Using oils as a face wash and moisturizer sounds so romantic until you try it. It can be messy and frustrating until you find the right oils and process that works for you. But, once you make the adjustment, you may never go back.

I started to experiment with oils when (a) moisturizer alone wasn’t cutting it (with age, comes dry skin), and (b) I was dissatisfied with the preservatives in moisturizers and face washes on the market (or their price compared to the ingredient lists). In terms of preservatives, common ones are phenoxyethanol and parabens, which can disrupt the endocrine system and come with other allergy, irritation, and possible toxicity concerns. (The EWG provides information on these preservatives in the links provided.) There are some natural preservatives, such as Japanese honeysuckle, that good companies such as 100% use (see here). But, in general, even companies that specialize in natural and organic beauty products inevitably would have one or two ingredients (or sticker shock) that made me wary. Then I stumbled across a few blogs on how to make facial oils/washes, with descriptions on how to use them properly, and was hooked.

It took time and testing, but this is what worked best for me.

Body Oil

After testing numerous oils, and combinations of oil, including coconut oil, shea oil, castor oil, almond oil, emu oil, and jojoba oil, the oils that I’d recommend with which to start are:

• Jojoba oil for the body. (You can combine 1 to 3 parts of Avocado Oil , Olive Oil , Shea Nut Oil and/or Sweet Almond Oil if you like.) Jojoba oil is a “liquid wax that closely resembles the natural oils of the skin (sebum).” See Simple Ways to Use Jojoba Oil for Hair, Face, and Body. This separates Jojoba from other oils in that it mimics the activity of your body’s natural oils, so your skin does not overproduce sebum. (As HowStuffWorks explains, it “tricks” the skin into thinking it has produced enough oil to balance oil production, see here.) I found that it soaked into my skin quickly, without leaving a greasy after-feel. This is my favorite body oil.

• Emu oil as a daily hand moisturizer. Emu oil contains fatty acids (omega-3s) and is generally believed to reduce inflammation, moisturize skin, and reduce the appearance of scars and wrinkles, among other things (see here). If you’re vegan, however, you may not want to use emu oil as it derives from the fat of a bird native to Australia, see here and for more information on emu oil. The only reason I don’t use emu oil on my face is that it can encourage hair growth, and who wants baby hairs on their face? (For this reason, some people use it on their eyelashes with castor oil to promote growth.)

The devil is in the application. When using oils, the best time to apply them is while your skin is still wet from the shower to capture some of the water. (I tried using oils for weeks after drying off first, and my skin felt dry and itchy; when used correctly, oils will have the opposite effect.) Use about a dime size amount for each body part, and rub it on your legs, arms, stomach, and shoulders to start while still wet. (I’d hold off on your back, which can be more prone to break outs, until you see how well your skin tolerates it.) Take a towel and lightly pat yourself dry; don’t rub. It’s okay to have some water left on you; it’ll drip dry off.

Before you completely dry off, apply a small amount (about a quarter size) of a moisturizer (preferably one that does not use either phenoxyethanol and parabens). I like to use Nubian Heritage’s Body Lotion Goat’s Milk & Chai. It’s a little hard getting it out of the container, so I transfer it to a white 8 oz container when it arrives, such as these. I dab a small amount on my fingers and spread it all over my body - it applies very easily over the oil so you don’t need a lot - and voila! Your skin will feel soft, supple, and beautiful.

This method worked best for me. But experiment and see what works best for you!

You can add any essential oils, or other ingredients such as Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin E, as well. Though, I’d stay simple to start and build onto your perfect formula from there. If you like essential oils, some that you may want to consider follow:

• Lavender

• Clary Sage

• Geranium

• Tea Tree Oil

• Frankincense

• Rosehip

There are a number of essential oils on the market. I tend to purchase most of mine from Now Foods (as they are relatively inexpensive for organic essential oils). A higher quality brand is doTERRA, which you might want to consider in making your choices. Mountain Rose Herbs also has great options.

Oils as Face Wash or Moisturizer

I found that straight jojoba oil is effective for me, as my skin is sensitive to essential oils. That said, there are a number of great DIY blends with essential oils that you can find here (“How to Make A Custom Face Oil Blend”) and here (“Custom DIY Homemade Face Oil Recipe). To get started, you could try:

• Straight Jojoba oil for the face; and

• Castor oil to remove eye makeup (if the jojoba doesn’t do the trick). Castor oil also has the added benefit of promoting eyelash growth (and preventing breakage).

Apply a small amount of the jojoba oil to a damp face, heat a wash cloth under hot water, press the wash cloth against your face for a few seconds to warm it, and then gently remove any makeup etc from my face with the washcloth. Do the same with castor oil. (You may not want to use a white wash cloth as makeup will adhere to it, but, even with my white wash clothes, it usually washes off.)

I interchange use of the oil with one of my favorite products, Mother Dirt’s face wash, to give my skin back any beneficial bacteria I may have stripped off, and spritz it with Mother Dirt’s AO+ Mist.

Hair Oil

I started making a hair oil after a couple of alarming “hair shedding” moments during high-stress times. To promote hair growth and condition the scalp, I use:

• Castor oil (and sometimes one of the other oils, such as avocado oil that is rich in vitamins and essential fatty acids)

• A couple of drops of Vitamin E

• A few drops each of Peppermint, Geranium, Tea Tree, and Ylang Ylang essential oils

• You also could add aloe leaf extract if you like

While showering and before I wash my hair, I massage a small dime to quarter size amount of the hair oil on my fingers and massage it into the areas that need it. I let it sit for about 1-3 minutes and then shampoo it out (using a hair growth promoting shampoo such as 100% Pure’s Glossy Locks Grow More shampoo), followed by a similar conditioner (such as 100% Pure’s Glossy Locks Grow More Conditioner or Honey & Virgin Coconut Conditioner). Since I’ve been doing this routine, I’ve had significantly less breakage and hair shedding. (You could try leaving the oil on for longer or not washing it out, if your hair can tolerate that without being too oily.)

I hope some of these work for you!

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