If you have read any of my other posts on skin care and hair care, you will know I’m not a fan of using manufactured skin, hair or personal care products. Besides the fact that they are full of nasties, they cost an arm and leg, which I have none to spare. I have been using coconut oil on my skin for at least five years now and have never looked back. Gone are my itches, dry patches, and irritations. A new addition to my beauty regime is this Coconut Oil Cleanser, and I hope you will love it as much as I do.
If you want low maintenance, no fuss, and a feel good facial and body cleanser then look no further than this Coconut Oil Cleanser recipe. If you have coconut oil, olive oil, castor oil or almond oil on hand, they will all do the job, and you can make it as simple as you like or add in other oils or essential oils for that special touch.
Coconut Oil Face Cleanser
How does oil work in the cleansing process, you ask?
Oils clean dirt – when using oils on your face or body, Â they draw the dirt and impurities out of your pores. Coconut oil also acts as an exfoliant and sloughs away any dead skin cells. Coconut oil is more astringent, making it a perfect oil for exfoliation and scrubs. It also removes that second step of having to apply an astringent as the oil acts as a two in one application. Not only is it perfect for taking off make-up it can replace your regular cleanser in the morning or evening and leave your skin feeling soft and nourished.
The simplest recipe for an oil cleanser is:
- Coconut oil – whipped or not
- Wash Cloth
- Hot tap water
- Take a small amount of coconut oil (about one teaspoon) and rub over your face, massaging into areas around your nose and chin and forehead.
- Grab your wash cloth and soak with hot tap water. (You need the water to be quite warm, but not that hot that you will burn yourself).
- Squeeze your wash cloth out and lay over your face for a few minutes and let the steam do its job.
- Repeat step 3 once or twice more.
- Your skin should feel soft and refreshed with just a fine layer of oil left.
- Leave the oily layer on as this will provide wonderful moisture. If you skin is mature and a bit dryer, you can always add a little more oil before bed time.
- See below for the recipe.
Note on Oil Cleansing: Your skin may experience a slight breakout initially, due to the oil drawing out the impurities and deep rooted dirt in the pores. The breakout may last for a week, for some, it might be a bit longer, but it will ease and within a month you should notice the change in your skin.
Note on Acne: This is a tricky subject as I sit on the fence about whether it works or not. From different searches etc. on the internet, it would seem that a lot of folks have had success with acne and oil cleansing. However, my daughter is not one of them. Coconut oil appeared to make her breakouts worse and not within a range of time that you could say it was doing the job of detoxing the skin. So while I have read of folk having success, I’m not sure if I would recommend it for teenage skin. The best suggestion is to give it a go and see if it works for you or not. The steam treatment is important, though, don’t rush through this process as the steam contributes a lot in opening those pores so the oil can do its job. If you have acne and decide to give it a go, I would love to hear from you, please.
New Update: Â While my daughter did not have success with coconut oil, my son has. He has been using it on breakouts on his shoulders and upper back with much success. The trick is to use a small quantity, 1/8 of a teaspoon to begin. You can add more if your skin doesn’t react.
Coconut Oil for Body Cleansing
Finding a body wash that is free of sulfates, alcohol, and synthetic binders is almost impossible and paying for them when you find one is beyond comprehension. You can make a body wash using coconut oil, Castile soap, some raw honey (high in fructose, but does wonders for your skin) and essential oils. See recipe below.
Coconut Oil For Mouth Cleansing
I have written quite a bit on coconut oil pulling as a form of mouth cleansing and as an aid to healing your body. It’s a simple step in your daily routine that could save you thousands of dollars in the long term for dental problems but also for eradicating toxins and viruses from your body that contribute to skin problems, gut problems and inflammation. If your skin is causing you problems, consider oil pulling as an option along with the other external cleansing recipes. Your teeth will thank you as well as your gums. According to studies our mouths have more bacteria in them than a is found on our toilet seats! Do yourself and your mouth a favour today and try oil pulling – you may be pleasantly surprised.
Coconut Oil Cleanser Recipe
Easy and cost effective solution for removing make-up and everyday face cleanser. It also makes the perfect gift for someone special.
- 1/4 cup coconut oil or olive oil
- 1/4 cup castor oil or hazelnut oil (if your skin is very dry then use less castor oil)
- Optional:
- 10-15 drops essential oils – grapefruit (lemon, orange (do not use near eye area))
- You can choose to whip your oils or not.
- In a small bowl, place your coconut oil and whip using either beaters or an emulsion blender until soft peaks form.
- Slowly drizzle your the castor oil/hazelnut oil as you continue to blend.
- Add in essential oils if using.
- Store your cleanser in a jar with a lid.
- Should last up to 6 months.
Coconut Oil Body Cleanser Recipe
An easy to make Body Wash that’s great for your skin as well as your bank account.
- 1/4 cup Coconut oil – melted (you could also use olive oil, jojoba, or almond oil)
- 1/4 cup raw honey
- 1/2 cup Castile soap
- 15-20 drops Essential oils – orange (lemon, lavender (whatever smells you like))
- Melt your coconut oil and add it to the honey and essential oils.
- Stir to combine.
- Gently add the Castile soap and stir carefully so as not to create too many suds.
- Transfer to a squirt bottle or pump dispenser.
- To use in the shower:
- Shake before each use.
- Squirt or squeeze a small amount onto a wash cloth, puff or gloves.
How about you? Do you use oil cleansers? What oils do you use? Leave me a comment or ask a question.
