It has been some time since I have updated my blog, I am sorry for the lapse. Just like everyone, the holidays always seem to take everything over. But I am happy to report I am back and will try to be better with keeping this current.

So you voted, my next post is on winter remedies.  Below is what you will need:

Make sure all your oil is cold press

• Almond oil ($4.99 at local health food store)
• Castor Oil ($2 at local health food store)
• Vitamin E (bought mine at TJs for $5)
• Organic extra virgin Olive oil (This is from TJ’s I think around $7)
• Baby or Toddler tooth-brush (this is an old one from Viv, we go through them weekly so I am upcycling)

As you may know, this is our first real winter and holy smokes, the desert isn’t as drying as the air up here… My skin flipped out, I have been peeling, my lips were cracked to the point they were bleeding and my skin is beyond itchy. I bought more intensive lotion and nothing was working. I turned to google and found out about the oil cleansing method or OCM. What, clean with oil and clean your face with oil, psssh you crazy beotch! No way, wasn’t happening! My skin is beyond sensitive, I break out if you look at me the wrong way and I get a rash with 99% of the soaps that are on the market so I was skeptical to try anything other than doctor prescribed. But my skin got worse and with nothing to lose I tried it and it worked, like really worked.

For your face (OCM)

Did you know oil breaks down oil? It is true not just because the web told me, I actually called my derm and grilled her on it. Though I have been subscribed lotions, creams and washes to dry my skin out, oil in fact breaks down oil and if you suffer from acne, you most likely will have no issue with this, I haven’t broken out once! This is a girl who has spent $200 on a cream and spends over $150 a month on facial potions… Yeah, I am kind of pissed too!

Start with a cold pressed Castor oil, that will be the base and what breaks down oil. The more Castor Oil the dryer the oil is. Next you want your filler or moisturizing oil, I used Olive Oil. I have read that sunflower oil is used a lot, I didn’t want to invest a lot if it wasn’t going to work so I tried olive oil and really like it. Below is a ratio to mix your oil:

• Oily skin: 30-40% Castor Oil and 60-70% EVOO
• Normal Skin: 20% Castor Oil to 80% EVOO
• Dry Skin: 10-15% Castor Oil to 85-90% EVOO

Using a funnel, measure your oils into a clean bottle. See the one in picture, I bought it for $.50 at my grocery store. Start small to get the mixture right, I started using 2 tsp of Castor and 8 tsp of EVOO. This is the mixture I am still using, I really like it, but could probably up the EVOO on bad days.

Once you have your oil, now you get to use it! I carefully remove my eye makeup with TJs nourishing face wash (it is $5.99 and a great wash for long wearing mascara), I make sure to keep my face dry and dry my eyes after washing. Then I massage the oil into my face and neck using circular motions careful not to pull at my skin. Think facial! Work into your skin for 2 minutes and then rinse a wash cloth with HOT water. It should not be scalding, but it needs to be hot. Press the towel into your face so you get a steam action going. Then carefully wipe the oil off with the same towel. You will find there really isn’t much to wipe off and I leave mine kind of oily and just pat it with a towel. Poof baby soft skin! I cried I was so shocked! I am doing this night and day, but my skin was cracking, I would do this with normal skin every few nights. You do not need to moisturizer with this.

Added tip: If you have a zit, put a dab of tea tree oil on it, it is the best zit zapper you can find!

Next is your itchy body

After having such amazing results with the OCM, I thought I need this in the shower. I know from my experience making salt scrubs that Almond Oil is my preferred base so I started there. If you are allergic or you know you do not respond well, use Jojoba or Avocado. They are a bit pricier than Almond so keep that in mind. Below is the ratio for my suggested body oil, but feel free to mix it up for what works for you:

• 60% Almond Oil, 10% Vitamin E and 30% EVOO

Funnel oils into a clean plastic bottle, same type I used for the OCM. I filled it half way so I could make adjustments if I needed to. Then when I was satisfied I filled it up. The above is my final mixture. Right when I am about to get out of the shower I pour the oil into my hand and massage it on all of my skin, other than neck and face. I pay special attention to my legs, elbows, feet and hands. Just slightly rinse off and then dry as usual. Poof moisturized skin and NO lotion needed. I have not used lotion since starting this routine.

Pucker up baby!

I wasn’t kidding when I said my lips were bleeding, they were, it was really bad. They hurt so bad I would wake up at night just to put carmex on. After my experience with the OCM and body oil I said hmmmmm, what about my lips. I remember reading to use EVOO and sugar for a lip scrub. I have used my own tooth-brush in the past and found it is too rough and rips my lips. Of course that made me think of Viv’s tooth brush. We get her expensive natural toddler tooth brushes she just chews on and then I throw away a week later. Totally wasteful! I decided to grab one that was out the door and some oil and see what happens.  Below is my ratio:

• 50% EVOO and 50% Almond

Using a circular motion I brushed the dead skin from my lips. I was very careful as again I was bleeding. I then applied a layer of the oil onto my lips. What shocked me is that the oil disappeared. In a minute the oil was gone, I didn’t lick it, it didn’t evaporate, but it went into my lips. Something that carmex has never done… I use the oil throughout the day, I put it in a little pot and so far so good. It has been a few days and already no bleeding and no new peeling of dead skin. SUPER HAPPY!!! I plan on getting coconut oil which is solid and mixing it with EVOO and putting it in a pot to take with me as the oil is not very portable. I will update this entry when I do that.

Hope this helps you guys winterize your skin. I rarely share stuff like this because I believe that what works for some may not work for all, but I really am happy with the results so far.