Has anyone tried it? Liked it, loved it or hated it? My skin has been horrible ever since college. Cycstic acne and blackheads. It was only great on Nuvaring (which I obviously can't use when TTC). I saw someone mention the OCM on here and have been researching it. Went and bought my oils and started tonight.
I'm using 50% castor oil, 50% grapeseed oil and 3 drops of tea tree oil.
Curious if anyone has tried it and their thoughts on it. Also what oil did you use?
pear / 1728 posts
I did it and I loved it. I used olive oil and castor oil, but in a 75% OO to 25% CO ratio. I have normal skin so too much castor would have dried me out. I was LOVING it, and then I got pregnant. Since my skin changed a bit, it started to irritate it, so I stopped. I keep meaning to start again though. My sister does it and her skin is incredible
coconut / 8234 posts
I used castor, olive, and tea tree oils. It worked for about a month and then stopped. I figured maybe my ratios were wrong. Anyway, I switched to using Pond's Cold Cream in a similar manner and that's been working magic on my skin.
honeydew / 7687 posts
I tried castor, jojoba, and olive oils and didn't like it. My forehead broke out for the first time.. ever.. with tiny little blemishes. I now just use plain baking soda & yes to cucumbers lotion.
pomegranate / 3872 posts
I love Josie Maran's Argan Cleansing Oil. I've also used DHC Deep Cleansing Oil and I like that too. They both remove all my makeup too.
GOLD / pear / 1845 posts
I tried it and thought it was awesome, but I just had amazing prego skin. Then I tried it again and thought it was crap, but I had weird post partum skin.
Long story short, I have no clue if it works.
nectarine / 2886 posts
I use shu uemura cleansing oils, and have been for about 10 years (except during pregnancy). Here and there I've switched to a normal cleanser but always end up switching back because I find that my skin gets oily if I don't use cleansing oils. Strange. Unfortunately they stopped selling retail in the US but you can order online. Highly recommend!
olive / 73 posts
Loved it! I had very oily and acne-prone skin and used 2/3 castor, 1/3 jojoba and several drops of tea tree and lavender essential oils. I stopped using it when I got pregnant because the safety of tea tree hasn't been studied. I definitely can't wait until I can start again.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
Thanks for this, I have a bottle of tea tree oil in the medicine cabinet that I don't know what to do with. I have to go and get the castor oil, but I can't wait to try this.
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
I also use Josie Maran's Argan Cleansing Oil, in conjunction with my Clarisonic.
pear / 1728 posts
@scg00387: I had the same thing on my forehead. Teeny tiny little blemishes. Ive never had a forhead pimple in my life before that. I blamed in on the pregnancy. My sister was telling me that I probably needed more castor oil if that was the case.
I want to try the Josie Maran cleansing oil, but when I started using her daily SPF Moisturizer and it made me break out badly. So Im nervous to try it
pomegranate / 3895 posts
I use it and love it. I use 50% castor oil and 50% grape seed oil. When I run out, I might try jojoba instead of grape seed, because I've heard really good things about it.
I was on BCP to manage acne (I had perfect, beautiful skin on BCP), but when I started TTC I obviously had to come off it. My skin was okay for the first few months and then went a little crazy. Now that I'm pregnant it's gone super crazy and the two things that have really helped really quickly are (1) OCM, and (2) using apple cider vinegar (organic ACV with the "mother") as toner.
Good luck!
grapefruit / 4923 posts
i've never heard of this--so out of the loop! sounds fascinating and i love that you can DIY it. let us know how it goes!
grapefruit / 4079 posts
@Hergreenapples: I haven't heard of apple cider vinegar being used for skin care. I may have to go get some. When/how do you use it? I was thinking of trying jojoba oil but the grapeseed oil was much larger and cheaper so I went with that. We're on a budget (another reason I'm trying this).
@Edelweiss: I will let you know! Last night was the first night and my fears were waking up covered in acne but so far my skin looks great this morning. Very soft, but not much change in the healing zit department. However, nothing new either.
@blackbird: I have the clarisonic mia and I feel like it almost makes my skin worse. When I use it I get these tiny little white dots all over my chin and cheeks that never come to a head and don't go away.
@Looch: I'd mix the castor with another type of oil and add a few drops of tea tree. The guy at the store said it is VERY strong so use it wisely. Also, he said it has great healing properties so it is good for cuts and burns.
pomegranate / 3895 posts
@alison206: I use it twice a day as toner - after I wash my face (I only use OCM at night, I just use cool water in the morning) . I just dab some on a cotton ball and sweep it all over my face. Oh, and it's diluted - I use 50% ACV and 50% filtered water.
grapefruit / 4079 posts
@hergreenapples: I have these tiny bumps that are kinda white looking but not a white head on my chin. Do you think the toner would help get rid of them?
Ok, I have cystic acne. Bad. The bumps are huge and painful. I had 5 when I started the OCM Monday night. I use 50% castor, 50% grapeseed oil with 3 drops of tea tree. I also apply tea tree to all of my blemishes. 4 OF MY CYSTIC ACNE BUMPS ARE GONE! My skin looks a hundred times better. All I have left are these little white bumps on my chin (which I had to start with) but I'll take those of cystic acne any day. I am so happy with this so far!
pomegranate / 3053 posts
I just read that Grandpa's pine tar soap helps with acne too. I used it for my PUPPP in my third trimester (which worked wonders) and am currently using it on my LO for his eczema. I also read it helps grow hair and a bunch of other things as well. It's crazy what you can use that soap for.
blogger / honeydew / 7081 posts
I just picked up castor oil, grapeseed oil and olive oil to start this method tonight. I'm really hoping that it works out - I've been dealing with cystic acne for far too long, and I've found nothing (other than BCP) that works.
Should I expect things to get worse before they get better? My TOM is coming up in a week, so I'm hoping I can just pass it off as that.
grapefruit / 4079 posts
@redsmarties: overall my cystic ache started clearing within 72 hours (my blemishes are about the size of a dime) but I'm not sure if it was the wash or the tea tree oil I was putting on it. I do seem to have purging so small whiteheads but ill take that over cysts any day. Make sure you steam and wipe off a few times so you don't have left over oil.
cantaloupe / 6923 posts
I've been doing it 4 days and I am loving the results already! No new acne and my skin is so soft! I am going to add more castor oil though cause my skin is naturally oily. I'm also going to finish with ACV
grapefruit / 4079 posts
@anonysquire: I'm happy with it, however, I still have these tiny little white bumps on my skin. I think I'm going to try ACV and see if that helps.
Anyone use anything to exfoliate with OCM?
pomegranate / 3872 posts
@alison206: I've been adding plain old white sugar to my Josie Maran oil when I feel like I need a good exfoliation. I've really been liking it - my skin feels awesome afterward! I don't really know if sugar could cause some people to break out though - I suppose you could use salt but I hate salt scrubs because if you have any tiny abrasions it hurts!
hostess / watermelon / 14932 posts
hmm I'm intrigued. I have had acne since age 12. and I am 24. only thing that somewhat helps is cetaphil and even so, I break out on my chin.
I know I can google but it's probably quicker to ask you ladies - how much does this stuff cost? where do you buy it? do you use a face wash along with it?
grapefruit / 4079 posts
@sorrycharlie:
cost: about $30 for all the oils and apple cider vinegar. I bought it all at a local health food store.
I don't use any other cleansers anymore. I mixed my oils together (50% gradeseed, 50% castor, 3 drops of tea tree) and massage all over my face. I then steam with a hot washcloth and wipe off. I repeat that step 2 more times (3 in total). I then put tea tree oil on all my blemishes. I'm going to add using the acv.
It's all based on your skin so here are three websites I liked.
http://simplemom.net/oil-cleansing-method/
http://www.crunchybetty.com/nitty-gritty-on-the-oil-cleansing-method
http://daisyjd.com/index.php/2011/02/oil-cleansing-method/
ETA: It is a huge thing of grapeseed oil and castor oil for that price btw.
blogger / honeydew / 7081 posts
@sorrycharlie: Hey - I just bought all of my stuff yesterday. A bottle of grapeseed oil was $6, a bottle of castor oil was $8, and I had a bottle of olive oil and tea tree oil at home. My apple cider vinegar (to use as toner) was $8 at the Bulk Barn. So, given the amount of money I usually spend on Body Shop products, it was really inexpensive.
cantaloupe / 6923 posts
Ok I must be the cheap one here. I am using castor oil and olive oil. Total it cost me 4 bucks. And it is still working like a charm.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
I just bought the castor oil, it cost me about $10 for 250 ml. The grapeseed I already have, but that isn't as expensive, it's about $3 for 250 ml. The tee tree oil, though, cost me about $17 for a tiny bottle, maybe 50 ml. I think I got ripped off there, lol.
blogger / honeydew / 7081 posts
@looch: I would say there are probably better ways to get your tea tree oil! I got a small bottle from the Body Shop (where I KNOW I overpaid) and it was still only about $10. Well, since you only use a few drops, it'll last you a long time.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
@alison206: @redsmarties: yeah, I live in Europe and things are usually more expensive and I bought it at a private pharmacy. I know I can find it cheaper, but it involves a train ride, so I just figured that into the cost of the oil. Now I know for next time!
I tried the method for the first time last night. I had to decant the mixture into a plastic bottle because I didn't like the idea of glass in the bathroom, but I really think a pump dispenser would be ideal. I just did the massage once to see how my skin handles the mix. I think it's okay and tonight I will increase to two. Next week I'll add in the ACV as toner.
I am also really interested in Josie Maran's line of products, researching those now.
blogger / honeydew / 7081 posts
@looch: I didn't realize you were in Europe! That's really neat! And yeah - I definitely would have picked up the more expensive bottle over a train ride, ha ha. Hope it works out well for you!
I'm on day 4, and so far I'm loving it. I don't know if I managed to hit on the right formula right away, but my skin feels great. I've had none of the usual AF breakouts, and I don't feel any big spots coming to the surface. Hope it continues to work!
grapefruit / 4079 posts
I introduced ACV diluted with water the last two days and my skin has broken out really bad. Is this normal or am I doing something wrong?
cantaloupe / 6923 posts
@alison206: strange, is your skin really sensitive? The ACV stings a little but it doesn't make me break out. I've never heard of it making people break out. I just recommended it to my friend for her chestne and it is working like a charm. Maybe lay off the ACV and just use the oil? I only use mine for a toner before bed but even with full strength it doesn't break me out.
cantaloupe / 6923 posts
I just need to say again how much I love the oil cleansing method. My skin has never looked better and I feel amazing. It's so weird how healthy skin totally ups my confidence. No one believes me that I got rid of acne with oil!
grapefruit / 4079 posts
@anonysquire: well my other thought is that maybe my skin broke out something fierce because I ovulated?? FF is thinking maybe, but I'm thinking I did. I'm going to continue OCM and clear it up and try ACV again.
grapefruit / 4079 posts
I'm going to have to drop out of OCM. I have 4 new blemishes in the last 24 hours, and they are the cystic painful ones. 
blogger / honeydew / 7081 posts
@alison206: Booo, that's brutal. I broke out a little this morning, but AF just started, and I was figuring that breaking out was a normal part of starting a new skincare regime. I'll give it some time. At the very least, its not making my skin any worse.
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