Testing- The Oil Cleansing Method

I've been hearing it everywhere...The Oil Cleansing Method, the way to go for perfectly beautiful glowing skin. I decided to look it up and maybe test it. My skin, as of late, has been prone to breakouts and deep cystic pimples that seem to throb and pulse and make me feel like hiding under a rock. I never had skin issues as a teen, maybe a pimple here or there, but I had very clear skin throughout. It stinks to have acne in my 40's.
I found a few sites, suggesting oils that include castor, olive, sunflower, almond, jojoba and coconut oils. Some recipes suggest you mix 2 or 3 types, each recipe explaining why each combination will work. after exploring for a few days, I bought castor oil. I decided to mix it like this:

1 tablespoon of castor oil, 1 tablespoon of coconut oil (melted) and 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil.
I mixed them and put it in a baby food jar, we have a surplus of those around this house.

I followed these instructions right from a site called The Cleansing Oil Method .

• You'll need a soft washcloth, your oil blend, and hot, running water.
• Pour a generous puddle of oil into the palm of your hand. Roughly, the size of a quarter, but more is acceptable. Rub your hands together to warm the oil and smooth over your face.
• Begin massaging the oil into your face. This will remove makeup, dirt, and other impurities, so there is no need to use a makeup remover or wash your face prior to the massage. I've found that this removes even my stubborn waterproof mascara and concealor.
• Using slow, firm motions across the skin, massage the oil deeply into your pores. Take your time and focus on your problem areas. You want the oil to work into your pores so that blackheads and the like can be dissolved and steamed away.
• As you're massaging, let your mind drift off to something calming and breathe deeply. Take this time to relax and release some of the stress that your body is harboring. Sit down, breathe deeply, and take your time. Give the oil enough time to work on dissolving the impurities in your pores and give yourself enough time to unwind. Picture what your face would look like if it were completely clear and free from blemishes. Focus on that image and know that it is attainable. Trust that it is attainable. Accept that it is attainable. You can have clear skin, free of blemishes and you will have clear skin, free of blemishes. Focus on perfect skin and breathe deeply.
• Once you're satisfied that your pores are saturated and you're feeling calm, pick up your washcloth and soak it in clean, steamy water. We want the water to be warm enough to open your pores and remove the oil. Cool water will not open your pores, nor will it remove the oil efficiently. We're not scalding our skin, we're steaming to coax our pores to release the oil carrying the impurities. We're essentially steaming our skin as an esthetician would, but without the luxury of a steam machine.
• Hold the washcloth to cover your face. Allow it to stay until it cools. You will feel your pores releasing the impurities. Wipe the oil gently away and rinse the washcloth well in hot, running water. Hold the washcloth to your face again, allowing it to cool. Wipe gently, rinse well, and repeat two or three more times. Avoid any temptation to scrub, as you'll find it's completely unnecessary and your skin will be soft, smooth, and free of flakes without the additional manual exfoliation and irritation that will result. Impurities, dead skin cells, and bacteria will be gently swept away.
• Have no fear of the oil, as the steamy washcloth will remove it. The Castor Oil, though it is an oil, will help with the removal of the other oils, as well. It is our main cleansing oil and is easily removed with warm water.
  
• If your skin feels tight, take a tiny drop of your oil blend, rub it between your clean, damp palms and pat it onto your damp skin. Gently massage any oil residue into your skin so there is no film of oil left sitting on the surface. Your skin should now glow!

I did this for 3 weeks and found my skin to look fresh and clear, considering it was winter time, I felt like this method worked really well on my skin. The t-zone looked clear and the pores were minimized, my skin was more supple and felt very smooth. I had some cleansing cloths left over, so I decided to finish using those up, and didn't do the oil cleansing for about a week....HORROR! I pretty much within 3 days had a huge bunch of big fat deep pimples on my chin under my lip, on my nose by the bridge and nostrils, on my laugh lines, and a few on my forehead!! This has been the worst breakout of my life. I tried to use the salicylic acid creams I have and it seemed to make them worse, then I had to use polysporin on them to keep them infecting (my zits are terrible for that) and as the scabs and ooziness has died down, I have gone back to oil cleansing every day. Somehow, they skin has dried up and healed nicely and although I have some scars they are fading fast. Now, if you ask me...the oil cleansing seems to work better for me than the cleansing cloths and zit creams.

I cleanse at night and dab a tiny bit of oil in the morning under my makeup. The oil seems to pick up and get any makeup out of the pores, plus it breaks down the oil already in them, and it seems to me that there's some antibacterial action going on there (Coconut Oil ) to dry up my zits nicely.
I love the sweet smell it leaved on my skin too. This method may not be for everybody, but it if fantastic for my combination 40 year old skin.

Cheers,
Viviana