beauty post

hello Hello!
I told one of my friends I would do a "beauty" post and so here it is.  I am by no means even a "home" expert on skin care, I'm very bare bones when it comes to makeup and moisturizer, etc., but seeing as I'm approaching the big 3-0 (omg kill me) I think I need to start taking it waaayy more seriously.   

So today, I'm gonna post about a skin washing/moisturizing technique that I learned a while back and LOVE.  It's simple, effective (in my humble opinion), and very gentle on the skin.  I was using this method at least 3 times a week for a while, and it made my skin so SOFT, and WAY less oily (side note: i have oily skin).   :)  Without further ado, it is called the OIL CLEANSING METHOD.   Yes, that's right folks, we're cleansing with oil today, not water. OIL.  greasy, yummy oil.  :)   I say yummy because you can use basically any cooking oil; Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Sunflower Oil (I like this one), Grapeseed Oil, etc.  They all have different characteristics that will nourish the skin.  

Now, I know some people might be apprehensive because if you have acne prone skin oil seems to be your worst enemy.  That's just not true.  The oil WILL help remove the oil on your face, BETTER than commercial cleansers.  AND, it will control the oil because your skin will not feel starved and dry, so it will stop producing so much as overcompensation!  Again, in my humble opinion, using toners and products that dry out your skin when you have oily/acne prone skin, will only cause more irritation and more oil.

The theory behind this method is very logical and I think makes perfect sense.  Let's compare it to nail polish.  You put the nail polish on and it dries and you go on your merry way.  Four days later you realize you need to take it off but, alas, you don't have any remover left!  What do you do?  You go get your nail polish, slap on another coat, wait a second, and then wipe off.  Your nail polish is gone.  Or think of a sticker which you've just peeled off some glass and it leaves some tacky gunk behind.  You take that sticker and smack it against the gummy parts and it picks up what's left! 

WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT after this LONG and CONVOLUTED explanation, is that "like removes like".  We have oil on our skin and, therefore, we can remove it with oil!  This is MUCH more kind to the skin, as opposed to using chemicals in all these fancy shmancy face washes to strip the oil.  It's akin to using chemical paint stripper to remove paint from furniture rather than good old fashioned sanding!! (I've always got to add a bit of drama, don't I?)  Now, I know there are some face washes that are fine for your face (I only use CETAPHIL), but I find a lot of the time my face feels dry and tight after I'm done washing with the "fancy" cleansers and that's a BIG no-no!  If your face ever feels that, CEASE using that product immediately!

OKAY, how to implement your oil cleansing, here we go.  You will need three things, OIL, CASTOR OIL, and a WASHCLOTH.  That's it.  (You can find Castor oil in the laxative section of your local pharmacy).  The ratio of Carrier oil to Castor oil depends on you.  I usually do 50/50, but you have to use what will make your skin feel comfortable.  The Castor oil is what could potentially make your skin feel dry, because it's the ingredient that will remove the dirt and bacteria from your face, the oil is just the carrier.  So fiddle with the ratio until you find what works best for your skin.  You can also do, 50/25/25, where you use Castor Oil, Olive Oil and maybe Sunflower Oil.  There are so many oils you can use; Avocado oil, Apricot Kernel oil, Evening Primrose, Calendula (which is really sunflower oil infused w/Calendula), and so many more!  A lot of sites will detail what the benefits of each oil are, so do some research!

Keep in mind, Olive oil does not absorb into your skin as easily as others.  That's why I love Sunflower because it absorbs quickly.  Again, you have to try it out to know what works for you.

THE METHOD:

1.  Mix your oil(s) and Castor oil together in a clean glass container.

2.  Apply to your face with your hands.  I like to do this method at night, it doubles as a makeup remover as the oil zaps the makeup away.  (Yes, it has the power to zap).  Rub in gently in a circular motion for about a minute or two.  I like to do it for longer but I'm not sure if that's good or bad, it's fine for me.   Close your eyes and pretend you're at the spa.  This is a good time to just take some deep breathes and relax.  :)

3.  Take your washcloth, run it under HOT water, and wring out.  Hover the washcloth over your face so it will steam the pores a bit.  Do this a few times as the cloth gets cool pretty quick.  

4.  Rinse the washcloth in very warm water this time, wring out, and start wiping the oil off of your face.  Rinse the towel as many times as you need until you have wiped all the oil off your face.  You want to make sure the tackiness is gone, which is the castor oil.  Don't overwipe.  Be gentle.  

this is you, gently wiping your face

5.  Splash your face with cool water.  

6. FINITO!  Feel the soft pillowy cushion that is now your face.

Keep in mind, like anything, you have to stick with it for a while to see results.  I used to do this method about every other night, I'm not too sure what the frequency should be.  But, I am posting this method because it really worked for me, so if it can work for someone else, then I'll be a happy pappy (ode to Flintstones).

TRY IT.  YOUR FACE WILL THANK YOU!

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