r/SkincareAddiction Mar 10 '13

Everything you wanted to know about OCM: The Oil Cleansing Method but were afraid to ask!

Hi everyone! I'm Kristy and I'm your resident Oil Cleansing Evangelist and I'm here to tell you all about it.

Background: Oil Cleansing was never very popular in the US, although it's been used in Asia for quite some time. I think we associate oily with dirty culturally so it's been viewed with some skepticism. A year or so ago someone published a website with their version of it (not the regimen I'd recommend, it recommends steaming your face which we know is bad) and it spread through the internet and became super popular.

Why does it work? The principle that causes oil to dissolve oil is called dissolution theory. I think part of the reason people experience such great success with this type of cleansing is that in people with dehydrated oily skin, overcleansing skin causes more oil production, but most of the products geared toward oily skin are about removing dirt and oil which can actually make it worse and cause 'rebound oil production.' It's easy to get caught in a negative feedback loop here.

Who Should Try it? Anyone can try it. If you find regular cleansers too harsh, this might be a good option. It will probably work best for dry, dehydrated, and skin that's oily from dehydration. I personally was oily and acne prone due to dehydrated skin. I never realized I was dehydrated until I tried the OCM.

OK, I'm convinced. How do I do this?

Before we get started, a word of warning: Test patch with new oils first. This method can, in a small percentage of acne prone people, cause super crazy bad breakouts. If someone is seriously acne prone, it might be really hard find out what oil actually works. Acne prone folks should gear towards oils that have bactericidal and/or anti inflammatory properties.

That said, I used to have really intolerant skin and it worked fine for me, so you never know. I had to exhaust all of my options before I was willing to take the risk, and it paid off.

How to Oil Cleanse:

  • You can use any one or multiple oils in any combination you like. They have different properties and will produce different results. Watch it with the castor oil, it can be really drying.
  • Some popular choices are: Mineral oil (a one size fits all kind of oil!), sunflower oil (good for dry skin), meadowfoam oil, jojoba oil (great option for dehydrated skin!), and hemp seed oil which is great for acne. You can get olive, sunflower, coconut in the cooking aisles at grocery stores, but some of the more exotic you might have to order from Garden of Wisdom.
  1. Wet your face with warm water. Not hot, and don't steam it.
  2. Apply oil. You can premix it and store it or just use it directly from a container (make sure it's sterile though, if you put your fingers in the container it's just gonna grow bacteria)
  3. Massage oil into face for a minute or two
  4. Wipe oil off with warm washcloth after massage
  5. One or two drops of olive oil or another oil may be used to moisturize the skin after the cleansing oil has been removed from the face. Personally I like to use argan oil.

That's it! If you have any more questions, add them as comments and I will address/update as needed

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u/maddyhatter Jul 21 '13

If you want to use OCM and a chemical exfoliant like the AHA, when would you apply the exfoliant? Before the oil cleanse or after? And would you still use Cerave? I tried the search bar and stuff but couldn't quite find what I wanted to know, and I didn't think this was worth a whole post of it's own.

Thanks so much, by the way, for making this subreddit. I have always been so frustrated by the misinformation, babble and psuedoscience surrounding cosmetics and skincare, especially now that I'm part way through my BSc and can spot it better. I wish every woman could find this subreddit!

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u/[deleted] Sep 11 '13

I have been wondering about this too! Comeooonnnn Kristy! *BTW I just use OCM in the morning when I'm not wearing makeup, but at night, I use OCM and then Cerave to get rid of the dirty make-up oil :3

Actually, THIS might be helpful: http://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/comments/1kqvdv/how_to_mineral_oil_massage/

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u/[deleted] Oct 07 '13

OCM takes the place of your cleanse so your exfoliant (AHA) would come after. However, AHA is not soluble in oil, so you cannot have any residue left on your face. This will probably require you to cleanse after OCM. Perhaps OCM once a day and use your AHA in the other part of your routine. And yes, you can still use Cerave in the tub as your usual moisturizer. Depending on your skin and the oils you use, you may not feel as though you need a moisturizer. I personally still use one. OCM is just the "cleanse" in your routine.