Macro beauty: Cleansing with Castor Oil

I'm all about using natural beauty products especially facial cleansers, but you have to admit that buying those organic raw cleansers all the time can get pretty pricey.  So I decided to try out the castor oil facial cleansing method.  Some people freak out when they hear about using oils as facial cleansers because they think that oil for the skin is bad and that it clogs up your pores.  However castor oil is non-clogging, in fact it does the opposite by penetrating the skin and lubricating our pores to help push out blackheads and other congestions in the skin.  It also moisturizers your skin which is great.  If our skin gets too dry it produces its own pore-clogging oil which causes even more congestion.  Each time we strip our face of moisture it overcompensates by producing even more oil.  

The basic concept with this method involves two things:  (1) massaging the oil into your skin dissolves and lubricates the oil that's hardened in your pores, and (2) using steam will help open your pores allowing the oil to easily unclog them.  Keep in mind that this is a deep cleansing routine so it's best done in the evening right before you go to bed.  I do it daily when I find that I'm having a very stressful week and my skin is not its best.  When it gets back into normal routine I do it every other day or three times a week.  Here's what you do:

I invested in a face steamer which was only $20. 

1. Massage 1/4 tsp castor oil into skin.
2. Apply another 1/4 tsp of the oil onto face and massage in circular motions.  You'll find that this time around it will mostly sit on top of the skin instead of absorbing.
3. Boil water in a big pot (big enough to cover whole face), remove from stove carefully and place on a pot coaster on table.  
4. Sit with face above the pot so steam is encompassing your face and place towel over head over the pot so it captures the steam inside.
5. Steam face for 10-15 mins. then wipe clean with damp cloth.  Wash face.

I really love cleansing my skin with castor oil.  It really helped and I hope you guys love it too!  This is also great to help ease muscles and joints when massaged or applied to the affected area with castor pads. So many possibilities with castor oil ;)

This is the brand that I use.   It was a good price and can be found at Whole Foods and other natural markets.