her juvenescent elixir

The Oil Cleansing Method for make-up removal and deep skin cleansing.

What you will need:

• A small plastic empty squeeze container or jar [you can find this in the travel/miniatures section at your local drugstore or discount store.]
• Castor Oil [can be found at your local drugstore or grocery store.]
• A Cutting Oil [I use Olive Oil or Extra Virgin Olive Oil, you can also use Safflower Oil or something similar.]
• A funnel [if the lip of your empty container is small.]
• A measuring spoon or cup [if you feel you cannot eyeball your measurements.]
• A clean wash cloth.
• HOT water.
• Time.

Instructions:

• Turn on the hot water to allow it to warm up for the steam cleaning.
• Wash your hands.
• On a dry, uncleaned face, generously apply a half dollar sized amount of the castor oil recipe. [OCM Recipe for oily/combination skin: One part castor oil to two parts cutting oil; in this case, olive oil. Use more castor oil if your skin is drier--up to 50-50.]
• Gently massage the oil into your face. I concentrate on my t-zone and my eyes [to get that stubborn waterproof mascara and eyeliner off.] Sometimes I let it sit on my face for 5-10 minutes before the next step.
• Soak the towel in the hot water, then quickly apply it to your face. Hold it on your face until it starts to cool. Do not rub, just allow the steam to penetrate your skin and pores. Repeat until you feel that your face is clean. I often do this up to 6 or 7 times. **NOTE: The water is hot, not scalding.**
• You do not need to cleanse your face after the steaming.

My routine:

• OCM
• Twice a week: Apply a clay mask with Benzoyl Peroxide for 15 - 30 minutes and rinse.
• Tone. [I use witch hazel.]
• Medicate. [I used Neutrogena's On The Spot Acne Ointment all over my face every evening.]
• Moisturize. [I use 50% Oil of Olay all day moisturizer and 50% Emu Oil.]

I have had some sort of pimple problem since I was about 12. As soon a puberty hit full force I was breaking out. It is very much genetic and very much something I will have to deal with for the rest of my life. I’ve tried every acne medication ever invented except for proactiv, accutane, differin gel etc. The only thing I’ve ever had prescribed to me was Retin-A and I hated how it dried out my face.

I figured out that I was doing too much to solve this problem. I would wash, tone, use astringent on occasion, use blackhead scrubs, creams, zit gels and the list goes on and on. My skin was getting worse than it’s ever been.

I decided to read up on acne, AGAIN. I soon figured out that less was more. And, as it turns out, it was. I threw away all of my harsh cleansers and moisturizers with salycylic acid [that medication does nothing for my acne.] I began to heal my acne with plain old warm water. I washed my face with water in the mornings and in the evenings I’d cleanse with a regular face wash, not an acne wash. Soon, my face calmed down and I wasn’t getting any new pimples except for the occasional hormonal breakout [which were fewer and smaller than ever.] YAY! But I still had to deal with pimples that were there. The blackheads, the scars, and my brand new supersized pores!!

I want to note: my acne was never severe, but it was painful and ugly and persistent. It got to a point where I had no less than five blackheads and 3-6 whiteheads at a time any given week. Not a good look for a make-up girl. Make-up couldn’t cover that up. Also, at no point did I ever stop wearing make-up.

I decided to figure out how Proactiv worked. Why? So that I wouldn’t have to buy it. In the meantime I bought a mask [while looking for a clay mask that wouldn't break me out] to help deep cleanse my pores. After looking at all of these high priced clay masks online and in the health food store I bought something that I’d never looked twice at before. Made by Neutrogena, it had 3.5% benzoyl peroxide in it. I left it on 3 times longer than the instructions said and when I awoke the next day, I looked like a new person. My about-to-pop whiteheads were no longer red and angry. In fact, some of them were smaller and one of my blackheads was completely clean! BP - benzoyl peroxide was the key for me!

So what did I do, what do I use, and what is my routine?? [cont'd under the hood]::

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If you have about 30 minutes you can do your own facials at home. [once a week or once a month.]

Get started:

Boil 4-6 cups of water in a large pot [dutch oven will work.] or if you have a facial steamer use that. Boil the water for several minutes, then reduce the heat and let it sit a few minutes. [No longer than 10 minutes.]

You can add a few tea bags [2-6] or essential oils to the water as it heats. Try different herbs or combinations of herbs and oils for the most benefit depending on your skin type. [NOTE: do not add oils directly to the water in your home steamer as this may cause clogs and break your machine. You can add the oil to a towel or cotton pad and hold it near your face.]

• for combination to oily skin: lavender oil, rosemary leaves, basil leaves and witch hazel bark can be used to clear the skin of harmful bacteria and impurities.
• for dry skin: rosewater, chamomile tea and jasmine will help sooth and not irritate the skin.
• for sensitive skin: distilled water, rose petals or rosewater will not irritate the skin usually.

Wash your face as usual.

Exfoliate your skin using an exfoliating pad, an electric toothbrush, a cleansers with microbeads, or a face towel or sponge.

Move the pot [or turn your steamer off] to the location where you want to do the steaming. Lean over the pot with a towel over your head to preserve the steam. [If it hurts or stings, it's too hot, wait 2 more minutes and try again.]

Steam for about 15 minutes, no longer.

Your pores are open; this is the best time to take care of pimples and blackheads.

• for whiteheads, take a sterilized needle and pop it and press gently with a cotton ball to ease the pus out. stop pressing when blood or clear fluid appears. use toner or hydrogen peroxide to clean the area.
• if the pimple is on the verge of popping, you can squeeze it, but not with your bare hands. take two clean q-tips and press on either side of the zit gently until it pops. then use hydrogen peroxide to clean it out. if it doesn’t pop right away, leave it alone. and apply benzoyl peroxide each day until it dries out. sometime it can dry out in a day or two.
• if the pimple is deep and red and cystic, leave it alone or go see a dermatologist who can inject cortisone to dry it out.
• for black heads, you can use a pore strips to move the dirt out of the pore.
• you can apply retin-a or alpha hydroxy to the blackhead to speed up cell turnover.
• never squeeze your blackheads. if it’s a really bad problem, go see a dermatologist.

While pores are still open, apply your facial mask. whatever kind you want. I use mask made specifically for oily skin as I have a problem with blackheads and acne.

Leave the mask on for 3-15 minutes. If it’s homemade mask, you can leave it on longer than the store bought masks.

To reduce puffiness: You can use cold cucumber slices, cooled chamomile tea bags, a cool gel eye mask, or a refrigerated damp cloth to place over your eyes.

Rinse your face with lukewarm to cool water.

Pat dry face and then apply toner or witch hazel to your face, jaw, and neck.

Massage in your moisturizer [really massage it in, don't just sit it on top of your face or it will do nothing.] let it sit in your face at least 10 minutes before applying make up.