I honestly never thought that the balance of linoleic acid to oleic acid in carrier oils would be one of the major components to healing and balancing my acne prone skin. I used to spend over $100 a month on all natural skin care products, and I was always looking for the next best product or routine to create consistent clear results. At the time I was using exfoliants, “gentle” acid peels, expensive blemish serums, facial brushes, and the marketed skin care regimen of cleanse, tone, moisturize, treat, and protect. This regimen needed five different products, was time consuming, and extremely costly.
My skin had good days, then bad days which would come with a major setback of scars from each breakout that lasted much longer than the “good skin” days. I also wore foundation and concealer daily to hide the imperfections and scars that resulted on this elaborate skin care regimen. Regardless of using natural makeup, I didn’t enjoy feeling dependent on makeup to look and feel presentable.
This lasted for years with inconsistent positive and negative results. When I finally embarked upon simple DIY skin care which I share throughout Minimalist Beauty, I still had not learned about oils high in linoleic acid for acne prone skin. I did have some improvement using simple DIY skin care, yet nothing compared to the improvement I have seen over this past year using only oils high in linoleic acid.
My Journey with High Linoleic Oils
After learning about oils high in linoleic acid, I decided to omit using ALL beauty products with oils and butters high in oleic acid and ONLY use products and ingredients with oils high in linoleic acid. I felt that this would be the best way to fully know if this was scientific nonsense or truthful. You can read about oils high in linoleic acid in this article.
In essence high linoleic acid softens and dislodges hard sebum in the skin which would create acne and clogged pores. Most acne prone skin is deficient in linoleic acid. Using oils high in linoleic acid creates the needed balance for healthy acne prone skin.
After over a year of only using oils high linoleic acid exclusively for my face, hair, and body, I have watched my skin continue to improve while also needing to do less to maintain my skin’s progress. At first I was oil cleansing twice a day with an oil high in linoleic acid using a microfiber cloth. Later on I was only oil cleansing in the evenings and rinsing with water in the morning then moisturizing. Now I oil cleanse every other evening or as needed then moisturize, and I use a cotton pad with distilled water to cleanse my face then moisturizing with a high linoleic oil in between full oil cleansing sessions. I share the details of how I oil cleanse here.
Although I have tried different high linoleic oils with good results, organic pumpkin seed oil is what I use to cleanse and moisturize with, and I am never without it. I also love organic rosehip seed oil as a moisturizer which I wrote about here. Rosehip seed oil is high in linoleic acid and although not considered good for acne prone skin, no one really discusses the oleic/linoleic acid balance needed for acne prone skin.
Simple Skin Care & Makeup-Free Envy
I used to envy anyone who only washed their face with water and had clear skin thinking they were the lucky ones with good genes. I also envied women who looked beautiful without makeup, never wore it, and the freedom that they had because of it. All of these negative emotions definitely didn’t help my skin, nor did it make me feel better about myself. I just had much more to learn about my health and healing my skin.
The reason why some can only wash their face with water is because the acid mantle of their skin is intact and functioning in a healthy way. Our skin has the ability to heal and balance itself under the right conditions. Many commercial cleansers, toners, peels, and exfoliants disrupt this natural balance of the skin’s acid mantle, therefore needing other products to create a false sense of balance for your skin. Products geared towards acne prone skin are usually the harshest creating more damage than good. Your skin also becomes extremely dependent upon these products to maintain its appearance if it is even working at all. Improper pH balance in commercial and even natural products and ingredients can also create skin imbalances in the skin’s acid mantle.
The Healing Process
It has taken me over a year to fully heal my skin’s acid mantle so that I could wean myself off of oil cleansing twice a day to once every two days or so and to feel comfortable not wearing makeup. I used a organic colorless BB cream (now discontinued) for a few years now, and when I desire a more polished look its light reflecting minerals give the skin a beautiful finish.
I feel that foundation specifically is kind of misleading because although it visually perfects your skin, it also creates an unhealthy dependency where your skin does not look good without it. That’s a whole new article though. Restoring the skin’s acid mantle to a heathy state while weaning yourself off of extensive skin care and tons of makeup is completely possible if that is something you would like to do. Your skin has the incredible ability to heal and balance itself. It just takes time and knowledge.
Having consistently clear healthy skin was something that was extremely important to me, so I took on the exclusive high linoleic journey and feel like I have finally come full circle. I did notice somewhat immediate results using only high linoleic oils in my beauty regimen, yet it still took time to allow my skin to heal and it still is improving. It doesn’t happen overnight. You can read how I cleared my acne and acne scars as it wasn’t just using oils high linoleic acid that did it alone.
What has been your long term experience with oils high in linoleic acid for those who have been trying this with me?
Update… Organic Skin Care by Minimalist Beauty ~ i am AZUHA ~ Created With Oils High in Linoleic Acid
(Image by Dawn Michelle)
Pegah says
Dawn Michelle,
So it’s only been 5 days but my skin has improved DRASTICALLY! I set aside my countless creams, scrubs, and serums and all I’ve been doing is cleansing with pumpkin seed oil and the washcloths. It has made a world of difference already, my nose is almost completely healed, and the rest of my skin glows and is so even and supple! Even the pesky little zits I would get here and there aren’t popping up anymore!
Thank you SO much for your wisdom, I can’t believe it took me so long to find the answer in the simplest of ways. You would think derms or aestheticians would have explained the acid ratios or recommended holistic solutions before bombarding people with acid peels and synthetic serums, but consumerism prevails. I’m just glad there’s people like you saving people like me from wasting money, time, and energy grieving over our skin! All my friends will be hearing about this and where I saw it, THANK YOU!!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Pegah,
I’m so glad you are already seeing such a vast improvement in your skin! Thank you so much for sharing this! <3
Scarlett says
Hi Dawn! So I checked out my favorite mineral sunscreen and its full of coconut oil derivatives. Bummer. Its already hard enough to find one that doesn’t make my face super greasy. I’m a very fair skinned Caucasian with already visible sun damage that I don’t want to exacerbated. Have you found a sunscreen that works successfully with your skin?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Scarlett,
I share a bunch of natural sunscreen options here. In general I no longer wear sunscreen daily. When I do wear sunscreen it is the Badger’s brand. Best wishes!
stacie says
Dawn, what about consuming oils that are oleic vs linoleic? I love all things coconut. I put coconut or palm seed oil in my coffee (organic/raw of course) Any thoughts or experience around the kind of oils we put IN our body and not just ON?!? Also, the pumpkin seed oil you use seems to be also marketed for cooking. So, can I go to my local co-op and go to the cooking oil section for pumpkin seed oil? I’m finding grapeseed oil a little too…..thick. Thanks so much for sharing your skin history/research/results. P.s – Also had an amazing experience after adding the affirmation on money spending to my wallet. Endless abundance! (heart)
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Stacie,
I still consume coconut oil etc. without any problem with my skin. It is important to be aware of how certain foods do affect you though. I’m also glad that the affirmation was helpful to you. <3
Anu says
Hi Michelle,
Love Love love your blog. I have placed a huge order for oils, butters etc. Can’t wait to experiment.
I have a question regarding oil cleansing. I usually take bath after I come home from work in the evening and usually I don’t go out once I am bathed. I remove all my make up using home made coconut oil (I will switch to Jojoba or Castor as soon as I get my order). Then I will wash my face while in the bath with a commercial grade face wash in shower.
If I start with the oil cleansing method, do I not have to wash my face with face wash or OCM is enough? I use heavy make up during the day (primer, foundation, powder, eyeliner, eyebrow pencil and lipstick). Will it remove all the traces of make up?
should I still use a face wash after oil cleansing? Do you have a face wash recipe? mine is combination skin, more on the drier side.
Thanks and God bless!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Anu,
I use oil cleansing with a soft microfiber cloth to remove even heavy stage makeup or makeup after being on set. If I feel like I need another cleanse I will use raw honey. You can find some other simple and natural facial cleanser options here. I hope this helps and thank you so much for the compliment!
Jill says
I’ve tried many oils and just about every natural product on my skin and internally. Pumpkin seed oil was the missing link!! Thanks so much!!! Also of course …. eating healthy and having cold pressed oils but not too many fats. All about balance! My acne is almost all gone after just 2 weeks! I’ve also been taking neem herbal pills and are magic!!!! Xo
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Jill,
This is great news! Thanks so much for sharing this and best wishes with everything!
Laura says
I read your linoleic oils post a while back and switched to linoleic-based oils after tragedy with coconut and sweet almond (now I know why!). The effect was almost immediate and people stopped thinking I was mad for smearing oil on my face when I clearly had acne. I now use hemp seed oil (grape seed was great, but then became too drying) with a drop of lavender to oil cleanse every couple of days. I moisturise with a drop of hemp seed oil. But yes, a massive thank you to writing about linoleic oils. It was a major game changer for me. Thank you thank you thank you!
My hormonal acne is better. Not fully eliminated, but miles better. I struggle to find a natural sunscreen with zinc that doesn’t cause some break outs. They all seem to contain some coconut oil or jojoba. I found one with a grape seed oil base but they don’t ship to the UK. I’m currently using Suntegrity’s tinted BB spf 30 sunscreen. But I have suspicions that it clogs my jaws line a bit. I’m looking into Badger sunscreens.
I avoid caffeine as much as I can because this just does not agree with my skin. I eat a healthy diet generally. I’m trying to avoid refined sugars and alcohol, but that’s harder. I steam my face once or twice a week – this helps a great deal, especially if done before a good night’s sleep. Green clay is helping heal my skin.
I’ve found my old salicylic acid based face mask tends to just totally dry out my skin now and makes my spots look more red and raw. I used to not be able to live without this, but now I can totally go without it. I guess that’s a good sign right? I sometimes just dab it on spots, but avoid using it all over my face.
Your blog is fab and you’re beautiful.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Laura,
I somehow missed your comment because it oddly went to my comment spam folder. Thank you so much for sharing your journey to heal your skin and it is wonderful that you are finally learning to listen to your skin’s need and enjoy a more gentle and simple approach to skin care. Thanks for the compliment too. Wishing you the best always!
John says
I really love this site and your approach to skincare and life in general.
I’ve suffered from oily skin and terrible issues for years, and moving onto oils has helped loads in the last few years. I’m in high linoleic acid oils now and am hopeful for more improvements!
Thanks for everything!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi John,
Thanks so much and wishing you the best! Keep us posted on your progress!
Lynette says
What did you use for sun protection during this time? After reading your blog, I have also started using just unrefined passipasfruit oil (77% linoleic acid). I use it to cleanse and moisturize. My skin looks amazing. I am also using glycolic acid 14% pads every other night for the scars. I am trying different sunscreens. I Think the dermalogica solar boost and MD solar science mineral creme are great.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Lynette,
I prefer zinc oxide based sunscreens and I shared the ones I use and love here as well as a few others. I hope this helps and best wishes!
Jessenia R. says
Good day,
(I wish I can call you and talk lol )
I came across your website, I honestly dont rememeber any else but just typing in oils. And i was interested when I seen so many natural remidies. I am 22 years old with two beautiful healthy babies. I eat natural foods and try to make everything homemade, but being super busy with my daily schedule I started to give up on finding why I have so many black heads. I never had as much as I do after using makeup I tried so many thing even Tata harper which is super expensive and worker by not causing so may clogged pores but still hasnt satified me. I seen your face routine. For someone with CLOGGED PORES to the max do you thnk I should purchuse these products.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Jessenia R.,
Look at the ingredients of the makeup you are using. Here is a list of toxic ingredients that I personally avoid. Makeup is kind of catch 22 in that it is supposed to make your skin look better but it actually makes your natural complexion often look worse. You can see how I initially cleared my skin here and more info on what will help you clear your skin here, here, here, and here. If you have specifically hormonal acne than this supplement may be helpful to you since it was for me. Hormonal imbalance, stress, diet, water intake, gut health, and simple skin care all have an effect on the appearance of our skin. I hope that this information is helpful to you. And no I don’t think you need expensive products to get the results you are looking for. Clear skin is actually an inside job anyway. Be patient with your healing process.
Marty says
Hi Dawn,
I love your articles and find inspiration from them whenever I reread them. Your blog has really prompted me to start exploring natural, minimalist skin care, and it has been an interesting journey for me.
I used to have really “oily” skin in high school that was shiny, with the occasional large break out here or there that I would pick at. I had a lot of scarring by the time I was 18, and I found a lot of help from using acid peels and glycolic masks. However, this created other problems that now I am having to pay for, such as skin sensitivity, dryness, and inability to soak up moisture.
Switching over to natural skin care has revealed to me the true nature of my skin (not oily, but sensitive) and the situation gets better every month. I still can’t use oils as an overall moisturizer (doesn’t seem to absorb/created cysts along my jaw, no matter which oil I use) or cleanser, but I do use a mild soap and rose water, along with a natural moisturizing balm for very dry patches of skin. My skin is already consistently better looking!
I hope that soon I will be able to use an oil for my skin, but I know that this is a transition process and I am enjoying seeing my skin improve, bit by bit!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Marty,
I really appreciate your comment. I’m also glad you are enjoying my blog. Having patience while your skin improves is wonderful. I didn’t make the transition to simple skin care that quickly either. It does take time for your skin to adjust. It’s great that you are already seeing progress! Best wishes!
Shawn says
Hi, I just stumbled upon your blog while researching the OCM. I am a 36 year old male who still gets breakouts. My skin is combination, and it’s very frustrating. I have a question about cleansing with Pumpkin Seed Oil. Do you put it on a dry face or wet face? How long do you massage it in? Is it ok to leave on the face to soak in for a while?
I understand you use a microfiber cloth under hot water a couple of times to rinse off the oil. Is that it?
Thanks for your help.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Shawn,
I apply the oil to dry skin and massage in. I then place a warm to hot wet microfiber cloth on my face for maybe 30 seconds before gently removing the oil. I may rise the cloth again and repeat. You can read more about this in detail here. It is really simple. I actually prefer everything that way! Let me know how things work out for you and best wishes!
Marty says
I think I might have finally found an oil that works!
Rosehip oil and Pumpkinseed oil left my skin feeling very itchy, and jojoba and almond oil would cause me to break out, even though my skin would be really soft. I finally found some Evening Primrose capsules and my grocery store — freakin’ AMAZING!
Somehow, the oil dries up my patches of acne, while still moisturizing my skin and not leaving it shiny. I’ve been using it day and night and the difference is incredible. I’m so glad I took the plunge!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Marty,
I’m so glad you found what worked best for you! I appreciate you sharing this as well. Have a beautiful day!
Sky says
Hi, do you still use Evening Primrose capsules and if so, what the brand and exact name?
Julia says
How do you use linoleic acid oils in your hair?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Julia,
I have mainly been using grapeseed oil recently for my hair and adding it to my DIY hair gel. I don’t use olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, etc. for my hair because they are all high in oleic acid which can cause breakouts for acne prone skin. Hope this explains it. Have a great day!
Hala Marina says
I love your way to natural skin care! You have really provided me with some insight! I will be sure to feature your blog on my website when I add some more to my “Tips and Tricks” section.
Love your work!
Hala- XO
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Hala,
Thank you so much! Have a wonderful holiday season and best wishes with everything!
Melissa says
Hi, I am curious – you said it took you one year to finally get your skin in balance. Is that from the start of you using pumpkin seed oil? Or was that your “complete” journey, including when you were using other oils? I just started using pumpkin oil 3 days ago after disastrous results with olive and coconut oils at the suggestion of my friends. I found your blog and I really hope this works for me. I am 32 and also a professional dancer (hula hoop dance, http://www.hoopgrace.com), and a musician, so my appearance is important on stage and I hate using makeup because it makes me break out. Any additional advice you can give would be awesome (via email), thanks! ~ Melissa
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Melissa,
How long it takes for your skin to heal will vary depending upon your current health in general. Our skin is showing imbalances inside of our body usually relating to gut health. Acne can also be a cause of our emotions. You want to look at healing your skin from a multifaceted approach and be aware of the imbalances that you can easily control through life changes. You can find more related articles on this here. I hope this helps some!
ML says
Hi Dawn! Thank you so much for all of the information. What brand of pumpkin seed oil do you use? Also, I’ve tried oil cleansing in the past and had some bad breakouts. I’m excited to try again, but also nervous. Do you think it would be okay to “ease” into it by trying just a couple of times a week? Or do you suggest jumping right in?
Thanks for your help!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi ML,
I try to do bulk orders of all my organic ingredients including pumpkin seed oil from Mountain Rose Herbs, but am looking to also find some local options. I also had an awful time oil cleansing until I learned about high linoleic acid versus oleic acid in carrier oils. I wrote about that and included a link to scientific research in this article. In the beginning I oil cleansed morning and night using a microfiber cloth. Then I only oil cleansed in the evening and washed my face with only water in the morning. Later I oil cleansed less as described in this article. Now I’m back to oil cleansing only in the evening. It is important to pay attention to how your skin responds to something and decide from there. Hope this helps some!
Paradise says
How long did take for your face to clear up using high linoleic oils
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Paradise,
I noticed major improvement in about two weeks, yet it is also so important to work on healing digestive issues, eating a whole foods diet, exercise, water intake etc. I give more details on all of this here. Best wishes!
jessica says
Hi Dawn,
I just want to say your blog is really inspiring. I’ve been battling acne for quite some time, trying many products, antibiotics, holistic treatments and it’s been a roller coaster of ups and downs for my skin.
Your post about high linoleic acid oils is very interesting as I have been trying a combination of argan oil, rose hip, castor, jojoba and tamanu on my skin with mixed results. I’ve been using rosehip and grapeseed oil only recently and the texture of my skin and acne seems to be getting slightly better. I also use tamanu oil as spot treatments. I usually have cystic acne but recently it’s less painful and is gone after a few days.
Many thanks for sharing your knowledge! Look forward to hearing more from you!
Cheers, Jessica
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Jessica,
I always suggest trying one carrier oil at a time to ensure that your skin responds well to it. Argan and tamanu oil are both high in oleic acid. I eliminated all high oleic oils when I was testing this theory. It made a HUGE difference. I’m glad this info has been helpful to you. Happy New Yesr!
Jaime says
I’ve used this information to great success in my own personal journey towards naturally clearer skin. Though I’m still on that journey to finding the right formula, I’ve really appreciated your honest reviews and insightful input. I am writing to let you know that quite a few links in this post and the one on oil-cleansing no longer work, specifically the ones linking to products. It is easy enough to find those products with a simple search, but I would prefer to support you by going through your own links. Just a general FYI. Thanks again!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Jaime,
I’m so glad this info has been so helpful to you. Also I did check the links in this article to make sure the article and product links were ok and they are all good. Best wishes as you continue your healing journey!
Anonymous says
Since middle school, I’ve had pretty bad acne on my face, back, and chest (I’m 22 now). In high school, I was using typical commercial acne products with salicylic acid and the like, and my doctor prescribed me several medicated creams that did nothing but dry my already-dry skin out. Next, she put me on birth control, which did end up clearing my skin for the most part. After about 2 years on the pill, my body started feeling horrible and I could tell that the birth control was not working for my body. I decided to go off of it, and my skin was absolutely horrible after that. After getting off the hormonal birth control, I started looking into more natural skincare options and experimented with some things before I found hemp seed oil. I decided to buy a bottle of this because it has a comodegonic rating of 0 and has incredible skin restoring properties. After using it (via oil cleansing method) for about a month, my skin did a 360. It was hydrated, soft, looked dewy, and my breakouts were lessening. It’s been about a year and a half since I started using ONLY hemp seed oil on my face, as well as mixing some lavender essential oil in, and my skin looks amazing compared to how it used to. I still get occasional hormonal breakouts, but I spot treat with diluted lavender oil which works wonders. I also take hemp pills 3x a day, and I don’t think I will ever stop using hemp oil on my skin. For anyone that is struggling with acne like I was, give it a try! Do your own research, hemp is truly an incredible oil with so so so many great benefits for our skin, hair, and entire body.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Anonymous,
Thank you so much for sharing this! I am beyond thrilled that hemp seed oil has worked so well for you!
Jasmin says
Update:
To Linda: Thanks for the heads up! Although I can say that 6 weeks of using Life Flo safflower oil, it’s not the one breaking me out. I will also try to give rosehip seed oil another chance. (but not as a moisturizer)
Through trial and error, I discovered that the elements breaking me out are: cow’s milk (drank 2 cups one night and woke up the next day with 5 pimples and the biggest and first blind pimple on my cheek), dirty or not properly cleaned microfibre cloth (now I clean it every 4-5 days with baking soda and my regular detergent with warm water, making sure that no baking soda nor detergent is left on the cloth), my sea salt spray…… (or every time my skin gets rubbed while sea salt is on my face), tea tree oil and salicylic acid products (huh??), and my long-wear foundation (specifically Estee Lauder Double Wear – but my lightweight foundations were okay).
Now I only massage safflower oil on my face for 30 seconds – 2 minutes, then wipe off using the cloth soaked in warm water with a firm circular motion (kinda got that idea from those expensive cleansing brushes going around). Gentle wiping wasn’t enough to completely remove oil and dirt from my face. If I’m wearing make up, I wash the oil off with african black soap first before using the cloth. Then I replaced my sea salt spray with Heritage Rose water.
and…. that’s it…… 2 weeks in with this new regimen and my acne dried out within 1- 4 days (depending on how big the pimple is).
Too early to say anything about hyperpigmentation. But I can say that my scars are definitely not as red anymore.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Jasmin,
Thanks so much for sharing this update and I am so glad that you are seeing improvement. I also wash my microfiber cloth after every use, change out my cloths every 2-3 days, and launder them at the end of the week with the rest of my laundry. 😉
Laurel says
Hi Dawn Michelle,
I’ve been using the pumpkin seed oil since November, after reading your blog, and have had the most incredible results. My acne has cleared dramatically, but still dealing with hyperpigmentation. I’ve incorporated many others that you’ve written on – tamanu oil is gorgeous, rosehip seed oil actually made me break out. But, I’ve also recently started using carrot seed oil as a moisturizer. I’ve read that it is also a sun protectant. Do you know if this is true? If so, is it enough for an oil to protect my skin from the sun?
Thanks!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Laurel,
I’m so glad you’ve had such amazing results with pumpkin seed oil. As for sun protection, I have a new perspective after learning that those with a lot of melanin in their skin can take 2-6 times longer to receive enough vitamin D from the sun. I’ve actually stopped wearing sunscreens in general because of it.
On another note I have shared some of my favorite zinc oxide based sunscreens here. I am honestly not sure how carrot seed oil would protect the skin. Everyone has a different amount of sun that their skin can tolerate in general. Hope this helps!
Betty Miller says
Thank you for your great article on the oils for acne. I make a goat milk acne soap bar that is having great reviews and am planning on making acne stick to go along with it. I can’t wait to incorporate your oil idea.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Betty Miller,
This info has been so helpful for me and I hope that it continues to help others. Best wishes with your business and have a great weekend!
MarrT says
Hi! I am new to your blog and LOVING it. Thank you so much for sharing your journey. My questions are: I have ordered evening primrose oil and was wondering if you think I can start my oil cleansing journey with this oil?
Did you use a different microbfibre cloth every time you washed your face?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi MarrT,
Welcome and I’m so glad you found my blog! Yes you can use evening primrose oil for oil cleansing. Also I shared in detail how I used to oil cleanse here. When I was oil cleansing I would hand wash my microfiber cloth with soap and water after each use and use it a few times before swapping it out for a new cloth. I shared some more about using microfiber cloths here. I hope this helps!
Kathy says
I have been struggling with acne prone combination skin for years. I started incorporating rosehip seed oil into my routine about 8 months ago. I add a few drops to my regular moisturizer in the morning and evening. I also pat it under my eyes before bed. This oil has changed my life!!! My skin is much more balanced, less oily, and the clearest it has been in over 15 years! I’ve simplified my skincare routine and also saved money in the process. I recommend rosehip seed oil to everyone I know.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Kathy,
This is awesome! Thanks so much for sharing this and I’m thrilled rosehip seed oil has been so helpful to you. Best wishes with everything!
Annie says
Hi,
How do you know when the acid mantle on your facial skin is restored/intact? How do you know when it’s not functioning properly? Just came across your blog and really loving the information, so glad I found you.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Anne,
My experience with healing my skin’s acid mantle is that my skin is no longer dependent upon my skin care regimen to be healthy, yet my skin care aids as a booster instead of a crutch. So if I skip my regimen for awhile my skin can maintain itself with water only.
Bobbi Small says
Girl, you are my new Shero! I am 53 years old, today’s my B-Day, lol and I started on this same path about a year ago starting with washing my hair with water only and using (now I know it was wrong) castor oil to moisturize, my skin is a nightmare, my scalp and forehead felt perpetually dry and became dandruff prone, OK. Then 3 months ago I started using Jojoba & Sweet Almond oil as the conditioning moisturizer, my hair grows like a freaking weed but my face is still an issue. So I started oil cleansing my face with the Japanese Oil Cleanser with rice water method (my skin became inflamed and actually HURT). So two weeks ago I started with Jojoba Oil Cleansing my face with water only and using textured cotton rounds as my exfoliation and microfiber towel to blot my face. Things are looking up for me and your list is a godsend to address my problems. All I can say is, “All Hail the Minimalist!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Bobbi,
Happy belated birthday! I’m flattered and I’m also glad that you found something that works for you. Simple is best. There are times where I have to check myself for doing the most too. Have a great day!
Carla says
Heya! The link to the BB cream isn’t working; Can you tell me what it is?
Thanks! Love this blog, BTW! I refer to it all the time!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Carla,
It’s the Vapour Organic Beauty Stratus Instant Skin Perfector. Thanks for the compliment too!
Anonymous says
Hi Dawn!
I’m a few years late, but I just came across your article and it has inspired me so much. Your skin is beautiful! I have been searching for a natural, simple and successful skincare routine for my acne prone skin. I’m hoping that oil cleansing with pumpkin seed oil will work wonders for me as well!
Just curious – what brand of organic pumpkin seed oil do you use? And is your skincare routine still the same?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Anonymous,
It is best to use organic and unrefined pumpkin seed oil. Also my skin care regimen is different now as I have created my own 100% organic skin care line. I released the moisturizing elixir a few months ago and will be releasing the cleanser very very soon! You can check it out the line here. I also wrote about it here and here. Best wishes and I’m so glad you found my blog!
Andie says
I know this is an older post but I just had to write to you to thank you. The information in this post has been a godsend for me. It’s been over a year since I read this post but you were bang on about the linoleic acids being helpful to balance acne prone skin. Thank you thank you thank you! <3 Much love from Canada
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Andie,
Thanks so much for sharing this! This info has been a huge game changer in my life in every way. I’m so glad it has been helpful to you too!
Tricia says
Hi there!
I’ve followed your blog for a long time and have many similar passions. I’ve got a similar story but recently spent hundreds of dollars on new Marie Veronique skincare and my skin is just worse. Anyways, what is your take on sunscreen? I’m curious. Do you use zinc for spf? I’d add something like carrot seed oil to your oil?
Tricia says
I meant to say do you add protective oils like carrot seed?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Tricia,
I shared some awesome sunscreen options here if you are interested. Red raspberry seed oil which is in my organic skin care line helps with skin protection and can easily layer under sunscreen as well.
Audrey says
Hi Dawn! I know I’m a few years late to the party but I just wanna thank you for this post. I’ve been struggling with seriously oily skin since my late teens-early 20’s and I’ve tried everything. I had really bad reactions to prescription medications – everything from creams that made me extremely sensitive to the sun resulting in sun poisoning, to pills that made me vomit, to irritation due to a high concentration of alcohol… I could go on.
So over the past few months I’ve been learning more about natural remedies and although I’m not quite where I want to be, my skin is already so much better. Now I’m just trying to find the right oil for me and after reading your post I think I finally understand the difference between oleic and linoleic acids and what my skin needs. All the information available online was really overwhelming and this post made it so much easier to understand. Hopefully now I can stop wasting my money on the crap that doesn’t work
Thank you again!!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Audrey,
Thank you so much for sharing this! I’m so glad this information has been helpful to you. Best wishes always!
Faith says
Thank you, Dawn. Your post offers the most precise and precious advice to me (who is very new to oil cleansing) among the many I read online. Please allow me to sidetrack; I read in this article regarding Organic BB cream, I just checked it out and it did not offer any sun protection. Wonder if you have any such product that has sun protection to recommend me please? I am all for minimal routine to skin care and currently I only use a very light texture Korean brand bb cream that has sun protection. No other make-up on face.
Thank You.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Faith,
I’m so glad that this info has been helpful to you. You can find recommended sunscreens in this article. Best wishes!
Aziza says
Hi Dawn! Thank you so much for sharing your journey with the world. Your dedication is inspiring. I’m so grateful I stumbled upon your page!
I’ve had a similar skin journey and tried OCM in the past unsuccessfully (not having any knowledge on oleic vs linoleic oils). The past two years have been and a rollercoaster journey for me with my skin and I recently decided that I’m going to give the OCM another shot.
Right now I’m using hemp seed and started incorporating rosehip oil this week. I’ve also ordered organic/cold pressed pumpkin and safflower seed oil from the site you’ve linked on your blog (thank you!)…so, just waiting for those to arrive.
Did you experience a purging phase while using pumpkin/hemp/rosehip oil at all? How long did it take for your skin to adjust to OCM? Do you happen to know the difference between skin reacting to an oil vs adjusting to it?
Look forward to hearing from you! Thanks again for holding space for so many on us 🙂
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Aziza,
Thank you for your kind words. My skin purged when using castor oil, but I did not have any issues with hemp, pumpkin, or safflower. Everyone is different though so I always suggest using one oil at a time to see which works best for you. Also my focus has always been achieving health form the inside out. What you eat is the most important factor when desiring beautiful skin. I shared more here. I hope this helps.
Kate says
I love hearing your story! This article is personal and yet informative. Thanks for sharing!
It’s amazing how far skin care has come since I was dealing with acne (20 years ago, lol).
Dawn Michelle says
Thanks Kate! Yes skin care has come a long way. I find the simpler it is the better. I’m glad you found this helpful.