Make Your Own Oil Cleanser

If you read my post on making your own tallow cream, you know I’m a believer in making your own quality skincare at home. There is no reason to spend the incredible amounts of money it costs for good skincare. As an esthetician, products that are both clean and actually work are equal in value to me. I’m not willing to compromise on either one.

Oil…cleaning?

I stumbled upon the concept of oil cleansing in the strangest of ways! While I was training to become an esthetician, I would clean my boss’ house. The woman loved to fry her food, and her cabinets were the bane of my existence. I was getting harsher and harsher in my cleaning products, trying to find something that would cut the grease, but nothing eased my good ol’ fashioned elbow grease. There was a cupboard a little further out from the spray zone, so I just used my dusting solution on it. To my amazement, the little bits of grease splatter started wiping off! I took the dusting oil to the rest of the cupboards and, though it worked better than the harsh cleansers, it wasn’t quite cutting it. I eyed grape-clustered jar of olive oil, and the rest is history! The grime completely dissolved with the oil. Once the grease was one with the oil, I would spray a cleanser on, then wipe it all away. You didn’t know you were getting a cleaning tip today, did you?!

I trusted this new-found information with my hair in 2009 when I read this book. I stopped washing my hair with shampoo and only conditioned it. Surprise, surprise, it worked! My hair is less oily than it was with shampoo, and the texture even softened over time. So of course, once I started hearing about oil cleansers for the face being a thing, you know I jumped on it! I tried Primally Pure first, and loved it. However, not long after, they changed their formula and I was disappointed with the new product!

Of course I took to making it myself.

Castor Oil:

I call mine the 3 in 1 Oil Cleanser, because in using castor oil, we get so many more benefits than a GREAT facial cleanser. Its high content of ricinoleic acid makes it a major anti-inflammatory, and is also non-comedogenic, making it a great choice for people suffering with acne. It is highly nourishing and moisturizing, which is so important for suffering skin.

In addition to all of that, castor oil is the primary ingredient in most natural eyelash serums. Studies have found it reduces male pattern baldness, and possibly helps it grow back. With that, people have taken to believing it helps with other hair growth too. My lashes are thin, but I often get compliments on their length, and I attribute it to my oil cleanser!

Its third benefit is for health issues. Women have raved about their periods easing up and fertility improving when they regularly apply castor oil to their lower stomach. It is quite sticky and messy to deal with as straight castor oil, so I like to take a few drops of my oil cleanser and rub it on my stomach when I’m feeling the effects of my cycle. It’s also handy to have in a diluted solution for congestion in chests during a cold. For so many reasons, I am a huge fan of castor oil!

Avocado Oil:

The main ingredient in this oil cleanser is probably a staple kitchen in your kitchen. Who knew how beneficial avocado oil is for skin!? Whenever I’m using it in the kitchen and get some on my hands, I’m always sure to rub it into my arms. If you’ve read Esperanza Rising, the nourishing affects of avocados are no surprise to you! I loved hearing how when her hands were super chapped, she had them wrapped in avocados to heal them quickly. The benefits of avocado oil for our skin is not new information!

Jojoba Oil:

Next up is jojoba oil, which is yet another gift God has provided us in nature. It grows here in the Sonoran Desert! How amazing that the most beneficial treatments for skin grow in places where the sun beats down year round and the skin in those places needs a little extra tlc!

Essential Oils:

Lastly, our good buddy, Essential Oils, go in. With most of my homemade skincare products, I start at 30 drops. I’m sure if you use oils, you have your favorites for your skin. If you’re able to splurge on oils like rose, helichrysm or melissa, go for it! I’ve been using oils for 19 years and have yet to spring for any of those. But I do use frankincense because it is so highly touted as an anti-cancer. That, as well as lavender, geranium, and blue tansy are all my go-to’s for skin related issues.

I know it sounds intimidating to be ‘someone who makes your own cleanser.’ But there is absolutely no reason to put off making this! It is as simple as adding 4 ingredients to a bottle. I don’t even have exact measurements for this. I promise, you will never go back once you see how simple this is. And the best part is that you can adapt it to be exactly as you wish. I like mine thicker, you may prefer yours thinner. Start here with mine, and tweak as you see fit! Get creative with the smells you choose!

HOW TO MAKE OIL CLEANSER AT HOME

• Find an amber jar with a dropper. I like the 4oz jars so I don’t have to refill too often.
• Fill jar 50% with avocado oil, 25% castor oil, and 25% jojoba oil.
• Drop in 30 drops of your favorite essentials oil for your skin
• Shake well
• Use every day for a myriad of reasons!