Life for me has been unusually stressful. Add to this the fact that I am getting older. The end result is my skin is, quite simply, freaking the f**k out.
As a teen, my skin was pretty average. I had the usual breakouts and black heads, the occasional whopper, and some instances of fairly clear pretty skin. I figured my skin issues would be gone by the time I turned 20. Then I hoped maybe by 30. As my birthday draws nearer, I have all but given up on 40 as well.
About 3 years ago, my divorce began. The stress was overwhelming, and my body, hair, skin, and health began to show the effects of it all. Slowly but surely, and with the help of Miss Clairol, I have gotten most of those issues under control. The single hold out appears to be the ol' mug.
I tried the oil cleansing method, after reading various blogs on it about a year ago. However, being me, I have to do excessive research and then add my own little twists to everything. I decided the oil would be best mixed with coarse salt and used as a scrub on my face. This only worked for a few months and then it all went to hell.
In November I began to work in an office with an esthetician. At this point I had given up completely on the oil cleansing method (OCM) and started using anything I could buy cheap. She looked at the tiny bumps and cysts all over my face and put me on cleaning products. Again, these worked for a few months and then my face spazzed out again.
My mind began to go back to thoughts of oil. So what is the oil cleansing method? Well, it is based on the principle that "like dissolves like" and therefore using oil on your face will help control the over-production of blemish causing facial oil. I have read articles backing this, and I have read articles claiming this is junk. I cannot say I have done a controlled double blind study on this. What I can say is I have tried it and it worked better than expensive cleansers and harsh products.
The method suggests you apply a small amount of oil or oil blend to your face (I keep mine in a small Tupperware bowl under my sink, pour a little bit onto my finger tips and rub it into my face, avoiding my eyes). Then, either in the shower or at the sink, heat a wash cloth as hot as you can tolerate without scalding, then steam your face. I usually heat the cloth and drape it on my face a few times to ensure proper steaming. Then, use the cloth to wipe all of the oil from your face. The cloth helps exfoliate which is very important in preventing blackheads. I recommend using a fresh cloth every day. Some people suggest cleansing this way twice a day, others suggest only once. I am still trying to determine which makes my skin less unhappy.
As I looked in the mirror at the blemishes, scars, dark spots, and bumps I decided to give OCM another try. I decided my skin must be hyper-sensitive, so I stopped washing my wash cloths in detergent and fabric softener. I switched to mild white soap and an apple cider vinegar rinse for my wash cloths. I ordered various oils after still MORE research, and lo and behold, my face began to improve! That's when I decided to add still more oil (darn my research!) and the breakouts started up.
So today, I have decided to approach this like a science experiment. I need to find out exactly what each oil does for my face and for my skin. I need to test various combinations and vary the amounts once I have settled on my oil choices.
Over the next few weeks and months what I hope to do is try various oils and blends and find out truly what it is they each do for my complexion. I will not vary the after-cleansing products I use (a vitamin C cream and an Olay sensitive skin tinted moisturizer, followed by L'Oreal mineral powder prior to make up application).
The oils I have on hand to try are: castor, olive, hemp, lavender, vitamin E, jojoba, sweet almond, tamanu, and coconut. I had read about an oil that was supposed to help with hormonal cystic acne if used either on the face or taken as a supplement, but for the life of me I cannot find that article again! I plan to start this week with just castor oil, which I have read can be drying on its own. I hope to give each mixture at least 3-5 days before making a change. It will all depend on the reaction of my skin. The only variant I cannot control is whatever it is my hormones do to just throw a constant wrench into the works.
Everyone's skin is different, but maybe my research will help anyone who reads this to understand what the different oils do, how they can help or hinder the path to clear skin, and maybe, just maybe, you will be able to create your own formulation without all of the trial and error I am about to undertake!
PS- I am considering photos along the way, but I am highly embarrassed about my skin. Maybe I will take a before shot, and keep it until I have a beautiful after to post it with!
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