Safflower Oil as a moisturizer

I have been using olive oil myself - even if it does make me smell like a salad. LOL

"The Secret to Perfect Summer Legs

If you don't know a pentapeptide from an antioxidant and, frankly, you don't care -- you just want your gator-dry legs to be soft and silky-smooth -- look no farther than your kitchen. The answer lies in that bottle of safflower oil sitting on the shelf. This polyunsaturated oil, beloved by cardiologists for being good for your heart, is just as good for your skin, but from the outside in.

The oil, which is pressed from the seeds of spiky yellow safflowers, is a super moisturizer. "That's because it's very high in linoleic acid, a fatty acid that skin normally makes to keep its moisture level up and barrier function intact," says New York City dermatologist Amy Wechsler, MD, RealAge's skin expert. Because the body's linoleic acid production gets sluggish with age, it helps to replace it from the outside.

"In theory, you could use olive oil, too, which is also high in linoleic acid. But you'd smell like a salad!" Wechsler says. Along with being odorless, safflower oil has the advantages of being colorless and cheap. And that's not all. Safe enough for sensitive skin, it's so gentle that it's massaged into the skin of newborn babies at some hospitals.

Although this natural oil is one of Wechsler's favorite treatments for dry lower legs (where flakiness can be especially persistent), you can use it body-wide -- though not when you're in a mad rush, as it takes time to soak in. "Smooth it on immediately after a bath or shower to seal in the moisture your skin has just absorbed. You can even apply it on your face, as long you don't get it into your eyes; stop a bit below the lower lid."

If you're not sure about moisturizing with pure cooking oil, you can find safflower oil in moisturizers, lip balms, and scrubs. "Look for a product that lists it among the first three ingredients, which means it contains a high concentration of the oil," says Dr. Wechsler.

Otherwise, just pour some safflower oil into a pretty little squeeze bottle and add it to your toiletries. No one will ever guess you cook with it, too. And your legs will look amazing!"

http://realage.typepad.com/food_bites/2007/07/the-secret-to-p.html

family pics

Step-Sister Christi, Husband Dave, Me, Niece Maddie



Dad and Nephew Ely

WV Exhibition Coal Mine Reopens

I'd really like to go here this summer.

"From riding through an actual coal mine in a "man car" to wandering around a company store to seeing a miner's shanty house, you can catch a glimpse of life in a Southern West Virginia mining town at the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine Complex.

After a recent $3.5 million expansion, the largest and most popular coal heritage destination in the region now has even more to offer. A new 14,000-square-foot replica company store houses a museum, visitor center and gift shop. With state-of-the-art displays and multiple kiosks offering information about each area, the complex is enjoyably interactive. The renovation also brings new parking and pedestrian areas, better visitor access from the interstate and outdoor exhibits highlighting coal mining's role in the region's development."

More here: Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine Reopens After Renovations

Conscious Gardening

"Co-Creating with Nature
Conscious Gardening

Gardens offer us a perfect opportunity to reconnect to our true selves and remember our place in the natural world. Rather than approach our gardens as mere investments of energy, we can look at the entire process of gardening, from planting seeds to harvesting food, as a way of deepening our conscious relationship with the creative force of the universe. If we are willing to shift our intention from dominating, or at least directing nature, to co-creating with nature instead, we may discover a deep peace and renewed sense of wonder.

To co-create we must first begin with a foundation of mutual respect. As you create your garden in partnership with nature, you can respect the earth, water, insects and animals by using organic seeds, soil and fertilizers. You can also communicate with the plants, insects and elements involved in your garden, and create a regular practice of stillness to listen for any messages they may have for you. When it comes time for harvesting fresh vegetables or picking beautiful blooms, you might even ask permission first. If you ask with an open heart, you will always receive an answer.

Imagine what it would be like to surrender certain aspects of your human world to the precision and surety of the natural environment. You might decide, for example, to forego your calendar and plant in rhythm with the cycles of the moon. Or, you might choose to ignore clock time and water your garden when the sun hits a certain position in the sky. By opening your garden experience to more of nature’s input, you can become available to witness a whole universe of miracles, while engendering a greater sense of honor between the two worlds.

When we recognize ourselves as allies, co-creators, with the earth and the natural world, our relationship to our environment begins to change. We no longer feel the need to control the circumstances around us and can relish in the perfection of all that is."

http://www.dailyom.com/articles/2008/14094.html

Indigo Girls New Album coming

The Girls have a new album coming out but not until February. It sounds exciting, their first independent album since Strange Fire. I can't wait to hear it.

"Harder to believe that we finished recording all ten tracks for our new cd which will be released in February, 2009.

As many or all of you know, we are now officially a fully independent band, and the newest record will be our first independent ‘album’ release since 1987 when we released ‘Strange Fire’. Things have come full circle, and it feels liberating and centering, even in the midst of change. In addition to releasing the studio tracks recorded with the band ..., we will also release recordings of the same songs done acoustically. Amy and I sat in a room together with our instruments (Alison Brown joining in on some banjo), and recorded the same songs live together (plus at least one new song not on the band record and possibly another to come). We thought you might enjoy both versions of the new set of songs.

More in their latest update here:

http://www.indigogirls.com/correspondence/2008/2008-06-09.html

Post

test

Well there's a surprise

34 As a 1930s wife, I am Poor Take the test!

Louise Hay on Weight Loss

I think this is so true for me. And the work I've been doing on myself spiritually and mentally over the past few years has helped a lot in my current weight loss success.

"Overweight is another good example of how we can waste a lot of energy trying to correct a problem that is not the real problem. People often spend years and years fighting fat and are still overweight. They blame all their problems on being overweight. The excess weight is only an outer effect of a deep inner problem. To me, it is always fear and a need for protection. When we feel frightened or insecure or "not good enough," many of us will put on extra weight for protection.

To spend our time berating ourselves for being too heavy, to feel guilty about every bite of food we eat, to do all the numbers we do on ourselves when we gain weight, is just a waste of time. Twenty years later we can still be in the same situation because we have not even begun to deal with the real problem. All that we have done is to make ourselves more frightened and insecure, and then we need more weight for protection.

So I refuse to focus on excess weight or on diets. For diets do not work. The only diet that does work is a mental diet -- dieting from negative thoughts. I say to clients, "Let us just put that issue to one side for the time being while we work on a few other things first."

They will often tell me they can't loves themselves because they are so fat ... . I explain that they are fat because they don't love themselves. When we begin to love and approve of ourselves, it's amazing how weight just disappears from our bodies. "

- Louise Hay, You Can Heal Your Life

Storm Photos

Awesome storm photos from local storm chaser

http://www.stormhighway.com/june32008.shtml

Morning on the Kanawha

Cell phone pics



My favorite tree (on the river)


Okay this one is actually afternoon



Added a bunch of pictures to my Charleston WV web album:

Charleston, West Virginia

WV Blogs

Check out http://304blogs.com/, a new site which has RSS feeds from a bunch of West Virginia blogs. Lots of interesting people there!

Your Personality Type: The Harmony-Seeking Idealist

Your Personality Type: The Harmony-Seeking Idealist

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Acceptance, Enjoyment & Enthusiasm (and a few other things)

I was listening to the last part of the New Earth webcast today and finished the book recently. The last chapter (Ch. 10) really brings everything together. Just some quick notes about it.

Awakened Doing. If you aren't in a state of acceptance, enjoyment or enthusiasm, look closely at what you are doing and you will likely find you are causing suffering for yourself and/or others.

Acceptance = accepting the present moment as it is. This is the way it is right now. Or this is something I have to do right now. I don't like it, but I'm not going to resist or fight against it. I will accept it and change
my attitude and vibration about it.

Enjoyment = bringing mindfulness and attention to what you are doing. Being present, you can allow joy to flow through you into what you do.

Enthusiasm = when you are doing something you really love to do or working toward a goal you feel passionately about, enthusiasm allows a greater force to channel into what you're doing and elevate you to an even higher level.

* * *

Not related to New Earth really, but related to being present. Consciousness, being present in the now, is so important in so many areas of our lives. We need to be conscious about all the choices we make every day. For me, one of those things is conscious eating. I am given opportunities to practice this all the time. Like the candy dish near my desk. Every time I walk by it (which I have to do to get ANYWHERE), I make a conscious choice not to eat the chocolate. If I decide to have a Hershey's kiss, then I will make a conscious choice to do so, not just grab one because it's there and gulp it down without even tasting it.

* * *

I have lost 3 pounds this week! -46. The past 3 days I've been a pound down every day. Usually when I go down a pound the next day it will go back up and a few days later will go back down and stay. So maybe tomorrow I'll be -45 again. But I've been really trying to do better this week because I have slacked recently, eating things I shouldn't.

I also started some of my new supplements this week (CoQ10 and Siberian Ginseng) - don't know if that has anything to do with it or not.

* * *

One more thing, my new motto is "Live Life Joyfully" I bought a block thing with that on it when we were on vacation and have it on my desk to remind me.

Skin Care Update

I was asked how my new skin care regimen is going so here is a little update.

I love it! I can't remember how long I've been doing it, a few weeks? I do the OCM (oil cleansing method) about every other day. I use 30% castor oil and 70% extra virgin olive oil. I'm considering adding some other oil(s) down the road but I need to research that and see what I might want to try.

I've been doing the cleansing in the shower. I massage the oil into my face then lather my hair and wash my body. Then before I rinse my hair, I turn the water hotter and do the steaming with the wash cloth. I do it about three times usually. Then I go on and condition my hair and shave and whatever. If my skin feels dry before I get out I'll add some more oil as a moisturizer but not very much.

I've been using the Kiss My Face moisturizer and really like how it feels, although I wonder if it won't clog my pores.

I haven't seen any amazing transformation, but my skin hasn't been too bad of late. My skin does feel really good and soft. I do break out during my period and occasionally other times but I don't have a major acne problem. After the first time I did the OCM I got a huge zit by my nose and had one small one yesterday on my chin but that's been all so far. They say your face does need to adjust and that may happen. It will be interesting to see how it does when I have my period. If I do break out, I may add some tea tree oil to see if that helps. They also say you may need to experiment with different mixtures to figure out what works best for you.

Oh one other thing, it seems to be helping my seborrheic dermatitis. Sometimes you can tell around my hairline if it's not under control and it looks red and flaky. It has looked a lot better. I also sometimes get this red place on the corner of my eyelid that I think is related to that and I was having to put hydrocortisone on it all the time but it never really went away. Now it has been under control as well. Oh and one other thing, a nice side effect, my hands are incredibly soft too!

It's really cheap and easy to try so if you are interested in trying it, I say go for it! And I'll keep you informed of how it goes for me too.

My next purchase is going to be some tea tree oil products and I'm going to start using that as deodorant. Then I want to start looking at more natural products for my hair.

EDIT: Wanted to make sure you see this comment from Kiss My Face re: the moisturizer:

"hi, i work at Kiss My Face and saw your comment on our moisturizer. thanks a lot for using Kiss My Face and to answer your question, our moisturizers contain no oil or ingredients that would clog your pores. you may also want to check out our obsessively organic skin care line that has everything you need for a full regimen including moisturizers, cleansers, acne gel, and pore shrinks. there are 9 items and you can learn about them at kissmyface.com.

thanks again for using Kiss My Face. Lewis Goldstein, VP Marketing"

"The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same." - Carlos Castaneda

Tea Tree Oil

Tea Tree Oil, a/k/a Melaleuca oil, Australian tea tree oil

An essential oil distilled from the melaleuca alternifolia plant, which is native to the northeast coast of New South Wales, Australia.

I had a friend who used to sell Melaleuca brand skincare products years ago (late 80's or early 90's). I never bought any though and never heard of anyone selling after that. I wonder if it had this in it?

Anyway, Australian aboriginals use tea tree leaves for healing skin cuts, burns, and infections by crushing the leaves and applying them to the affected area. They inhale the oil from crushed leaves to treat coughs and colds.

Tea tree oil has antiseptic, antifungal, antiviral and antimicrobial qualities. A common dose is 5-10% tea tree oil in gel or shampoo applied daily up to 4 weeks. Undiluted oil is sometimes used for some conditions. (www.luckyvitamin.com has a bunch of products with tea tree oil in it, including shampoo, deodorant, mouthwash, etc.).

CONDITIONS USED FOR:

• Acne (it's been found to be as effective as benzoil peroxide, and although slower to show benefits, results in less itching, scaling and irritation)
• Athlete's foot
• Dandruff
• Vaginitis
• Thrush
• Periodontal disease
• Boils
• Lice and Ticks
  
• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Yeast infections
• Sunburn
• Insect bites and bee stings
  
• Bad breath
• Body odor
  
• Fungal nail infections
• Warts
• Wounds
  
• MRSA - possibly - lab studies report it has activity against methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus but not enough information yet to make recommendations for or against it (per Mayo Clinic)
• and more
  

CAUTIONS:

• Don't take it internally. It can cause serious problems if ingested. It is used in toothpastes and mouthwashes, but you aren't supposed to swallow it.
• One study shows it may alter hormone levels (3 cases of products causing unexplained breast enlargement in boys). Don't use if pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Some people may have allergic reactions - patch test should be performed
  
• Undiluted tea tree oil may cause skin irritation, redness, blistering, and itching. - patch test should be performed
• Don't use on pets
  

SOURCES/MORE INFO:

http://altmedicine.about.com/od/herbsupplementguide/a/TeaTreeOil.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_tree_oil

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tea-tree-oil/NS_patient-teatreeoil

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/features/tea-tree-oil-treats-skin-problems

Jill Bolte Taylor's My Stroke of Insight

Oprah has a 4-part interview of Jill Bolte Taylor available as a web cast. It originated on her XM channel. I listened to the first 2 parts in the car today (they're short, 15 minutes each I think). It's definitely worth listening to. Here's the blurb from Oprah's site and a link to where you can
watch or download it:


"Jill Bolte Taylor

When she was a young girl, brain scientist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor became
fascinated with the functions of the human brain. Jill, one of Time
magazine's 100 most influential people of 2008, has a brother with
schizophrenia, and his brain disorder led Jill to dedicate her career
to studying severe mental illnesses as a Harvard-trained
neuroanatomist. While she worked to uncover the differences between the
brains of people born with mental illnesses and those who were not,
something remarkable happened to Jill's own brain—it went silent.



On December 10, 1996, at age 37, Jill awoke with intense pain behind
her left eye—a blood vessel had exploded in the left hemisphere of her
brain, and within hours, Jill could no longer walk, talk, read or
write. She was suffering from an arteriovenous malformation—a rare type
of stroke. While Jill struggled to phone for help, she was aware that
the left hemisphere of her brain was shutting down, taking with it her
language, organizing and other analytical skills. Without the dominant
left side of her brain controlling her thoughts, Jill says her mind
went silent, leaving only the right side of the brain functioning.
Through the right side of her brain, Jill says her consciousness
shifted away from reality—and the trauma her body was suffering
through—and into a place of inner peace and Nirvana.



The experience was life-changing. Not only did Jill face years of
recovery after her stroke—and major brain surgery to remove a large
blood clot in her brain—she also discovered a better quality of life
through increased use of the right hemisphere of her brain. She's now
an artist as well as a scientist, creating anatomically correct
stained-glass replicas of brains that are sold as fine art. She's also
published My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey.
The book explains in scientific detail exactly what happened during
Jill's stroke and how she recovered. It also takes a closer look at how
the right hemisphere of the brain works and how Jill says people with
normal brains can access it to find their own inner peace and improve
their quality of life and the lives of others."





http://www.oprah.com/spiritself/oss/guest/oss_guest_jboltetaylor.jhtml

The Importance of Dead Trees

"How is a Dead Tree Good?

Snag Facts With Impacts

** Over five hundred species of birds, three hundred species of mammals, four hundred species of amphibians and reptiles and nearly all fish benefit from snags for food, nesting or shelter.

** Only thirty bird species are capable of making their own nest cavities in trees. Another eighty animal species depend upon previously excavated or natural tree holes for their nests.

** The insulation of a tree trunk home allows many animal species to survive high summer and low winter temperature extremes.

** Tree cavities and loose bark are used by many animals to store their food supplies.

** Insects living in dead wood eat thousands of forest pests which can harm living trees.

** Fish and amphibians hide under trees that have fallen into the water.

** Woodpeckers and creepers feast on the wood-eating insects and provide "sawdust" for ants to process. Deer eat the lichen growing on the trunks.

** Standing dead trees, called snags, provide birds and mammals with shelter to raise young and raptors with unobstructed vantage points.

Cavity Nesters

Primary cavity nesters - Animals in this group can construct or make their own holes in snags. Examples include woodpeckers and nuthatches. Some primary cavity nesters excavate more than one hole annually. Many of these cavities are subsequently used by other wildlife.

Secondary cavity nesters - Animals in this group utilize old abandoned holes which were excavated by primary cavity nesters. Secondary cavity nesters include bluebirds, swallows. small owls, kesterels, and several flycatchers. These animals are dependent upon primary cavity nesters to provide them with suitable nesting holes from year to year.

The Cycle of Life

Each thing in nature has its place and part to play in the ever changing cycle of life and death. Snags and the wildlife that utilize them each play one or more roles in the "life cycle". Often the process which creates the snag, such as death-dealing insect attacks, provide food for the wildlife species that eventually utilize the snag for a home. Over 30 snag-associated species of birds and mammals feed on insects, thus helping to keep them in check. Most birds of prey that utilize snags live on small mammals such as mice, rabbits and gophers which are often destroyers of young trees. So the snag, often the result of destructive insects, plays a role in, the control of the other animals in the cycle of life.

Meeting Wildlife Needs

Habitat requirements of the various wildlife that use snags for nesting vary. Although snags do present some degree of a fire hazard, management guidelines must be tailored to fit the local needs of the particular kind of wildlife found in your area. For this reason you should contact the Forest Service office in your local area before cutting snags for fuel wood.

Uses of Snags

Snags provide homes for many kinds of wildlife. Included in the total are the following:

19 birds of prey
9 kinds of woodpeckers
5 kinds of ducks
22 kinds of songbirds
15 kinds of small mammals (including bats)
3 kinds of furbearers
6 kinds of squirrels and chipmunks
Home for Wildlife

Snags are used for: exterior nesting (birds of prey, brown creepers), interior (cavity) nesting (song birds, woodpeckers, squirrels), hunting perches (birds of prey, flycatchers), perching and singing (songbirds), communication (woodpeckers), food storage (small mammals), protection from weather (many groups), food source (insect eating birds), resting (bats, birds of prey, most groups), roosting (birds of prey, turkey, bandtail pigeon)

Spare That Snag!"

http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/nr/wildlife/animalinn/goodtree.htm

Rosemary

I planted several herbs, but I have never cooked with fresh herbs.

I was looking at potato recipes for dinner to use up the red potatoes and found one with rosemary, so I thought I'd try it with my fresh rosemary. However, when I went out and smelled the rosemary I wasn't sure I would like it. From what I've read, it tastes like lemon and pine. That doesn't sound very appetizing to me. LOL

I am sure I've even foods with rosemary in them, but I don't recall ever having cooked with it.

I ended up just making the potatoes like I did to go with the pork loin chops before - olive oil, garlic, onion, Italian seasoning, pepper and this time sea salt instead of regular salt.

Maybe I should have used some fresh oregano. I need to experiment with these things, or how will I ever know?? Maybe I can use the rosemary in some other way...

Rosemary, both fresh and dried, has numerous cosmetic, decorative, medicinal, and culinary uses, besides its ornamental appeal. The aromatic oil is added to soaps, creams, lotions, perfumes, and toilet waters. The leaves can be used in sachets and potpourris, as well as in herbal baths, facial steams, hair rinses, and dyes. Rosemary is used as an astringent and cleanser in bath and beauty products. Rosemary water is often called Hungary water since one of the Queens of Hungary was said to bathe in rosemary water everyday, and that she was so beautiful even in old age that she was asked for her hand in marriage at the age of 75.

Long included in herbalists' stores, rosemary is used as an antiseptic and astringent. Sixteenth century Europeans carried it in pouches and in the heads of walking sticks to ward off the plague, and judges placed it on their benches to protect them from typhoid. Until recently, rosemary purified the air in French hospitals. It has been prescribed for depression, headaches, muscle spasms, pains, sores, eczema, bruises, wounds, and to restore digestion. Studies show rosemary leaves increase circulation, reduce headaches and fight bacterial and fungal infections. It contains many compounds that are reported to prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine in the brain, usually a symptom of Alzheimer’s disease. Japanese researchers find it promising for removing wrinkles. However, prolonged handling of fresh rosemary plants or using cosmetics scented with rosemary oil may cause contact dermatitis in sensitive people.

Rosemary is used to flavor poultry, fish, lamb, beef, tomatoes, mushrooms, cheese, eggs, potatoes, vinegars, and herbal butters. Both the flowers and leaves of rosemary can be used in cooking and for garnishes, and woody branches can even be used as skewers for barbecues.

http://wihort.uwex.edu/fruitveggies/Rosemary.htm

Hungary water was first invented for the Queen of Hungary to "renovate vitality of paralysed limbs." It was used externally and prepared by mixing 180g of fresh rosemary tops in full flower into a liter of spirits of wine. Leave to stand for four days then distill. It is also supposed to work as a remedy against gout if rubbed vigorously on hands and feet.[3]

Rosemary has a very old reputation for improving memory, and has been used as a symbol for remembrance (during weddings, war commemorations and funerals) in Europe, probably as a result of this reputation.[citation needed] Mourners would throw it into graves as a symbol of remembrance for the dead. In Shakespeare's Hamlet, Ophelia says, "There's rosemary, that's for remembrance." One modern study lends some credence to this reputation. When the smell of rosemary was pumped into cubicles where people were working, those people showed improved memory, though with slower recall.[4] A second study shows that carnosic acid, found in rosemary, shields the brain from free radicals, lowering the risk of strokes and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Lou Gehrig's.[5]

Don Quixote (Chapter XVII, 1st volume) mixes it in his recipe of the miraculous balm of Fierabras with revolting results.

Health Precautions: In some cases, rosemary can cause autoimmune diseases. Rosemary in culinary or therapeutic doses is generally safe; however, precaution is necessary for those displaying allergic reaction or prone to epileptic seizure. Rosemary essential oil is a powerful convulsant; if applied to the skin, it may cause seizures in otherwise healthy adults or children.[6] Rosemary essential oil is potentially toxic if ingested. Large quantities of rosemary leaves can cause adverse reactions, such as coma, spasm, vomiting, and pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) that can be fatal. Avoid consuming large quantities of rosemary if pregnant or breastfeeding.[7]

Rosemary may also be useful in the prevention and treatment of headlice.[8]

Rosemary, for example, a cup of rosemary tea, can cause drowsiness.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosemary

Skin Care

I've been using Avon's Anew Alternative day and night formulas. I like it okay. But a friend turned me onto the Oil Cleaning Method (OCM) and I am giving it a try, because it's a more natural approach.

I've only done it twice so far. Basically I'm using a mixture of 2/3 extra virgin olive oil and 1/3 castor oil. Basically you massage the oil into your face, then steam it with a hot washcloth. My skin feels great afterward!

It doesn't seem like you should clean oily skin with oil, but it actually does make sense knowing that you use oil to remove oil (as we learned when Roscoe jumped in the oil pan and the only thing that would take the motor oil off was vegetable oil). I had also tried some olive oil products for cleansing and moisturizing that I got as samples.

You only do the OCM a couple of times a week. I'm not sure what I should use as a daily moisturizer. One thing I like about the Anew is the 25 spf. So when I was shopping for supplements on luckyvitamin.com I checked out their skin care as well and they have a large selection. I decided to try Kiss My Face's every day moisturizer, which is their olive oil and aloe moisturizer with 15 spf sunscreen added. I am anxious to try it. I think I'm going to moisturize at night with straight olive oil at least a few nights a week. I guess I have to experiment to find out what exactly works best for me.

I've also started using mineral makeup. Right now I'm using Physician's Formula face powder and Avon blush and eye shadow. I like it a lot so far. Although I may try a different powder, just because I read reviews after buying the Physician's Formula and I think it was L'Oreal that was rated very highly.

I'll let you know how all of this goes.

More on OCM:

"The reasons we have so much trouble with mainstream skin care products are numerous, but two reasons, in particular, lead the pack. These products strip the oil out of our skin, leaving our largest organ trying to repair itself by replacing the oil stripped away. This leaves us in a cycle of being tight and dry followed by the inevitable oil slick. Each time we strip the oil away, our skin over-compensates for the lack of moisture by creating more oil. On top of the drying effects, these products are highly-scented. Fragrance is one of the top skin irritants and strangely enough, even the so-called "unscented" products usually contain fragrance. See for yourself and check the labels. Dry, irritated skin replaced by oily skin, inflamed and trapping debris?

If we know what our body is going to do and understand the process, we can then understand what it takes to control it and achieve the results we want. Clear skin is attainable.

Getting right down to basics, when cleansing and moisturizing your skin, it is imperative that you keep in mind that oil dissolves oil. Your skin naturally lubricates itself with oil, and as we are creatures of adaptation, one can believe that if this weren't the appropriate built-in care for ourselves, our bodies would have adapted to suit the need.
...
Do not be afraid of applying oil to your face. Oil, alone, will not bring you blemishes. Pimples, cysts, zits, blackheads, whiteheads...these are a result of several different factors including hormones, bacteria, dead skin cells and the buildup of these factors. Your skin naturally produces oil because it needs it. It is not a malicious force to be reckoned with; it is there for the benefit of your skin, allowing your largest organ to function properly. It is naturally occurring. Not only does your natural oil help lubricate, it also heals, protects, and moisturizes your skin so that it may function properly. Properly functioning skin is beautiful, clear, and glowing. Learning to work with your skin, not against it, will save you tremendously.
...
The basic concept of this skin care and cleansing method is that the oil used to massage your skin will dissolve the oil that has hardened with impurities and found itself stuck in your pores. The steam will open your pores, allowing the oil to be easily removed. Should you need it, the smallest drop of the same oil formula patted over damp skin will provide the necessary lubrication to keep your skin from over-compensating in oil production.

Choose vegetable oils for facial massage

We will need two oils. The first, and most importantly, is Castor Oil. If you don't have this medicine cabinet staple already, it can be found online or in the laxative section of your grocer or drugstore - usually bottom shelf. Castor Oil has potent anti-inflammatory properties, but is also healing and cleansing, which is why we're focusing on this oil as our primary oil. Castor Oil has been the focus of many books and medical discussion because of its seemingly "magical" healing properties. As quoted in The Oil That Heals by Dr. McGarey, he states, "Castor oil will leave the body in better condition than it found it." Though it may be our most important oil, we won't be using it in the amounts that we will the other oil (or combination of oils for those who want to take this a step further). A little bit of Castor Oil goes a long way and too much will leave you, surprisingly, with dry skin.

Since Castor Oil is so thick and its cleansing properties so strong, we need to dilute it with another oil, thinner in consistency, but no less nurturing to the skin. Sunflower Seed Oil has become my personal favorite, though in the past, I've suggested Extra Virgin Olive Oil. "

Lots more info here: http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com/