I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately from readers of my blog and YouTube about the Oil Cleansing Method (OCM), so I thought I’d write a post of frequently asked questions which should help you a lot. If you’re still unsure about how to do the OCM after reading this article, or your questions are not covered, then write your query in the response box below.
I’d also LOVE to hear from any of you that have been using the OCM. I’ve had both good and bad experiences form using the oils in my skin care routine, so I’d really appreciate if you could share you experiences too.
If you don’t know what the OCM is, you can read my introductory post here –> The Oil Cleansing Method (OCM) For Cleansing Your Face
Here are the most common questions I’ve been asked, or I’ve needed to ask myself 
1. Is the OCM the best skin care routine for treating acne?
2. My skin is dry, should I wash all the oils off after I cleanse or leave some of it on?
3. Do I have to use extra virgin olive oil and castor oil?
4. I have oily skin, I don’t know about putting more oil onto it
5. Is the OCM okay to use on all types of acne?
6. Where can I buy the oils from?
7. How often do I need to do the OCM?
8. Can I use a face steamer?
9. Where can I find more resources on the OCM?
1. Is the OCM the best skin care routine for treating acne?
There is no one skin care routine that will work perfectly for everyone.
Please don’t think that you HAVE to do the OCM to treat your acne. If you don’t feel confident in using the oils on your face, or you feel as though you’re already using a great skin care routine, then don’t worry just stick with what you’ve been doing.
I had fantastic results with using the OCM for a couple of months, in fact - it completely cleared up my cystic acne. I then got a bit ridiculous with trying a ton of different “quick fixes” at once while I switched to a new oil in the routine. My skin totally freaked out and reacted by getting all clogged up and I ended up with a heap of little blackheads and whiteheads on my cheeks which started to become inflammed. So, I’ve decided to give my skin and little break from the OCM, and I’m using a very gentle skin care routine while my skin recovers. It’s been almost three weeks now since my skin had it’s little ‘freak out’ and it’s recovering very slowly but it’s getting there. My point is - the OCM can be wonderful as a cleanser and moisturizer and at clearing up your acne, but at the same time don’t think it’s the only and best skin care routine for acne. You can get both good and bad results with the OCM, depending on how your individual skin reacts to the particular oils you use.
I have read countless testimonals from people who have had amazing results from using the OCM. There acne has cleared, they’ve got rid of their blackheads and whiteheads, and their skin has been a lot softer than it ever was before. At the same time, I have also read forum posts from people who have found that they’ve had a bad reaction to certain oils.
If you do decide to do the OCM, choose some good quailtiy non-comedogenic oils and regulary monitor your skin - take notice of how your skin is reacting to the new routine.
2. My skin is dry, should I wash all the oils off after I cleanse or leave some of it on?
The mistake I made with the OCM was I left too much of the oils on after I cleansed. The reason why it’s important to wash the oil completely off after the cleansing process is because you’ve just removed a lot of dirt, grime, dead skin cells and hopefully clogged pores by massaging the oil mix into your skin. You want to wash all of that stuff off not keep it on your skin. Remember - dead skin cells and flakey skin can clog pores and cause a breakout.
If you find your skin is dry or tight after you’ve cleansed with the OCM, you can use a very small amount of the oil mix as a moisturizer. Just make sure it’s rubbed into your skin enough, this is often one of the biggest mistakes people make. Not rubbing the oil in enough (you’ll be able to tell because your skin will feel and look very oily) can possibly give you a breakout.
3. Do I have to use extra virgin olive oil and castor oil?
Castor oil is the primary oil and recommended to keep in the mix because it’s the cleansing oil out of the two. Castor oil however can be quite drying to the skin, which is why you need to use less of it if you have dry skin. You also don’t have to use castor oil in the mix. You may find that using olive oil (or another non-comedognic oil) on its own is okay.
As for using an alternative to olive oil, there are many different oils you can choose from. The only thing you need to look out for when choosing oils is that they’re non-comedogenic. This means they will not clog you pores.
I’ve done some research and found the best oils for acne prone skin. I do find that the olive oil is a little too heavy for me (apparently this is quite common), so these are some lighter alternatives to olive oil that I might try in the future:
- jojoba
- walnut
- apricot seed
- hazelnut
- peach kernel
- sweet almond
- sunflower
- safflower
You can also take a look at this web page. It lists non-comedogenic oils.
http://bellecitysoapworks.com/noncomedogenic_oils.html
Keep in mind that the castor oil is the cleansing part (which is why it’s the primary oil) and the
olive oil (or alternative oil) is the moisturising part. So if your skin is looking too oily or moisturised, use a mix of more castor and less olive oil. If your skin is too dry, use less
castor oil.
4. I have oily skin, I don’t know about putting more oil onto it
Oil actually dissolves oil, so cleaninsg with oils can in fact be one of the best ways to clean oily skin.
5. Is the OCM okay to use on all types of acne?
Yes, sufferers of all types of acne have had great success in using the OCM. When I first started using the OCM, I had “regular” pimples and cystic acne. I found that it helped both conditions, but the cystic acne the most.
6. Where can I buy the oils from?
It is best to use organic oils, so if you can find a supplier either locally or online that sells organic essential oils (specifically for skin care) then that’s the absolute best place to buy. I started with an organic extra virgin olive oil that I bought from my local health food store that is actually sold for cooking! I didn’t have problems with this “cooking” oil at all.
The castor oil I purchased from a pharmacy. Castor oil is often used as a laxative if taken internally.
Becky who runs theonlinegoddess blog, is from the UK, she had a lot of trouble finding castor oil in grocery stores and supermarkets. If you’re in the UK too, you may need to purchase the oil online.
7. How often do I need to do the OCM?
You don’t have to use the OCM twice a day. In fact, you don’t even need to do it every day. You may find better results if you use it just once a day - in the evenings or even just twice a week. Sometimes just washing your face with water or a light cleanser is okay. Experiment and see what works best for you.
Absolutely. The best way to do the steaming part of the OCM is to use a face streamer. I didn’t want to buy one so I used a hot face washer which I think is almost as good. You can also fill a bowl with hot water then put your face over the steam coming off the water with a towel over your head.
9. Where can I find more resources on the OCM?
This is my favorite OCM resource. It’s an archive of questions asked about the OCM on live journal. I’ve had a lot of my own questions answered from reading this archive.
Oil Cleansing Method (OCM) Entries
Remember, if you still have more questions, or can’t find an answer to an OCM question that you have, write in the response box below and I’ll get straight back to you.
Happpy OCM-ing
Fran
Fran Kerr is the founding editor of High on Health. To cure your acne, sign up to Fran's FREE acne cure mini-course or download her latest how to guide, Eat Away Your Acne.
14 responses ↓
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Thanks for writing this guide Fran, I must admit I’ve had trouble finding so much information neatly in one place so this is very helpful.
One thing that always bothered me when reading forum discussions and the like was that people rarely stated their skin type when talking about how OCM has worked for them. If that type of information was given more often and the data collated, I think it would reveal which oils are suitable for dry, oily or combination skin and help people new to the routine. I’m willing to bet that a lot of people who give up are simply using the wrong combination of oils.
Also, I did read somewhere that cold-pressed castor oil should be used rather than the kind found in the laxatives section of pharmacies. It makes a big difference apparantly, so when I order some online next week, that’s what I’ll aim for. I’m also considering trying watermelon oil instead of the walnut I’m using right now, it’s supposed to be particularly good for oily skin.
I have had a couple of new spots appear since I started the OCM four days ago, but not what I would call a breakout. They’re quite small and, oddly enough, have appeared right at the edges of where I do the OCM so perhaps I’m not wiping the oil off properly in those areas. The good news though, is that they’re starting to fade before coming to a head - I wonder if that’s because I started with the castor oil yesterday.
Hi Becky, I got a couple of small spots near my hairline too when I started the OCM. I’m pretty sure it was because I wasn’t removing the oils from those areas after cleansing properly. As soon as I started paying attention to those areas the problem went away.
Watermelon oil sounds so intereseting! Wow, they can make an oil out of anything.
That’s probably it then, I’ll make sure I pay more attention to those areas. The one on my temple has gotten smaller and I got rid of a blackhead today!
I’m definitely going to quit the walnut oil though. It seems good at doing it’s job, but it leaves a faint smell on my face, kinda like pongy socks lol.
My idea, which I am excited about because I feel that it is a good idea is :
* Change your pillow every few months
* Wash your bed sheets and blanket with bleach
* Only use laundry detergents that are free of dyes and perfumes
* If you use a fabric softener in the dryer, try to find one that is free of possible irritants
You will have :
* less unhealthy oils
* less angry pimples from irritants
* less bacteria
After all, your face spends about 8 hours a day on your pillow, blanket, and sheets.
Hi, i dont have a lot of acne, but what i do have i want to get rid of. I was just wondering if you did, or have heard of anyone, breaking out the first few days you start. I am only wondering because my mother says i will, and i dont want to stop because of that, then find out that is normal and should clear up afterwords.
Hi Steph, have a look through the forums link I posted in question 9.
From memory I don’t think it’s normal though to breakout in the first few days. Breaking out in the first few days of using a new cleanser and moisturiser is a good sign of cosmetic acne, and a good sign that you should discontinue using the product.
Monitor your skin when doing the OCM, and take note of any changes in how your skin and pores look. Most people have great success with the OCM, but there are a select few that find that it breaks them out or clogs their pores. Even natural products aren’t for everyone.
Thanks!
hi, sorry another question, when you wash your face after the hot towel on your face, do you wash your face with a cleanser (store boguht) or just water?
Hi Steph, just removing the oil with a wet face towel or water is fine. You don’t need any additional cleansers
Hi Fran,
So I have been using the OCM now for about a week, and it has done wonders for a certain problem area iv’e had for a while.So I am happy about that.My acne on my jawline is taking its time but does look a bit better.What I have been doing is washing with the oil and then using a product from The Body Shop, its the Seaweed exfoliant.I also have been spot treating with clay at night time too.So That seems to be working well for me.I was really happy to watch your latest video cause I do have oily skin so this summer I will definately be cutting back on the OCM.Thanks for the great info!!!
Rita~~~
Hi Fran, what is the price range for face steamers and where can i get my hands on one? I’m an aussie too.
Thanks heaps.
Hi Greta, unfortunately I have no idea! I never used a face steamer when I used the OCM. I used a hot face towel or a bowel full of very hot water (which gave off plenty of steam).
I guess you could try a Google search?
Hey Fran!
Several weeks ago I read an entry about olive oil and its benefits for the skin and hair. Primarily, I intended to try olive oil only to restore moisture to my damaged hair. I later discovered that the olive oil that unintentionally covered my forehead while applying it to my scalp cleared up that portion of my face from pimples. I didn’t realize until I read this blog that my forehead was really clear for about two weeks after that.
The olive oil was quite heavy on my face but felt much better after washing off with a cleanser. I was afraid of clogging my pores but I found that just leaving olive oil on my face for a good hour once a week and washing it off with a cleanser works great!
Thanks for your hard work on these tutorials! I suffer from moderate acne, and I now look to your miracle tips whenever I have that super pimple popping up.
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