By Jessica Gray of HairGetsKinky.com
I’ve been using Mary Kay’s skincare system since I was about 13. My auntie was (and still is) a dedicated and accomplished Mary Kay consultant who put me on so many years ago. I used Velocity back then and now faithfully use the Botanicals line for sensitive skin (let me know if you need the hook-up on any Mary Kay products…seriously! lol).
Recently, I’ve been switching over to more and more natural methods for taking care of my health. I’ve learned to scare away headaches and cramps with tea and molasses (I promise to write a post on this). I can whip up amazing remedies for a sore throat. I just had the best allergy season ever without the help of any allergy meds. I am more conscious of my food choices.
My new venture involves getting amazing skin without much more than a few oils and butters. And so, I decided to give oil cleansing a try.
The Oil Cleansing Method: Also called OCM, cleanses and purifies the skin using a mixture of oils.
Here is the summary of how oil cleansing is done:
1. Create mixture of oils, usually including castor oil diluted with other lighter oils such as olive oil, sunflower seed oil or grapeseed oil.
2. Massage oils on to the face for 2-3 minutes.
3. Lightly steam face by covering it with warm washcloth to further remove any impurities from the skin.
4. Wipe off face with washcloth to remove excess oil.
Simple.
I will write a more detailed post about oil cleansing soon so I can share some tips that I’ve learned during my own experience. But I want to spend a little more time experimenting so I can truly speak from what I’ve seen myself and share what did and didn’t work for me. It’s still a little early for that since it’s only been five days. But my first impression? So far, so good.
I’ve been using Moroccan Method’s Euro Oil to start off my oil cleansing journey. It is designed for the hair and scalp, but is also recommended for the face and body. It doesn’t have a strong smell and it is a pretty light oil. I was afraid to start off with castor oil because it is so thick, even though you are supposed to dilute it with other oils.
Here’s a little info about the Euro Oil from Moroccan Method:
From the website:
Morrocco Method Euro Oil is a unique treatment that works to stimulate the sebaceous glands and restore the natural pH balance of the scalp. The pure oils enhancing this treatment are blended and bottled holistically to maximize its energy and natural vitality. It works to provide excellent protection and nourishment to stimulate, strengthen, and rejuvenate your hair and scalp!!!
Ingredients:
- Oils of Sunflower, Almond, Apricot, Avocado, Jojoba, Walnut, Hazelnut, Safflower, Sesame, Macadamia Nut, Bhringarai, Brahmi, Neem, and Amla
- Sage
- Lavender
- Rose
- Hand Picked St. John’s Wort flowers infused in cold pressed olive oil.
So far my face has been really soft and smooth. Like out of the ordinary soft and smooth. I haven’t been noticing any of the usual pimples arising as it is the week before my cycle starts (TMI, I know) and this is when I see the most skin problems. My T-zone has been pretty well-behaved so far and my drier patches of skin are well-moisturized. Some people have a short period where their skin kinda freaks out from being so deeply purified but I don’t see any signs of that going down for me yet. I really like how the MM Euro Oil works with my skin and last night I added a couple drops of castor oil to it just to introduce that oil into my oil cleansing regimen. I noticed a slight difference, but I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for any major changes in my skin.
Some people prefer to moisturize their skin with a little oil after they cleanse it, but I honestly haven’t had to do so. My face stays moisturized throughout the night and I only have to wipe my face with a fresh washcloth when I get up in the morning.
I will definitely keep you all updated and write up a post summarizing my experience and throwing out some tips for those who want to try out oil cleansing as well!
Have you tried oil cleansing? How did it work for you? What were some changes you noticed in your skin? Did you keep up with oil cleansing or did you go back to your old facial care regimen?
Jessica Gray is the creator of HairGetsKinky.com, a blog dedicated to untangling the kinks of hair, beauty and life.
