OCM - to moisuturise or not to moisturise

[jumpyjan]

Have been doing OCM for over a month now and whilst my skin is not amazing or anything I do think it is a really good cleanser and am pretty happy with it.

I have oily skin and am using 70% almond to 30% castor oil. I went into Boots today to buy some foundation and told the assistant that I did not moisturise as I did the OCM and she looked and said my skin would be dehydrated as the oil can't penetrate the skin like a moisturiser would.

So OCM users do you moisturise - if so what with?

Moisturise - sorry!

Does your skin look or feel dehydrated? I'd trust yourself rather than some random boots sales bint TBH.

DP and I both do OCM, he has oily skin and mine is dry. I mouisturise with argan oil straight after applying rosewater, works beautifully. DP very occasionally needs to moisturise and uses jojoba oil straight after lavender water (with a few drops of tea tree added).

I have been doing the OCM for about 5 months now and I do moisturise after I've cleansed. I have dry cheeks, mildly oily t zone, blackhead prone nose. I use a 20% castor oil mix, and my skin feels good but ever so slightly tight after I've cleansed.

I do it with virgin coconut oil and I use only that to moisturise.

I find the ocm dries my skin. I've actually stopped doing it but I did put rose hip oil on my face last night as a moisturiser (as all the ladies on here were raving about it so it reminded me to use it), BUT my skin was so dry the next day!

Definitely moisturise I'd say.

While not strictly the same as OCM, I have started to use the Botanics facial oil which is lovely and I am seeing am improvement in my skin with less redness and my spots have improved, but I have had to start to use a moisturiser as well as my skin was getting quite dry and tight, the oil is not enough on its own.

I think it can be different depending on the type of oil used too.

some are harsher than others.

Yeah, definitely. I use avocado oil which is quite moisturising.

I've been reading old OCM threads but still utterly confused about which oil I should use.

Since starting cerazette nine months ago I have got a very spotty chin and forehead and my old routine of Clinique facial soap and simple moisturiser just aren't working!

Can anyone suggest a suitable oil please?

Grapeseed oil would be good, you'll need to add some castor oil too of course. Anywhere between 10 and 50%, it just depends. 'tis best to start low and work up.

It's best to only do the OCM facial 3 or 4 times a week 'cause it can be quite drying - between times you could cleanse with lavender water with a few drops of tea tree oil added and moisturise with jojoba oil.

Aspirin masks would be good for you too (lazy c&p from another thread will follow )

Oh, and for the steaming bit I use a good old muslin folded in 4 so it holds the heat and I can use a clean 'side' for each steam clean. Then tone with rosewater after to get rid of any lingering oil (although TBH I don't think there actually is any).

So, aspirin facemask:

3 uncoated aspirin and a few drops of water mixed to a paste and left on for 10 or 15 minutes. Drip the water onto the aspirin and let it stand for a few minutes and mash-em-up with a teaspoon. When it's been on long enough just splash on a wee bit of water and gently scrub a wee bit. Not loads, not hard.

You can use rosewater, lavender water or the like if you've got it, oh and adding 1/2 an aspirin worth of cornflower to the aspirin paste stops it flaking off as it dries.

Aspirin has lots of salicylic acid...

Hmm grapeseed you say.. Might that be found in the supermarket or should I look elsewhere?

Thank you! Aspirin face mask sounds like a practical joke!

You'd probably need to order online TBH. But, if you want to have a try and see if you like the process then olive oil, sunflower oil, well pretty much any oil is fine.

Oh, and not lavender / rose water in the sense of crabtree and eveline type stuff but proper hydrolate.

Thanks for the replies. I am going to look into getting some lavender water and jojoba oil from what you say Mrs L. I do think I could do with something to get the last bits of oil off - I have about 3 goes with the hot flannel but can sometimes feel a bit of oilyness left on afterwards.

Sometimes my skin feels fine but sometimes it does feel a bit dry. I guess I could reduce the amount of castor oil but I only use about 30% as is.

I might give the jojoba a go as a moisturiser as I think I possibly could do with something - especially with winter coming and drying skin.

The reaction from the Boots assistant was quite funny really - I think it was the most shocking thing she had ever heard .

OCM is definitely an effective cleanser though - the water in the sink after I have cleansed and rinsed the flannel etc is disgusting

Yeah, it works a treat doesn't it!

I'd say 30% castor oil is loads TBH, 50% is the max. It's best not to use it more than 3 or 4 times a week - if you want to do the full oil cleanse more often it'd probably be best to skip thje castor sometimes.

Oh, and I say lavender water but I mean proper hydrolate not the old lady spray stuff...

Mrs L do you mind me asking where you get your lavender water from - just googled and got a variety of results.

Hmmm I am OCM'ing pretty much every evening at the moment - perhaps too much. Do you just cleanse with a bit of the lavender oil on the nights where you don't OCM?

My DP also does OCM (after me going on about it!) - he has totally different skin to me (much dryer). He is using olive oil and doing it about 3 times a week and getting good results so perhaps I am doing it too often.

I'm not in the UK I'm afraid so not a lot of use on the supply front.

It does sound like you're doing it a bit too often. I use a bit of my cleansing oil as a makeup remover then cleanse with hydrolate and moisturise with t'other oil between times. Is fine for DP's skin too even though it's much oilier than mine.

Oh, but I don't use foundation, no idea what to do if you do. Sorry.

Thanks for the advice mrs L - think I will cut down to OCM every other day and see how that goes. Off to buy some lavender water and jojoba oil online .

I'm not sure how hydrating jojoba oil is though, I've never looked into it. Just got it for DP because it's good for acne, he doesn't really need to moisturise.

If you're not very spot prone then argan oil (proper stuff) might be better, it's done wonders for my fine lines and some wee scars I had. It's pricey but 5 or six drops is enough for face and neck. People are raving about rosehip oil ATM but I've not tried that. There are loads of good oils, TBH it's well worth having a damn good google before you order.

Thank you!