ok, here is a precis of the oil cleansing method (ocm).
at it's most basic, you simply mix 50% castor oil with 50% vegetable oil (whatever you like.....olive, rice bran, almond, apricot kernel, coconut....different skins will respond to different oils).
to 100ml of this, you might like to add UP TO 1 ml of essential oils, suitable for your skin type.....or 1%. do not be tempted to add more, you could damage your skin, your eyes, start a sensitisation reaction, etc etc.
i also really love to use therapeutic clays on my skin, so i add approx 5% argiletz french clay, or an australian clay.
shake it all well and keep it in a cool place.
now to use it:
take about 2 tsp and massage it all over your face and throat.
really work it in for about two or three minutes, or longer if you like.
now let it sit on your skin for ten minutes. get on with a pedicure or washing the dishes or something.
now, using a soft cloth, wipe off as much oil as you can.
wet your cloth with hot water and hold it over your face for a few minutes.
now wash the remaining oily residue off your face and pat dry.
i had oily skin and borderline eczema patches around my nose and eyebrows.
using my own soap helped enormously.....but the ocm every few days really perked my skin up.
advanced formulaters:
if you prefer a rinse-clean sort of cleanser, then it is very simple to doctor the ocm mixture.
i add 5% emulsifying wax (this is a blend of emulsifiers and it is useful because you can buy it in small quantities from almost any bath and body raw materials place online AND it can be sued in lost of other formulations....it is almost foolproof, really).
i melt the e-wax, then add the oils, slightly warmed, blend well...and that's about it really.
what does this ingredient do?
it emulsifies oils with water....so when you have finished wiping the excess oils from your face, you can then massage in some warm water and create a sort of light lotion, which rinses right off.
i swear to god, it leaves your skin feeling like a rose petal.
and more advanced formulaters:
feel free to tweak the proportions of castor oil vs vegetable oil and to mix up the types of oils.
castor oil is a heavy viscous oil, but it actually can be drying on some skins. and it is easier to clean it off than you might imagine.
it is worth experimenting with.
remember, in the good old days, oil was what everyone cleaned their skins with, until galen came along with his cold cream formula with olive oil, rose water, beeswax and borax.
if you wish to make galen's recipe, there are numerous versions on the net, but none of them mention a preservative.
if you start mixing oils with water, you'll get mould and bacteria, whether you can see it/smell it or not.
and even if you refrigerate your mixtures.
also, there are various temperatures and holding times and sanitisation procedures that should be adhered to when making anything like this, to avoid producing contaminated products.
think beer making. or cheesemaking. except this stuff is going onto your skin....around your eyes...and possibly near open wounds like grazes and bites.
