The Oil Cleansing Method - you can thank me later :)

If you are anything like me, your complexion is crazy. One minute it's great and then as soon as you realize how nice it looks, it gets all hormonal on you and BAM! Zit City [boo]. So you freak out and medicate your face with all the expensive creams, gels, masks, etc...and then your face drys out like Death Valley at the peak of summer...which then prompts you to buy more expensive creams, gels, masks, etc. to moisturize...which leads to more breakouts.

*Sigh* When will this madness end?!?

How about right now?

What is this magical complexion concoction you speak of, you may ask.

Simply two ingredients - three if you want to get fancy with it.

Grapeseed oil and Tea Tree essential oil [there are many other combos of oils you can use but so far, this one is tested personally by yours truly and it works!]

Hold up - oil? On your face? Yup! Lemme break it down for you, sistah (or brotha...guys need purty skin too...)

Oil unfortunately has a bad rep for causing acne. Not true! Your hormones, age, dirt and dead skin cells are the real culprits for those pesky pimples. The oil [or sebum] your skin naturally creates is...get this...supposed to be there! It's meant to protect and heal your pretty face! Oil is GOOD for your skin!

I know I'm not the only person out there who has tried countless products to help balance my skin out. Unfortunately, what I've found, is that after using most skin care products, my skin either starts to feel PARCHED over time or excessively oily.  That's because these products are literally stripping your face of the natural oils it creates so obviously, it's going to act out (wouldn't you?). Since oil dissolves oil...doesn't it make more since to cleanse your face with oil as opposed to water (that as we all know doesn't mix with oil) and chemicals?

So what do you do?

I came across this dilemma about two weeks ago. I had run out of the face wash I had been using, I had gone through all the samples I had stored up and although I could have ran to Wal-Mart in my pj's and bare face [I knew I wouldn't stand out], I simply didn't want to. No, I told myself. I'm tired of the running down the aisles, looking for the next product to mess up my face. It's time to take a stand against huge corporations that don't know my skin type from Jack. It's time to go...NATURAL!

Okay, that monologue didn't quite go that way. Really, it was just late, I was tired and I didn't want to go to bed having not cleansed my face with anything. So...I browsed the handy-dandy internet for a natural face cleanser to get me through the night. I figured I didn't have much to lose. My face was already freaking out anyway.

Now, when I first came across the oil-cleansing method I defiantly shook my head...but the more I researched it, the more testimonials I read about it...the more I figured, why not?

The best part was I didn't have to go to the store....I already had grapeseed oil AND tea tree essential oil [among other varieties] from when I made homemade sugar scrubs for Christmas. SCORE! [note to self: need to write up my post making sugar scrubs - so fun.] Anyway, that was the moment when I started to get pretty excited about the process.

Now, before I give you this simple recipe, let me say this: there are several different combinations listed on the internet. Some give a list of three different oils to mix together [often, a mixture of Castor oil, Jojoba oil and EVOO]. My philosophy is...the simpler the better. What you choose to do is completely up to you though.

I took a little container that had a good lid and seal and poured 1/2 cup of grapeseed oil into it. Then I added five drops of tea tree essential oil and...for a little extra perk, I added five drops of lavender essential oil. (I couldn't resist - I loooovvvvee lavender!) This mixture should last you around two weeks...I'm coming up on the end of my first two weeks and as you can see, I still have about 1/8 of a cup left. Think about all that money saved!

Now, on to the super informative details on why this stuff is awesome:

Grapeseed oil is rich in nutrients and polyphenols. These polyphenols not only aid in slowing the process of aging but they contain anti inflammatory and anti oxidant properties that lead to supple skin, an even skin tone AND helps clear acne (YESSS!). Instead of just sitting on top of your skin like many skin care products, this absorbs into your skin, thus locking in moisture and allowing your skin to reap all of the oils benefits! I could go on and on but just do your own research if you aren't convinced by now.

As for the Tea Tree Essential Oil...it also contains properties that fight acne. For moderate common acne, its effectiveness is comparable to benzoyl peroxide AND causes less side effects (no more dry, flaky skin on and around blemishes).

Last but not least, Lavender Essential Oil contains both antiseptic and antifungal properties that help treat acne, wrinkles, psoriasis, and other inflammations. It's notorious for it's calming properties as well which is one of the main reasons I added it.

SO...once you get this magical complexion concoction whipped up...then what?

I start by dipping my finger tips in the mixture and softly massaging it into my face. I go in circular motions, adding more oil as needed and make sure to spend extra time in my problem areas. I also use this to remove my eye makeup at the same time. I don't recommend opening your eyes while they are slathered in the oil...so either make sure you have your washcloth and oil container close by or remove your eye makeup beforehand. Again, I'm all about simplifying my routine - the oil gently and quickly removes all of my eye make up so I don't mind to feel around with my eyes closed (plus, I'm pretty beat by the time bedtime  rolls around so my eyes are grateful for the rest!).

After about two minutes of this, I take a washcloth and run it under hot water [I prefer Mordor hot - Lord of the Rings fans...you know what I'm talking about!] Take the washcloth and drape it over your face. Sit back, relax and breath in that pretty fragrance until the washcloth has cooled for an added perk (aromatherapy!). This allows the steam from the cloth to open your pores and let the oil mixture do its thang. I repeat the washcloth process one more time...both because it feels AMAZING and gives my pores just a little more time to be cleansed.

Once you've done with that, gently dab your face with your cloth to remove any excess oil that is left over. Splash your face with cold water (trust me, it's not cute to do it like the girls on TV do. It just gets water everywhere...) The cold water splash closes your pores. This helps lock in that moisture and the cleansing properties.

Pat your face dry and look back at that beautiful glowy face. Ahhhh...don't you feel happier and more relaxed now? :) After this process, all you need to do is splash your face with some water in the morning to wake it up. (If you have extra dry skin, you can dab a little bit of the oil mixture on as a moisturizer. However, two weeks or so of this process should cure you of that issue :D)

Now...what to expect over the next few days:

Just like with any product, you have to give it some time to start to see results. The immediate difference I noticed was my skin felt soft, relaxed and had a nice glow to it. Not a gross oily/shiny look but a healthy supple 'oh-my-goodness-you-look-mahvelous-dahling' glow. Biiiiiiiiigggg difference!

Over the next two nights, I did have a few little blemishes pop up that were ready to be "dealt with". However, these were ones that had been forming over the previous days that I really couldn't work with at all beforehand. My theory is that the Oil Cleansing Method opened and cleansed my pores enough to give that gunk room to get out of my fice [yes...'fice' {face} Jenny - I heard that in my head the way Deb says it with her sweet Oklahoma drawl..."Get outta mah fiiiice!" teeheehee]

After three or four days, no more blemishes appeared. The ones I had prior to starting the Oil Cleansing Method began to clear up...without any dry, flaky skin like you normally see when spot treating them. Redness on my face began to disappear and now...nearly two weeks later, I am seeing a radical change in my complexion. I haven't had any new blemishes, blackheads or whiteheads, my skin looks smooth and even...and surprisingly, I no longer have the oily T-zone that normally likes to show up mid-afternoon during a stressful day at work.

Proof of this is below...[keep in mind this is taken on a smart phone camera so the quality and lighting are not great.] This is yours truly having just completed the simple and refreshing Oil Cleansing Method. There's not a drop of make up on my face. Trust me, having been the self-conscious girl who can't leave the house ever without make up on, I'm pretty dang satisfied and convinced that I may finally be able skip or at least simplify my make up routine now that I don't have to worry about covering up those embarrassing blemishes:

Of anything I have tried, this has made the most dramatic difference in my skin. I sell Avon and love many of their beauty products...but I'd rather share with you all a skin care routine that not only works but is going to save YOU time and money. It is so much better for your skin so I really can't justify anymore my pushing a man-made product that may or may not work for your skin type.

I wanted to wait to post about this until I knew how well this method works...in just two weeks, I am 100% convinced. Just give yourself two weeks to try this method. I know it sounds crazy slathering oil on your face but IT WORKS! As they say, don't knock it till you've tried it. When you do, let me know how you like it!

Good luck! :)
P.S. I know this was practically a novel to read but please be sure to research this method and the essential oils you use according to your skin type!