For the last 10 years, Dave and I have used an extremely simple homemade all-natural face wash to wash (or rather “cleanse”) our face each night. It doubles as an all-natural makeup remover too — bonus!!
As odd as it might sound, we use The Oil Cleansing Method (yes OIL!)… and our skin looks and feels fantastic!
Way back in 2010, I began researching different DIY skincare routines and all-natural face wash recipes.
My requirements were that any homemade options had to be frugal, extremely simple to make, and use readily available ingredients.
It didn’t take me long to stumble across The Oil Cleansing Method as a viable option for our homemade all-natural face wash.
I was skeptical at first… but I knew I needed to give it a try as it met my criteria of frugal and simple. Plus, it required just 2 easy-to-find ingredients… Sunflower Oil and Castor Oil.
Now, a full decade later, I can confidently say this all-natural face wash has been a huge asset to my daily skincare routine!
I no longer struggle with super dry skin, breakouts in the T-zone, large pores, blackheads, or the weird patches of eczema I sometimes got around my mouth.
Dave and I both agree that our skin looks great and feels SO soft — much of which we attribute to using the oil cleansing method as a SUPER simple all-natural face wash!
Watch the video to learn more!
(click here if you can’t see the video)
Why The Oil Cleansing Method WORKS!
Traditional facial cleansers strip skin of its natural oils (which we assume is a good thing to prevent oily buildup). However, when our skin is stripped of all its natural oils, it tends to over-compensate and our body naturally creates even more oil.
This leads to a vicious cycle of more oil… which causes breakouts and problem areas… which makes us feel like we need to wash our face even more… which dries out our skin… which signals our body to create more oil… etc. etc.
On the other hand, the oil cleansing method uses castor oil to pull impurities from our pores. The sunflower oil (or olive oil) moisturizes the skin, resulting in soft, glowing skin.
If you don’t love the way your skin looks or feels, or if you’ve thought about trying something new with your skincare regimen, I HIGHLY recommend you give this simple all-natural face wash recipe a try!
How to Make All-Natural Face Wash and Makeup Remover
This super simple all-natural face wash uses only 2 easy-to-find, all-natural ingredients and will leave your skin looking radiant and feeling SO soft and clean. It also doubles as a fantastic makeup remover!
Materials
- Castor Oil
- Sunflower Oil or Olive Oil
- Small plastic bottle with a tight-sealing cap
- Soft washcloth
Instructions
How to Make All-Natural Face Wash:
- Mix equal parts castor oil and sunflower seed oil in a small plastic bottle
- Store bottle in the shower and use it nightly before bed.
How to Use All-Natural Face Wash:
- Wet your face with warm water.
- Pour a quarter-size amount of the oil mixture into your hand.
- Gently massage the oil into your skin for about one minute -- focusing on problem areas.
- Run a clean washcloth under very warm water.
- Lay washcloth over your face and let it sit for another minute -- this is key to "steaming" the impurities out of your pores.
- Repeat steamy washcloth routine again.
- Rinse the washcloth and gently rub the remaining oil, dirt, make-up, and residue off your face.
- Repeat rinsing if necessary.
- Enjoy really smooth and moisturized skin without the need for lotion!
Notes
Only use this all-natural face wash ONE time per day -- before bed is ideal.
It works well as a make-up remover -- which is another reason why evening is the perfect time to use the oil cleansing method.
Mix according to the type of skin you have (see guide below).
- NORMAL SKIN: Mix one-part castor oil with one-part sunflower oil.
- OILY SKIN: Mix two or three-parts castor oil with one-part sunflower oil.
- DRY SKIN: Mix one-part castor oil with two or three-parts sunflower oil.
Give it a try for a couple of weeks and then adjust as necessary (adding more castor oil for oily skin and more sunflower oil for dry skin).
Also, keep in mind that your skin MAY actually get "worse " before it gets better while your body rids itself of toxins from your previous cleansers.
Recommended Products
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A Few More Reasons You Should Try the Oil Cleansing Method
1. It’s really inexpensive. The ingredients to make several bottles of this homemade face wash are right around $10 – $15, depending on what size bottles you buy. You might already have the sunflower seed oil in your pantry!
2. It removes makeup. These oils are a great way to naturally remove makeup, meaning you won’t need to buy pricey makeup removers anymore!
3. It’s SO moisturizing. As I mentioned above, Dave and I have used the oil cleansing method for over a decade now and our skin feels SO soft!
4. It’s a once-a-day routine. I’m always in favor of simple systems, so this once-a-day routine is perfect for me!
5. It’s all-natural. Even if you’re not a hard-core “green” gal, there’s no denying that using all-natural ingredients is so much better for our skin. I love that the oil cleansing method uses edible ingredients!
Two Helpful Tips:
1. Your skin MIGHT get a tiny bit worse before it gets better.
Since I first shared our homemade face wash recipe 10 years ago, I have gotten a handful of readers who complained it made their skin worse. (It’s a tiny minority of people, but I want to mention it).
I always encouraged these readers to give it a couple more weeks before making up their minds.
More often than not, they emailed me back a few weeks later raving about how great their skin looked and felt!
So… on the off chance your skin gets a tiny bit “worse” after trying The Oil Cleansing Method, please don’t totally give up. Give your skin a few weeks to adjust to a new routine, and then make up your mind!
2. Your washcloths will need to be replaced eventually.
We buy cheapy dollar store packages of white washcloths and replace them every year (or whenever they start to get really gross from the oily buildup.)
If you want to extend the life of your washcloths, I suggest using a tiny bit of shampoo or soap to scrub out the washcloth after cleansing with the oil mixture. Then rinse the washcloth out really well and hang to dry.
Additional Resources:
- The Sunflower Oil I use
- The Castor Oil I use
- The plastic bottles I use
- The 3-Citrus Face Cream I use from Prarieland Herbs (since 2010)
Related Reading:
- Read more of the science behind The Oil Cleansing Method
- Learn more about my favorite all-natural cosmetics
- Get the recipes for ALL my favorite DIY cleaning products
- Get my 1-minute recipe for all-natural DIY Foaming Hand Soap
I can’t even begin to calculate how much money I’ve saved by using this all-natural face wash and makeup remover over the last decade.
Hundreds and hundreds of dollars, that’s for sure! Not to mention all the chemicals I have spared my skin from!
If you’re still skeptical, email me (or leave any questions in the comments below).
I have a decade of experience and I’m happy to answer any questions you have!
Linda says
I am 66 years old and for the past couple years been having problems with dry but broken out skin.. Blackheads.. flaking etc. Then it would go to oily… I started using this a couple weeks ago finding it on another site. IT IS WONDERFUL! I have been paying big bucks for products that do not work! This does.. If you feel it is greasy.. try using a little Loreal skin cleaner for sensitive skin. But don’t scrub.. just a over wash to get rid of oil.. You might have a couple breakouts .. not many.. it is bringing the yuk to the top!
Give this a try… it works!
Katherine says
I have sensitive skin which oil is best and will the caster oil be to harsh?
Lori says
How long have you been using this method to clean your skin? I have read mixed reviews, and I have started it. I am on day 2 of mixing Cold Pressed Castro Oil mixed with Jajoba oil with a couple drops of tea tree… I think my skin feels oily afterwards, not sure of what the outcome will be for my skin but I did have a white head near my nose this morning.
Candace says
Lori, my understanding is that you have to sortof “stick it out” for 1-2 weeks to see the change, because your skin is trying to rebalance it’s pH. I have dry skin, but my understanding is also that, if you have oily/acne-prone skin and have been using alot of products to try to combat, you tend to have more of a breakout issue than those with drier skin. Not sure if that’s true, but just what I’ve gathered from what I read.
You can also adjust the % of your formula that is castor. The drier your skin the less castor oil. Hope that helps!
Lori says
Actually last night after I did it for my 3rd time, I noticed my skin felt great afterward and I hadn’t changed the formula. It may be in my head but I honestly feel that what breakouts I have on my skin are already looking better, but yes I am having those white heads pop up around my nose, had another one this morning.. and those are painful and nothing I dealt with before. I am sticking it out though and am praying for the best. I have heard more good than bad, infact this morning after washing I put one drop of Jojoba oil in my palms and rubbed it onto my face for a little extra moisturizer, and I love it… I love Jojoba.. haha
Lisa Yonts says
So I bought theingrediants today, and I am excited to see how it turns out!
Kori says
How much of each oil do you use??
William Pelttari says
Hello!
As I got 18 and started working at seas my skin have become generally worse, I got a tip about this cure and started to search, hence I’m here. I got a question; the warm towel is to steam open my pores I presume? So would it be the same if I’d be sitting in the sauna?
(I often sauna-bathe and wonder how to Co-op these two in a great way).
And also, is it dead serious to wipe _All_ the oil from the face? Feels like I have to scrub for an eternity to get at least somewhat dry .. :-/
I like these alternative ways more than purchasing poison in store so thanks loads for sharing your wisdom, appreciate it.
Best Regards,
William.
Chelsea A says
I ran across your post while doing research for facial cleansers, toners, etc. I love the oil cleansing method. I used it for a while but was using a cosmetic line essential oil cleanser. It caused blemishes. I discontinued use. I decided to try it again but mix it myself. The first night I felt and saw the difference. I love it. I splash my face with cold water to close my pores after steaming. I also use a homemade toner just for good measure.
As I read some of the comments there were some questions and comments that I can answer. Coconut oil can be used but doesn’t work for everyone. It is all trial and error to find the oil and ratio that is right for you. Tea tree oil can be mixed into your oil. It really gives a nice clean feel while helping with breakouts. Lavender can also be used for scent or its healing properties. Someone said that TTO shouldn’t be used on the skin. That statement is false. Tea Tree Oil and lavender are the only two essential oils that can be used directly on the skin without diluting.
My mixture is 1 part castor oil, 1 part sunflower oil, and 10-20 drops of tea tree oil (depending on the batch size). Tea Tree Oil can also be used as a spot treatment for a blemish. I apply a touch a few times a day. I hope this helps.
Lauren says
Is it possible to scent it with lavender or something, and it not cause your face to completely break out?
Paige says
I’ve been doing this for a while, and my skin has never looked better, and the oiliness is pretty much gone. I use grapeseed oil instead of sunflower with the castor oil. No particular reason, it was just what I had on hand, but it is also very astringent and works very well. To answer the tea tree oil question, I put a few drops into my preparation for a little extra effectiveness, and it does help things along.
Cheryl says
I tried it for the first time last night. So far so good. I added some tea tree essential oil. Thanks for the post.
Chelsea says
Ive been looking for a gentle, homemade natural face wash and want to try this but my skin is very prone to acne (I’m 24 and my skin has had acne ever since I moved to NYC over three years ago…I’ve tries everything!). Do you think this will make my skin break out or do you think it will help? Please let me know! Thanks!
Lara says
I was wondering how often to use the oil cleansing method. The site you referred to said not to use it everyday, but if not, then how often? And if not everyday, then what to use on the off days?
Andrea says
Dave and I use the oil to cleanse our face every night. We’ve been doing it for well over a year and have excellent results. We both use the oil method before we go to bed, and then in the morning we just splash a little water on our face… no “washing”.
Deana says
I was wondering if grapeseed oil might work instead of sunflower oil. I’m having a hard time finding sunflower oil in my little town. Grapeseed oil says that it a natural antioxidant and also has vitamin E. Sounds like it might be a good one to use. Anyone have any experience or knowledge about grapeseed oil?
Hayley says
I’ve been cleansing my face at night with olive oil and I agree entirely! My skin honestly feels baby soft afterwards, I love it 🙂 Though, I’ve just been using a cleanser and then put some oil on a cotton ball and doing a quick all-over, rubbing it in and patting dry. I’m definitely going to try this technique. Thanks so much!
Robin says
Carolyn, I tend to have larger pores, but am not prone to black heads. I can tell you I used this method for some time and found two areas that would not clear up. This was after several months. I ended up going back to CeraVe for my face wash. Once I did the two areas cleared up instantly. This summer I may try it again. I will tell you that it does make a difference playing around with two different mixes twice. Olive oil didn’t work as well for me as the Sunflower did.
Jenifer, this method is a nice eye make-up remover.
carolyn says
I wonder does anyone also have large pores and prone to black heads? And if so does this method work at clearing them up? Thanks for the help!
Brandy says
Carolyn,
Yes, this helps w/ black heads. My husband and I use it for our noses and it totally clears them up. Just be sure to steam your black head prone areas really well to open the pores so that the oil can do it’s job.
(You can find me on FB under Recipes for Natural Living and the same on Pinterest.) 🙂
Jenifer says
Can this also be used to remove eye make-up?
Michele ODonnell says
I have been using this for 3 weeks now and I love it! Right from the start my skin looked healthier and no more breakouts. Plus less wrinkles. Thank you for posting this; otherwise, I would never have heard of it.
Priscylla says
Oh btw, tea tree oil should never be used directly on your skin, it’s too harsh. Diluted tea tree oil can be used as spot treatment
Priscylla says
My mother-in-law and I tried this with olive oil and later with sunflower oil… Worked like a charm the first time, I was apprehensive because castor oil is actually has detoxifying properties. Sure enough, I had acne come within the first couple days of doing this. My skin is prone to acne but my mom in law also experienced skin blemishes which she never gets. Very sad :-/
Also, coconut oil is listed as a pore clogger so I wouldn’t recommend. If your skin doesn’t react too easily, try jojoba oil. Little more expensive but well worth it and doesn’t clog at all
Brandy says
Priscylla,
If you had some blemishes pop out after using this initially it’s simply because it’s opening your pores and allowing your skin to breathe and the crud to come out. Detoxifying is the point which is why you use the castor oil. You just have to stick with it for a little longer and once your skin realized that THIS is what it means to have balance again, you most likely won’t have problems. HTH!
Cherrie says
I’ve been wanting to try it for a while, after seeing this on Pinterest, and Im finally doing it! lol I couldn’t find sunflower oil, so Im using EVOO and Caster oil. I found a 4 oz. bottle that was perfect to mix this in. The bottle runneth over a bit, but no biggie. Can’t wait to try this tonight.
Nichole Belden says
How well does tea tree oil work with the castor oil? If you have tried please let me know!
Andrea says
sorry Nichole — I’ve never tried tea tree oil… just sunflower oil {which works wonderfully!} You could always make a very small batch with the tea tree oil and see how it works.
Alise says
I was wondering. Instead of using Sunflower Oil or Olive Oil, can you use coconut oil? Will it have the same effect? I use coconut oil on a daily basis as an all over body moisturizer and was wondering if I can use it since I already have it. Thanks!
Andrea says
Alise, I’m not positive, but I don’t think coconut oil will work. You need a very “liquidy” oil like sunflower or olive oil for this cleanser and isn’t coconut oil more of a solid?
Of course, you could always give it a try with a small batch!
Kristy W says
You can use Coconut Oil, but you’ll need to make a new batch every time as you’ll need to melt what you use.
I’ve used this process for a few days now with the castor oil and the olive oil…I think I’ll try coconut oil at a later date.
I LOVE THIS!!! My almost 11 year old daughter says that my skin looks amazing, and I’m now doing this with her skin. Never too early to start!
Katherine says
Yes you can use coconut oil. It is anti viral and anti bacterial too. Just warm a chunk up in your hands and rub it in and wipe it off after steaming your face as usual.
Cheryl says
This sounds very interesting. I have been unhappy with my skin. I am ready to give it a try. Got to buy some caster oil–I don’t keep it in the house normally.
Katherine says
You can use olive oil from the kitchen too. I used it for several days before I bought the castor oil to mix in. I’m actually about to use the castor oil mix for the first time this evening.
I love how the olive oil makes my skin feel so soft and smooth. I am hopeful that the mix of the two will do just as good of a job.
Wish me luck girls!
Kristin says
What is the shelf life of sunflower oil in this recipe? Of olive oil? I know that many oils become rancid in humid conditions after mixing for bath/body recipes, but this seems like such an easy and amazing solution to face wash. I just don’t want to make too much and have it go bad on me. Any advice?
Tiff says
I’m confused. The link you provided gives different ratios of the two oils, using much less castor oil than sunflower.
Roxxy says
Aw, where’s your sense of adventure? Science is fun! 😀
I’ve run into this in more than a few places for DIY soaps/shampoos, and I usually try what looks like the easiest recipe first. I’ll get more complex if the “easy” recipe doesn’t seem like it’s working after a week (or sooner, if it REALLY isn’t agreeing with me). Fortunately, stuff like this won’t explode if you get the ratio wrong–you’re just out a couple tablespoons of oil. It’s kitchen science, and it’s supposed to be fun! Like making bread!
(Personally, I’d rather go with this recipe than the ones on the linked page. I’m not about to try and master a 90%/10% with my teaspoons.)
Michelle McDonald says
Lol – if you’ve got a 100ml bottle, its 10ml of one, 90ml of the other.
Robin says
Just made my official mixed batch {I’d been pouring a little of each in my hand until I could find a container}! Works perfect in a hand pump soap-type container that I can leave in the shower….Yea!!! My skins feels so good. Had dh try it tonight. See if I can get him to use it for a week. 🙂
Robin says
Thank you for posting your facewash article. I’ve read about this method for some time and didn’t have a good result with the olive oil blend on my face, but after reading your article, I used the castrol oil and safflower oil and had no issues! My skin is so sensative that I have to be careful or I end up with breakouts, but thankfully, no breakouts!!! Yea!!!
I’m giving a comunity couponing and savings class tonight and I’m going to give your URL to the class. Thanks again!
Andrea says
Awesome… thanks Robin! hope the coupon class went well 🙂
Megan says
I’ve heard that castor oil encourages hair growth. Have you had any problems with this or noticed this? Becuase of that, I’m wary about using castor oil on my face… Thanks!
Andrea says
Nope… no hair growth here 🙂 I probably would not keep using it {or strongly recommending it to my readers} if it caused hair growth — LOL!!
Christina says
Ok…I was totally skeptical when I read this, then I tried the Oil Cleansing Method and LOVED it! Thank you so much for sharing this!