Cleansing with coconut oil! WOW. [Archive]

RawHeaven

04-25-2008, 03:06 PM

Inspired by LivingRawgirl who mentioned she has cleansed her face with coconut oil for over a year and uses it as moisturizer, I decided to give it a whirl this morning. And oh man, it's FANTASTIC. Let me tell you there was so much dirt and grime in the basin when I was done. You really get a deep cleansing of your pores. My skin is silky smooth. After I dried my face, I simply dabbed a tiny bit to moisturize and my skin is glowing. I tossed my neutrogena which I've been using for over 20 years. It doesn't even come close! Plus it's toxic if you do a search on this site...http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com/index.php?nothanks=1 (side note: this is a great site to plug in your cosmetic products to determine their toxicity levels)

Everyone should try this oil cleansing method, it's really wonderful. I can't remember who provided this link...but I saved it. Here it is for anyone who's interested in trying this. And it doesn't matter if you have oily, dry or combo skin...works well just the same. Check out the information if you're interested.

http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com/

Take care,
Crystal

tanishamarshall

04-25-2008, 03:11 PM

I have been using coconut oil as well for my face everyday.. Thanks for posting the link, I will definitely check it out.

Zaphirah

04-26-2008, 07:16 AM

did you use the castor oil with coconut oil or just plain coconut oil? and when you say coconut oil are you talking food grade coconut oil? can you share what brand? As you can see, I'm pretty confused. LOL!

lavendarJ

04-26-2008, 08:01 AM

Sparklie

04-26-2008, 09:46 AM

Yes, please let me know more specifics, too. I would like specifics on your coconut oil cleanse. Did you steam with it? Just straight coconut oil? Or what.
Thanks, I'm always looking for helpful skin advice that works.:)

RawHeaven

04-26-2008, 10:13 AM

Hey Sparklie, I just followed the instructions in the link I provided above. Check it out. Yes you do have to steam it out of your pores. You simply put a hot wash cloth on your face until it cools. Repeat this a few times to your satisfaction. Wipe your face. Splash some cool water on it and dry. Moisturize to your liking.

I used Nutiva's organic extra virgin coconut oil.

Zaphirah: I just used straight coconut oil, did not mix with castor oil although I know this is an option.

RawHeaven

04-26-2008, 10:16 AM

Thanks for posting the article...I should try this over my break. I know that a lot of people do this with oilve oil. Hey Raw, the article mentioned castor oil....did you try that one too? I don't have any on me but I do have the coconut oil.

You're very welcome Lavendar. I didn't use the castor oil, just coconut oil. Didn't have any in the house either. Worked just fine without IMO.

I have been using coconut oil as well for my face everyday.. Thanks for posting the link, I will definitely check it out.

It's nice isn't? Definately check it out. It really makes your skin look and feel great. I haven't washed my face yet this morning and it's still glowing.

lafsalot

04-26-2008, 10:52 AM

I've been using coconut oil as an added moisturizer after my daily sugar scrub (w oil) before a hot shower and my skin has never been so silky soft. Will check out that link. Thanks for sharing ~ Cathy

RawHeaven

04-27-2008, 10:55 AM

you're very welcome Cathy.

this morning while i was cleansing my face, i thought there's gotta be a better way to steam the coconut oil out of the pores than continually bringing a hot wash cloth to your face until it cools.

you can use your old pots! fill them with boiling hot water, drape a towel over your head & pot and steam away. probably 5-8 minutes? or until your pores feel clear. maybe this will work when you've got the time to do it. otherwise, i suppose the washcloth will have to do...

i'm still very happy with the results and glad i can begin tossing the beauty lotions and potions i've been using all of these years. :D

Conscious Midwife

04-27-2008, 12:33 PM

AWESOME.

I've done the same with pure SHEA BUTTER in the past.

Will definately try the coconut oil soon!

Zaphirah

04-27-2008, 04:13 PM

what is shea butter? is it related to coconut butter?

Anastazia

04-27-2008, 05:20 PM

you're very welcome Cathy.

you can use your old pots! fill them with boiling hot water, drape a towel over your head & pot and steam away. probably 5-8 minutes? or until your pores feel clear. maybe this will work when you've got the time to do it. otherwise, i suppose the washcloth will have to do...

The only thing about this is, if you're prone to it, steaming can really lead to broken capillaries in your face (mostly cheeks), those little tiny red veins...
...can also aggrevate rosacea...

...I've been using the coconut oil on my face for weeks, but it's still extremely dry & flakey...*sigh*...:confused:
~Anastazia~

Rawkinlocs

04-27-2008, 05:36 PM

StarFire

04-27-2008, 06:30 PM

I just tried it ... washing my face with the coconut oil (cuz I don't have castor or the other oil...) and I am AMAZED at how clean my face feels! wow! I love this!!
thank you so much for posting this info!

I've used coconut oil as a moisturizer for a while - but never thought to use it as a cleanser!! my goodness... my skin feels amazing!!

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/za_thanx1.gif

LivingRawGirl

04-28-2008, 05:40 AM

Zaphirah

04-28-2008, 05:55 AM

one more question-is this something you do morning and night? once a day? once a week?

Ugh. I'm really trying to get up the nerve here! (I have skin that scars from belmishes, so I'm nervous to actually put oil on my skin because I have several facial scars already-one from just plain ol' dry skin this winter!!!!!)

LivingRawGirl

04-28-2008, 11:28 AM

The oil will not hurt your skin. I had very oily skin when I started. Not only did my blemishes clear, my pores get smaller, and I got the glow, but the oily-ness that I had battled since my teens disappeared! I really think you will love it. Good Luck...

Zaphirah

04-28-2008, 11:43 AM

WAAAAH! I want to but I'm askeerd!!!!! LOL! (no seriously-I WILL do this tonight. I promise! I even went out and got new washcloths and castor oil just for this occasion. :p )

RawHeaven

04-28-2008, 01:30 PM

The only thing about this is, if you're prone to it, steaming can really lead to broken capillaries in your face (mostly cheeks), those little tiny red veins...
...can also aggrevate rosacea...

...I've been using the coconut oil on my face for weeks, but it's still extremely dry & flakey...*sigh*...:confused:
~Anastazia~

Good to know this. I won't steam too much then. Maybe just like when I used to give myself weekly facials...once a week might work.

I'm brown skinned, so rosacea probably will never be an issue for me personally. :p

RawHeaven

04-28-2008, 01:36 PM

Wow...thanks for the link! I am going to try this and get my teen daughter to do the same. Question? Why did you decide on coconut oil as opposed to using the blend of castor and sunflower seed oils as recommended? Just curious.

You're very welcome! In all honesty, it's because it's all I had in the house. I plan to combine castor oil when I finally get some. But so far the coconut oil by itself is working out just fine.

You and your daughter will love it. I think it's balancing out my skin tone also...time will tell if this is from the coconut oil, just being raw or a combination.

Vivafree2

04-28-2008, 02:12 PM

I am using coconut oil for face - it is great moisutrizer and i have good results - i use it only once a day in the morning.
From time to time a make a break and use something else for few days . Coconut oil made my skin soft and moist durig winter - summertime i need to experiment:)

Raine

04-28-2008, 04:58 PM

RawHeaven

04-28-2008, 10:53 PM

RawHeaven

04-28-2008, 10:55 PM

RawHeaven, I am so glad you tried this! I have been truly amazed at the results I get and I can't tell you how many people comment on my skin each week (almost daily). I hope you continue to see the same improvements! Your link is great, I was just following what I had read here years ago which was basically the same directions (minus the castor oil, I may try that one day). Coconut oil rawks!!

It really does rawk!! Thank you so much for sharing that you were using it...I kept remembering to try it but never got around to it until recently. I'm so glad you experienced great improvements with your skin using it. I hope to experience the same! I appreciate your kind words.

RawHeaven

04-28-2008, 10:59 PM

I tried the coconut oil last night. I have sensitive skin so I was hesitant at first but coconut oil has such amazing properties I gave it a go.

I steamed a kettle of water and poured that into a large bowl, draped a towel over and steamed that way. My skin was amazingly softer than normal.

My only mode of transport is a motorcycle, plus I live in Dallas and our summers can sometimes be brutal, so I'm always interested in what I can do to help my complexion.

Thankfully, no one has ever come close to guessing my age so I think the copious amounts of water and using Thayer's Rose Water Witch Hazel has helped immensely.

I'm glad to know about this coconut oil option as well.

Hey Raine I used to ride myself, it's how I fractured my leg. I could never master a Harley though, you've got skillz! I took a peak at your blog and wow, we went through similar ordeals with the health care system/prescription medication and such. It's nice to be out of that game isn't it? I'm glad you experienced good results with the coconut oil. And more importantly, I'm glad you're doing better and healing...best wishes with your juice cleanse. Keep rawkin and ride safe!

cruda

04-29-2008, 10:13 AM

I have been using coconut oil for the last 2 weeks and it is amazing. I got rid of all my mary kay products. I use coconut on my face and as a hot oil treatment for my hair.!!!love it!!!!
I wonder if I can massage my face with coconut oil and get into the suana??? My husband just got me an infra red sauna just a week ago.
thanks!!!

Raine

04-29-2008, 10:35 AM

Hey Raine I used to ride myself, it's how I fractured my leg. I could never master a Harley though, you've got skillz! I took a peak at your blog and wow, we went through similar ordeals with the health care system/prescription medication and such. It's nice to be out of that game isn't it? I'm glad you experienced good results with the coconut oil. And more importantly, I'm glad you're doing better and healing...best wishes with your juice cleanse. Keep rawkin and ride safe!

RawHeaven: I've got a Dyna Low Rider so she's got some power to her - but to be honest, I don't trust myself with a sport bike. I think if I got a Hyabusa or a Ducati I'd be stupid because I like the speed too much.

I've been perscription free for more years than I can think of - it's definitely the way to go. Pharmaceuticals, doctors, insurance, processed food industry, etc. it's all one big conspiracy to keep people fat, dumb and medicated because at the end of the day, all those big corporations have stock holders to answer to and they are going to want to see a return on their investment.

I think the biggest culprit to my weight gain was a lifestyle change as I went from being on the road all the time to being behind a desk. I'm now in a field where I have a much higher activity level but the weight wasn't coming off fast enough. THEN, I got word we may be going to Tanzania this July for a documentary shoot and I did NOT want to be carrying extra weight around in a situation like that.

Thanks for your feedback!

StarFire

04-30-2008, 04:16 PM

omg Crystal.... RawHeaven.... in three days time... my skin... my complexion has changed so dramatically... I can't thank you enough for posting this!

My husband literally made me stand in the sun this morning and turned my face this way and that way... and he said "You look different - you skin... what's going on?" So - I of course asked "different GOOD or different BAD?" and he said "No - - honey -- you're just glowing .. your pores are completely different... you skin is so soft and I dunno -- it's just - just amazing...."

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/blush-4.gif ahhhh geee... thanks!!!! hehehheheeee!!!

so I told him about your post and that for the last three days I've been cleansing my face with coconut oil... he just shook his head and said..."beautiful honey... really beautiful!"

I'M SOLD!!! THANK YOU ~ THANK YOU ~ THANK YOU!!!! http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/thyahoo.gif ... and this from a man who very rarely gives compliments!!!

Crystal ... You RAWk my world honey girl!!! thank you!!

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/ththliloandstitchhug.gif

Zaphirah

04-30-2008, 05:14 PM

Okay. I did it. I'm still a little scared that I will wake up with saucer size blemishes tomorrow...but at least I did it. :p

My skin wasn't as improved as I had pictured-but it def. looks better. My overall skin tone is more even-after just one treatment. I usu have pink cheeks, nose and chin. It seems a little less red and my pink cheeks have a more even hue, rather than blotchy redness.

A couple more days...and I'll be sold! LOL!

RawSinger

04-30-2008, 07:22 PM

Thank you so much for posting this!! I'm soooo excited to try it after reading about it and will hopefully adopt it as my skin care regimen!

lioness

05-01-2008, 12:26 AM

For the steam part I'll just use my old facial steamer instead of the washcloth. Sounds interesting I'll give it a try.

RawSinger

05-01-2008, 01:16 AM

For the nights when you're not steaming, can you just massage the oil mixture into your face then rinse well with warm water? Also, to anyone who wants to answer, do you think I should use a mixture of castor and sunflower oil as they reccomend, or castor and coconut oil?

StarFire

05-01-2008, 01:25 AM

Gosh... I missed the whole steaming step :eek: !! I've just been using my washcloth -- I put really hot water in it and hold it over my face... then gently wipe the coconut oil off.. and just keep doing that -- it feels so good! I also leave the washcloth over my face with the hot water just steaming over me.... :o ... seems to be working! :D

... this is one of those things that I'm so grateful to have been told about!! I absolutley looove this.... the change in my skin is astonishing...

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/eyes-colors.gif

RawSinger

05-01-2008, 01:40 AM

Actually, Star, that's what I meant by "steaming." What you just described is pretty much what they suggest at http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com so you're good. I guess what they're reccomending is not technically steaming.

Are you cleansing with the coconut oil every night?

Apasaraw

05-01-2008, 09:45 AM

oai

05-01-2008, 03:11 PM

A girl working at Aveda was telling me about how she doesn't use Aveda only coconut oil on her skin and hair...cracked me up!

that is pretty funny. http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii81/outsideanimage/emot-LMAO.gif

RawHeaven

05-02-2008, 10:18 AM

A girl working at Aveda was telling me about how she doesn't use Aveda only coconut oil on her skin and hair...cracked me up!

Thanks for the link!!! I have been using it on my body occassionally but was afraid of a reaction if I used it on my face...

RawHeaven and RawSInger I love your sharing spirit!

This is very funny and ironic! ha.

I appreciate your sharing spirit as well Apasaraw!

My skin is still feeling like a million bucks using coconut oil by itself. A couple of friends commented on it recently, asking me if I'm using foundation now. I said, nope it's coconut oil. One of them is going to try it! The other thinks I'm nuts. hahahaa. The proof is in the results is all I'll say about that.

Be well,
Crystal

RawHeaven

05-02-2008, 10:21 AM

Gosh... I missed the whole steaming step :eek: !! I've just been using my washcloth -- I put really hot water in it and hold it over my face... then gently wipe the coconut oil off.. and just keep doing that -- it feels so good! I also leave the washcloth over my face with the hot water just steaming over me.... :o ... seems to be working! :D

... this is one of those things that I'm so grateful to have been told about!! I absolutley looove this.... the change in my skin is astonishing...

I was just joking about using the old pots and pans to steam the face, but you're actually doing it the correct way by steaming the pores with a hot wash cloth as RawSinger mentioned Starfire.

It is pretty amazing how well this works...I agree! I'm glad you're reaping beautiful results.

RawSinger

05-03-2008, 11:03 PM

Zaphirah

05-04-2008, 06:49 AM

yea! Feels great huh? In my personal exp-my skin feels great for about 24 hours, then seems to feel pretty oily-dh had the same exp too-but then if you wash AGAIN it gets kind of dry. I think maybe I will use coconut w/ castor oil 1-2x a week and the coconut just about every day and see how that goes.

rawstrength

05-04-2008, 07:36 AM

A girl working at Aveda was telling me about how she doesn't use Aveda only coconut oil on her skin and hair...cracked me up!

Thanks for the link!!! I have been using it on my body occassionally but was afraid of a reaction if I used it on my face...

RawHeaven and RawSInger I love your sharing spirit!

Anthony Anderson, a raw vegan model, once had to do a photo shoot advertising hair gel. Of course, for the photo shoot, instead of using the hair gel to style his hair, he used melted coconut oil!

We're learning ALL the best beauty secrets here ;) .

By the way, I might try this. I just got through a period of time when my hair and skin were really greasy, however, and i'm not sure I'm ready to be greasy again! So far on my raw vegan journey I've only been washing my skin with water.

RawHeaven

05-04-2008, 10:22 AM

By the way, I might try this. I just got through a period of time when my hair and skin were really greasy, however, and i'm not sure I'm ready to be greasy again! So far on my raw vegan journey I've only been washing my skin with water.

I think this is the sheer irony of this...cleansing with oil removes oil and dirt from the pores better than anything else I've ever tried in my life. We've been programmed to think you've got to use super strength chemicals that do the opposite. They not only don't deep cleanse the pores they dry out the skin and further damage it. It takes some time to wrap your mind around this because it doesn't seem natural does it? LOL. But it works! I would guess it will not make your skin greasy unless perhaps you're using a great deal of oil and not steaming all of it out of your pores after applying it?? Let us know how it works for you Rawstrength if you try it.

RawHeaven

05-04-2008, 10:24 AM

I finally got around to trying this; I used a mixture of castor oil and cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil. The process felt really great and my skin feels so soft and yummy! I can't wait to see how my skin will continue to improve!

I'm glad it's working well for you RawSinger. :) I love how my skin feels so soft and supple. Every day my complexion seems to be getting brighter. It's blowing my mind and I'm becoming a narcissist. hahhaaaa.

christofu

05-04-2008, 10:44 AM

RawHeaven,

Let me get this straight. First I apply coconut oil to my face, steam it, and then rinse it with warm water? Is this the correct procedure?

I have an upright clothing steamer that I just pulled out to steam wrinkles out of my sons cotton pants and shirts. It dawned on me that it would be useful as a facial steamer if I stood far enough away from it so I don't get burned. :eek: I'm heading to Burlington to purchase a jar of coconut oil to start with this new regime tonight. :cool: Thanks for your answers. :)

RawSinger

05-04-2008, 11:04 PM

RawHeaven: I'm just curious: I was looking at a jar of Nutiva Coconut Oil yesterday and it said on the jar that it melts at 76 degrees (I didn't look at it too closely, but I assume that's Farenheit). Actually, all of the coconut oil I looked at in the health food store looked solid. Now, pardon me, but how exactly do you massage something that's solid into your face and have it saturate your pores effectively?? Does it melt just enough in your hands right before you massage your face?? I'd just like to know because I'm interested in switching to coconut oil to cleanse my face. Depending on how thick it is, I may or may not mix it with the castor oil because the article that you provided says that you should mix the castor oil with a thinner oil.

Another question: how often do you deep cleanse with the coconut oil?? Morning and night or just at night, as the article suggested? Sorry, just being a nosy girl!

Thanks in advance!

Lady Green Jeans

05-04-2008, 11:27 PM

After reading your original post, I went out and bought the cold pressed sunflower and Castor oils. Cleansed with the mixture once and then read the coconut oil cleansing post and did that a few days later. Both felt nice, but noticed more of a diff. with the coconut oil. Could not find how often to do this cleansing--any feedback?

RawHeaven

05-05-2008, 07:56 AM

RawHeaven,

Let me get this straight. First I apply coconut oil to my face, steam it, and then rinse it with warm water? Is this the correct procedure?

RawHeaven: I'm just curious: I was looking at a jar of Nutiva Coconut Oil yesterday and it said on the jar that it melts at 76 degrees (I didn't look at it too closely, but I assume that's Farenheit). Actually, all of the coconut oil I looked at in the health food store looked solid. Now, pardon me, but how exactly do you massage something that's solid into your face and have it saturate your pores effectively?? Does it melt just enough in your hands right before you massage your face?? I'd just like to know because I'm interested in switching to coconut oil to cleanse my face. Depending on how thick it is, I may or may not mix it with the castor oil because the article that you provided says that you should mix the castor oil with a thinner oil.

Another question: how often do you deep cleanse with the coconut oil?? Morning and night or just at night, as the article suggested? Sorry, just being a nosy girl!

Thanks in advance!

After reading your original post, I went out and bought the cold pressed sunflower and Castor oils. Cleansed with the mixture once and then read the coconut oil cleansing post and did that a few days later. Both felt nice, but noticed more of a diff. with the coconut oil. Could not find how often to do this cleansing--any feedback?

Ladies, I just began this process myself and by no means am I the coconut cleansing guru. :) I'll just share my experience after doing this for two weeks straight.

Christofu: My interpretation after reading the information on the oil cleansing website (link listed above) is the following: just rub it on your face as you would with any cleanser, place a hot wash cloth on your face and wait until it cools. Repeat this process until you're satisfied you've completely removed the oil from your pores. Splash some cool water on your face and dry. If your skin feels dry dab a little bit of coconut oil as moisturizer. I would be careful with the steamer based on a post above with regard to rupturing capillaries in the face with too frequent steaming. I don't know too much about this...you would have to research on your own.

RawSinger: You don't have to apologize...I'm happy to answer your questions. Sometimes the oil is congealed and solid and sometimes it's liquid depending on the room temperature in my house. When it is solid as I'm rubbing it on my skin it begins to become liquid. Our body temperature causes it to melt. I haven't paid too much attention to details like if it melts in my hands or on my face, I simply followed the instructions in the link. I only wash my face once a day in the morning. If I've been in the city, then I also wash it at night.

Lady Green Jeans: I'm glad it's working for you. I think you have to determine the cleansing regimine that works for you personally. But maybe others will chime in and share how they're doing it. I just replaced my morning cleansing routine with coconut oil and chucked my neutrogena. That is all. I haven't tried diluting it with castor oil yet, but I may do this once I purchase some. So far the coconut oil is working well for me on it's own and I may never use the combined oils. Not certain yet.

Hope this helps.

Warm regards,
Crystal

RawSinger

05-05-2008, 10:28 AM

Thanks soo much for clarifying Crystal!! I get kind of obsessive when it comes to skin stuff and I always want to make sure I'm not doing anything wrong. Thank you for sharing :)

JennaBoBenna

05-05-2008, 02:27 PM

I've been doing this and my face looks awesome! It feels sooo good afterwards also!

AND: I also gave my stinky pet rats a coconut oil bath and they have never smelled cleaner!! a MIRACLE! :D

RawSinger

05-05-2008, 03:53 PM

Oh....my...God........I just used Nutiva coconut oil by itself to cleanse my skin and I lloooooovvveeee it!! It smells REDICULOUSLY good and my face feels so soft and clean!! Why didn't you guys tell me I was going to become an addict!!!!:p

RawSinger

05-05-2008, 06:27 PM

I hate to potentially be the bearer of bad news (and I really hope I'm not:( :( ), but someone on this forum mentioned that the molecules in coconut oil are generally too big to really be absorbed into the skin. They stated that they had read this bit of information in two different aromatherapy books. I was really surprised and disappointed when I heard this. I mean, are all these people selling coconut oil lying about it being an effective moisturizer?? The molecules must be small enough to enter the pores on your face otherwise you all would not be raving about it's cleansing abilities! Anyone have any thoughts about this???:confused:

RawHeaven

05-05-2008, 08:44 PM

RawSinger

05-05-2008, 08:55 PM

Hey RawSinger....could be accurate. I saw Iamcranberry's response in the other oil cleansing thread about coconut oil not being a good moisturizer. I have combination/dry skin and it's working great for me. I'm going by how my skin is lookin' and feelin'. My skin is quickly becoming very balanced and I didn't even need to use the coconut oil as moisturizer today. It may not work for everybody though, but I'm loving it.

Jenna, you crack me up with your pet rats being sparkly clean. That's pretty cool. :D

Coolness. I guess how your skin looks and feels is what's important. I didn't mean to rain on your parade or anything, not that I have that power, of course:o I just get overly obsessive about these things. I'm still going to use the coconut oil for the cleansing and the moisturizing. If my skin doesn't improve enough for me, I can always go back to the castor oil-EVOO combo I made. Thanks for listening and acknowledging my obsessiveness :o :rolleyes:

christofu

05-05-2008, 09:16 PM

RawHeaven

05-05-2008, 11:10 PM

Coolness. I guess how your skin looks and feels is what's important. I didn't mean to rain on your parade or anything, not that I have that power, of course:o I just get overly obsessive about these things. I'm still going to use the coconut oil for the cleansing and the moisturizing. If my skin doesn't improve enough for me, I can always go back to the castor oil-EVOO combo I made. Thanks for listening and acknowledging my obsessiveness :o :rolleyes:

Oh hey I didn't take it that way at all. There are a million ways to do things and not everything works for everybody. Didn't rain on my parade at all...lately my parade has been marching along rain or shine. lol. :D

I may try your oil combination one of these days as well.

Take care,
Crystal

RawHeaven

05-05-2008, 11:13 PM

I have a 15 year old son who up until recently had acne. He has been dabbing jojoba oil on his skin for about a month, and I am truly amazed at the difference in his skin. :eek: He has also use hemp oil, but prefers the jojoba.

That's very good news. Acne can be traumatic at any age but particularly in the teen years. Glad your son found something that works for him. Better than the old school turpentine paint remover stuff we used to apply to our bumpy skin to burn it off. hahaa. This is probably not very funny...I'm just remembering all of the concoctions I used that worked, but also really damaged my skin. :eek:

monkapotapus

05-06-2008, 07:38 AM

I just started using coconut oil to cleanse my skin at night on Sunday.

I have very oily/acne prone skin with scarring - so I'm going to give this a go & see what happens!

JennaBoBenna

05-06-2008, 11:46 AM

Jenna, you crack me up with your pet rats being sparkly clean. That's pretty cool. :D

Haha! trust me, they get STINKY! :eek:

RawSinger

05-06-2008, 01:52 PM

RawHeaven: Okay, cool. I just hate when people are excited about something and then someone comes along and has something negative to say about it. Like :(Debbie Downer:( from Saturday Night Live lol:p

The coconut oil is actually working well for me so far. I have oily/combo/acne-prone skin and when I looked in the mirror this morning, my face looked clearer and baby-soft. I still have a few blemishes but I've only been using the coconut oil one day, so I'm sure it will only get better. You can't expect miracles overnight but it sure did make a noticeable difference in one night! Thank you for introducing everyone to this who didn't know about it already :)

RAWCA

05-07-2008, 04:14 PM

Did anyone break out more from the OCM intially? Is that normal? I have small little red bumps everywhere?

monkapotapus

05-07-2008, 05:07 PM

I just started doing this Sunday night with only coconut oil & I got some new tiny red bumps/pimples on my forehead (where I pretty much never break out) & some in various other places.

In the website link it explains how after steaming your face the first few time - it unblocks the pores & the oil flows again - I am hoping it will regulate out - but so far it's not too bad & my face will break out to anything......

I am also thinking about including oil pulling starting next Monday with the sunflower oil.

RawHeaven

05-07-2008, 05:44 PM

RawHeaven: Okay, cool. I just hate when people are excited about something and then someone comes along and has something negative to say about it. Like :(Debbie Downer:( from Saturday Night Live lol:p

hahaa! I remember her...lol. Just remember it's none of your business what other people think of you. Especially the ba humbug folks who love misery. You were just asking questions and sharing was my take. ;-)

Glad it's working. You're very welcome, but I can't take all the credit. LivingRawGirl first introduced it in her raw progress update and I remember now that Banana copied the oil cleansing link somewhere. I just recognized her avatar recently and put 2 & 2 together. Thanks Banana!

Wishing you continued success all the way around. :D

RawHeaven

05-07-2008, 05:51 PM

Did anyone break out more from the OCM intially? Is that normal? I have small little red bumps everywhere?

I had small blemishes on my forehead the first couple of days and now they're gone. I would monitor it and see what else might work if it continues. I also increased my water intake. I'm ingesting 1 tbs of coconut oil in the morning and I'm drinking more green smoothies. I think it's making a difference and cleansing my liver at the same time.

I'm thinking it could be detox like the other detoxes we experience...perhaps. Skin eruptions and acne are primarily caused by a devitalized liver. I also tend to break out still before my cycle, but this is changing. Maybe the front end (liver) also needs to be continually cleansed as well even as we clear our pores.

I just started doing this Sunday night with only coconut oil & I got some new tiny red bumps/pimples on my forehead (where I pretty much never break out) & some in various other places.

In the website link it explains how after steaming your face the first few time - it unblocks the pores & the oil flows again - I am hoping it will regulate out - but so far it's not too bad & my face will break out to anything......

I am also thinking about including oil pulling starting next Monday with the sunflower oil.

This happened to me too monkapotapus. Had tiny bumps above my brow and I never break out on my forehead. Usually a stray blemish on my cheek sometimes. They're gone now. I may take up oil pulling again...will be interesting to see how the cleansing routine and removing toxins this way works in tandem. Also maybe to balance an oily complexion you need to dilute it with the castor oil?? I have dry skin for now so the coconut oil seems to be just right for me. Just a thought.

RAWCA

05-07-2008, 08:26 PM

SO OCM would not be causing the pimples rite?:)
I should wait it out?

Thanks in advance

RawHeaven

05-08-2008, 12:08 AM

Rawca, I don't know for sure. You will have to trust your own intuition and instincts. One thing I believe which has helped has been increasing my water intake and making sure I'm steaming the oil out of my pores. I'm a morning person and generally want to get up and go! I haven't been completely steaming my face...just rinsing the wash cloth a couple of times. lol. I have to force myself to find the patience to steam my face with the hot wash cloth until it cools and I do it at least 5 to 6 times. This has helped.

Wait it out if it feels right for you. If your skin seems to get worse, you may need to try something different?

klomasius

05-08-2008, 03:29 AM

I'm so going to try coconut oil as a cleanser. I'd never have thought of it as a cleaner!

With all the really basic, fruits and oils beauty care I'm learning about on the different forums, I'm coming to realise that even my natural homemade moisturisers and skin treatments might not be needed!

Simple off the shelf (or even off the tree) products seem to do as good if not a better job, and are usually cheaper than anything I can buy, or even make. Plus they have an added bonus of be edible!

Thanks so much Crystal, your willingness to help and give feedback is so very much appreciated! :D

TxRawGirl

05-08-2008, 08:49 AM

Thanks EVERYONE for the wondeful info!! My pores have never been so clean and small!! I have spent $$$$$ on products previously!. I read this topic just yesterday (was about to reorder very high priced product)..and thougth I'd give it a try - I spent about 15.00 on castor oil and organic raw evoo....I can't believe how wonderfully clean my face it now!!!! I've also dabbed a bit on for moisture today..

Questions: #1 - What do you do about sun protection?
#2 - Could you add a bit of lavender to the mixture without changing its affects?

Thanks All!:cool:

RawSinger

05-08-2008, 01:43 PM

Terri: You could do whatever you wanted about sun protection. There is a discussion on this site about natural forms of sun protection-using different oils to protect your skin. Also, it is possible to "eat your sunscreen" on a raw diet because you're taking in a lot of antioxidants and essential fatty acids. But personally, I still turn to commercial sunscreen. I'm currently using Neutrogena but plan on purchasing a sunscreen from Burt's Bees or Dr. Hauschka because they're all natural. I also try to wear sunglasses when I'm planning on being outside for a while.

I'm sure it wouldn't change anything to add lavendar. I'm not sure if it would improve your results but I don't think it would hurt them. Lavendar is not hurtful to anyone. On http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com it mentions that you can add other oils to the mix if you desire.

Lady Green Jeans

05-08-2008, 09:55 PM

I have only steamed my face with a partially cooled (still pretty steamy) towel. Maybe need to repeat the step a couple times. Unbelievable how nice my skin feels now (and it really has minimalized the wrinkles esp. around the eye area).

I purchased a glo mineral compact yesterday--the young lady at the spa color matched me and put it on one side of my face so I could determine if there was any difference-WOW! I wore it to work today and got several positive comments. So nice to see positive results.

RawHeaven

05-09-2008, 08:42 AM

Great news LadyGreenJeans! Sounds like your raw glow is expanding. :)

Be well.

RAWCA

05-11-2008, 10:35 PM

Any updates:) ?

RawHeaven

05-12-2008, 05:13 PM

A quick update: I'm beginning to get compliments about my skin. :)

I've also started washing my face, every other day, once a day in the morning. I don't think my facial skin needs as much cleansing anymore. Probably has a lot to do with being raw. I also use a loofah lightly on it before I massage the oil in and this seems to be making a difference.

Still haven't tried combining the coconut oil with the castor oil, but it's on my list of things to buy.

I'm loving the process and it's working.

Eva

05-12-2008, 05:21 PM

Crystal -- What do you mean by "washing"? With the coconut oil or regular soap?

RawHeaven

05-12-2008, 05:27 PM

Crystal -- What do you mean by "washing"? With the coconut oil or regular soap?

Hey there Eva. "Washing" with coconut oil. Doesn't seem natural does it? lol. It's contrary to everything we've learned about skin care, but it works.

http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com/

Raw Yogini

05-12-2008, 05:47 PM

After hearing all these great reviews I bought coconut oil today and now I just need to get the nerve to use it! I'm scared it will make me break out! Maybe I'll do it in a few days when I don't have to go to work just in case. Thanks for the enthusiasm.

Eva

05-12-2008, 05:50 PM

Ha! Just checking... no it doesn't. I just wanted to make sure -- so now you are "washing" with the coconut oil every other day instead of every day.

My skin has been doing pretty well since I just started doing whatever it is I do -- just willy nilly! -- rather than obsessing.

I did the oil cleansing a couple times. I keep meaning to do it again! Maybe tonight??

Lady Green Jeans

05-12-2008, 10:23 PM

RawHeaven,

I can't believe how well my skin has responded to the coconut oil cleansing. Was not sure if it was an everyday or every other day or less often recommendation to cleanse. Have definately been getting compliments on my complexion. At 52, lots of people already thought I was in my early 40's so it is doubly nice to get the positive feedback. I'm also enjoying the step to less makeup with using the glominerals. It feels so sheer and natural on my skin--moreso than the MAC product I was using.

Looking forward to hearing how others are doing with the cleansing. Every nice thing I can do for myself I am making an effort to do--kind of taking care of the temple (body).

RawSinger

05-12-2008, 10:38 PM

I'm currently doing the oil cleansing method with castor oil and evoo and am moisturizing with coconut oil. Maybe this combo will help keep my acne flare-ups in check. Too soon to tell, but my skin is incredibly soft. Will keep you posted :)

RAWCA

05-14-2008, 12:58 PM

Does it seem to make anyone;s skin really dry?

annielauri

05-14-2008, 09:23 PM

I noticed the dryness a lot at first. I think it is easing up some, plus I put a little coconut oil back on after I shower in the a.m. I haven't been doing the oil cleansing daily though because of the dryness. The tone of my skin is wonderful now though, and I have had horrid rosacea the last 5-7 years.

Mehandi

05-15-2008, 01:27 PM

Hey everyone,
I am currently on day 6 of my 30 day MC. I just recently read everyone's comments about how great coconut oil has worked for everyone's skin, which is intrigueing to me because i have bed acne and a mild form of rosacea, which leaves bad acne scars. I was wondering if this was okay to do while doing my MC and if i could wash my whole body with coconut oil in the shower. I was also curious as to how often i should wash my face this way. I usually was it in the morning and evening, but sometimes i wash my face in the afternoon after work or if my face feels particularly oily. Thanks for everyone's help and comments!!

RawHeaven

05-15-2008, 10:18 PM

Hi Mehandi, I don't see why you couldn't cleanse your face with the oils while on the MC. I'm not sure about that though...I'm just thinking I used regular facial soaps during my MC with no problems and the oil seems like it would be a better choice? You may just have to see how your skin feels and how you feel energy wise. Best wishes on your MC.

RawHeaven

05-15-2008, 10:21 PM

I purchased castor oil this afternoon and just finished combining it with the coconut oil and I can feel the difference. My skin feels softer. Also it's been hot weather wise and my pores have been wide open, so it's definately helped with that. I believe the castor oil pulls more of the oil from your pores. Both the cleansing oil and the dirt. So I'm going to keep it up and may switch to another oil to combine with the castor oil...not sure yet.

RawSinger

05-15-2008, 11:36 PM

Thanks for sharing, RawHeaven. I think the castor oil does serve an important purpose.

Davylp25

05-16-2008, 01:28 AM

Mehandi

05-16-2008, 11:18 AM

RawHeaven

05-16-2008, 12:27 PM

Question, once u apply the washcloth, do you scrub your face with it? Or just gently wipe?

Also, these summer months, my skin is the most shiny and oily, is this gonna make it worse? I have tried it before, but might as well try it again, heck I got nothin better to do with my skin, lol...

Wipe gently. Before taking up this practice, I never used a washcloth on my face. It's not a good idea to scrub your face with anything, especially a wash cloth. I used to just put a little (soap) cleanser on my face with my hands, use a facial loofah gently dry and add moisturizer.

Now I still do the same thing except use the oil to cleanse and steam with the washcloth. Yes, be very careful with the washcloth and just wipe gently. It can burst capillaries and damage the skin if you use it too rigorously. At least this is what I've learned over the years.

I'm in Sacramento, CA at the moment and today it's supposed to be 103. My skin is shiny and oily too lately because of the weather, but the oil cleansing is making a huge difference with this. Actually my skin is glowing! We've been so programmed to think that "oily" skin is not a good thing when it's probably the body and skin's natural defense against extreme heat to produce a little more moisture to protect the skin from drying out??? I've still got a lot to learn about this, but it's what my intuition is telling me. Although my skin looks a little oily, it feels healthy and it's glowing. I'm not worried about it and I've been able to ditch the moisturizing step the past few days. :)

RawHeaven

05-16-2008, 12:31 PM

Thanks for sharing, RawHeaven. I think the castor oil does serve an important purpose.

My pleasure. I agree and think the castor oil serves a purpose. I was going to just drop into Walgreen's to get a generic brand, but had second thoughts. I was able to find a really good, pure brand in the local natural food co-op. It's made by Home Health.

hexane free
pareben free

feels good on the skin...not too heavy

RawHeaven

05-16-2008, 12:35 PM

I was wondering if it matters how long i wait after cleansing to put makeup on. I would like to get to the point to where i don't have to wear makeup, but i'm definitely not there so, if anyone has any input i would greatly appreciate it.

Eventually I think you'll probably want to release the makeup as your beautiful skin will not need any! I do not wear any at all, with the exception of some mascara occassionally. I don't see why you can't just apply it as you would normally do. Whenever that happens to be for you. I think there is a thread in this section regarding natural make-ups to use....might be an alternative as you transition. Just in case you don't already know about them...you probably do. Good luck!

RAWCA

05-18-2008, 10:29 AM

So is castor oil and coconut oil a good mix for ocm or is cator oil and jojoba oil better?
My skin is sensitive

RawSinger

05-18-2008, 01:09 PM

RAWCA: on http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com it reccommends combining the castor oil with a "lighter" oil. I'm assuming they mean a thinner oil, in order to effectively saturate the pores. I think jojoba oil is a very good choice because it's very close to human sebum. It should work well. Just an opinion. Although if you're really curious, try mixing the castor oil with coconut oil and using that for a little while, then do the same trial with the castor and jojoba.

lavendarJ

05-18-2008, 03:33 PM

I want to try this with my facial sauna (steamer). What do you guys think, can I use this instead of the warm wash cloth

Rawkinlocs

05-18-2008, 04:09 PM

I think that using the wash cloth in hot water is best because you're supposed to also be wiping the oil off with the cloth after each steaming. Otherwise, you may want to have a warm cloth on the side to use after steaming with the sauna thingy.

RawSinger

05-18-2008, 09:20 PM

I agree with Rawkinlocs. She's a smart woman :)

RAWCA

05-19-2008, 02:34 PM

How long do the minor outbreaks last?

RawSinger

05-19-2008, 10:39 PM

Um, I'm not sure because I'm breaking out like crazy right now since it's that time of the month for me :( If it's not that time of the month for you, I don't see why the outbreaks should last more than a week, MAX. The article does say to expect this at first. If they continue for any length of time, I might reconsider the oil blend you're using and how much oil you are putting on your face as a moisturizer. Just my opinion.

RawHeaven

05-20-2008, 10:30 AM

I just wanted to pop in for a minute to share that the castor oil is definately making a significant difference in how my skin looks and feels after I cleanse. It is smoother, my pores are smaller and it seems to pull more dirt from the pores. The forumla I'm using because I have dry & combo skin is about 10% castor oil to 90% coconut oil. I will eventually try the sunflower oil also when I run out of my spare coconut oil. I still have a jar just for eating and I don't plan on using this one. :p

I'm also using tea tree oil as an astringent after I wash my face by putting a little on a cottonball and rubbing it gently around my face. Side note: If you try this, be careful to avoid your eyes, nose and mouth. You're not supposed to ingest it and it will burn the hell out of your eyes. Anyway, I do this during the warmer/hot months to keep my pores tight and free of acne. I have to tell ya, when I used to use neutrogena to cleanse my face, the cottonball would still have dirt on it and be grimy! In other words there was still dirt and oil in my pores using traditional facial soaps. I thought this was normal and was one of the reasons I used the astringent in the first place. When I swipe the tea tree oil after cleansing with the oil combination, the cottonball is completely clear!! More evidence in my opinion and limited personal experience with this process, that it really does work!!

Who woulda thunk oil could clean your face? :eek: We've been duped by the cosmetic industry. Spread the word...lol. :D

Hope you're all doing well and that you continue to experience glowing and healthy skin.

Much love,
Crystal

RawSinger

05-20-2008, 02:04 PM

Oh my goodness, Crystal, that's kind of funny! I just started using a few drops of tea tree oil in my oil cleansing blend a few nights ago! I just pour the castor and evoo blend into my hand and then add a few drops of the tt oil (so that the blend is approximately 5% tt oil). Then I proceed with the method. The first time I did this, I noticed a significant difference-fewer blackheads on my nose! If my skin is a little dry after the cleansing, I pour a very small amount of my oil blend in my hand (maybe a few drops worth) and then put a few drops of tt oil in my hand and combine them. I then pat this all over my face. I'm currently breaking out a lot because it's that time of the month for me, but will continue doing this because I feel that my breakouts are healing faster by doing it. Plus, it should prevent new breakouts. I found applying the tt oil to my skin without diluting to burn a little but I'm glad it's working for you! TT oil rocks!!

RawHeaven

05-20-2008, 02:18 PM

TT oil rocks!!

It certainly does! It's also a good remedy to reduce or eliminate scarring anywhere on the body.

Keep rawkin Francesca!

RawSinger

05-20-2008, 02:38 PM

Keep rawkin Francesca!

Aww, you too, my inspirational rawbie! :) :)

mountaintop

05-20-2008, 02:41 PM

I haven't used tea tree oil for awhile, but I remember my sister gave me some in a spray bottle once and told me to spray it on my feet to refreash them. It made my feet feel mint fresh and perky. I can't remember if it was cut with water or not. I will ask her next time we talk on the phone.

mountaintop

05-20-2008, 02:43 PM

I meant "refresh"---

RawSinger

05-20-2008, 11:16 PM

moutaintop: that's a great avatar. Love the picture. If you want to correct your spelling in your post, you can just click on the "Edit" button at the bottom right hand corner of your post, correct the error and press "Save." Just to letcha know :)

RAWCA

05-23-2008, 09:21 AM

please update anyone..i am soo on the fence abt doing OCM..i have done it 3 x with coco oil and a lil castor oil and breaking out in places have not broken out before and the plugs in my whiteheads have not come outyet...is there somethign I am doing wrong ?:confused: Please help..i really want this to work

Thanks!

Rawkinlocs

05-23-2008, 10:22 AM

RAWCA, I think that just like with going raw, you have to give it time and be consistent with it. I was having these little bumps right around my jawbone area and they were hard plugs and since doing the OCM, they have finally started releasing and that area has cleared up considerably. Even my husband noticed!

Also, when I first started doing it (using castor oil, what little bit of coconut oil I had left and olive oil) I did experience a minor outbreak but it cleared up.

Castor oil (as well as coconut oil although moreso with castor, I believe) is VERY detoxifying. Your outbreaks could be a reaction, but I'm even more prone to believe it's just cleansing your skin on a deeper level and the result will be an outbreak at first...but if you keep at it and perhaps incorporate the tea tree oil as suggested by RawHeaven that you'll see the results you desire soon!

I remember when I was a teen and I had VERY SEVERE acne and my mom took me to the dermatologist and she was going to put me on Retin-A. She told me that before my skin would clear, it was going to break out worse. That devastated me to hear that because my skin was already bad enough...I couldn't imagine it getting any worse and having to go school like that...so I didn't do the treatments.

But I said that to say, when cleansing, healing and detoxification is taking place in our bodies sometimes things have to get worse before they can get better.

RAWCA

05-23-2008, 10:27 AM

I really appreciate your feeback Rawkinlocks :)

RAWCA

05-23-2008, 10:34 AM

Rawkinlocks..2 quick ?..hoq long do u massage the oil into your skin and what oil blend do u use?:)

Thanks again

RAWCA

05-31-2008, 12:05 PM

Any updates? :D

cara4art

06-13-2008, 12:48 AM

Can you use this method if you wear foundation(which I still do, and don't like the fact that I have to, but I have sunspots to cover and my poor face just looks all spotted without any makeup)? I'd love to try this anyway, as I already use coconut oil as my body moisturizer.

buffalogal

06-13-2008, 04:50 AM

I wear foundation, and I use this method of cleansing. My skin is a bit oily, so I use 7 tsp coconut oil to 3 tsp castor oil. I tried the castor oil with EVOO, but I thought it was too thick and I didn't like the smell, so this time I'm using coconut oil instead. I keep it in a glass canning jar. If it gets too "solid", I run the glass jar under some hot water and it softens right up. I feel confident that it does get all my makeup off. I have used a cotton ball dipped in toner, and there is not a bit of makeup or dirt on the cotton ball after I've swiped my face. After cleansing, I use a bit of coconut oil to moisturize. My skin has never looked better, and I'm 60 years old!:D

cara4art

06-13-2008, 10:12 AM

Hi buffalogal!
I tried this last night with the coconut oil only, because I don't have any castor oil, and my face didn't really feel "clean" the way I'm accustomed to, since I just ordinarily use a bland drugstore cleanser. I have normal-to-oily skin, so that might have something to do with it. A half-hour afterwards, I caved and had to wash my face my regular way and apply shea butter cream instead of the straight coconut oil, as that seemed to just "sit" on my face. What am I doing wrong? Everyone else seems to have such fantastic results right away! Maybe the water I was using wasn't hot enough? Our water heater in our building is funky sometimes in that it often won't heat up past warm and won't be truly hot(likely depending on how many other people used the hot water). Also, do I do this in the morning as well as at night? I'm still having some doubts about this technique long-term with wearing makeup, because I'm still sensing that some makeup residue could accumulate over a period of time, causing more problems. I know the stock answer is to stop wearing makeup, but my poor skin is NOT ready to do that, plus I'm in a situation where I have to look half-way decent(urban lifestyle, exclusive neighborhood, etc.) I'd love to have good enough skin(smooth, even-toned)not to have to wear it though. It seems that around here, the folks my age who are able to pull that off are either long-term extremely health-conscious, or have had dermatological products(prescription skin lightening products, Retin-A, alpha hydroxy acids, etc. - in fact, these were recommended to me by a medical esthetician for my pigmentation problems)and procedures like intense pulsed light treatments, etc.
So can oil cleansing really improve the skin to a great degree, really? Maybe if one already has somewhat nice skin to begin with? But what if one doesn't, even with being raw?

Rawsome Ginger

06-13-2008, 04:23 PM

Can you just use cocunut oil as a cleanser even if you are wearing make-up?? Then apply it as a moisturiser and put your make up on in the morning?

Lady Green Jeans

06-14-2008, 09:42 AM

cara4art,

I started seeing immediate improvement in the tone and my skin just felt nicer. I used the sunflower oil 3/4 to 1/4 castor oil when I first started and now I rotate between that and coconut oil. So many years I felt that the skin had to be cleaned till it felt literally stripped of natural oils. Then replaced with face cream. This way is more natural and really feels so much better for me.

I was using a MAC foundation powder and switched over to mineral powder. My skin tone is amazing to me and I imagine will continue to improve.

cara4art

06-14-2008, 10:58 AM

"cara4art,

I started seeing immediate improvement in the tone and my skin just felt nicer. I used the sunflower oil 3/4 to 1/4 castor oil when I first started and now I rotate between that and coconut oil. So many years I felt that the skin had to be cleaned till it felt literally stripped of natural oils. Then replaced with face cream. This way is more natural and really feels so much better for me.

I was using a MAC foundation powder and switched over to mineral powder. My skin tone is amazing to me and I imagine will continue to improve." - LadyGreenJeans

Glad that it worked out so well for you!
However, with the mineral makeup, which I REALLY REALLY wanted to love, several years ago I tried some Jane Iredale mineral makeup which is often recommended by plastic surgeons and cosmetic dermatologists for post-procedures, so I figured it would be great for my somewhat sensitive skin. Wrong, so wrong! All it did, despite any application technique that I used(and I'm pretty good at makeup application too)it looked AWFUL, and this was with the right shade too! All it did was make my skin look worse, emphasizing every pore, wrinkle, dark spots, covered nothing whatsoever! On top of that it dried out my skin(even my normal-oily skin!) horribly such that it took a couple of WEEKS to recover fully. I cannot believe this stuff is recommended for people with sensitive skin. Biggest bummer that the store I bought it from would not let me return it either - $42 plus tax down the drain - ugh! I know there are a ton of brands of mineral makeup out there now, but I am still very hesitant. Recently I let a makeup artist at a Bare Essentuals(sp?)counter do an application on my face. It didn't really dry out my skin, but honestly, it looked like nothing had been applied, and not in a good way either. Maybe mineral makeup works if one already has nice even-toned skin and just wants a nice finish, nothing more. I would LOVE to get my skin to that state, as I really don't like having to cover my face with makeup. OK after that makeup rant, how long did it take for you to see a NOTICEABLE difference in your skin? When you say "tone" do you mean even-ness of skin color and lessening of sunspots(my biggest concern right now as my wrinkles are not numerous or deep)? About the skin oils being stripped, I hear you on that, but how do you know that the oil cleansing method isn't just leaving behind built up oils from makeup and dirt, which will cause problems down the line? I've seen other accounts of this where people were thrilled the first couple or three weeks of doing this, and then, their skin got clogged and broke out and looked bad. For the record, I'm almost 61, so maybe my expectations for skin are too high as far as nice tone. I know this was long, but I really would love to find something natural and simple and works as great as everyone says it does!

Jenifae

06-15-2008, 12:57 AM

I don't know about the coconut oil cleansing personally since, I haven't tried it yet. But, I do know that the Mineral Make-up works for me. I have roscea and it had gotten bad this year with bumps and everything. I started the mineral make-up and not only did it cover it up nicely but, now it has tamed down to the point of where the redness is even minimal. Sunscreen never helped it seemed but, this does and it looks natural like I'm not even wearing make-up. I like that.

cara4art

06-15-2008, 11:12 AM

Jenifae - what brand of mineral makeup do you use, and does it actually cover as I really need that with my sunspots? That was the trouble with the Jane Iredale - for all that trouble, it covered nothing, and actually emphasized every little imperfection in my skin! I tried every way of applying it in the book too - no dice. I really wanted to like it too. But about the coconut oil cleansing, I might have to give this a serious go again for awhile, because it seems that lately my skin is acting up(red irritated patches)from my other products.

Jenifae

06-15-2008, 02:05 PM

I use Bare Escentuals and it covers nicely. Like I said my roscea has really tamed down. I'm extremely impressed. I don't even bother with sunscreen on my face at all. I just make sure I put the foundation w/spf 15 on before I go out and I'm good. I love it!

cara4art

06-15-2008, 03:35 PM

Hi Jenifae! Thanks for the tip about the Bare Escentuals! You see, it was back in 2002 that I tried the Jane Iredale, and I was living in an arid climate at the time. Now that I live in a more temperate and somewhat more moist climate(San Francisco), maybe the Bare Escentuals will work out for me - I know it's really popular here in the city as there are many people who are into natural health and green lifestyles. A gentleman at a small skincare apothecary(he does ALL his natural formulations himself, based on many Ayurvedic principles) a few blocks actually recommended that for makeup I try that brand. There's a shop a couple of blocks up the street for him where they will do your whole BE makeup for you so you get on the right track as far as colors go. I would so-o love it if this is the answer!

Jenifae

06-16-2008, 12:37 AM

Hi Cara

Well, it sure can't hurt to try it and see how you do. I'm in S. Cal. in the high desert type area and it's hot and dry and it doesn't melt or anything. It stays put and keeps me covered from the sun. I love it..........I'm so grateful to have found it.

My lil' sis live in San Fran and she loves it there.

Jen

RawHeaven

07-03-2008, 11:12 AM

Da Duh Da Duh Da Duh (imagine the Jaws soundtrack) -- ACNE!!!

About 2 weeks ago during a summer heatwave and smokey skies (California is on fire) my face started breaking out and I thought cleansing with oil was the culprit as I've never experienced such an explosion of acne on my cheeks and forehead since I was fifteen years old! I thought with the new batch of environmental toxins in the air...hmmm... that maybe oil cleansing was making it worse. A patch of ezcema even had the nerve to show up near the corner of my mouth. I am still eating raw and drinking tons of water and I couldn't figure it out. :confused: So I stopped cleansing with the oil and picked up a bar of neutrogena and my old standby moisturizer. Well...the neutrogena worked to clear my skin. But it also stripped all of the oil from my skin over time!!!! :eek: And I ended up with even more acne, overly dry skin, blackheads on my nose and a whopper pimple on my cheek and chin a week later. What?! It was not fun and I was getting worried.

Neutrogena and other popular mainstream facial cleansers dry out your skin!

I figured out that it was the neutrogena that was beginning to destroy my skin and the first breakout & ezcema from oil cleansing was detox and I just needed to ride it out and be patient. My vanity took over and I wasn't having it though...lol...and went to the store to buy the neutrogena. Big mistake! I think I also reacted to the chemicals in the neutrogena. Correction, I know I did.

I decided to go back to Oil Cleansing...

After using an EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) and castor oil combo for only 2 days, not only do I have clear skin...my skin is vibrant and glowing again. :D It worked immediately. After washing my face the first evening and looking in the mirror the next morning I could tell the difference! My skin looked soft and clean. Not "dry and clear". There's a difference. I'm convinced now after having a relapse with my former beauty products that the way to cleanse the skin is to do it with oil. It makes perfect sense as if you have dried out your skin which so many people think is the normal way to cleanse -- and do not have a natural base of oil in your skin, you will be prone to getting acne or other skin reactions. Please read this helpful information about oil cleansing if you haven't already...it will explain everything. http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com/

Lifetime Commitment

Oil gently removes oil and dirt from the pores if done correctly. I am committed to this for life now...just as I am to raw foods.

RAWCA

07-03-2008, 11:44 AM

Hey Rawheaven..I am soo happy it worked for you. I was trying it for a while and breaking out into small rashes and whitheads all over, but i was using coconut oil and stopped after seeing the rashes all over my face

I was wondering..what skin type do u have?

i have VERYYY Sensitive

RawHeaven

07-03-2008, 12:27 PM

Thanks Rawca. I have combination skin. Oily on my forehead and chin, dry on my cheeks, balanced everywhere else on my face. I think the coconut oil was not a good match for me. I'm really loving the EVOO + castor oil...the former is lighter and I can tell the difference on my skin. I think you just have to experiment with different oils until you find the one you like or the one that works best for your skin type. You also have to do the same with blending the oils. There are different recommendations for each skin type, but you still have to play around with the percentages. Right now I'm using 90% EVOO and 10% castor oil. I bought a little glass bottle to store it in.

Over time I expect my skin will be more balanced. I think oil cleansing heals your skin as well.

Good luck.

smoothiegirl

07-03-2008, 12:55 PM

WOW! This thread generated a lot of activity. I want to try this too. I don't like to wear make-up. I don't like the goopy foundations and my skin is really sensitive to it now. I tried the Bare Minerals and I like it. Too costly sometimes w/gas prices going up. Would like something natural that doesn't cost a fortune. The moisturizer part of it sounds great. I use that philosophy and it's gets expensive and it is loaded w/chemicals. So I ditched the philosphy and had to go to Olay from Wal-Mart and it feels like a mask. Makes my skin splotchy. I want something that will moisturize it and make it clean and shiny. It is alot smoother now that I am raw. Oh my teeth are also whiter.
This sounds like what I need. Thanks for posting!

RawHeaven

07-03-2008, 01:08 PM

I feel the same way Smoothiegirl. I never wore foundation, but I used a cover stick sometimes under my eyes. No longer need to do that of course being raw. I don't even wear lipstick anymore...can't stand it. I used to love to paint my toe nails, but I can't deal with polish remover anymore - can't get anywhere near it without choking.

It's olive oil for the face and baking soda for the teeth. I still haven't graduated to the hair yet and use my old products. Taking it one healthcare product at a time. :D

I think you'll love oil cleansing and after awhile you probably won't need to use a moisturizer. It's hard for me to believe I used neutrogena and other products for such a long time and thought they were working for me. So glad someone discovered oil cleansing and passed it along. It's a Godsend.

Best wishes.

RAWCA

07-03-2008, 01:16 PM

Hi Rawheaven,

how would u wipe ur face..abt how many times? with warm/hot water or steam?

Thanks agian
:)

RawHeaven

07-03-2008, 01:24 PM

Rawca...okay this is my last post for awhile as I'm heading out of town for the holiday...woo hoo!

I just followed the information in the link I provided.

What I do specifically is massage the oil blend into my skin thoroughly.

Then steam my face by placing a washcloth in very hot water, rinse it out and place it on my face -- completely cover it -- and steam my pores. Rinse the cloth and put it under the hot wate again.

You repeat this 2, 3-4x times. Now the trick is not to repeat this until your skin is dried out. It's going to feel weird at first and you'll feel like there is a film on your skin when you dry it with a towel. But this is normal. It is not normal to have dry skin after you wash your face, which is what most of us are accustomed with using commercial facial cleansers. Then you end up piling tons of moisturizer on it to compensate! Crazy isn't it?

Gently wipe your skin clear with the washcloth when you're done steaming. Do not wipe or scrub hard. Before I started doing this, I didn't use washcloths...I washed my face with my hands and a loofah. I may purchase a facial steamer at some point.

I also sometimes follow up with dabbing a little tea tree oil on spots where I'm prone to break out.

I only cleanse my face at night before I go to bed. If my pores feel clogged, sometimes I'll cleanse more than once a day, but generally I do it once. If you overdo cleaning your face, you irritate your skin.

In the morning I splash my face with water and I'm ready to go.

This is what works for me...you might find a different routine.

Hope this helps!

Here's to our clear, vibrant and beautiful skin.

Cheers,
Crystal

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g203/crystalsbones/DSC00282.jpg

oai

07-03-2008, 01:52 PM

i recently tried coconut oil on my scalp and hair. i've been doing that baking soda & ACV wash/rinse in my hair since Jan. '08, and my hair would still get very oily and flaky very quickly. at least, my hair was still manageable and didn't stink as much as using various conventional shampoos.

a couple of nights before, i massaged coconut oil into my scalp and hair. it was OILY! the next day i washed/rinsed with BS and ACV. whoa. still oily. so i went through my day with oily hair tied up in a ponytail. thank god for that.

that night i got home and washed with more BS than usual and less ACV than usual (ran out of ACV). now my hair is just the way i like it! it's wonderful. soft yet not greasy AND very manageable. i'm not sure how to tweak with the procedure to take out that one day of extremely oily hair mess. maybe wash twice?

lizzyrose

07-03-2008, 08:48 PM

You've all motivated me! I already cleansed tonight with my normal skincare but I want to go "wash" with coconut oil! I've had breakouts on my chin and a few other random ones just about constantly for three years. never had problems as a teenager - not til my mid-30's! I'm so frustrated I even gave in and bought Proactiv. Ironic that it came today but I'd much rather do this. wish me luck!

RawHeaven

07-04-2008, 10:28 AM

Lizzyrose, make sure you read the oil cleansing instructions carefully. From my personal experience coconut oil may not be the best oil to use if you are prone to acne. I'd start with extra virgin olive oil or sunflower oil. Make sure to dilute it with castor oil. Castor oil is important because it carries all of the oil from your pores. Wishing you luck!

smoothiegirl

07-05-2008, 08:31 PM

Just cleansed my face w/coconut oil and it is AWESOME! So easy too!
I know have a new moisturizer. Feels like silk, Lately my skin has been calling for a good moisturizer. I have been hesitant to re-order the philosophy. Boy am I glad I didn't. This is a lot cheaper and it's natural. I got mine at the Amish store and it was about $9.00. Beats 50$ worth of chemicals. I did notice that Wal-Mart carries coconut oil in the vitamin aisle. Yea! I'm so excited. :) Thanks for posting!!!!!

Vaclare79

07-05-2008, 10:32 PM

Jenifae

07-06-2008, 01:24 AM

Has anyone ever had a reaction to just Raw Coconut Oil as a moisturizer? I was using it after my shower and then I would get itchy and even broke out. I can eat it with no problem so, I don't quite understand why I react like I"m allergic to it. Hummmmmmmmmmmmm?

Coconutcutie

07-06-2008, 01:27 AM

I tried the OCM about a year ago with coconut oil and it broke me out in huuge cysts really bad. About 5 months after that, I tried it with EVOO and Castor and it made my skin look great for about a week and then the cysts came again. I stuck with it for about 3 months and even rotated with jojoba and castor and the acne got worse and worse.//my skin does jate jojoba I have concluded. If it comes within an inch of my face I break out...seriously. I also found that my face was itchy in patches and began to exhibit signs of eczema for the first time in my life.

Now that I am raw and 100% frustrated with my skin, I have decided to give this a third try. I ran out of my facial cleanser tonight so I whipped up a batch of EVOO and castor....immediately after cleansing my face I had little red bumps that I didn't have before I went to cleanse my face....can pimples really form this fast??? Some have little whiteheads, some look like small cysts. I vaguely remember this happening last time I tried this. Also, it has been about an hour since I washed my face and the eczema-type itchiness is back on my face in the same spots it was before...

Should I keep up with this? Or is this immediate reaction a sign that my skin does NOT like this? This is what happened last time and I got frustrated after 3 months of reactions and quit....

Jenifae

07-06-2008, 02:18 AM

I know I'm a newbie and I've seen these before but, can't remember their meanings - OCM and EVOO - what are they?

I don't know why I get itchy. I haven't blended it with anything else yet and may try. Just started using MSN lotion instead.

RawHeaven

07-06-2008, 06:54 PM

Now that I am raw and 100% frustrated with my skin, I have decided to give this a third try. I ran out of my facial cleanser tonight so I whipped up a batch of EVOO and castor....immediately after cleansing my face I had little red bumps that I didn't have before I went to cleanse my face....can pimples really form this fast??? Some have little whiteheads, some look like small cysts. I vaguely remember this happening last time I tried this. Also, it has been about an hour since I washed my face and the eczema-type itchiness is back on my face in the same spots it was before...

Should I keep up with this? Or is this immediate reaction a sign that my skin does NOT like this? This is what happened last time and I got frustrated after 3 months of reactions and quit....

Either you're a super detoxer or you may be allergic to either the EVOO or castor oil. Castor oil is very detoxifying and you could just be super sensitive to it. I wouldn't cleanse my face with the oil blend until you determine what it is that is causing such an adverse reaction. It can get complex - you could be reacting to something that you're eating in conjunction with the oil????? I'm so sorry you experienced this! It sucks!! I don't know what to tell you....but if it were me I would be leary of using it for now. I don't think you're supposed to break out right away like that. Have you tried natural facial masks and drinking skin friendly juices like cucumber? Maybe try a mashed avocado/cucumber mask; steam your face gently once a week; use a tea tree or rosemary oil astringent. Then go back to oil cleansing.... I hope you find some relief. Breaking out is not fun for the spirit, face or vanity.

I know I'm a newbie and I've seen these before but, can't remember their meanings - OCM and EVOO - what are they?

I don't know why I get itchy. I haven't blended it with anything else yet and may try. Just started using MSN lotion instead.

EVOO= extra virgin olive oil. I don't know what OCM means.

Maybe the itchiness is your skin healing in reverse -- the toxins being released. When I fast, I sometimes get itchy skin. Just a thought.

RawHeaven

07-06-2008, 06:59 PM

Juice11

07-07-2008, 03:17 PM

My wife and I love it. Just put a warm cloth over your face before you wipe clean. Also did the pot of steaming water another day but that felt gross

rawbutterfly

07-07-2008, 03:33 PM

I couldn't resist...I have done this twice now and my face looks better than it has in a long time. Going raw cleared up most of my problems, but I had stubborn blackheads that just wouldn't go away. But now they are almost completely gone!

lizzyrose

07-07-2008, 05:36 PM

It looks like a lot of people on this thread have used coconut oil... wondering if anyone else has had success with different types of oils? if so, what kind and for what skin type?

RawHeaven

07-07-2008, 06:18 PM

It looks like a lot of people on this thread have used coconut oil... wondering if anyone else has had success with different types of oils? if so, what kind and for what skin type?

I started with coconut oil only.

Now I'm using EVOO & castor oil...much more success with this combination.

Dry/Combo skin.

phedre

07-08-2008, 10:32 PM

What does castor oil smell like? I'm interested in trying it but I'll be grossed out if I am trying to sleep with a stinky face, and I'm not familiar with this oil at all.

RawHeaven

07-09-2008, 11:11 AM

What does castor oil smell like? I'm interested in trying it but I'll be grossed out if I am trying to sleep with a stinky face, and I'm not familiar with this oil at all.

haha...castor oil doesn't smell stinky...no worries. the brand i use by Home Health is relatively odorless. It's the olive oil that I can smell actually. and it smells really good!

LynieD

07-10-2008, 08:48 AM

I tried coconut oil last night for the first time. Followed the directions, as far as I know.

Maybe I just had my expectations up too high...but I wasn't impressed.

I switched from harsh cleansers to Ponds Cold Cream the same week I went raw, so I don't know which of them has had the biggest influence but I've been loving my skin for the past month. I've actually stopped wearing heavy foundation--just a little dusting of coverage powder.

And I was so disappointed with my skin this morning--my skin normally looks bright, clear and fresh in the AM...this morning it was really dull and and uneven looking.

I'm debating about whether or not to keep trying the oil cleansing. Has anyone else had similar results?

RawHeaven

07-10-2008, 09:29 AM

And I was so disappointed with my skin this morning--my skin normally looks bright, clear and fresh in the AM...this morning it was really dull and and uneven looking.

I'm debating about whether or not to keep trying the oil cleansing. Has anyone else had similar results?

Could be detox. Remember oil cleansing is truly "cleansing". All of the years of using commercial skin products harboring toxins in the facial skin cells is not unlike the transition from cooked to raw. It takes time before you see results sometimes and you might not feel or look so great during the transition. As the deeper layers of your skin are healed you may experience breakouts or dull skin as the toxins are being pulled to the surface. You've got to use the castor oil with the coconut oil also...castor oil is key as it pulls the oil mixture from the pores. If coconut oil doesn't work, some people experienced problems with it -- includiing me -- try switching to EVOO or sunflower oil.

Good luck.

lizzyrose

07-10-2008, 09:10 PM

My update - I started with coconut oil and castor/coconut. I loved the smell and the way my skin looked and felt at first, but it didn't do a whole lot for the breakouts on my chin that I've been dealing with for a few years. Then I tried castor/jojoba (yikes it was expensive!) didn't do a whole lot for me. Tonight I gave in and used a castor/evoo combo. I say "gave in" cuz I'm not a huge fan of the smell of olives. But, I can say this is the first time since I was probably 12 years old and first started using facial regimines that I washed my face and my skin didn't immediately feel tight. I can't believe it! Hopefully it will help clear my skin too!

Harleybabe

07-16-2008, 04:04 PM

WOW I love this place!!!

I have just found coconut oil, actually suggested by my doctor for use in the bedroom...... won't elaborate, you get the idea....

Been using using for my face and LOVE LOVE LOVE IT.... PLUS found other motorcycle riders who are into natural stuff!!!! AHHHHH

Raene

07-16-2008, 05:15 PM

what's evoo?

carolg

07-16-2008, 05:22 PM

I just shaved my legs and underarms with coconut oil. I was in shower, applied to my wet legs the oil and shaved. Was super slick and quick too.

carolg

RawKnitster

07-16-2008, 05:28 PM

Extra Virgin Olive Oil ?

cara4art

07-26-2008, 08:51 AM

"I decided to go back to Oil Cleansing...

After using an EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) and castor oil combo for only 2 days, not only do I have clear skin...my skin is vibrant and glowing again. It worked immediately. After washing my face the first evening and looking in the mirror the next morning I could tell the difference! My skin looked soft and clean. Not "dry and clear". There's a difference. I'm convinced now after having a relapse with my former beauty products that the way to cleanse the skin is to do it with oil. It makes perfect sense as if you have dried out your skin which so many people think is the normal way to cleanse -- and do not have a natural base of oil in your skin, you will be prone to getting acne or other skin reactions. Please read this helpful information about oil cleansing if you haven't already...it will explain everything. http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com/

Lifetime Commitment

Oil gently removes oil and dirt from the pores if done correctly. I am committed to this for life now...just as I am to raw foods." - Raw Heaven

So-o well put! After some recent skin woes that I posted about, I am for SURE ditching the harsh cleansers, creams and sunblocks, and really giving the oil cleansing a real chance to do its work. I had only tried it once, but as I read further that's not really enough to see a difference and one's skin goes through a bit of transition, detox even. But what has led me to this is that now I really get it that I HAVE to get simple and natural with my skin care, as well as food. I'm really becoming a believer in the fact that raw changes more than just one's food! My body chemistry is changing such that I don't want chemicals on my skin!
Plus I'm loving the price of just going with oils and my shea butter.

RawHeaven

07-26-2008, 09:52 PM

Hey Cara, I feel the same way! I can only handle natural oils on my body now. I bought some Shea butter after hearing about your success with it and I love it. Shea butter for the body and EVOO for my face. I wish you much success as you continue healing. I'm learning to be patient with the process myself. Nothing feels as good as being 100% natural. Next stop is the hair. Whoa. :p

dakinimind

07-27-2008, 02:42 AM

RawHeaven

08-12-2008, 10:52 AM

I've been doing the oil cleanse method with olive and castor oil for about a year now. My skin is almost poreless as a result. But, just a word of caution: be very careful with the caster oil. To start, only use a small amount until you know your skins reaction. I used too much in the beginning and experienced the worst break out of my life! No kidding. I found 90% olive oil to a 10% castor oil works best for my skin (dry, Irish and prone to blemishes in the T-zone).

I will second the caution about the castor oil. I think you have to monitor the percentages you use as you go along. I've been using a combination of 90% EVOO and 10% castor oil and my face broke out again with teeny teeny tiny bumps around my mouth and one of my cheeks. No one can hardly see them, but I know they're there and they're messing with my confidence levels. haha. Seriously though I think it's time for me to research another combo to use and maybe ditch the castor oil for awhile. It could also be detox.

I have a confession I did revert back to the neutrogena for a few days when my face broke out again and I even dabbed some (God only knows what's in it) acne medication on it. I know! :eek: I was desperate. I've been okay transitioning with raw and haven't reverted back to cooked, but I tell you when my skin isn't looking healthy it's easy for me to go back to my old standbys to clear it. I guess that's okay and I'll give myself a hug and carry on.

I believe I'll try sunflower oil next, but this time around I will only cleanse my face this way maybe 3-4 times a week tops. I think I was overdoing it and my pores got clogged. And sometimes the hot water wasn't hot enough for steaming. I think you've really got to get the (introduced cleansing) oil out of your pores for this technique to work properly. You still need to retain a protective healthy base of oil in the skin and that's a separate thing.

Okie doke, just a quick confessional update.

Best wishes to everyone who's cleansing your skin/face this way.

samariah

08-28-2008, 11:42 PM

Im so glad i found this thread! my skin has been weird lately. dry and flaky but with a layer of oil on top, if that makes any sense. ive also been having trouble with dead skin. i think it is due to the soap ive been using (even though it made my skin super soft when i first started using it; its made from organic saponified coconut/palm/olive oils). of course i was camping out for almost two months this summer in the heat and cleansing with very cold fresh mountain spring/stream water so i dont know if that is what made the difference.

anyway, i used 100 percent coconut oil and just gently massaged it into my face. my skin seems a bit softer and calmer but i still have some flaky dead skin that i cant get off. especially on my forehead so im going to try exfoliating with ground flaxseed and water tomorrow to see if that helps. im going to use the coconut oil regularly though and see how my skin improves.

Erika

08-29-2008, 12:51 AM

I like the Alba brand coconut milk face wash, it doesn't lather or anything but my skin is doing much better than it ever did with my expensive Origins brand.

samariah

08-29-2008, 12:22 PM

wow, when i woke up this morning my skin looked better than it has in ages. :)

curlygirl82

11-11-2008, 01:18 AM

So intriguing! I tried this method for the first time tonight - because it sounded so luxurious! I really enjoyed it, but have some questions:

1. How long do you massage the oil into your skin? The link makes it sound like you sit and meditate with it for 15 minutes. I couldn't stand it for more than 5, and even then got some into my eyes!

2. So, am I understanding correctly that you should still be a little greasy at the end? How do you know how greasy to leave your face?

3. Should you do a cold water rinse afterwards? I know this would close the pores back up -- is that what you want, or not? Why?

4. Seems like some people recommend doing this daily, others only a few times a week. Thoughts? Also, if you're not doing it daily, how do you clean your skin on the "off" days?

I'm excited about this. If it can do what it sounds like - count me in!

solarliving

11-11-2008, 01:42 PM

RawHeaven

11-14-2008, 01:59 PM

---------------

So intriguing! I tried this method for the first time tonight - because it sounded so luxurious! I really enjoyed it, but have some questions:

1. How long do you massage the oil into your skin? The link makes it sound like you sit and meditate with it for 15 minutes. I couldn't stand it for more than 5, and even then got some into my eyes!

I just massage it in and then put a hot wash cloth on my face and start steaming it out of my pores.

2. So, am I understanding correctly that you should still be a little greasy at the end? How do you know how greasy to leave your face?

I don't experience this. Ideally, I don't think it should be 'greasy', simply pliant with a little bit of moisture. Everyone's skin is different and it depends on the type of skin you have going in. Dry, oily, normal etc. Play around with it until it feels right to you. When my skin feels dry, I put a light coat of coconut oil on it.

3. Should you do a cold water rinse afterwards? I know this would close the pores back up -- is that what you want, or not? Why?

Personal choice I think. I don't do a cold water rinse anymore. I think our skin knows what to do. A lot of the skin regimines perhaps had to do with our previous diets. More toxins were leaving through our pores and now that we're raw, it's a different playing field and we're clearer. Just my theory and personal impressions.

4. Seems like some people recommend doing this daily, others only a few times a week. Thoughts? Also, if you're not doing it daily, how do you clean your skin on the "off" days?

Some do it daily or once or twice a week. I think it depends on what you feel is best for your own skin. Some days I just splash water on my face. There is also the tendency to overclean the skin when it doesn't need it. Previous SAD thinking too I think.

I'm excited about this. If it can do what it sounds like - count me in!

I was really excited when I discovered it. A few months later my skin still looks great I think. It sometimes takes awhile to get into a rhythm with this oil cleansing process. We've been trained to treat our skin a certain way for so long, you have to let all of that go and trust yourself.

I now oil cleanse about 2-3x per week.

Let us know how it's going for you. :)

Crystal

RawHeaven

11-14-2008, 02:01 PM

Awesome Post. I've been using almond oil sometimes hemp seed oil to wash my face for about a month now. I do it in the shower. Massage my face with the oil, put washcloth over face to steam a bit, then wipe off. I think I look younger : ) and my face has never been clearer. I will never go back to soap.

Your skin is beautiful. This is a good idea to try almond or hempseed oil. I like the idea of the almond oil as I use natural almond soap. It smells so good!

goobygirl

11-20-2008, 12:33 AM

The Romans used to cleanse themselves using oils, and scraped the oils off their skins. So, this oil thing makes sense. I'm going to give it a shot!

Eilene

12-09-2008, 11:01 PM

I just found this thread. I can't wait to try this tonight. I don't have Castor oil...so I will use only EVOO until I get some. I have very dry skin, so I'll let you know how it goes.

ginadj

01-05-2009, 05:10 PM

I can't wait to try this!!

any updates?? I am so curious how any of you liked this long term??

LotsaRaw

01-05-2009, 10:11 PM

I've been using coconut oil for over at least 7 weeks now. LOVE the results! Only a little bit of Bare Escentuals Bisque (little spots) & Mineral Veil (knock down any shine & give a "finished look") FWIW, I did not bring my coco oil with me on the plane, was home for 4 days, and used an OTC product...Suprise - a blemish on my cheek! GRRRRRR! So, this method rocks! I use coconut oil most nights before bed, add a little coconut oil for moisturizer if I fee like I need it, and get a good night's sleep. Rinse with water in am, moisturize with organic COQ10 moisturizer, bisque & min veil, and off I go! I'm on Facebook - feel free to PM me for FB details :)

ginadj

01-06-2009, 05:17 AM

awesome, thanks!! Last night I tried it....not only was it super relaxing, but my face feels great, so smooth!!

anyone tried it on their back or chest???

betty boop

02-28-2009, 11:11 PM

Hi everyone! I registered just to say that after reading the last 11 pages about oil-cleansing I just HAD to try it! I am sitting here with coconut oil on my face waiting for the kettle to boil so I can go steam it. I also put the excess oil on my hands and hair, we will see what happens. I used to use EVOO on my hair but it does strip out all the color if you dye it, I'm curious to see what coconut oil does.

MrsJ

03-01-2009, 01:31 PM

I tried it too last night and my skin feels very soft. I'm in the middle of detoxing and I checked my cleanser on the cosmeticdatabase and it was ranked a five ):

So I'm going to stick with coconut oil for now and this new papaya enzyme mask I bought from Hi-health.

betty boop

03-01-2009, 10:14 PM

Last night I only had coconut oil and I'd already taken off my makeup with soap and makeup remover, so I just moisturized and steamed with it. Tonight I used castor oil and coconut oil. I steamed/rinsed/patted as explained and removed my makeup also. It took off every last bit of it, way better than the makeup remover and soap does and my skin is baby soft! I am so surprised that this works as well as it does - WOW!!

Thank you everyone who has made a post on this thread. I came to this site looking for some new recipes for green smoothies using bokchoy, not only did I get a ton of ideas I also found an entire new facial regime. You all rock!!

CoachP's Wife

03-02-2009, 07:45 AM

I've been using Coconut Oil for my face and hair for years and love it:D.

Colorawdo girl

03-02-2009, 08:04 AM

Coconut oil is the best! Thanks for the tips.I will do the treatment today....lv

nellie

03-02-2009, 08:46 AM

Many years ago, I bought a commercial oil cleanser. It was awesome and when I looked into it, it was just olive oil and another oil (not sure if castor). Of course to my amazement, I found out I could easily make my own. Lately, I've been using coconut oil and its awesome. Last night, I steamed my face after applying coconut oil and it was definitely glowing as all the blood rushed to the surface.

Also, I don't know if anyone of you read the book "Wicked". The wicked witch cleaned herself with oil in the book which I thought was fascinating.

SweetTangerine

03-02-2009, 07:33 PM

I tried this last night and loved it! I will be cleaning my face with coconut oil from now on.

RawHeaven

03-05-2009, 06:08 PM

Oh yeahhh. Glad to see that so many ladies (and maybe men?) are enjoying the benefits of cleansing with coconut oil!! A year into this, I continue to get compliments left and right on my skin. Yes, it has much to do with being a raw foodist, but it's also about how I'm cleansing my skin. I really am glad this information is out there for everyone. Isn't it great?! Best wishes!!!

hyde

07-06-2009, 02:30 PM

I just read through this entire thread and decided to give it a go - I've just finished cleanising with extra virgin olive oil, since it's all I had in my apartment - and WOW, my skin feels amazing!! It's never felt this soft in my life .. there's a difference in my pores, as well - not HUGE, but it's definitely there, and I'm going to keep this up for a few days and see what happens .. It feels so clean!! :eek:

RaeVynn

07-06-2009, 09:07 PM

I've been using Coconut oil as a moisturizer for a couple of years now, but never tried it as a cleanser!
What a great idea... I will start doing this tonight!

I do use coconut oil in my hair, as well... I have had chronically flaky scalp most of my life, and the coconut oil helps a great deal. I occasionally use jojoba oil, but it doesn't seem to work as well.

As a side note, once I put a lot of coconut oil on my face, and was laying down, when I realized that I couldn't see. I had a rather thick film of coconut oil in my eyes! Funny thing was, I could not FEEL the oil in my eyes... it is so neutral, so compatible with our natural skin oils, that it does not irritate the eyes. To me, this means that it is safe to use. :)