The (CRAZY) Oil Cleansing Method Experiment done in Malaysia

I think I ruined my skin. 

Oh my goodness. 

Don't stare at the mirror too long.

Why is he staring at me??!!! Is he feeling disgusted by all the pimples on my face??!!!!!!

Yep. That's what I was obsessing thinking about this last few weeks.
If you're here reading this, it means that
1) You have done your research and is considering the Oil Cleasning Method (OCM) ((and I bet you already know it's OCM too))
2) You are wondering what are the complications of doing this method in Malaysia, a hot, humid and extremely polluted country (especially in KL)
3) You don't know which oils are available/cheap (I will tell you where to buy all the items I mention here later at the end of this blog post)

Have no fear! I'll tell you what I did and what the OCM did to/for my skin *moment of truth/dread

I'm thinking that you guys should know what oils and mixture you should use already, but for the sake of my perfectionist (and irritating) nature, I shall lightly touch on the basics of the OCM.

If you have any more questions you can refer to this link from crunchybetty.

What it is:
The Oil Cleansing Method is based on the chemistry concept of "like dissolves like", where by cleaning your face with oils it dissolves the dirty oils trapped in your skin and therefore purifies your skin.

My take: plenty of discussion about the "like dissolves like" thing in the internet, some chemists/ facialists (what do you call people who does facials for you) agree on it but there is a review by Paula's Choice where it actively scoffed at the OCM (yeap. the review still burns in my mind whenever I'm doubting the OCM).

What you use:
The main ingredient for the OCM is the castor oil, who does the deep cleansing/purifying of your pores, followed by a carrier oil, whose main job is to dilute the castor oil so that it doesn't do an overkill of your skin. The carrier oil can be almost any oil under the sun - sunflower seed, grapeseed, safflower, avocado, carrot, seriously guys, anything. As long as it works.

My take: Again, many people either replace the castor oil with sweet almond oil, or don't use it at all. Some just use coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil (That's what it means when you see EVOO on the other blogs' comments) only. Which might be okay for your skin, but take note that some people cannot take coconut oil, EVOO, and jojoba oil. 

What mixture you should use:
It is believed (and repeated) by many users that the ratio for different types of skin matters. The combo is usually:

Dry Skin: 10% castor/sweet almond oil: 90% carrier oil
Normal/Combination Skin: 20% castor/sweet almond oil: 80% carrier oil
Oily Skin: 30% castor/sweet almond oil: 70% carrier oil

My take: Again, many variation on this. Some people use 1:3, 1:1, or 1:2, instead of the percentages mentioned above. Some even use 1:1:2:1 (but that's for higher level OCM users, which means that if you have not started or have not lasted on the same mixture for more than 2 weeks, you should keep it simple - 2 oils only! Yes I'm talking to you. Keep those itchy fingers away for a little longer) Plus, there is this lady who tried the OCM and said that there is no such thing as dry/oily skin, it's just the way your skin has reacted to the products you've used previously.

How you should do it:
Massage oil on dry face (after making sure your hands are clean. Oils get infected by bacteria, there goes your face. Keep it clean! Same goes for your oil bottle.) for about 2 to 5 minutes. Steam your face, either by getting a super expensive steamer, or get microfiber cloths and place it under hot water (not too hot, or there goes your face again) then place the cloth over your face to steam it. When the cloth gets cold, wipe your face. Rinse and repeat for 3 or 4 or 7 times (I'm super kiasu wan).
Some do the OCM every night, some every other night, and some once a week.

My take: Get the microfiber cloths lah. It's cheaper. Get 4 so you don't have to worry about not having a clean laundered one everyday. I'm currently doing the OCM every night because firstly my skin is just recovering from the initial purge, and secondly I worry about getting my sunblock off my face every night. When your skin has recovered and is looking pretty nice, please start thinking about doing it every other night or so.

MY experience:
If you guys read my blog you'd know that I use acne.org previously to clear off my really really bad breakout a couple of years ago. The last year and more I had clear skin and felt really awesome about it. There'd be the odd pimple here and there occasionally, but that beat having pimples all over your forehead and cheeks and chin right??

Then came the last month which played havoc to my skin due to stress (from work I guess), traveling around (to Ipoh then to Johor for work then back) and having my period. My skin started to have a light breakout. And a reader emailed me to tell me about the effects of using too much Benzoyl Peroxide (treatment product from acne.org) so I decided to do some research on natural products.

After an extreme obsession about researching the OCM, I decided to play it safe and get castor oil and grapeseed oil (cuz grapeseed's not a nut oil and some people get allergic to nut oils). My first headache was where to get castor oil? I went to town and visited an indian shop to get one (it was like, RM 3.50 or something. Super cheap!) then I went to Tesco and visited the oil section. Most of the oils mentioned are sold there and I grabbed my grapeseed oil with glee. Next up, microfiber cloths. Tesco, Giant and Jusco don't sell them, so finally I got it from our superstar Daiso. 2 cloths for RM5!

The first week (10% castor oil 90% grapeseed oil) with moisturizer of jojoba oil
Then came the moment of truth. The first week I started the OCM, I left my cloths at home (I rent a place somewhere else and only go home every weekend) Damn. SO I decided to just wing it and wash the oils off with my Simple Gel Cleanser. Bad choice. In the Nitty gritty about OCM, it says not to combine natural and chemical products because it will confuse your skin. My breakout worsened by like, ten thousand times. I was having pimples on my cheeks (really horrible ones), my forehead (lots of tiny bumps) and my chin (seriously eww).

It was basically a confusing moment for my skin cuz I didn't know what to wash my face with in the morning, it was worsening and what do I use as moisturizer??!

I ran (drove lah how to run in KL) home to grab my microfiber cloths, bought lavender essential oil and lavender floral water, and decided to DO. IT. PROPERLY.

I also switched from grapeseed oil to sunflower seed oil (seems that sunflower seed oil is less pore clogging compared to grapeseed oil. I wasn't sure whether the grapeseed oil was the culprit, but I just wanted to play it even more safe. Sunflower seed oil has a comedogenic rating of 0). So back to Giant I went.

The second-third week (25% castor oil 75% sunflower seed oil and 3 drops of lavender essential oil)
I stuck to this for two weeks, where I saw my skin worsen first. There was tiny whiteheads all over my skin, and some really huge bumps (i think it's called cystic acne bumps). I also felt that my skin was really dry because every night I came out of the shower I felt that my skin was really tight.
In the mornings I'd just run water over my face then use the lavender floral water like a toner over my face, dab on my sunblock and off I'd go.

At the end of the third week of OCM, I noticed that my pimples were starting to go off, but I wasn't sure whether this was due to overdrying (the pimples area was peeling) or because it was getting better. My skin started to get smoother, pimples got well faster and left barely any scars, so I decided that it was time to modify my potions. (Stick to it for at least 2 weeks!)

Fourth week (10% castor oil 45% jojoba oil 55% sunflower seed oil and 5 drops of lavender essential oil)
Also, I got Vitamin Cs in the morning and Evening Primrose Oil in the evenings. The fourth week is happening right now :D
Skin starting to look much better, and pimples going off. The thing that confuses me is that some bumps still continue to appear though, but I'm waiting to see what happens.

People commenting on your skin sucks. I forgot how it felt to be feel so small and awkward and anxious every time someone comments on how many pimples you have and start judging based on what you eat, what products you use and your lifestyle choices. As if by "drinking more water" my skin would magically clear up. And I happen to be around a whole bunch of (mostly guys) people who are insensitive to the woes of the skin. sigh.

However, do note that lifestyle choices are important! It seems that your diet is also important even after you start the OCM.

THE purge
For those who aren't sure (I certainly wasn't) how to differentiate between the purging of OCM and a regular breakout, purging comes with lots of whiteheads (clusters!) and occasionally (I think) some cystic acne. With a regular breakout it's everything else.

MY plan
I'm looking at getting shea butter as a moisturizer and maybe rose floral water as a morning cleanser. I feel weird without using a moisturizer for so long, and rose floral water is much more hydrating to the skin :)

Where to get:
Sunflower seed oil/grapeseed oil: Just visit any Tesco/Giant hypermarket and go to the oils aisle
Microfibre cloth: 2 for RM5 at Daiso
Castor oil: RM5 at an Indian Grocery shop or visit lemongreen2u (though I have never bought from this site before)

Final verdict (after about 8 weeks)
OKAY the OCM method is just not for me lah. Now am (painfully) recovering from my breakout now. Sucks having skin that everyone comments on with a horrified face -________-

SO guess what I'm sticking back with my acne.org treatment, while using organic aloe vera gel + jojoba oil as a moisturizer :/ SIGH. Oh well, now I know one thing that doesn't work for my skin.

Not gonna post pics cuz it's really horrible!
Cheers -___-