My Experience with OCM

I had been using Pond's cold cream since I was a young girl. I used it to remove makeup or as a cleansing cream during DIY facials. The last time I ran out, I googled for potential substitutes and came across the oil cleansing method. It was touted to do what cold cream can and more. It works on the principle that oil dissolves oil. This is certainly a more natural way to keep the skin clean and healthy. I've tried it and really liked the result. My skin definitely felt smoother and softer afterwards. The recommendation is that we use both castor oil and virgin olive oil, but since I only had virgin olive oil handy, I had to settle for just that. Here are the steps:

1. Blend virgin olive oil and castor oil. It's up to you to figure out the ratio. Castor oil may be drying while olive oil may be too fatty. Other edible oils, such as almond oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil, etc. also work.
2. Massage the oil blend on your face and neck for a few minutes, really working to let the oil penetrate into the skin. It will absorb impurities from the pores.
3. Wet a washcloth with hot water, wring out, and drape it over your face to steam the pores open.
4. Let a minute pass before using the same washcloth to wipe your face free of the oil. Along with the oil go dirt, makeup, bacteria, dead skin cells, etc.

In my case, I did the washcloth part over to make sure I got most of the oil out. Some people like to do this everyday, but for me, once a week is enough. I also still use my daily cleansing products. However, for deep cleansing, the OCM is it for me. I'll try other oils next time, but for now the virgin olive oil works great on my skin as it is.

Tips for Some Beauty Troubles

The following are some of the things I'll be working on in the coming weeks. I'll post updates/results in a week or two.

1. Toe corn - I don't get why my fourth toe on my right foot has a callous when it doesn't brush against the pinky toe and I hardly ever wear shoes. I think it's a throw back to my shoe wearing days.

Possible solution: Soak in warm, soapy water, brush with pumice stone (I have one with a file at the back as well). Apply petroleum jelly or some deep moisturizer, cover with socks. Do regularly until corn is gone.

2. Ingrown hair - I used to be a smooth shaver. However, I made the mistake of shaving while pregnant, which led to ingrown hair above the knee that never went away.

Possible solution: Apply warm, moist face towel to the area. Resoak towel when it cools and reapply. Do this for about ten minutes until you can see the hair. With sterilized tweezers, coax the tip of the hair out of the skin. Try not to pluck the hair out as it might end up ingrown again. Make sure you do not cut your skin. Wash area with moisturizing soap and warm water. Apply alcohol or some other antiseptic.

3. Stained teeth - I'm a tea drinker. Okay, red wine too. Okay, I put a lot of things in my mouth that stain the teeth. Also, I smoked for several years, a portion of that time, I had braces on.

Possible solution: Mix some baking soda on your toothpaste. Gargle with mouthwash. Rub teeth with olive oil.