Oil Cleansing

One of the main reasons I started this blog was actually to document the struggle I’ve had with acne over the years. I’ve mentioned before, I’ve had acne since I was 11 years old, and now, as an adult, suffering from cystic acne still, I have been trying every solution I can find.  Long story short, after trying goodness knows how many different face washes and acne treatments you find in a store (with no long-term success) I decided to try natural products.  That led me to learning about essential oils, which then led me down another path toward overall healthy living.  And here we are!

Without rehashing all the details, (that’s in another post) I found a great natural and chemical-based face wash and changed my diet, and found much more success.  But I always knew that I wanted to find a completely natural face wash, because I still didn’t like using chemicals.  Relatively recently, my cousin mentioned castor oil to me.  She said her friend told her to use castor oil, because it’s great for your skin and hair and everything.  So I did some research, and thought I’d give it a try!

You can do the most basic google search and find tons of information explaining the benefits of using castor oil to treat acne. While doing some deeper digging, I found the website for a naturopathic doctor who did a lot of research on the effectiveness of castor oil, not just against acne, but also your immune system as a whole.  He cites several sources for research done on ricinoleic acid (RA), the main active component in castor oil, one of which states “RA has analgesic (pain relief) and anti-inflammatory effects.”

In line with my change to natural products, I made the change to a natural deodorant.  (I could make my own, but there are some things I’ll let a company make for me, because I don’t have the time for it.  Props to all those who make their own, that’s super awesome!) For now, I trust Primally Pure products.  This is why I like them, taken directly from their website:

Products are made with:

• real ingredients found in nature
• tallow from grass-fed cows
• organic ingredients
• fair trade ingredients
• locally sourced hydrosols
• glass jars/bottles
• bpa-free plastic tubes
• therapeutic grade essential oils

• ingredients created in a lab
• harmful chemicals
• parabens
• artificial dyes
• talc
• fillers and fragrances
• animal testing
• artificial anything

I can pronounce all of those things that are in the products.  Don’t know about you, but that makes me happy!  I’ve been using their deodorant for over a year now, and it’s the only natural deodorant I’ve tried that actually works! I tried a couple others, and by noon, I was smelly.  This one works all day long!

Primally Pure also has several oil cleansers with a castor oil base, so I thought I’d give it a try!  It’s been about a month now, and I have noticed a pretty significant difference in my skin.  The first week was awesome.  I won’t lie though, the second (and a little of the third) week was not pretty.  Based on what the customer service department said, the second and third week can be a little rough, as your skin is basically detoxing, and you could end up with more breakouts.  If you try oil cleansing – stick it out!  It’ll get better!!  Following those 10 days/2 weeks, things have improved.  And my skin feels like it’s starting to balance out.  I’m still a little oily, but usually by the evening.  I’ve had one breakout in the past two weeks, but probably because I cheated and had a couple servings of bread and cake over the Easter weekend.  (Worth it!)

It’s super easy to do too.  First I remove my make up with coconut oil, then I put about a nickel-to-quarter sized amount of the cleanser in the palm of my hand, rub it between my hands, then rub it on my face.  I massage it in for about a minute, then place a clean, wet, warm wash cloth over my face.  I hold it in place until it cools down, then I wipe off any excess oil away, and that’s it!  I follow up, if needed, with an essential oil blend for acne blemishes, and I’m done!  It might seem a little more involved than what you do to wash your face in the shower, but it’s actually a really nice way to just take a moment to breathe at the end of the day.

I have to put this in here though – I said it before, and I can’t say it enough: While this protocol works for me, and I would recommend for anyone who struggles with acne to try it, it might not work for you.  The hardest battle in the fight against acne is learning how to clear up your skin because everyone is different.  Our bodies process foods differently, our skin reacts differently to products used topically, and our genes are meant to make us all unique.  As I said, I would recommend trying a regimen like this, but I cannot promise it will work for you.  And please, don’t listen to those people who say “it’s guaranteed to work!” because they’re lying.  Try it, of course, but be fully aware it might not work.  Then try the next thing.  And the next, until you find what does work for you.  And know that people like me are always here to listen!

Anyone else out there tried oil cleansing?  Anyone want to try?! Give it a shot!  Try it for a month and see how it works for you!

If you are interested in learning more about essential oils, please feel free to contact me at journeytolovingme@gmail.com, and I’d be happy to talk to you about them more!