One of the most important steps with good skin care is gentle cleansing. It is usually the cleansing process which creates the most imbalance with all skin types. Instead using a natural gentle cleanser to remove makeup and dirt that does not contain chemical toxins is the best and most effective way to wash your face daily.
It is often thought that oily skin should literally be stripped of all oils which actually forces the skin to produce more sebum as a result. Stripping the skin with harsh cleansers also dehydrates the skin. Dry skin can also be stripped of precious oils in the cleansing process. Sensitive skin can be greatly irritated during this process, and combination skin can be all of the above. It is when our skin is out of balance that it needs so many other treatment products to bring it back in balance. I prefer the less is more approach and choose a skin care regimen with fewer simple products, yet with full healing impact.
Over the past four years I’ve discovered simple facial cleansers that are extremely effective and very inexpensive. Although I’ve benefited from all of them, one method of facial cleansing has become my favorite. Let’s talk about each of these simple natural cleansers which are soap free and pH balanced.
Rhassoul Clay
Rhassoul clay was the first simple facial cleanser that I tried after my unfortunate experience with oil cleansing using olive and castor oil. That oil mix didn’t work for my acne prone skin because of the high oleic content. It was cleansing with rhassoul clay that brought my skin back to balance.
Rhassoul clay has a higher ratio of silica, magnesium, potassium, calcium, and other trace minerals compared to other clays, therefore it is very nourishing to the skin. When mixed with water its smooth and silky texture gently nourishes and exfoliates the skin. It balances skin’s natural oil production, and is hydrating to dry skin and calming to oily skin. It improves clarity, removes dead skin cells, and improves skin texture.
I’ve had the best benefits using rhassoul clay with raw honey as it adds extra hydration to the cleansing process. I also love that rhassoul clay is a multipurpose cleanser for skin, hair, and body. You can read more about the benefits of rhassoul clay here.
Raw Honey
Raw honey is truly a healing face wash. Raw honey does wonders for acne, rosacea, eczema, hyperpigmentation, enlarged pores, sensitive, mature, and dull lifeless skin. When honey is mixed with water it releases peroxide properties which helps to heal and fade scars, and also prevent bacteria causing more acne. Raw honey also contains gluconic acid, a mild alpha hydroxy acid that is amazing at brightening the complexion, evening out the skin tone, and lightening scars and age spots.
Raw honey has a natural pH of 4.5 which is perfect for maintaining a healthy pH in our slightly acidic skin mantle. Our skin thrives when using products with a pH between 4.5–5.5. Maintaining the skins proper pH balance helps create optimum skin health. Using raw honey as a face wash is perfect for those who do not wear makeup or for a gentle morning cleanser. When mixed with rhassoul clay, it will remove light makeup.
Oatmeal
I would never have thought of using oatmeal as a face wash until I tried it after running out of my usual face wash. Oatmeal is the perfect face wash for sensitive, dry, and irritated skin, and especially those with rosacea, eczema, and sunburn. Oats contain saponins, a gentle cleansing agent, and can be used as a mild soap.
You can use either oat flour or colloidal oatmeal to cleanse the skin mixed with water or even aloe vera juice. I’ve found that colloidal oatmeal is the easiest to use as it won’t clog your sink. Oatmeal alone will not remove makeup so is better for those who do not wear makeup or as a morning face wash. You can also do a simple oatmeal facial mask after you remove your makeup. You can read more about oatmeal as a face wash here.
Oil Cleansing
I’ve had a love/hate relationship with oil cleansing until I learned the best types of oils to use for acne prone skin. Oil cleansing is the easiest way to remove heavy makeup and dirt while also removing excess sebum from clogged pores. No matter whether I am wearing makeup or not, the oil cleansing removes everything and unclogs my pores.
Oils high in linoleic acid help nourish and balance sebum production. These types of oils are usually imbalanced with those who are acne prone. Simply by applying oils high in linoleic acid to the skin you inhibit acne breakouts. You can learn more about these types of oils and why they work so well for those who are acne prone in this article.
One of the other reasons that I was initially having so many issues with oil cleansing is because it didn’t always feel as if I was removing all of the dirt and makeup filled oil from my skin. Once I introduced using a microfiber cleansing cloth with oil cleansing regimen, I had discovered the perfect combination!
Microfiber Cleansing Cloths
Microfiber cleansing cloths completely remove makeup, gently exfoliate skin, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, diminish acne, whiteheads, and blackheads, minimize scars, and clear clogged pores from dirt and bacteria all while not disrupting the pH levels in your skin. The first time I used a microfiber cloth I was shocked that I was able to remove all of my makeup with just warm water!
I’ve been using microfiber cleansing cloths this entire year in different ways. There was a time where I wanted to see if I could transition to a water only face care regimen, yet my skin wasn’t having it. Even thought these cloths will remove makeup on their own, it didn’t feel gentle enough on my skin with just water. When I started oil cleansing again and using hot wet microfiber cleansing cloths to steam my skin and remove the oil that my regimen started making sense.
One other thing that I absolutely love about using microfiber cleansing cloths is that they are much less expensive than the electronic exfoliating tools that are so popular on the market right now. My skin has improved drastically since using microfiber cleansing cloths daily. These cloths will remove all impurities from your skin and therefore decrease your pore size.
You can find microfiber cloths at most convenience stores. I prefer white microfiber cloths that are 100% polyester. I use a new cloth daily and also wash the cloth after each use with soap and water. You can read more about microfiber cloths here.
My Favorite Simple Facial Cleanser
Oil cleansing with oils high in linoleic acid is my favorite facial cleanser! Organic pumpkin seed oil is one of the oils I love to use most, and I of course remove the oil with a white microfiber cleansing cloth. This combination has been what has consistently worked for my acne prone combination skin and is of course so simple!
What is your favorite simple facial cleanser?
No More Chemical Skin Care–Part 1–Introduction
No More Chemical Skin Care–Part 3–Hydrating & Moisturizing
No More Chemical Skin Care–Part 4–Treatments & Body Care
(Image by kezi.com)
keisha says
November 22, 2013 at 4:44 pmlove the breakdown of the cleansers! i too started off doing the oil cleansing method with olive and castor oil until i started breaking out which wasn’t what i was looking for it to do so I stopped. I will try it using other oils to see how my skin reacts to it thanks to your article on the different acids in oils. i loved using raw honey as a cleanser but stopped for some reason. I’ve got to get my hands on some rhassoul clay again. I loved the benefits for my hair but I want to use it on my skin again. Mountain rose herbs has been out of it! 🙁 i’m loving the tamanu oil! thanks for all you do and for sharing your information!
Dawn Michelle says
November 22, 2013 at 5:05 pmYou’re welcome Keisha! Thanks for your comment too. Enjoy your weekend!
saito says
November 22, 2013 at 8:56 pmCould you apply oil to your face, then use a natural bar soap? It doesn’t seem like it would strip your skin of all oils/moisture.
Dawn Michelle says
November 22, 2013 at 10:35 pmHi Saito,
I never suggest using soap on your face because it is too alkaline and disrupts the skin’s pH balance. I wrote about the importance of pH in this article. I’ve found out through much trial and error that using alkaline products on my face never creates long lasting positive results. Hope this helps <3
RazzyYazzy says
November 23, 2013 at 8:04 pmYou have helped me so much with my acne prone skin. I tried oil cleansing (olive + castor) too, epic fail. I use raw honey, followed by a green tea-tea tree oil toner. But the biggest help was reducing face “cleansing” to once a day. At night, I cleanse, tone and moisterize, but in the morning, I just use plain water, toner and sunblock. I never thought my oily skin could thrive with such a routine. Less is truly more. Thanks so much for your help. I might give oil cleansing another try.
Dawn Michelle says
November 24, 2013 at 6:33 pmHi RazzyYazzy,
You and I both had an epic fail oil cleansing with olive and castor oil! I’m just glad that is in the past. It is really great though that you’ve found the perfect natural skin care regimen that works for you. It does take some trial and error and I’m so happy that I could have been helpful to you along the way! Hope you’ve been enjoying the weekend!
Rachel says
November 24, 2013 at 7:22 amHi Dawn, what about african black soap? I’ve been using it with great results (I also use raw honey in the mornings), what’s your take on it?
Dawn Michelle says
November 24, 2013 at 6:47 pmHi Rachel,
African black soap is too alkaline for the face although I have used it many many times as a body wash. I never had consistent results with black soap as a facial cleanser, and now knowing that the pH is around 9 or higher I know why. Putting anything on your skin that is alkaline disrupts the acid mantle in your skin. When the acid mantle is out of balance it is not able to protect the skin as it should. Even mild soaps are too alkaline for your skin, yet using it on your face is never good in the long run because it will consistently be out of balance.
mangomadness says
November 24, 2013 at 9:43 amMy fav simple cleanser is jojoba oil and a microfiber cloth. It gets all of my mineral/natural make-up off easily and gently. Microfiber washcloths are super easy to clean and quick to aid-dry.
I use homemade oat flour as a soothing facial mask quite often. I tried cleansing with raw honey in the past and need to revisit it for cleansing and facial masks. I like clay as a facial mask.
Dawn Michelle says
November 24, 2013 at 6:50 pmHi MangoMadness,
I haven’t done any clay mask recently yet they are always so good! I love how oats make my skin feel though! Thanks for sharing and hope you are enjoying your day!
Jean says
November 26, 2013 at 12:19 pmI only use honey to wash my face in the morning, and I’ve been very happy with the results on my mature skin. For a weekly mask I mix honey with Evan Healy rhassoul clay (sometimes I’ll add yogurt to the mix) and leave on for 20-30 minutes, then apply a warm washcloth two or three times and rinse off to finish.
I like the idea of oil cleansing, but if always feel like I should follow it with another cleanser to finish with makeup removal. When I have oil cleansed
and followed with a toner on a cotton pad I still see traces of dirt/makeup, so I always follow oil cleansing with a mild cleanser. I am very careful to not use anything rough or abrasive on my thinning skin – do you think the microfiber cloth would be gentle enough and solve the problem of having to double cleanse? Do you have any suggestions for a mild cleanser? What oil do you think would be the best to use for cleansing mature skin?
As always, grateful for your advice and thankful for your blog.
Dawn Michelle says
November 26, 2013 at 2:41 pmHi Jean,
I think one of the gentlest facial cleansers is raw honey. If you are interested in a natural oil that would work well for mature skin I’d go with rosehip seed oil. Also when using a microfiber cloth pick a very soft one and use it gently on the skin. There’s no need to rub hard since the cloth does the work effortlessly. I hope this helps!
B says
November 28, 2013 at 7:10 pmHI Dawn!
Thanks for the article! :)) Do you oil cleanse with pure pumpkin seed oil (do you add castor oil to it?)
Do you typically oil cleanse at night and use one of the gentler cleansers (like honey or oats ) in the morning?
Dawn Michelle says
November 30, 2013 at 1:15 pmHi B,
I’ve used organic pumpkin seed oil alone as well as in a mix for daily oil cleansing. Most of the time I oil cleanse morning and night. Every once and awhile I’ll use raw honey in the morning or do my mini facial in the morning. Hope this give you a better idea.
Rachel says
November 29, 2013 at 6:18 pmHi Dawn, thank you so much for your answer. I’m leaving the black soap behind and going to give the oil cleansing method a try.
Thank you for your precious time!
Dawn Michelle says
November 30, 2013 at 9:59 amYou’re so welcome Rachel!
reika says
November 30, 2013 at 12:12 amDo you also use Microfiber Cloths for showers? It is hard to find bath sized microfiber towels…Do you know where to buy them?
Dawn Michelle says
November 30, 2013 at 10:02 amHi Reika,
I do have a few microfiber cloths that I use a bath cloths too, but I also have regular cotton wash cloths too. You can find microfiber cloths at a variety of shops in the kitchen section and even in dollar stores. Just make sure they feel soft.
Enjoy your day!
Hina says
December 4, 2013 at 8:05 pmHi Michelle,
I have severe pus filled big pimples all over my face and dry skin with it.I have. many many black and whiteheads deep inside my skin.I m really frustated by the way I look.I tried many products but everything breaks me out more.I have started washing my face with raw honey but that makes me sneeze a lot(I feel as if I got cold)and my eyes gets itchy too.Do you think should I continue using honey(it is not helping me with my acne at all). I m scared to use oils on my face.Do you think oil cleansing method would suit my skin and does it help clear all my acne.Can you suggest me what and how do I clean and heal my acne.
Plz do reply.
Thanks.
Dawn Michelle says
December 4, 2013 at 9:10 pmHi Hina,
Oil cleansing is what has worked so well for me which is why I often recommend others to give it a try. What I’ve learned most importantly is using oils high in linoleic acid. The chemical composition of common carrier oils such as olive, coconut, almond, etc are just not good for those with acne prone skin. When you have a bad experience with those types of oils, it can feel crazy trying a different oil. I wrote this article all about acne for another reader who asked for advice.
If you decide to begin oil cleansing use a gentle microfiber cloth with it. These types of cloths will help unclog pores and clear your skin. Just be very gentle with them and do not scrub your skin. The cloths will do all of the work for you. I think it will bring you a new perspective and hopefully get you on the path to healing your skin.
I’ve linked three article above which I think will help. If you have other questions after reading them just let me know.
Best wishes,
Dawn Michelle
Sohail says
December 23, 2013 at 1:53 amHi Michelle,
Can you tell me why honey makes me sneeze too.Even though it is helping to lighten my acne scars and hyper pigmentation and it moisturizers my skin,doesn’t irritated or make my skin red.But whenever I use honey to wash my face my nose is always runny whole day and I sneeze a lot and that’s making me extremely irritated at my work.I love honey I dnt want to leave it.
Can you tell me what is causing it so that I can avoid it while using honey.I use raw organic honey from traders joe and wee bee honey from whole foods.
I greatly appreciate your help.
Thanks.
Dawn Michelle says
December 23, 2013 at 8:59 pmHi Sohail,
I’m honestly not exactly sure why honey is making you sneeze but it sounds like you are having an allergic reaction to it. I’m very happy that your skin has benefited from using raw honey yet there must be another way to continue to heal your skin without the reaction. Have you considered oil cleansing with an oil high in linoleic acid? You can read more on it here. Best wishes and happy holidays!
Janette says
January 1, 2014 at 7:29 pmThank you for all the great stuff!! I just got into ocm method and love it. Im glad i found your blog!
Dawn Michelle says
January 3, 2014 at 3:06 pmYou are so welcome Janette! I LOVE oil cleansing as well. Best wishes!
Hina says
January 5, 2014 at 10:38 pmHi Dawn,
Thanks for replying to my previous post.
I m so happy I found your blog.I am suffering from severe acne with very dry skin since a very long time and it is very depressing.Your blog looks very promising.
Can I use organic grape seed oil(as it has high linoneic acid) from mountain rose herb for OCM.Can you please tell me how to do it step by step.
I usually cleanse my face twice a day(morning and before sleeping at night).Can I do OCM twice a day.Can I add castor oil or any other essential oil
to my grape seed oil.
Thanks for your help.
Dawn Michelle says
January 6, 2014 at 1:55 pmHi Hina,
I oil cleanse twice a day. I massage a good amount of oil into my skin, then take a microfiber cleansing cloth and run it under very warm to hot water. I wring out the cloth then lay it over my face to steam my skin for about 30 seconds. I then gently wipe the oil away. I then run the cloth under water again, steam, then wipe.
It is messy experience if I am removing a lot of eye makeup, yet I do it the same way. Most of the time I only wear mascara. This process always has my skin feeling amazing and clear. I’ve tried both grapeseed oil and pumpkin seed oil with great success. Castor oil feels too heavy as a cleanser on my skin so I don’t use it for that. As for adding essential oils, lavender essential oil is very gentle on skin.
Let me know if you try it and how it works for you.
Hina says
January 6, 2014 at 2:56 pmDo I need to apply oil on dry face or damp it with warm water before massaging oil.
Is it ok to use microfiber cloth under eye area and on eyelid.
Dawn Michelle says
January 6, 2014 at 3:38 pmHi Hina,
I apply oil to cleanse on dry skin. Microfiber cloths pick up everything. I use them very gently on my entire face and for the eye area. If it doesn’t feel right for your skin use a regular wash cloth for the eye area.
Amanda says
January 15, 2014 at 9:35 amHello Dawn,
I am a Dutch and really like your blog, thank your for sharing all your experiences and tips.
I also have some difficult questions, when it comes to make-up and creams that you stopped using what do you do with those? On one hand I do not want to use chemical make-up anymore but I find it somehow unethical to give the used and chemical make-up to someone else.I also tried the castor oil and other organic products, but it turns out that I am allergic to oils made from seeds and also for aloe vera. Luckily I can use the grapeseed oil as a conditioner. But I am not so sure what to do with the aloe vera cream and castor oil. Giving away opened and used creams feel a bit strange to me, but I also do not want to throw it away because I feel it is bad for the environment the throw away something that could be used for something else.
Do you have any tips for me about reusing creams and lotions that make me break out of give me a rash?
Thank you very much! Keep on going 🙂
Amanda
Dawn Michelle says
January 16, 2014 at 8:54 pmHi Amanda,
It isn’t going to serve you to keep anything that would break you out. Maybe you could see if any family or really close friends would be interested in any of the natural products that you hardly used. I do understand what you mean about giving away opened products though.
When I became more aware of the ingredients in products I actually tossed the cosmetics that had toxic chemicals. For some of the products I was able to empty them and recycle the containers. Now I make the best choices I can to be environmentally friendly by using 100% natural beauty care that will not add any pollution to the planet as well as shopping consignment, and in general consuming less.
I hope this helps and best wishes!
M says
January 29, 2014 at 1:42 pmHello Dawn,
Can you use rhassoul as a daily mask? I’m currently using mines twice a day for up to an hour and I would like to know if this would be too drying or damaging to the skin. Thanks alot
Dawn Michelle says
January 30, 2014 at 12:14 pmHi M,
In my opinion using daily clay masks may be an overkill. If you enjoy using rhassoul clay daily as a face wash, I feel it is wonderful mixed with raw honey to add hydration to the skin. Daily clay masks that dry on the skin for long lengths of time can dehydrated the skin. Yet using the clay with a moisturizing/hydrating component as a face wash which is washed off with water soon after applying keeps the skin supple, clean, and hydrated.
Hope this helps!
Isabel says
August 28, 2014 at 6:06 amHiya Dawn,
Just discovered your blog! I’m going to give the raw honey face wash ago but I noticed that you mention that it is better for those who do not wear make up…can you recommend something natural that I can use to remove my make up beforehand?
Thanks 🙂
Dawn Michelle says
August 29, 2014 at 9:10 amHi Isabel,
Oil cleansing has become my favorite for removing makeup and for nightly facial cleansing. If you have acne prone skin then here are a bunch of oils recommended. <3
Nia says
March 19, 2015 at 10:04 amHi Dawn,
I have been using rhassoul clay from Mountain Rose to wash my face with at night in the shower and I also mix Nature Nate’s raw honey in it, but for the life of me I don’t understand how you often say that you mix raw honey with rhassoul clay without explaining how it’s difficult to do so without having the mixture clump up so badly unless I constantly add water or press down on the clumps. Please let me know what you do.
I’ve decided to just squeeze a bit more than half a tablespoon of raw honey into my palm, then add water and stir it with my pinky finger to make it liquid-y like water, then I add one teaspoon of rhassoul clay to it, hoping the watery mixture would make it easier than squeezing honey right onto dry/wet rhassoul clay. One night, out of frustration, I simply put wet rhassoul clay onto my face and washed it, then after rinsing my face, I washed my face with raw honey to get back the moisture and re-balance the pH of my skin.
I really want to make this more convenient for myself, if possible, because I love this mixture, it is so helpful for my hyperpigmentation. I need to add honey in it because it helps to balance out the pH of my skin and make sure my skin is not dry from the rhassoul clay.
Thanks!
Nia
Dawn Michelle says
March 20, 2015 at 5:49 pmHi Nia,
I wash my face outside of the shower. When using clay and raw honey, I put some raw honey into the palm of my hand then some clay dry. I mix the two together to create a gooey paste. I then wet the other hand and massage the mixture into my skin, then rinse. I hope this helps! <3
Cece says
May 19, 2015 at 6:06 amHi Dawn,
I myself have decided to eliminate ALL chemical skincare, especially cleansers. I chose this because seven months ago I was prescribed, in my opinion, the harshest topical out there- Retin-A. I am not exaggerating when I say this topical ruined my skin! Since then, my skin has been so sensitive I cannot handle even the gentless of store bought cleansers. After hours of research, trying to figure out what happened to my poor skin I came to the conclusion that my epidermis had been thinned which destroyed my acid mantle and severly dehydrated my skin. So it was either the all natural route or nothing at all (I believe they call it ‘the caveman regimen’. I knew going full caveman would leave my skin dryer and just too delicate so, as I mentioned above, I decided to go all natural- no chemicals. Last week, I began cleansing and moisturizing with Hemp seed oil. At first I loved it, and I think I still do? But I have noticed an increase in breakouts, nothing severe more like little zits all over my T-zone and a couple on the sides of my cheeks. Is this normal? Could it simply be purging? Did you experience an initial breakout when you started cleasing/moisturizing with a high linoelic oil?
Dawn Michelle says
May 19, 2015 at 6:32 pmHi Cece,
Did you first start using Retin-A because of acne? I definitely agree with you about it being way too harsh for skin, yet I’m hoping that you will also look into the other factors that cause acne such as hormonal imbalance, emotions (usually anger related), diet/nutrition, exercise, water intake, and your most recent detox. I have found that healing acne is not only a topical solution. I’ve written more in depth about these topics here, here, here, and here.
It is possible that hemp seed oil may not be the best match for you, yet it is important to keep in mind the other things mentioned above. My favorite oil for oil cleansing is pumpkin seed oil. I also adore rosehip seed oil, yet other readers have also had success with evening primrose oil. I’m currently using Manuka honey as a face wash which I share in my spring/summer 2015 skin care regimen. I share all the details why the change in that article as well. I hope that all of this information is helpful to you. Best wishes!
Liene says
January 21, 2016 at 2:22 pmHi! Is there anything else other than these things that might help those deep blemishes that are very big and won’t go away for at least a couple months at a time? I love the pumpkin seed oil as a cleanser and don’t even need any kind of moisturizer afterwards, but I’m trying to dig even deeper to see if there might be some other options for those deep blemishes? Any suggestions would be great. Thank you so much for all your posts and all the time that you have put into this research! 🙂
Dawn Michelle says
January 22, 2016 at 2:54 pmHi Liene,
Hyperpigmentation takes more time to heal than it takes to create which is frustrating. Patience is important. I shared some tips and recipes on healing hyperpigmentation here. You can also find other related articles here. I hope this helps!
Rose says
February 23, 2016 at 7:51 pmHello, so I have been using a mixture of oat flour, honey and warm water to cleanse my face for quite some time now,however, I recently have been worrying about it. I haven’t experienced anything unusual with my skin but I worry if it is actually doing more harm than good because it is an exfoliant (even if it is a natural/gentle one) and to my knowledge exfoliating everyday is bad for the skin. So, my question is is it okay to use everyday? Is it damaging to use everyday because of the exfoliant properties? (sorry if you’ve already seen this question asked by me before, I wasn’t sure if the comment posted)
Dawn Michelle says
February 25, 2016 at 11:49 amHi Rose,
I use colloidal oatmeal which is ground extremely fine, and find oat flour to be very gentle in comparison to the exfoliant products sold in stores. Also raw honey has so many wonderful benefits for skin too. Have you noticed an improvement in your complexion overall and do you enjoy using this combo for skin care?
Lucila says
March 27, 2016 at 4:35 pmHi Dawn,
I have dry skin and my biggest problem is my pigmentations (melisma). My skin is sensitive and I have some acne problems sometimes too, here and there. Since I started my oil cleansing regimen for 2 weeks with grape seed oil my pigmentations are much worse, darker, and more spread, do you know why?
Thanks in advance
Dawn Michelle says
March 29, 2016 at 9:01 amHi Lucila,
Our skin is a reflection of what is going on inside of our body as well as being irritated by external sources. Grapeseed oil never broke me out, but it also never gave me the healing results that pumpkin seed and rosehip seed oil has given me. Maybe think about trying another oil and also definitely look into healing your skin from the inside out. I shared some information which has helped me tremendously here and here. Today I actually wrote a bit about how I’ve been eating for healing my body here. Incorporating more whole live foods in your diet can help with healing our skin. I hope this is helpful to you!
Sofia says
April 17, 2016 at 2:21 pmDawn,
I remember you mentioned you healed your acne that was caused from using oils high in oleic acid with rhassoul clay. How exactly did you do it? Did you cleanse daily? With water or honey? Did you introduce the oil cleansing with pumpkin seed too or did you wait to see if your skin calmed down?
Dawn Michelle says
April 18, 2016 at 7:19 pmHi Sofia,
I did use rhassoul clay after my oil cleansing disaster with high oleic oils. After using rhassoul clay often mixed with raw honey, I moved on to oil cleansing again this time with high linoleic oils after doing some research. I shared how I healed my acne here amd also shared this article on the possible causes of acne. I now focus on internal health and a healing lifestyle which I shared here. I hope that this is helpful to you!
Sherrie says
August 8, 2016 at 8:44 pmHey Dawn
After reading your piece on oil cleansing, I tried it, also using the pumpkin seed oil. It worked great for a year or so but, recently, it is making my face break out. Would you recommend Evening Primose oil or maybe Hemp seed oil? I’m 56 yrs, and have large pores. Any help you can give would be appreciated.
Thank You
Dawn Michelle says
August 9, 2016 at 12:54 pmHi Sherrie,
I’ve also enjoyed hemp seed oil and it would be worth a try. Also please note that acne can be caused by a number of different factors such as diet, stress levels, emotions etc. I shared more about that here, here, and here. I hope this helps!
Tayla says
August 12, 2016 at 3:40 amHi Dawn
I have dry-combination skin (it differs) acne-prone skin. I haven’t had a day without acne since I was 12. Over time my forehead has become clearer but I still deal with many red bumps, usually pussy pimples on my chin. I have only recently forced myself to resist the urge in picking at them. I only wear makeup when I’m going out maybe once a week or once a fortnight. Over the years I have tried numerous types of drugstore products with salicyic acid, and benzoyl peroxide. These products have made little to no difference, but I still use them in fear of my skin looking worse if I don’t. In the last week I noticed my skin looks very aggravated under the acne, so I decided to only cleanse my face with salicyic acid cleanser in the evening, and just use water in the morning rather than multiple prouducts twice a day. Although I tone and moisturise both morning and night. I have read your article and decided to buy organic pumpkin seed oil. I’m really hoping it will work as I have tried so many things that have just dried my skin out. For the past week I have been using Garnier Dark Spot Correctior Daily Illuminating Moisturiser alongside my Neutrogena oil free moisturiser to see if it would give my face a much needed boost. I know that the point of OCM is not to use oil-free mosturizers but the mix of my two moisturisers really improves my overall skin, just not my acne. Am I able to continue use with these two products along with use of pumpkin seed oil and a microfibre cloth?
Dawn Michelle says
August 12, 2016 at 9:40 amHi Tayla,
You may find that the pumpkin seed oil will be enough to moisturize your skin, yet slowly integrate it into your regimen while slowly eliminating the use of some of the other products that you are using. Also and most importantly, instead of searching for the perfect topical to heal your body, take time to figure out what imbalances inside your body are causing the acne in the first place. I go into more detail about that here as well as in other articles. I hope this helps you!