
2. It removes make up. The oils naturally remove makeup, so you won’t need to buy pricey makeup removers anymore.
3. It’s SO moisturizing. Dave and I have been using this method for almost a month now and have only used face lotion a few times {compare to multiple times every day}.
4. I feel like I’m at the spa. When I have the hot washcloth on my face, steaming my pore, it feels like a mini facial.
5. I only have to wash my face once per day. I use the oil cleansing method at night, when I’m in the shower. Then in the morning, I simply splash warm water on my face.
6. It’s all natural. Even though I’m still not a hard-core “green” gal, I do think it’s important to reduce the amount of chemicals we put into our bodies and on our skin. So I love that I’m using a product that are safe to eat!
7. It makes my skin feel so soft. Like I said earlier, my skin has never looked better — and this is reason enough for me!!
Additional Resources
- Read all about the history over at The Oil Cleansing Method
- Here’s a video tutorial from Keeper of the Home
- Weight the pros and cons over at Crunchy Betty
- I like this article by Simple Mom too.
Linked to Things I Love Thursday
Filed under: Cleaning • Going Green • Living Simply
Cheryl
06/03/2012This sounds very interesting. I have been unhappy with my skin. I am ready to give it a try. Got to buy some caster oil–I don’t keep it in the house normally.
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Katherine Reply:
May 13th, 2012 at 1:58 am
You can use olive oil from the kitchen too. I used it for several days before I bought the castor oil to mix in. I’m actually about to use the castor oil mix for the first time this evening.
I love how the olive oil makes my skin feel so soft and smooth. I am hopeful that the mix of the two will do just as good of a job.
Wish me luck girls!
[Reply]
How I wash my face | Hardly A Goddess…
08/03/2012[...] is cheap to do (read: no expensive products!): The Oil Cleaning Method. I first learned about it here, which led me to here, and then I went to VitaCost (my new favorite shopping site) and ordered all [...]
Alise
22/03/2012I was wondering. Instead of using Sunflower Oil or Olive Oil, can you use coconut oil? Will it have the same effect? I use coconut oil on a daily basis as an all over body moisturizer and was wondering if I can use it since I already have it. Thanks!
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Andrea Reply:
March 22nd, 2012 at 7:43 pm
Alise, I’m not positive, but I don’t think coconut oil will work. You need a very “liquidy” oil like sunflower or olive oil for this cleanser and isn’t coconut oil more of a solid?
Of course, you could always give it a try with a small batch!
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Kristy W Reply:
April 2nd, 2012 at 12:35 pm
You can use Coconut Oil, but you’ll need to make a new batch every time as you’ll need to melt what you use.
I’ve used this process for a few days now with the castor oil and the olive oil…I think I’ll try coconut oil at a later date.
I LOVE THIS!!! My almost 11 year old daughter says that my skin looks amazing, and I’m now doing this with her skin. Never too early to start!
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Katherine Reply:
May 13th, 2012 at 2:00 am
Yes you can use coconut oil. It is anti viral and anti bacterial too. Just warm a chunk up in your hands and rub it in and wipe it off after steaming your face as usual.
[Reply]
2012 Objectives « Southern City Gal
01/04/2012[...] 19. Make Homemade Face Wash [...]
Nichole Belden
03/04/2012How well does tea tree oil work with the castor oil? If you have tried please let me know!
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Andrea Reply:
April 3rd, 2012 at 9:35 pm
sorry Nichole — I’ve never tried tea tree oil… just sunflower oil {which works wonderfully!} You could always make a very small batch with the tea tree oil and see how it works.
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Cherrie
11/04/2012I’ve been wanting to try it for a while, after seeing this on Pinterest, and Im finally doing it! lol I couldn’t find sunflower oil, so Im using EVOO and Caster oil. I found a 4 oz. bottle that was perfect to mix this in. The bottle runneth over a bit, but no biggie. Can’t wait to try this tonight.
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Natural Ways to Cleanse Your Face Without Using Commercial Products | That Voice Within
12/04/2012[...] Great directions for this method can be viewed at http://www.simpleorganizedliving.com/2011/02/23/homemade-facewash/. [...]
Priscylla
13/04/2012My mother-in-law and I tried this with olive oil and later with sunflower oil… Worked like a charm the first time, I was apprehensive because castor oil is actually has detoxifying properties. Sure enough, I had acne come within the first couple days of doing this. My skin is prone to acne but my mom in law also experienced skin blemishes which she never gets. Very sad :-/
Also, coconut oil is listed as a pore clogger so I wouldn’t recommend. If your skin doesn’t react too easily, try jojoba oil. Little more expensive but well worth it and doesn’t clog at all
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Priscylla
13/04/2012Oh btw, tea tree oil should never be used directly on your skin, it’s too harsh. Diluted tea tree oil can be used as spot treatment
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The Oil Cleansing Method | terra, not terror
18/04/2012[...] trips to the store I was still at a loss. That was until I discovered a pin on pinterest linking to this blog [...]
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21/04/2012[...] Make Homemade Face Wash Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like this [...]
Michele ODonnell
28/04/2012I have been using this for 3 weeks now and I love it! Right from the start my skin looked healthier and no more breakouts. Plus less wrinkles. Thank you for posting this; otherwise, I would never have heard of it.
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Jenifer
02/05/2012Can this also be used to remove eye make-up?
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carolyn
07/05/2012I wonder does anyone also have large pores and prone to black heads? And if so does this method work at clearing them up? Thanks for the help!
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Robin
07/05/2012Carolyn, I tend to have larger pores, but am not prone to black heads. I can tell you I used this method for some time and found two areas that would not clear up. This was after several months. I ended up going back to CeraVe for my face wash. Once I did the two areas cleared up instantly. This summer I may try it again. I will tell you that it does make a difference playing around with two different mixes twice. Olive oil didn’t work as well for me as the Sunflower did.
Jenifer, this method is a nice eye make-up remover.
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Hayley
17/05/2012I’ve been cleansing my face at night with olive oil and I agree entirely! My skin honestly feels baby soft afterwards, I love it
Though, I’ve just been using a cleanser and then put some oil on a cotton ball and doing a quick all-over, rubbing it in and patting dry. I’m definitely going to try this technique. Thanks so much!
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