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Years ago, I never would have imagined I’d be this excited to talk about how great coconut oil is for face cleansing. The idea of putting coconut oil on my face (I use this one) seemed like crazy talk, and I thought cleaning your face with coconut oil and using coconut oil as a skin moisturizer was for “those” kind of people.
And now, I am totally one of them.
The truth is, I used to be a total sucker for step-by-step facial cleansing systems. I figured the more scrubbers, foams, and serums involved—the more beautiful my skin would be.
Despite trying a variety of these special (and expensive!) products, I was never truly happy with my skin. My face was always extremely dry, and I had little white bumps that popped up in clusters on my face on a regular basis.
Then, one day—common sense hit me. Why would adding more unnatural compounds to my skin somehow be more beneficial for me? If it was important to me to eat nourishing foods free of hydrogenated oils, color additives, preservatives, and synthetic ingredients, why would I be putting that kind of stuff on my face?
So, I stopped. But then I quickly found myself with a dirty face, and nothing to clean it with. Kinnnd of a problem.
Enter: The Oil Cleansing Method
While it may seem counterintuitive to clean your face with coconut oil, the oil cleansing method is quite possibly the purest, most effective way to remove dirt, impurities and yes—even oil from your face.
And the idea is actually quite simple. Using the principle of “like dissolves like,” the basic concept is this: the natural oil you massage into your skin dissolves the oil that has hardened on your skin with impurities and/or clogged your pores. When you apply steam from a hot wash cloth onto your face, the pores open and the natural oil lifts the dirty oil, which can be easily wiped away. This practice cleans your face, and moisturizes your skin at the same time.
I know—I didn’t believe it at first either. In fact, I did such a remarkable amount of research on the oil cleansing method, how it worked, and what oils to use that I completely paralyzed myself from trying anything because I didn’t know where to start.
But, I still had a dirty face. So, I had to put on my big girl panties and git ‘er done.
Enter: Coconut Oil Face Washing
As you can tell, I’m a big fan of using coconut oil for skin care. I use it in a ton of different ways, including as a moisturizer for my body. Since I had previous experience with coconut oil for moisturizing, I was a little bit more comfortable experimenting with coconut oil face washing, and one evening—I finally decided to give it a try.
Now, I’ve been washing my face with coconut oil for quite a few years, and not only does my skin never feel dry (even in the winter), I also haven’t had a blemish on my face in years. Not. Even. Lying. Using coconut oil on my face was the best thing I’ve ever done for my skin (and my feet, because now I have way more money to spend on cute shoes.)
Why is coconut oil so fantastic for washing your face using the oil cleansing method? Not only is it antimicrobial, full of antioxidants, and super moisturizing, it also has been shown to work well for all skin types. And because it improves collagen cross-linking, coconut oil may help improve stretch marks, scars, and fine lines and wrinkles.
Interested in using coconut oil to clean your face, or using coconut oil for skin care? Good, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the results.
Jump to:
How to Clean Your Face With Coconut Oil
What You’ll Need:
1 tsp coconut oil (I recommend organic, unrefined coconut oil. Purchase in bulk here.)
1 washcloth (I use a Norwex Body Cloth)
1 face
Directions:
- Step 1: Put coconut oil into the palm of your hand
- Step 2: Warm the oil up in your hands by rubbing your hands back and forth
- Step 3: Gently massage the oil into your face using small, circular strokes for 1 minute
- Step 4: Rinse a washcloth under very warm water, wring out the excess water, and let the cloth sit on your face for 30 seconds
- Step 5: Gently wipe the oil off of your face with the wash cloth
- Step 6: Repeat step 4 and step 5 if necessary
- Step 7: Admire your clean and moisturized face in the mirror
Want to kick it up a notch? You can add essential oils like tea tree oil (oily skin), lavender oil (all skin types) or geranium oil (dry skin). Simply add 1-3 drops per teaspoon of coconut oil and mix well.
Tips & Tricks for Cleaning Your Face with Coconut Oil
First and foremost, if you’ve never used coconut oil on your face, test it on a small section of your skin and see how you react for about a week.
Not everyone will react the same to coconut oil, and a small number of people may experience an increase in comedogenic acne when using coconut oil on their face. If that’s the case, a different oil will work best using the same process described above, which is known as the oil cleansing method.
Read more about using coconut oil for skin care for a more in-depth discussion regarding coconut oil for skin, and what to do if coconut oil doesn’t work for you.
You may experience a minor “detox” reaction with the oil cleansing method. While I didn’t experience this personally, because you are performing a “deeper” clean, you may experience a small increase in breakouts for 2-3 weeks as the dirty oil is brought to the surface. Believe me, the clearer skin on the other end is worth it!
Before and After Cleaning Your Face with Coconut Oil
In most cases, you will not need to worry about removing your makeup prior to washing your face with coconut oil. Coconut oil is a fantastic makeup remover, and it will all come off when using the oil cleansing method. If you have some heavy duty or waterproof eye makeup on, I highly recommend using this Instant Eye Makeup Remover, which has absolutely no mineral oil or silicones and uses a blend of coconut oil, macadamia nut oil, cornflower extract, and vitamin E to remove eye makeup with ease.
When using the oil cleansing method, it’s ok to rub some of the oil gently on your eyelids, but please refrain from getting it in your eyes, unless you want everything to be blurry for the next half an hour. (Yes, I speak from experience.)
Right after cleaning your face, you’ll want to use my DIY Apple Cider Vinegar Facial Toner to freshen skin and remove any excess residue. This has helped my pours tremendously and always removes that little bit of dirt I seem to miss.
After using this method for some time, it’s likely that you will no longer need to put additional moisturizer on your face. Given that I always had dry skin, I made the mistake of moisturizing with more coconut oil, which ended up being too much oil for my skin. First, see how your skin does without moisturizer. If you end up feeling dry after the coconut oil face cleansing + DIY Apple Cider Vinegar Facial Toner, or want a moisturizing serum to use after cleansing.
How often?
Because the oil cleansing method is a deep cleansing method, it’s best to wash your face with coconut oil no more than once a day, preferably at night before bed. If you still want to wash your face in the morning or freshen up after a workout, you can splash your face with water or wipe your face with a damp Norwex Body Cloth. Then, follow up with my DIY Apple Cider Vinegar Facial Toner.
If you feel like that isn’t enough for you and you really want to clean your face in the morning, try using a simple detoxifying cleanser, like this Charcoal Cleansing Bar. I typically use the charcoal bar after working out to clean my skin (before putting on makeup), and clean my face with coconut oil in the evening before bed.
I personally do not recommend doing the oil cleansing method more than once a day early on because it is a deep cleansing method and exposing your skin to heavier oils multiple times a day may result is breakouts. For me, doing it once a day is perfect. When I do it twice a day, my skin becomes overly moisturized.
Type, Storage, and Tidbits
For skin care, I recommend going with an unrefined, virgin coconut oil. I personally use Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil (I get in the gallon size) or Nutiva Coconut Oil.
As for storage, coconut oil is solid at room temperature. This means, you’ll need to store your coconut oil in a wide-mouth glass jar so you can scoop it out with a teaspoon or your finger when you’d like to use it. I use mini Weck jars to store things like coconut oil or baking soda all throughout the house.
Coconut oil’s melting point is 77 degrees Fahrenheit, so it will be liquid at temperatures above this. This is OK, and you can still use coconut oil to clean your face no matter what temperature it is where you are.
Using Other Oils for The Oil Cleansing Method
Coconut oil is just one of the many oils you can use to wash your face using the oil cleansing method. So, if coconut oil doesn’t work for you, you can use the exact same step-by-step process listed above with other oils or oil combinations.
In fact, the traditional oil cleansing method encourages using a blend of oils because you can reap the nourishing benefits of each. If you’d like to use a blend of oils, you’ll want to use an “astringent” oil, and a “carrier” oil. Here’s how it’s done:
Blending Your Oils
First, you’ll want to choose your “astringent” oil. This oil will do a very good job at cleansing your skin, aka doing the dirty work. Your two options for this are:
- Castor Oil: Great for all skin types, but especially acne-prone skin
- Hazelnut Oil: Great for all skin types
Next, you’ll want to choose your “carrier” oil. This oil carries the astringent oil deep into your pours, and nourishes the skin at the same time. The most popular options for this are:
- Jojoba Oil: Great for all skin types
- Avocado Oil: Great for dry skin
- Pure Sunflower Oil: Great for combination skin
- Sweet Almond Oil: Great for oily skin
Now, on to blending your oils! You can mix your oils ahead of time and put them in a bottle. My general guidelines are as follows:
- Oily Skin: 30% astringent oil, 70% carrier oil
- Combination Skin: 20% astringent oil, 80% carrier oil
- Dry Skin: 5-10% astringent oil, 90-95% carrier oil
Tips & Tricks for Blending Oils
First, always try to purchase high-quality, organic, and cold-pressed (or pure) oils when purchasing ones to wash your face. These oils will be going deep into your skin, and you don’t want to be taking pesticides and residue along with it.
If you have sensitive skin, I recommend starting with no more than 10% astringent oil. From there, you can increase the amount of astringent oil depending on how your skin feels. It may take a little experimenting to find your perfect blend, and that’s ok!
No matter what your skin type is, it’s best to test any blended oils you’ve chosen on a small patch of your skin, especially if you reacted to coconut oil. If you’re allergic or have a sensitivity to a specific ingredient that is part of an oil, you should not put it on your skin. Capiche?
And finally, if you’re lazy and want the easy route like me, you can use any carrier oil exclusively using the oil cleansing method. My choice is obviously just using coconut oil. Ain’t no shame in my game.
Will you try to wash your face with coconut oil? How did coconut face washing work for you? Let me know how it goes, and any questions you have below!
AJ says
Quick question – Do you use your Norwex cloth to clean off the oil? I totally clean my face in with just water and the Norwex cloth and then moisturize with the oil. Does the oil gunk up the microfiber in the Norwex body cloth?
Noelle says
AJ – YES I do! I actually find it holds up well! I always wash them in very hot water with a little extra detergent and they clean up nicely!
Adrian says
Hello. I am curious to know, can you apply tje coconut oil and then shower to wash it off or it has to be done as you explained
Noelle says
You can absolutely do it in the shower! Just bring a cloth with you to hold it over your face and wipe it off as explained. 🙂
Amy says
Hi, when you use the coconut oil face cleansing method does your face dry up and do you need to use and some type of face lotion?
Noelle says
I typically don’t need it (as stated above), but if you do – try this DIY Facial Moisturizer.
May says
Hello Noelle,
I have oily skin, can I use the coconut oil every day for cleansing and make up remover? How often should i use it together with the astringent oil?
Thank you
Noelle says
Hi May! Coconut oil can be great for all skin types! Please read Coconut Oil for Skin: Everything You Need to Know for more info. Also, how much you need to use, and the ratio will be specific to YOU. So, experiement! 🙂
Hoang Nguyen says
First and foremost, thankyou for you detailed research. I just have a few question regarding the use of coconut oil. I’m a man and i have oily acne-prone skin. After i used coconut oil on my face, it felt very smooth but at the same time kinda oily and when i used my oil film on my face it did become clear. SO i went in the shower and clean my face again under hot water and use my tee tree cleanser. After that, my face felt very smooth and clean for about 5 mins and then it became dry so i had to put some ACV on. SO my questions are do i keep cleaning my face with the hot cloth instead of washing it with the cleanser? ALso do i need to wash my face and pat dry first before applying any coconut oil? How often a week should i use it? I want to use coconut oil but at the same time im terrified of leaving excess oil on my face and create more acne. Cleaning my face again with the cleanser remove that “oily” feeling but then my face become too dry so in a sense it kinda defeat the purpose of moistrurixing my face. PLS HELP
Noelle says
Hi Hoang! You are so welcome! I would not recommend using the face wash after cleaning your face with coconut oil. This method DOES clean your face. So, do the OCM with the coconut oil, and then use the ACV toner afterwards. If you feel a bit dry after that, use this DIY Face Serum. I recommend doing this once a day, preferably at night. Excess oils on your face is not the root cause of acne. It CAN cause comedogenic acne for some people – and you can read about that in Coconut Oil for Skin: Everything You Need to Know. Experiment with seeing how your skin responds to the OCM for a few days so you can understand how your face reacts! Hope that helps!
Hoang Nguyen says
Hey Noelle it’s Hoang again. I’ve been trying out this out and so far i loved it. IT’s so good to know that you’re active and willing to answer questions that we have. I have a few more wuestions this time though. LOL. Even tho i have a acne prone and oily face, the rest of my body is very dry . Now it’s winter time here in CA and i whole body got feel very dry and flaky. Finger tips and knuckles are the worst, they’re chapped, dry and bleed ( hurts too sometimes) So i wanna know if i can use coconut oil in my body wash to hopefully moisturize it? if so what male body wash do u recommend or any other method that could help. Again thank you so much. I’m looking forward to hearing back from u!
Noelle says
Hi Hoang! I personally use Dr. Bronner’s Soap in the shower, which is a coconut oil based soap, and then use a moisturizer like coconut oil afterwards. I also highly recommend Tropical Traditions Moisturizing Cream for dry hands and feet. You will LOVE it. It’s made from coconut oil – but also includes a few other nourishing ingredients. It’s thick and works incredibly well. Hope that helps!
Sallie says
I am brand new to this site and the whole idea if cleansing my face with coconut oil. Being a redhead my skin needs care for sun protection. I am also 69 years young. My question is: what do you recommend for sunscreen for the body as well as the face. I use it on my face year round.
Thanks, and I am loving your blog. My pastor’s wife turned me on to coconut oil!!
Sallie
your blog
Noelle says
Hi Sallie! I love Badger sunscreen. I also recommend this homemade sunscreen. Hope that helps!
amy says
hi mam i just wanna ask if coconut oil can help to reduce freckles..?
Noelle says
Amy – no, I don’t think it will. I think that you should adore your freckles instead! You are beautiful with them. 🙂
Brock Price says
You are most certinaly beautiful with freckles if you accept them. Really if you tell yourself again and again “I love myself and my freckles” you really will learn to love them!
Melanie says
Hi there , just thought i’d reply to your comment. You can make sunscreen with coconut oil by mixing it with Zinc Oxide powder. 🙂
Aimee says
Hi,
It’s summer here and I was wondering about a daily skincare routine.
Toner in the morning then coconut oil and toner again at night sounds good. Any suggestions for sun protection in the morning?
Also you don’t need to use any eye cream or anything at night?
Noelle says
Hi Aimee! You can use sunscreen daily and include it in your routine. Just put it on after you use toner. I recommend going with a more natural sunscreen like Primal Life Organics.
Kathy says
Hello. I read that you do not use coconut oil everyday. Your days off from using it you use your DIY face wipes. I’m wondering, what do you use for moisturizing your face twice a day then?
Thanks
Dgapl says
Hey hey hey . ???????? your site! Question : Can I use microfiber cloths that are meant to clean the house (those you get in the supermarket) because I don’t find any microfiber cloth especially for face here.. And I find cotton cloths to be more harsh.. Thank you ????
Noelle says
Hi there! No, I would not recommend the cleaning cloths. You’ll want to use a specific microfiber wash cloth that’s meant for skin.
Anna says
You’re a scottie! Which year did you graduate?
Ross says
Hi Noelle! There are many types of Coconut oils out there, I wanted to try it as a makeup remover and as a lotion. I know that a big gallon of VCO is multipurpose but, if I buy a VCO labelled as a make up remover, can I also use it as a mosturizer or lotion? I am wondering if there is a difference in the process the oils were produced and maybe that is why they are labelled for cooking, makeup remover and mosturizer. They all look the same to me, just labelled differently. Please let me know what you think.
Noelle says
Hi Ross! As long as the ingredients simply read “virgin coconut oil”—the product is the same… only marketed in a different way. 🙂
Danna says
Heya I was just wondering could you use the coconut oil that you use for hair or is the coconut oil specifically for the face I’m really confused could you help me please. Thanks
Noelle says
Hi Danna! Coconut oil is coconut oil. So, what you use to cook with in the kitchen, you can also use for your skin and hair.
Danna says
Hi Noelle and thank you so much for answering my question. But really the question was about the type of cocunut oil. So I have coconut oil that is specifically for my hair can u use that to wash my face or does it have to be the coconut oil that is used in the kitchen??
Noelle says
Hi Danna! There isn’t a coconut oil that is specifically for hair. Coconut oil is just coconut oil. So, as long as the ingredients say “coconut oil” then you can use it however you’d like. If it’s a specific hair product that contains coconut oil, then it’s not coconut oil.
Cora says
I didn’t start breaking out until about three years ago, and it’s been awful since. Blackheads on my cheeks and forehead, the kind that if you cover up with makeup look like tiny mountain ranges on your face. Yuck. Ive spent so much money on name brand skin products, and nothing has worked like this regime. I’m still only on week 2, so I have a few new breakouts here and there but they’re gone the next day and my old patches are clearing up. I. Love. This. I wake up in the morning to see my skin happy and healthy! Thank you SO much for sharing! I wish I would have done this years ago ❤️
Lourdes Layton says
Quick question, can I apply my Retin A and other skin care serums after cleansing my face with coconut oil?
Noelle says
Absolutely!
Madeline says
Can you use other facial products when you also use coconut oil?
Noelle says
Sure!
Lenlen Abrasaldo says
Hi? Is coconut oil effective on the drying pimples? Does it really fade the marks?
Noelle says
See more: Coconut Oil for Skin: Everything You Need to Know
DIVYANSH TRIPATHY says
thanks for such a nice information
thanks
Mary Mcmurdo says
You talk about finishing with apple cider vinegar but you have not given a recipe or instructions. Do you use it full strength and do you rinse it off when finished.
Noelle Tarr, NTP, CPT says
Hi Mary! It’s linked. Just click on it and you’ll be taken to the recipe.
Valerie says
Hi! I’m confused — can you use just the coconut oil for cleansing or do you have to blend it with an astringent oil?
Noelle says
Hi Valerie! You can absolutely use JUST coconut oil, which is what people refer to as a “carrier” oil. If you have more acne prone skin, or find that just coconut oil isn’t doing it for you – you can blend a small amount of astringent oil with the coconut oil (or any of the other carrier oils listed above.)
Sarah says
@Valerie I use only coconut oil to remove my makeup. Its oily texture overcomes all the makeup. I t is just a blessing,
Kate says
Just used coconut oil with a few drops of lavender in, it is truly a wonderful method for cleansing. Love it and will be telling everyone. Thank you.❤️
Noelle says
Kate, that’s so good to know. And I’ll have to try that, it sounds like a great right-before-bed relaxing face cleanse. 🙂 Thank you for your sweet comment, and for following the blog!
Peyton says
i love this idea thanks !!.. do you have to use the norwex cloth or can you use just a normal cloth
Noelle says
Hi Peyton! No – you do not have to use a Norwex cloth. Any type of wash cloth or small towel will work just fine. I use the Norwex cloth because it’s antimicrobial, and it works great with just water when I want to clean my face in between oil cleansing sessions.
Sharon says
How do they make the cloths antimicrobial? Is it natural? Thanks.
Noelle says
With silver – and yes! You can read all about them on their website. 🙂
Elizabeth says
Thank you for this great info! I have also been doing a ton of research on the oil pulling method for face, and experienced the same kind of feeling of ‘I’d like to do it but where do I start?!!’. I think this has inspired me to give it a go! Can I pre-mix my oils in a bigger jar or is it recommended to only mix the oils right before cleansing? I was thinking of doing the castor oil with coconut mix and adding a few drops of lavender
Noelle says
Hi Elizabeth! Awesome. SO glad you’re going to give it a try! When mixing with coconut oil – I would recommend mixing just beforehand given that coconut oil will go hard just below room temperature. You can mix the oils beforehand if you use two “liquid” oils – just make sure they are well-combined before pouring in your hand. In other words, you don’t want to get too much castor oil in the mix if you are sensitive to it. 🙂
Elizabeth says
Great! Thank you. I thought maybe if the coconut oil was a little softer I would be able to mix small batches. I travel for work and I’m pretty literal, so doing the whole 30/70 ratio would mean I’m bringing measuring spoons 😉 I wasn’t sure if this would have an affect on the benefits of the oils though.
Also, you mention that you only do this a few times a week and other times you just use the Norwex cloth. Does the Norwex cloth remove makeup? Or do you always do oil cleansing when you wear makeup?
Noelle says
The Norwex cloth DOES remove make up. I have three Norwex “body” cloths, and the three Norwex makeup cloths. I rub just a little bit of coconut oil into my eye lashes if I use waterproof mascara, but other than that – warm water and the Norwex cloth works great. Make sure to use an toner (like this one) afterwards! 🙂
sereny says
well i tried cocunut water and after applying it overnight for two days i finally had break outs with the remaining scar of the acne which i already have …urhhhh i am 27 qand it really sucks to have break out every other time and now cocunut water cancelled it off my list and i am gonna try fresh cocunut oil from the cocunuts and then do as u say like massage it on the face for around 30 minutes and wash it off with garnier multi action fairness face wash because it has done wonders to reduce the marks not eliminate it but to certain level although i still have acne and its marks so really want to wake up in the morning and find the confidence to walk in with a clear face ..so cocunut oil lets see ur magic and if it does work then cheers to all the gurls who just gave me this idea and ofcourse this blog……
Bob says
Can I use 2 carrier oils instead of one astringent oil and one carrier oil?
Noelle says
YES! 🙂
Susie says
So would you recommend starting the OCM a few times a week and building up to doing it on a daily basis, or continue with just a few times a week for the long run? Also, should I start the OCM first or the apple cider vinegar method first (so my skin doesn’t go into shock…or won’t it?) THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS ARTICLE!
Noelle says
Hi Susie! I think that sounds like a good plan. If you don’t have to – I don’t recommend doing the OCM everyday. BUT – if you are in a situation that you need to, and your face tolerates it well, that is absolutely OK! Make sure to do a patch test first, and after that, move up to doing it 2-3 times a week, and see how you do. I would try integrating the ACV first (at your appropriate ratio) since it’s a bit easier and can be easily swapped out for conventional toner. Once you’re comfortable with that, try using the OCM to wash your face, and then follow up with the ACV. Thanks Susie!! Let me know how it goes. 🙂
Sharon L says
My questions are related to the cloth. Do you use each cloth more than once or do you wash them after each use? Do you hand wash them?
Noelle Tarr, NTP, CPT says
I just wash them in the laundry as normal!
Cynthia says
Wanna know what I do when I want a little exfoliating scrub involved? I add bit of sugar to the oil when I’m scrubbing my face. I don’t add too much, but I found that it helps my pores sorta pep up when I’ve had really long day or need a deeper cleanse. I can’t tell you how much money I’ve saved by using coconut oil as a cleanser. My face feels better and I feel like it looks hydrated without being overly oily.
Noelle says
Awesome, Cynthia. Thanks for the tip!
Catie says
Noelle,
I have been doing the same thing for nearly a year now. i’ve actually all but banished soap from any routine (i still shampoo and condition my hair like normal though) i still go through the “motions” of washing with a SUPER soft washcloth and use soap on the “P’s” because it makes me feel fresh, but i slather coconut oil face to feet whilst still wet from the warm shower then towel off the excess. after brushing my teeth, i grabe a gob of coconut oil and a little hot water and massage it into my face, towel off, then repeat but rinse with cold water and simply dab the excess water from my face. this last part is my “moisturizer”. I have NEVER been happier with the skin i have. people comment regularly how young i look and my husband often brags about how soft my skin is. People suffering from skin conditions need to try this!!
Noelle says
So awesome, Catie! Thanks for sharing your experience! 🙂
Jackie Jolie says
Hi!
First of all, thank you so much for doing your research and writing these easy instructions on both the oil cleansing and the ACV toner…I am the same and like to look up all information on something I want to try! 🙂 I have been 80/20 Paleo for about 6 years now and still struggle with a few digestive issues which i know lead to my breakouts. I too dont want to pay a ton of money for all these products, even ones I have come across lately that are considered “green” and “mostly organic” because yes when I start them they do well but then my face seems to plateau with them and go right back to breakouts.
I have been researching oil pulling and cleansing a lot lately but just wasnt sure on the “how to” so again, I really appreciate your articles here…
I started tonight for a 30 day trial of just oil cleansing at night with coconut oil and using the 1:1 ACV ratio as a toner (i have oily skin)…I also have my Norwex face cloths on their way!
Few questions:
1. Did you switch to only doing the oil cleanse 2-3/week because you found the oil to end up being too much oil for your face if using every night?
2. The nights you are not using oil cleansing you are only using ACV toner on your face and still feel it cleans well?
3. Are you using any other product for under your eyes?
4. Silly question, but since the Norwex cloths are antibacterial how many times will you use the same washcloth before switching? Do you just let them air dry after using?
THANK YOU for your time and I look forward to your response! 🙂
Jackie
Noelle says
Hi Jackie! Excited to hear how your experiment goes! GREAT questions by the way. Hopefully I can provide some helpful insight. 🙂 1. I honestly haven’t tried doing the OCM more than a couple times a week – simply because I’m slightly lazy, and for most of the week – I don’t put on makeup. If I wore makeup everyday, or had an exceptionally dirty job – I would most likely do the OCM each day – but I would probably just use coconut oil some days, and the the oil combination on others. Test it out – and see how you do. Your skin may be able to tolerate it. 2. YES! I use my norwex cloth with warm water, and then the ACV. 3. No, but, there are some great ones on the market! 4. I use them 1-3 times before throwing in the wash. I try to use one half (or quarter) of the norwex cloth, and then move on to the other half the next night. Makes sense? Hope that helped. Let me know how it goes Jackie!!
Alexis says
I am wondering if I can use this to remove my face makeup. I like full coverage so i use MAC.. Heavier on the face.. Can I just use the coconut oil, and my clairsonic!? I am really desperate my face has FREAKED out the past 2 weeks and I cannot handle it anymore.. Also sick of spending money on crap products!! Thanks in advance!!!
Noelle says
Hi Alexis. So sorry to hear about your troubles. Have you been under any new stress in the past week? Eaten anything that might have stimulated the breakout? Your skin is your largest detoxification organ – so it’s a big representation of what’s going on in the gut. You can definitely use this to remove makeup, however – because it also removes all oil and dirt, you don’t need to use anything else afterwards. Since you have sensitive skin, I would start out with jojoba oil and just a tiny bit of castor oil. I’m not sure what clairsonic is, so I can’t speak to that. Please let me know how it goes! Good luck!
Alexis says
Ok awesome thanks!! The clairsonic is a handheld spinning brush for your face..
Coree says
By all means is OCM WITH A very hot washcloth and then use a mild cleanser. This called a double cleanse. I like Dermalogica it’s a great line use
any thing you like would work as well.
beccaolivieri says
I have extremely oily and acne prone skin. Should I continue using acne cream after I wash with coconut oil or should I skip it altogether?
Noelle says
Hi Becca! It’s really different for everyone – as acne can be the result of many difference things. Why don’t you try to keep your normal routine first – only changing the fact that you have introduced the coconut oil as a cleanser. After you know whether that works for you or not – then move on to changing other aspects of your routine. Hope that helps! 🙂
Renee says
Hi! I use cetaphil on my skin in the morning and at night. I have combonation skin. If I start this oil cleansing method 3-4 times a week at night what do I do in between? just wash with water and tone?
Noelle says
Hi Renee! Yes, you can do that. I recommend using a Norwex cloth (anti-bacterial) with warm water. Hope that helps. 🙂
Jenne says
I’m very interested in trying this but was wondering if I could use fractionated coconut oil or if it needs to the be cold pressed in order to be effective for cleaning? I plan to combine with castor oil for my acne prone skin, so was thinking it’d be better to use the liquid oil instead. Thoughts?
Noelle says
Hi Jenne! Many of the nourishing, moisturizing benefits of coconut oil exist in it’s whole, cold-pressed form. But, if you are prone to comedogenic acne, it’s actually best to use fractioned coconut oil as it’s non-comedogenic. So, I would say test it out – see how it works for you, and if you aren’t getting the results you want – try the cold-pressed coconut oil. Hope that helps! 🙂
Kimberly says
Hi Noelle! I’m so happy I found you! I love cleansing with coconut oil. I’ve been using the OCM for three weeks (the first two with Nutiva brand whole cold-pressed coconut oil & the third week mixed with NOW brand Castor oil). I am still waiting for the “good skin on the other side”. I must be extremely congested because my forehead is full of blackheads. I also have been using the Norwex clothes. I wear make-up everyday, so I’m cleansing every night. I also use the ACV toner 1:2 ratio–as I have always been acne prone. I’ve lived on Benzyl Peroxide 10% products for years. Just wondering if this 47 year old with acne-prone skin & fine lines should change something or continue to wait…was hoping for a 4 week decongestion, but it may take longer. ???
Noelle says
Hi Kim! Thank you so much for your comments. I’m so glad you’re trying out more natural skincare for yourself! As I’m not an expert on acne, or a medical professional of any sort – it’s hard for me to make a recommendation. If I were you, I would give it another week or two, and see if it clears up at all. Also, you might want to increase the amount of castor oil you use to see if that helps with the acne. Did the blackheads appear after you started the OCM routine? Or, have they always been there? Also – keep in mind that what appears on your skin is often the result of something that is going on in the gut. The skin is the largest detoxification organ, and acne is correlated often with intolerances to specific foods, inflammation in the gut, and then of course – topical reactions. Hope that helps a bit! Let me know how it goes. 🙂
Nami says
Thank you so much for the info Noelle but I’m a bit confused, after washing off the oil with the cloth do you moisturize your face with coconut oil or just lotion?
Noelle says
Hi Nami! That is totally OK. I love hearing from people and answering questions! Sorry for the confusion. I choose to NOT moisturize after I clean my face with coconut oil. When I first started using the OCM, I moisturized with jojoba oil after because I was used to the whole “clean, tone, and moisturize” process. But, it actually caused my face to break out more. Once I stopped using any moisturizer after washing my face with coconut oil, my face completely cleared up. Because coconut oil isn’t drying like most facial cleansers, you will most likely find you DON’T need to do any sort of moisturizer afterwards. If you end up feeling like you do need to moisturize because you feel a bit dry (due to the climate you live in), you CAN use jojoba oil (or another light oil) as a light moisturizer at anytime throughout the day. Hope that helps! 🙂
Nami says
Oh OK, thank you so much for the reply and article it was very useful!
mona says
Thank you so much for sharing this Noelle. I was wondering in the First step can I add some sugar to the coconut oil and massage?
Noelle says
Hi Mona! You are so welcome. Sugar (or sea salt) and oil is actually a great way to exfoliate your skin. I would, however, do that SEPARATE from washing your face with the coconut oil. You want the coconut oil (or other oil) you use in the OCM to go deep into your pours, and pull up impurities. Adding sugar won’t allow it to do that. Some people choose to exfoliate once or twice a week in the morning, and then do the OCM in the evening. You could also lightly exfoliate before you do the OCM, and then do the OCM as listed above. Hope that makes sense!
Katy says
Hi, are you meant to do this mornings and evenings or just evenings? Also, are you supposed to wash off the apple cider vinegar off after using it because it smells very strong! Thanks
Noelle says
Hi Katy! I explain in this post that it really depends on the person how often you can do the OCM. But, in general, you should do it no more than once a day and in the evening. Also, the ACV spray completely loses all smell once it dries. So, you should use it just like a normal toner and don’t wipe it off. Thanks for your support! 🙂
Katy says
Thanks, do you cleanse your face in the morning then? Or have any suggestions of natural ways to do it? Thanks
Noelle says
Just some toner to freshen up should do it! You can also use water and a norwex cloth! 🙂
Leah says
Coconut oil is very drying for my skin and everywhere else lists it as an astringent oil. I use 50:50 coconut and olive oils with a bit of extra jojoba added, and Rosemary and lavender. I make up a big jar of it by melting down the coconut oil- but if you blend it in the food processor it makes an awesome paste. People asking about making batches- either melt coconut oil, add essential oil and pour into jar to reset or blend up to make a soufflé like consistency. No need to mix it up each time.
Noelle says
Hi Leah! Sorry to hear that coconut oil was drying for you. Some people don’t do well with it for various reasons – which is why I always recommend testing it out on a small patch of skin beforehand. The good news is, coconut oil is not an astringent oil, as astringents contain chemical properties that are known for roughening, drying out, and tightening biological tissue. The four main oils with these properties are castor, grapeseed, hazelnut, and borage oil. These oils get their astringent properties from certain polyphenolic compounds. Could you direct me to where there is an article that lists coconut oil as an astringent? In my research for the article above, and today – I couldn’t find one. Great tip on making oil blends in bulk! Once folks find the right ratio, I’m sure that will be super helpful! I typically change my ratio depending on the weather and how my skin feels, so I don’t mind just pouring it directly into my hands. Thanks for your support! 🙂
Fazela says
I have sensitive skin and have rosacea. I am also prone to breakouts. Right now I use Cetaphil to cleanse my face & use rosehip oil as a moisturizer. Do you think I should start cleansing with coconut oil & continue with my normal routine?
Noelle says
Hi Fazela! Because I don’t know your skin personally, and I’m not a dermatologist, I can’t make that decision for you. However, I think it is something that may be worth experimenting with! Since you skin is sensitive, I definitely recommend testing any new changes out first on a small patch of your skin. And, it may be helpful to only change one variable each time instead of making a bunch of changes at once. If something doesn’t work out (like a specific oil, for example), try a different one that you think make work for your skin based on the information above. Have patience throughout the process – and let me know how it goes! 🙂
Stephanie Myers says
Love the oil mixing tips! I’m super nervous about starting to do this – but you’re post is inspiring me to grab some pure coconut oil after work and give it a try! I’m going to start with just coconut oil like you did…and see what happens – or maybe grab some lavender too because who doesn’t love that mix!? Thanks!!
Noelle says
Stephanie – I’m SO glad you loved the tips! Have fun experimenting… lavender and tea tree oil are MY FAVS. Let me know how it goes! 🙂
Erika Kellogg says
Giving the coconut oil face wash a try, started it tonight.really excited to try this after all the good things I’ve read about it! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Heather says
Hi Noelle! (Love the name-my daughters middle name) I have been washing with Coconut oil for a few days and love the results! I have adult acne and hyper pigmentation. I feel like the coconut oil is calming my skin and helping with the redness. However, I notice that my skin feels a bit dryer than normal (usually pretty oily). Is this caused by over use of the coconut oil? I have been washing morning and night. After reading that you use 3-4 times a week, I feel like I might be over doing it. What do you suggest I use on off days?
Noelle says
Heather – thanks for sharing your experiences! 🙂 I would definitely recommend switch to doing just at night. When you wake up, your face can be simply “revitalized” with a toner, like the ACV toner. You can also use Norwex clothes and a bit of water. After doing this – if you still feel a bit dry, simply use a small bit of jojoba oil on your “dry” spots. 🙂 Hope that helps!
Karen says
Hi Noelle, I have been doing research on more natural remedies, such as the ACV toner as well as using ACV for heartburn/GERD. I am going to give the coconut oil cleanse a try and will let everyone know how it goes!
Noelle says
Awesome! Looking forward to it. 🙂
Kate Jaeger says
I have been cleansing my face with coconut oil for a week now and am so very satisfied with the results. I have normal skin and seldom have breakouts. I drink a gallon of water a day and avoid putting unnatural/synthetic ingredients in my body and on my body, that I am sure is a contributing factor to my skin being in such good condition to begin with. That said, I love love love knowing that I can eat my facial cleanser and that my toner can be used to remedy heartburm. I made my toner using a tea of lavender, chamomile, and mint with Apple Cider Vinegar. I started with distilled water to make the tea to cut out any chance of bacterial growth. I also found that a 1:1 ratio was too strong and tingly so I went with a 2:1 tea to ACV. I also added a few drops of lavender essential oil as it is antibacterial and antifungal. I keep my toner in a spray bottle and make it in small batches.
Thank you for your article I can’t help but share this with all of my friends!
Noelle says
That is so awesome Kate! Thank you for sharing your experience – I love hearing other people’s success stories, and I know many other people can benefit from hearing it as well! 🙂 Thanks for the shares – it means the world to me!
Alondra says
Hi noelle I just came across your page and recently started the OCM and was wondering if instead of the ACV toner I could use Dickinsons witch hazel?
Noelle says
I’m sure you can! I personally haven’t tried that before. If you find a good recipe – come back here and let me know!
Ruby says
Hi,
Thank you so much for the article and all the tips. This is the first time I’ve commented on anything online. I’m 32 and have struggled with acne since my preteen years. I also have scars/ dark spots from acne and a few age spots that developed during my pregnancy 2 years ago. I started using baking soda as a scrub with my normal skincare regiment a few weeks ago and then added coconut oil. I have been doing a lot of research on switching to all natural products, and last night decided to stop using all of my other products and give natural products a try. I used an acv 1:1 toner last night and rinsed it off after about 15 minutes because I read it can be too strong in the beginning. Also, the smell is pretty intense. Then I moisturized with coconut oil. This morning I used a baking soda and water mask and then coconut oil. After reading a couple of articles and a bunch of comments, I am going to try the ocm tonight with my beloved coconut oil. I’m so nervous, but I figure what have I got to lose. I really appreciate your regiment idea, because I’ve been a bit of a product junkie, and I like that I can still have some steps to follow 🙂
Sorry I wrote so much! I would like to know your thoughts on baking soda. It makes my skin feel nice and clean (its been so hard for me to give up soap! ). Also, what do you think about witch hazel and cornstarch? Honey? Tea tree oil? Would you recommend adding any of these to my regiment and how?
Thank you so much.
Noelle says
Ruby! Thank you so much for your comment. I’m so happy you are moving towards a more natural skincare routine. As for baking soda, I think it’s a great addition to your routine! In fact, I use baking soda personally for exfoliation. I wouldn’t recommend using it daily because it does exfoliate the skin, and has a very high pH. After you introduce the OCM – that will be how you “clean” your face. So, I would recommend only using the baking soda as an exfoliant once or twice a week. I haven’t personally used cornstarch, but I assume it does just about the same thing! Just make sure it isn’t from GMO corn. As for witch hazel and tea tree oil – I love both of those things! They can both be added to your ACV toner concoction. I personally add tea tree oil to my ACV toner. And – I haven’t personally used honey, but I have heard of many people using it as a restorative face mask – so, it’s good in my book! 🙂 Hope that helps. Good luck with the OCM!
Ruby says
Thank you so much for your prompt reply! Your answers really do help. I think the baking soda is drying out my lips, so I will definitely take your advice and use it less frequently. I did my first ocm and followed with the acv toner. My skin felt a bit dry after which seemed weird after all that oil, but I just left it and it feels fine now. I’m nervous about the purge, but that stuff needs to get out! Do you have a recommendation for a mask to round out my routine? Also, do you think aloe would be good to add anywhere? Sorry for so many questions and thank you so much for your help!
Noelle says
Hi Ruby! 🙂 Sounds like a good plan! As your skin adjusts, you can always use a light oil post OCM if your face does feel a bit dry. I don’t have an experience with aloe – other than for sunburns, but – I definitely recommend doing a mask with pure bentonite clay. I love the way clay makes my skin feel. It helps to pull the impurities from the skin and is a nice “deep” cleanse for pores. Hope that helps!
Lily says
Really hope this works for me. Been having terribly dry skin after having my second baby. Fingers crossed!
Nicole Fitch says
Hello..Thanks for all the tips.I am going to try this tonight.I was just wondering,how do you apply the toner to your face?
Noelle says
Hi Nicole! I do it with an organic cotton pad. 🙂
Katie says
Thank you so much for this post. It helped answer some of my questions. I had wondered if I was oil cleansing correctly. My skin has always been oily and acne prone. After washing with coconut oil for the past month, it looks better than ever. You’d never guess I ever had a problem. My pores look smaller and my blackheads are gone. I can now go without makeup or with just cc cream. I completely ditched my foundation, which is something I never dreamed I could do in my 30’s. After reading about frankinscence and its anti-aging benefits, such as wrinkle reduction and cell rejuvenation, I added it to my nightly oil cleanse around week 2. I highly recommend it. Now, trying the method on my 12 year old son. I really hope he has the same great results. Any suggestions for which oil would be best to add to his? He’s using frankinscence like me for now. Just wondering if there’s a better oil for a teen.
Kaylee says
So I have been using coconut oil for about a week now maybe a little longer and I have liked it so far it’s so much easier then a three step program but I have notices little break outs here and there (I am 17 so it could be just a normal zit lol) So is that totally normal and I should stick with it? Or no?
Noelle says
Hi Kaylee! As mentioned in this post, you may experience a slight “detox” reaction. I would give it 2-3 weeks before making a clearcut decision whether or not it works for your skin. Hope that helps! 🙂
Kaylee says
Okay, thank you! I was just wondering I’d really like not having a pimple for 6 months. That would be like heaven lol. 🙂
Jane says
Where can I get the Norwex clothes from and can I use my normal toner?
Noelle says
Hi Jane! You can get Norwex Cloths here. You can absolutely use your own toner! 🙂
Kenya says
Hi Noelle, a friend of mine has beautiful skin and told me about the coconut + Castro oil that she has done for the past year. She was getting tired of adult acne from time to time, and dry patches other times. Someone told her about it, and she swears by it. This is day one, and I can’t wait to see my skin transform in 30 days.
Noelle says
Great Kenya! Let me know how using this face washing method goes for you! 🙂
cheyenne dorothy says
Hello!!! So I have been using the Clarisonic for almost a year now and I love it. Lately I have been breaking out really bad. I’m starting to be 100% serious on my clean eating (starting The Whole 30) tomorrow. And now I am looking up more natural ways to work with my face! I am thinking of using the oils with my clarisonic at night, toning with ACV and possibly argan or jojoba oil after depending on how it feels. In the morning possibly using honey, lemon mix for face cleansing with the ACV toner again. Here’s my question, I wear makeup. I use good primer though. Should I experiment without any foundation or should I just go ahead and use my good primer with my BB cream? It’s crazy what a few zits can do haha, but this all sounds so cool and maybe this happened for a reason! thank you 🙂
Noelle says
Cheyenee, first off – cheers to you! You are on the right path, and I can’t wait to see the improvements you see and feel in your life as a result of your diet and lifestyle changes! It’s going to be AWESOME. Second, it is completely up to you as to what you want to do with your makeup. I would suggest getting down the whole… washing your face with coconut oil (or other oils) and ACV toner FIRST, and then moving on to seeing if (and how much) foundation you need. Baby steps are the way to go with this. Small, incremental changes will allow you to see what works best, and what may not. Later on, you can also give this apple cider vinegar hair rinse a try! 🙂 Personally, I don’t have a very natural makeup routine yet. But, I’ve also found that I wear it less and need less now that my face is clear and glowing! Hope that helps… Thanks for the comment! Let me know how it goes!
Maddie says
Hello! So I’ve had pretty dry skin and thought to try coconut oil. So I’ve been doing your cleansing method but my skin seems to be even more dry and now flaky? Is this just an adjustment period or is it not right for me?
Noelle says
Hi Maddie! How long have you been doing it? I would make sure to give yourself enough time to “test” it out and see how your skin does after it adapts. Did you change anything else in your routine? Have you been using moisturizers after the fact? If not, try a bit of jojoba oil after the oil cleansing method. Hope that gives you something to think about! 🙂
Robyn Chinnock says
Hi
I havent had time to look at all comments unfortunatly so i don’t know if this has been aksed already? I have quite sensative skin and I really would like to try this method, do you think it will be ok for sensative skin?? Also I would prefer to use every day as I don’t like to swap and change my routine very much, so do you think this will be ok to use every day?? How do you wash your cloths? Also can this remove make up or will I have to use something to remove my make up before I use the coconut oil? Sorry for all the questions! I love this article I cannot wait to try it!!
Robyn xxx
Noelle says
Hi Robyn! It does work for sensitive skin. In the article, I give you good tips for oil blends for sensitive skin! 🙂 Yes, I think if you wanted to try this once a day – that would be OK to do so. Just make sure to do it in the evening. And it DOES work to clean off makeup! Be sure to read the entire article I wrote above as I think you’ll definitely want to take all your options into consideration. I wash my cloths in hot water in the laundry with this homemade laundry detergent. Hope that helps! 🙂
rachel says
I’ve been using the method for about a month now & seeing improvements with my skin. I use it every other night & the other night I have just been washing with the cloth & water. However, I wear make up every day (foundation, mascara, eyeliner, etc). Is water & the cloth enough to get the make up off or should I be using coconut oil every night to ensure I get all the make up off? Thank you!
Noelle says
Hi Rachel! Honestly – that is totally up to you. If you don’t feel like you’re getting all your makeup off with just the cloth, then use just a bit of coconut oil where you’d like some additional assistance. For example, coconut oil is really helpful when removing eye makeup that is hard to get off. Hope that helps a bit! Glad to hear it’s working for you!! 🙂
Kaylee says
Okay, I have been using coconut oil for a while now and I think my face got worse. I’ve had little break outs every where and not too pleased with that 🙁 So do you have any advice on what I should do?
Noelle says
Kaylee, I would stop using what you are using immediately. Let your skin breath and see how your face does without any exposure to coconut oil. If you see improvement, try another oil blend that appeals to you based on your skin type. You might have a sensitivity to comedogenic oils, so using a blend of non-comedogenic oils like castor oil and jojoba oil would be a great place to start. Let me know how it goes!
Kaylee says
Okay, thank you! I’ve heard castor oil is great for your skin, I’ve also seen people mix half coconut and half olive oil which I found so bizarre. Searching the internet to find out which method is the best is so confusing because someone always has something different they do or swear by! Lol but I’ll let you know! 🙂
Alejandra says
Noelle, I use a very heavy liquid foundation on my face every day. I’ve been using the coconut oil treatment for 2 nights now and I love the way my skin feels after but I can’t shake the feeling that my skin isn’t completely makeup free after one cleansing. I feel as if I’m almost just smearing the gross, day-old foundation all over my face when I am rubbing the oil in. Would you recommend washing my face first or removing all my foundation to let the coconut oil treatment clean deeper? How could I get a cleaner result?
Noelle says
Hi Alejandra! So glad using coconut oil as a face wash has made you skin feel so fabulous! 🙂 I would recommend going through steps #4 and #5 again. So, really take some time and rub a good amount of coconut oil deep into your pours, and then cycle through steps #4 and #5 as much as you need to. Also, if you haven’t done so, I highly recommend using this DIY Apple Cider Vinegar Facial Toner after you clean your face with coconut oil. The ACV will help to lift any leftover grime or additional makeup. I use a cotton pad to apply my apple cider vinegar toner, and often find that there is a little extra makeup that appears on the pad – especially when I use it around the edge of my face. The ACV toner also makes you face feel light and tight! 🙂 Hope that helps! Let me know how it goes!
Tana says
can i wash my face with my antibacterial bar soap then do OCM after, then follow up with my ACV toner. I have a very oily skin and prone to breakouts. What do you advice?
Noelle says
Hi Tana! I would love to help you more, but, since I’m not a dermatologist, and I don’t know anything about your skin, I can’t tell you what to do. I would experiment based on the advice in this article, and test out things to see what works best for you. I can tell you that many people find the best resolution by simply using coconut oil as a face wash (or another oil using the OCM) and ditching all other conventional soaps or scrubs, BUT – things work differently for everyone. Give yourself time to try (and adjust!) not using your antibacterial bar soap, and then using it. Hope that helps a bit! Let me know how it goes, OK?
Rose says
I used macademia oil on my face, and I reacted to it, too bad, I became over dark, pls what is ur advice
Noelle says
Stop using the macadamia oil. Please refer to other options above! Not every oil will work for everyone.
Crina says
Hi Noelle,
Great articles on using acv and coconutoil for improving skin!! I’m going to try them out tonight! I wanted to ask you about blackheads since you seem to really know skin. I have deep blackheads on my nose and chin that have been there for years. When I do try to remove them, they come right back within a week. They are extremely frustrating and I’m wondering if maybe I’m just not cleansing well enough after makeup. Any advice on what methods work for removing them? I have dry skin and very sensitive.
Noelle says
Hi Crina! I can’t give specific advice on skin issue, since of course, I’m not a dermatologist, but I really do think you might find some resolution using the OCM method. When you do it, focus on rubbing the oil (using small, circular motions) into those specific trouble areas. I still personally have black heads on my nose, but, they’ve reduced since I started using the OCM method. Hope that helps a but! Good luck! 🙂
Crina says
Thank you!! Should we be avoiding the under eye area with the acv?
Noelle says
If you’re using the right ratio, I don’t think you’ll need to. I personally don’t – however, everyone is different! 🙂
Mélika says
First article I read all the way through! I’ve researched on coconut oil before, it wasn’t the topic that was so fascinating. It’s the way you write! 🙂 Very funny and cute and I finally learned something instead of getting bored and ‘X’ing’ out!
Keep up the good job!
Noelle says
HA! Thank you, Melika! I love to educated and entertain at the same time. So glad it helped! 🙂
Robbin Vick says
the coconut oil wash and vinegar toner works wonders for my skin. When and what sunscreen should I use? I am African American and work 8hrs. a day under track lights. I am 57 yrs. of age and flashing big time.
Noelle says
Hi Robbin! So glad it’s helped your skin. Try Badger Sunscreen or Keys Sunblock. 🙂
Robbin Vick says
Should I apply it after using the vinegar toner.
Noelle says
Hi Robbin! Apply sunscreen after the apple cider vinegar toner, and just before going outside when you expect you’re going to be overexposed to the sun. I recommend using a non-toxic natural sunscreen like Badger Sunscreen or Keys Sunblock. 🙂
Noelle says
Robbin, yes, as stated above in my previous comment, apply sunscreen after the apple cider vinegar toner.
Tiffany says
How long should I try this before I see results?
Noelle says
Everyone is different, but, I’d say a good place to start is 2-3 weeks. 🙂 Hope that helps!
Pearl Philip says
I’m Indian and coconut oil is liquid in our warm climate 🙂 We’ve been using it for generations in food, cosmetics and especially on our hair. Note: It makes hair grow crazy fast and oh-so-smooth!
Loved this tutorial! I follow something similar myself. I despise store-bought cleansers and prefer to go natural! Coconut oil is so AMAZING! After I cleanse my face with it, I have bright baby-soft skin and my fine lines are plumped away. For all those who complain of breakouts using oil on the face, DON’T GIVE UP! Stick with it and the ‘purge’ period will pass! You’ll look years younger and oily skin is balanced out too. Don’t know how this works but it does. Thanks again 🙂
Jackie says
How do you use it in your hair to help growth? (process and how many times per week)
Jackie says
Hi!
I just wanted to come back and update because I see how many people you have had comment on this new way of washing your face and thought I would share my results….I asked you a few questions back in December and ordered my Norwex face clothes and started using coconut oil only as a face wash every night along with your DIY apple cider vinegar toner afterwards. I started the second week of December, so it has been about 3 months and I have to say I can’t be any happier with EVERYTHING!!!
1. The simplicity of only using 2 products and also knowing they are organic and chemical free
2. I am saving a TON of money by not buying store name brand facial cleansers
3. I have started to get a lot of compliments on how much softer, brighter, and clear my face is!
4. I LOVE the ACV toner….I work with horses so i get pretty dirty and now i just use the toner on my face midday and at night to make sure i am getting all that dust, dirt, and hair off and it works great!
I will say I still have some breakouts and definitely had a big “purge” the first two weeks of starting this new regimen…HOWEVER, I am aware that my family and I are are “zit” prone and i was also away in argentina for the holidays not really being as disciplined with my nutrition as I usually am. So having a few breakouts that i knew where they came from still didn’t detour me away from this cleansing method.
I have actually started sharing this method with all of my friends and family hoping they will give it a try! I have also gotten rid of all of my body lotions and only use coconut oil (more SAVINGs! $) Along with, I tried coconut oil as a sun/tan lotion when I was in Florida last week and LOVED it as well so i ditched all of my suntan lotions as well (MORE SAVINGS$!) ha
One more question for you…I think I would like to start using Castor oil as well because I have heard it really helps acne prone people, is there a specific brand you know is good and would recommend?
Also, have you heard or seen any difference with between using coconut oil that is solid and the liquid refined coconut oil?
THANK YOU!!! 🙂
Jackie
Noelle says
Jackie! This is AWESOME! So glad to hear how well washing your face with coconut oil, and the ACV toner is working for you! As for Castor oil, it’s great for acne prone skin because it is an “astringent” oil, which is great for going deep into pours and doing the “cleansing” (aka… the dirty work!) I used to use this castor oil and I find it’s a great brand! 🙂 The difference between the solid coconut oil (or “cold-pressed”) and the liquid fractionated coconut oil is that the liquid has the medium-chain fatty acids removed. These are incredibly nourishing, so I typically recommend sticking with a high quality, cold-pressed, organic coconut oil – especially when putting it on your face. However, for people who are prone to comedogenic acne, the liquid fractionated coconut oil is the best option because the “solid” fats are removed and therefore, won’t clog pours. Hope that helps! Thanks for your support, and for the comment! Try the Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse next!! 🙂
Jessie says
Hi!! I was wondering, I have been trying the OCM for about 10 days now and I really like it so far, but I don’t love smelling like coconut every time I use it. Could I use refined coconut oil instead since it has less scent? Thank you for the great info!
Noelle says
Absolutely, Jessie! If you don’t love the smell, that totally kills the experience! 🙂 Try a refined odorless coconut oil like this one from Vitacost.
Jessie says
Thank you so much for the info and link!
Robbin Vick says
Hi Noelle love the coconut and vinegar. I need to know when should I use sun screen and do you have any suggestions on what kind and when should I apply it.
Olivia says
Definitely want to try this, I might even pick some up tonight. My skin is dry to combination, usually getting zits and redness in my Tzone. I was wondering what you use for a moisturizer/sunblock? Preferably something spf 20 or more. Help me out? 🙂
Noelle says
Hi Olivia! I personally use coconut oil or jojoba oil for times when I feel a bit dry. If you’re looking for a good non-toxic sunscreen, go with Badger or Keys.
D says
Hello. Coconut oil is also known to help in hair growth andv usually ppl apply it on hair. Applying on face does not promote facial hair growth?
Noelle says
Hi D… you shouldn’t have that problem. 🙂 Coconut oil helps to moisturize and repair damaged hair, which is why it’s recommend in that way.
Jessica says
Hi Noelle, excellent article! I also use hemp oil to clean my face. It has a “0” comedogenic rating as far as clogging pores. I found a great video that taught me how to remove my makeup with coconut oil on Aviva Pure’s blog post.
Noelle says
Good to know! I’ll look into hemp oil more! Thanks Jessica!
Tinki says
Hi i tried it first time.My skin is too dry.I have one question after wakeing up morning we have to use normal cream for face or not.Can we do cleaning with coconut oil everyday.
Brianne says
Have tried the coconut oil cleansing a couple times and love it. My face feels so smooth and soft in the morning. I want to add some castor oil for my breakouts but not sure how much to add. I am using 1 teaspoon of coconut oil so how much castor oil for combination type skin?
Thanks so much for all your research and info!!
Noelle says
Hi Brianne! Follow the instructions above depending on your skin under “blending” oils. Castor oil is an “astringent” and coconut oil is a “carrier” oil. For combination skin, you use 20% astringent oil, 80% carrier oil.
Megan says
Do you wash with coconut oil once or twice a day? Right now I’m only using it at night and my skin feels amazing after I wash it, but when I wake up my face is feeling drier than usual. Is twice a day a better idea?
Noelle says
No. In the article above, I only recommend once a day – or a few times a week. Thanks for your comment – glad its working out! 🙂
Sarah says
Hi Noelle,
I wear foundation everyday, can I use this process every night to remove my make up and cleanse? Followed by your apple toner? I notice in some comments above that some people use it only every few days and I don’t want to hurt my skin if I over use it! If I don’t use it every day whilst my skin gets used to the change in product, could I just use the coconut oil to remove eye makeup and water for the rest of my face? Just want to find the right balance and get rid of chemicals on my skin! Can’t wait to try it, thank you so much for explaining it so well!!
Sarah x
Noelle says
Hi Sarah! Yes – you can use this every night if you wear heavy makeup each day! And – you also can use it exclusively as an eye makeup remover – however, I’d recommend still making sure to clean your face if you do wear foundation. After spot testing, you could try this for two nights, and then see how your skin is reacting. If you’re comfortable moving forward, continue to use it. If not – try a night or two of your old routine. ALSO – keep your options open in terms of the oils you use. For heavier makeup days, you could use a combination of jojoba oil/castor oil, and light days – just coconut oil. Hope that helps! 🙂
Sarah says
Thanks Noelle! I’m definitely going to start using coconut oil as my make up remover!! my cleanser & toner is Clinique and it has lanolin in and I think I’ve deveopled an irritation to it, especially on my lips – weirdly!! to make sure my skin is clean, would I just repeat a couple of steps? I don’t wear too heavy foundation, just enough to get an even skin tone, probably just a pea size blob! ahh so super excited to try this!!! I can’t wait to have crystal clear skin – and maybe not even wearing foundation!!! Wouldn’t that be nice!!!
Atya says
Hi Noelle. First of all thank u so much for all this wonderful info!I have started using coconut oil on my face for the past 3 days but I have noticed dry patches on my Cheeks (which I do tend to get alot) but I also am very prone to breakouts on my chin and upper lip area so i think i have some weird combination skin! (sigh!) However, I wanted to know so shall i continue on using coconut oil, will it dry out my skin even more? or shall I mix it with any other oil?
However, I soo badly want clear blemish free skin, hope u can help!
Thank u soo much!
x
Noelle says
Hi Atya! I think, based on the feedback you’re getting from your skin – that it might be time to try out a different oil combination. I would suggest giving jojoba oil a try, as it’s great for combination skin, and adding just a little bit of castor oil and see how that works. Have patience with your skin, and stay positive! I believe you will find the perfect solution for you, it’s just going to take a bit of time. 🙂 Hope that helps!
Robbin Vick says
Hey Noelle, I am dark skinned African American. Was suggested by you to try Badger sun screen. (NOT) ….lol…. It made my face white. I rubbed and rubbed, it will not disappear into my skin. Can I mix it with something to loosen up the thickness so it won’t be so white.
Noelle says
Hi Robbin! I replied to this comment over on the DIY Apple Cider Vinegar Toner post. Hope that helps!
Tiffany says
Hi Noelle! My name is Tiffany. Can I use coconut oil to both cleanse and moisturize at the same time? Also how long is the “The Breakout” period usually. My face a few pimples. Lol!
Noelle says
Hi Tiffany! Using the coconut oil to clean your face acts to moisturize it as well. But, yes – you can absolutely use a pinch of coconut oil after to moisturize. In the next few days, I’ll be coming out with a facial moisturizer that might work a little better then just coconut oil – so, look out for the post! The breakout period is 2-3 week.s 🙂 Hope that helps!
Andrea says
This has absolutely miraculously changed my skin! I didn’t have the detox break-outs that people talk about. In fact, I’ve been doing it for almost two weeks and have not had one single pimple. My fine lines (okay…not so fine…I’m 43) have diminished a bit and people tell me I look brighter. I use the coconut oil in the shower, then 1 part ACV and 4 parts distilled water (with a touch of lavender essential oil for it’s calming effects) as a toner and voila! Fantastic. If I’m feeling particularly dry OR if I’m going to put on a sheer power, I’ll use the tiniest bit of coconut oil (like TINY) as a moisturizer. Thanks for this article!
Noelle says
Andrea – so great to hear! 🙂 And so happy your skin is looking awesome. Thanks for letting me know how it went – and for your comment!
Mandy says
I am going to start this regiment today. My hisband has eczema on his cace and scalp so I am actually going to try this for him too one question….I know you said moisturizer won’t be necessary but should I still use it before I apply make up?
Noelle says
If you feel you need moisturizer, you can use a little bit before makeup. (Check out this DIY Facial Moisturizer Recipe). However, I would experiment and see how your skin does without moisturizer first. 🙂 If your skin still feels a bit dry with JUST coconut oil, try another oil – like jojoba oil mixed with castor oil. Hope that helps!
xiaomek says
Hi Noelle,
I cannot find the coconut oil that you show in this website. here are coconut oil in liquid form around my area. It is like cooking oil. Can i use that? cos before this, i tried with olI’ve oil which mention can remove make up for my oil cleansing method trying. but the effect is more pimples AND i don’t like the oily feel. So i am not sure want to buyccoconut oil or not
Noelle says
Hi there! I would recommend going with a cold-pressed virgin coconut oil. Don’t worry about the brand. If you can’t find it – order it online. Hope that helps!
Penny says
I also have those little white milia bumps and can not get rid of them!!! I’ve been wanting to try the oil cleansing method for some time, just haven’t taken that leap yet. Do you remember how long it took to get rid of those stubborn bumps when you started the oil cleansing method? Thanks and I LOVE your blog!!
Penny
Noelle says
Hi Penny! So excited to see how it goes for you! I would say it took about 6 months or so for them to be completely gone. Let me know how it works out! Thanks for the comment, and your support! 🙂
Shelley says
I use coconut oil on my body too after I wash myself and after I gave my dog his bath and it help my dog not get bite by bugs and I use it when I go to the sun and not stay in the sun long
Shaye says
Hello Noelle! My name is Shaye and I’m African American (dark complexion). Is this particular cleansing method good for “black” skin? I was told to try the coconut oil as a face wash but was SO scared to try! However, I did go in Target and purchased Organic Virgin Coconut Oil Unrefined by Spectrum. Is that a good brand? Is that the correct coconut oil to use? I must say after reading your blog & the comments, I’m excited to begin this cleanse! Question, I don’t quite understand the “combinations” that you’ve explained. You think you can break it down for me, please? My skin is combination so what is it that I need to do? Thank you so much for this blog!
Noelle says
Hi Shaye! YES – it’s absolutely something I would recommend trying out. The brand you purchased is great – just make sure to test it on a small patch of your skin first to see how you do. As for the combinations for the oil cleansing method, those are just further options in the event just coconut oil doesn’t work. I’ve provided oil combinations for each type of skin. Hope that helps! 🙂
Em Dep says
Is this method good for face wrinkles ?
Noelle says
Sure! 🙂
Shelley says
Nola , I use coconut oil on my face when I wash my face and I give my dog coconut oil for his teeth brushing and I use it to brush my teeth and put coconut oil on my dog after his bath
xiaomek says
Hi Noelle,
Xiaomek again. I wish to ask you what is the different between olive oil and coconut oil? Can i use olive oil to clean my face as what you did? Or coconut oil is the must? Second question is can i use cooking coconut oil? or must use facial coconut oil? because you said must use cold press but I dont know about cold press. Thanks a lot.
FOr you information, so far, due to cannot find coconut oil, i use olive oi l(facial type, which written: can use for makeup remover). I use the olive oil, then i cleaned it with cotton pad with hot waters, so far after 1 week. My face looks still OK. No pimples out. Good news!!!! (before this, i tried to use towels with hot water, but all pimples out and I dont know how to settle the oily towel. So i throw it away. ^_^!!!!….
I am from Malaysia, A hot super hot tropical country.
Noelle says
Olive oil is perfectly fine! You can use any of the other “carrier oils” that I listed as well instead of coconut oil. Also, the same coconut oil that I use for cooking – I ALSO use on my face. So, yes – coconut oil that you use for cooking is fine. Just make sure it’s high-quality, since you’ll be putting it on your face. 🙂 Hope that helps! Thanks for letting me know how it went for you! That’s great news.
Shaye says
Noelle!!!!!!!!!!!!
This coconut oil is EVERYTHING!!!!!!!! OH.MY.GOSH. I’ve been using it since Friday and boy do I see a difference already. You were right about not needing to use a moisturizer after washing with the coconut oil. My face isn’t dried out as was before I started using the oil and it makes my face look & feel SO smooth….like a baby’s bottom! I’ve done started using it all over my body when I get out the shower as well. I also use it on my children….they LOVE it! My son is 4 years old & says, “Mommy I like coconut! It smell good! Use it again!” LOL! So, I thank you and thank you AND thank you for this blog & reassuring me that it will work for my skin!
Happy Coconut Face Day!
Noelle says
Shaye! That is awesome! So happy to hear you’ve had success! Thanks for letting me know, and for your support! 🙂
Annette says
Hi Noelle,
I’ve begun utilizing coconut oil as a facial cleanser, and apple cider vinegar as a facial toner.
How often do you suggest I use them? For instance, do I cleanse my face nightly, and use the toner in the morning, vice versa, both morning and night, or something else?
Thank you!
Noelle says
Hi Annette! It really all depends on your needs. I do give a couple different recommendations in both of these posts for how often to use the coconut oil/ACV – so read it a bit closer and hopefully you’ll find some insight! 🙂
xiaomek says
Hi Noelle,
I got my coconut oil which is made in malaysia after find them in pharmacy. After 2 times i use coconut oil only (without mix with any asteringent oil) to clean my face, pimples come out..
So i stop the coconut oil.. I use back my olive oil and it is fine again.. So at current stage I will only clean my face with olive oil.
But I have some question, Olive oil is carrier oil, coconut oil is also carrier, so can i mix them together? Or I should go to buy castor or hazelnut oil as astringent oil to mix with my olive oil?
Or i can just use olive oil only to clean my face?
Noelle says
Hi there! Yes, you can mix carrier oils too. If you choose to also use an astringent oil, just keep the ratio of carier oil to astringent oil as listed above!
saqbar says
Hi Noelle
I am a 17 year old female and have suffered from acne for a period of 3 or so years. i have very congested pores and extreme acne and redness on the entire surface area of my nose. my cheeks, forehead and chin are also covered in acne. my skin type is very oily around my nose. my cheeks are normal/dry and forehead and chin are moderately oily.i have been using coconut oil to moisturize my face for 4 nights now and after the first day my skin seemed somewhat good. but my skin has now erupted with inflamed whiteheads and my nose is covered entirely with acne and congestion. my cheeks, chin and forehead is also breaking out. i am still very oily in my t zone. Do you think I should carry on; is it an initial breakout. If so how long do you think my skin should start to clear up.
Noelle says
I would NOT continue on! Use a different oil, like jojoba oil, which works well for sensitive skin. Because you are prone to acne, try mixing it with a little bit of castor oil. Hope that helps!
Nawayra says
Hi,I just started ACV toner n now I want to use coconut oil wash so as u recommend use it once a day before bed.ehat if I need to wash my face again in day time?should I use my usual face wash or just use ACV all day long ?
Noelle says
Why do you feel you need to wash it again? If it’s just to refresh your skin, then yes – us the ACV toner. If you feel oily, the new way of cleansing may help remedy that. 🙂
Nawayra says
normally I wash my face twice a day,I have combination skin n weather is so humid here I just can’t stand that feeling…so I had to wash in the day time,what should I use then?tried using ACV toner whole day but I still need to wash
Noelle says
A splash of water, and a cloth (I recommend Norwex cloths) will work great! 🙂
unicorn says
hi noelle, i have. an oily face is this good for me?
Noelle says
Yep! I explain this a little bit more in the article! 🙂 Hope that helps!
unicorn says
sorry noelle i need to be more precise! i meant i have an oily face with lots of pimles on my forhead is it good to put it on pimples?
Noelle says
Hi Kym! Yes! Please see oil combinations for oily/acne prone skin. 🙂
Lynda says
I haven’t seen anyone comment on this… When I rub my face with the coconut oil, I start to feel tiny, tiny little hard bits under my finger tips. When I look closely at them, they are yellow-white in color. Is this the clogged oil coming out of my pores?
Noelle says
Lynda, I am SO sorry – I really haven’t heard of this or have any insight. Does this happen on your face, too? I would expect that this is some sort of reaction that you’re having, although – reacting on your fingertips is very rare. Depending on how often/bad it is, I would recommend stopping using the coconut oil, and trying a different oil. Give jojoba oil a try (just that oil, no other combinations) and see if it happens. Then, you’ll know if it’s a reaction to a specific oil or not. Hope that helps!
Lynda says
But isn’t the whole idea to get rid of the clogged pores? I’m assuming that those little hard bits are the oil and dirt getting pushed out with the CO softening it, and the firm but gentle rubbing helping to lift it out of the pore? The first two times I cleansed, I got little “bits” 3rd time, no bits. Go figure.
Noelle says
Great feedback, Lynda! It IS the whole idea, but the skin on our hands has a much different composition and structure (much thicker) than our face – and therefore has different characteristics. Some people can be sensitive to comedogenic oils like coconut oil, so I always suggest to error on the side of being more cautious than not. Glad it worked out for you!
Sandra says
I drink a lot of coconut water and i have used coconut oil for cooking but i would like to try coconut oil on my face. i have very dry skin and large pores. Will this work for me?
Noelle says
Yes!
MKC says
Hi Noelle!
First of all GREAT article. It’s very informative and detailed. I just have one question though. I know someone probably asked you this already but I’m too lazy to read all the comments! 😀
1. On the days you’re not doing the oil cleanse, do you just use the ACV toner? And when you are using it, do you wet your face with water, do the ACV toner, then apply a small amount of coconut oil as a moisturizer?
Thanks! 😀
Noelle says
Hi Margaret! 🙂 YES – I just typically splash my face with water, wipe it with a Norwex cloth (sometimes… if I’m not lazy, ha!) and then dry it, and then use the ACV toner. I sometimes use moisturizer afterwards (this DIY Facial Moisturizer), but often don’t. Hope that helps!
Blake Ginther says
Hello! Do you still use this method for cleaning your face? I want to start using this to hopefully finally get rid of my acne and acne scars, but I read on some blogs that people use it for a while & it works reallllyyy well, but then a year later, they realize it was a nightmare because their skin starts to react poorly. How long have you been using coconut oil?
Noelle says
Maybe about 3 years now? Love it! 🙂
Marcia Notkin says
Is it okay to use refined coconut oil? What is the difference?
Noelle says
It is OK! However, I do recommend unrefined over refined if possible. You can read more about it in the article How to Choose a Good Coconut Oil.
Matt says
Hi,
I use coconut oil now. I used to use the store bought face wash until I found out about the chemicals. So since late last year, September 2014, I have been using coco oil. For many who use this, they have lovely, soft skin. How come that is not always the case for me then? Don’t say it it because I am a man because I do not believe that :). I believe men and women are equal, or almost, and what works for some women works for some men and vice versa.
So like I said, since Sep I was using coco oil, wasn’t completely satisfied with the result and also used a natural store bought face wash and also Aloe Vera. At the moment I am doing the facial cleansing technique and a few minutes after I might put on some Aloe Vera as a moisturiser. Sometimes, I use the natural store bought face wash but not all the time.
I was wondering if I have dry skin because of all those years of using store bought face wash that is no good and now my skin is adjusting to natural stuff? I haven’t used the natural way for even a year yet so it is still early days but an answer to why I get dry skin in the face would be good to know :).
Matt
Noelle says
Hi Matt! It definitely does take time for your skin to adjust. Improvements can absolutely still be made. A really important piece of this “pie” is nutrition. No matter how wonderful your skin routine is, if you are eating things that cause inflammation in your gut, your face will reflect it. A lot of people find that when they remove dairy or gluten, their skin clears. Experiment with eliminating few foods and reducing processed foods and really focusing on high-quality foods that have fat-soluble vitamins in them like pastured-raised eggs, grass-fed beef, etc. ALSO, there are two types of “dry” you could be experiencing. Your skin could be dehydrated, which means you need to drink more water and make sure you’re consuming a good balance of sodium and potassium, or – your skin could be dry, which means there is a lack of oil production. If the former, increase water intake and consider putting a few grains of an unprocessed sea salt into your water. If the ladder, the oil cleansing method should help! 🙂
Bre says
So excited to have come across this blog! I have to admit, I am a face wash/product junkie 🙁 I’m always looking for the “best” product. So needless to say I’ve spent WAY too much money on face products. I am definitely going to give this coconut oil and ACV regime this summer. THANK YOU for researching this. I will definitely be following this blog 🙂
Noelle says
Whohhooo!! Thanks Bre. So happy to have your support! 🙂
Nina says
Hye noelle,I wanted to ask,if i dont use warm cloth, but just soak it with tap water,does it still work?
Noelle says
Yes!
Lauren says
Hey Noelle! I was so excited to come across this method for cleaning my face. I’ve been having some difficulties figuring out an oil to work for my skin. I used coconut oil once a day for about one month and my skin didn’t seem to react well. I live in Arizona where it’s very dry so I thought that might be a reason my skin felt drier with the oil. Then I was in the Caribbean, where it’s extremely humid, for 10 days and the oil seemed to make my skin too oily and I broke out quite a bit. However, I still had dry areas around my mouth and chin so it was too oily in some places and too dry in others. I started using jojoba oil as you suggested on the drier areas after cleaning with coconut oil. Eventually I stopped the coconut oil altogether and used only jojoba oil to clean. My skin felt a little less dry but it got red and itchy around my nose, mouth, and chin. So, I’m thinking that probably isn’t the right oil for me either.
A little background on me. I have celiac disease so I don’t eat gluten, I eat really clean for the most part, lots of veggies, eggs, meat, whole foods, and I drink about a gallon of water a day. I used to use the Mary Kay face cleansing products and my skin was in great shape. I want to switch to oil cleansing to avoid using products with chemicals. Do you have any thoughts on other oils I could try since coconut oil is drying and my skin gets itchy with jojoba oil? I really don’t want to go back to using my old products so any suggestions you have would be appreciated. Thanks so much Noelle!
Noelle says
Hi Lauren! Thanks so much for reaching out to me! What you have described IS normal, so don’t let it stress you out. It seems like you skin is a bit sensitive, and that is to be expected give that you do have celiac disease. One thing I would suggest is to make sure you’ve cut out dairy (if you haven’t already), and supplementing with Fermented Cod Liver Oil Blend – which has all the fat soluble vitamins needed for skin health. It definitely changed everything for me! I would experiment with avocado oil, and maybe consider adding in a bit of argan oil. Hope that helps! 🙂
Amanda says
Hi!
I’m just wondering if you could help me! I was so excited to find out about the OCM! And that you can also use the oil to remove makeup! However, it’s been kind of a nightmare for me trying to take my makeup off with it! I followed the normal procedure you describe to do it, but when I wipe afterwards to see if the makeup is off, it’s still there! Is it possible my makeup is just too thick, because even after repeating the steps, I still found myself wiping away lots and lots of makeup! It ends up becoming an hour-long procedure before it’s finally all off! And my face feels like I wiped it wayyyy too many times! Either my makeup is just too thick, or I am not using the right oil(s) (I am using grape seed), or maybe not using the right type of cloth to take it off with (just using little square cotton ones…I go through soooo many)? What’s your take on this pleeease!?
I would really love for this method to work, or otherwise I was thinking of buying an alternative safe makeup remover of some sort and then just using the oil after as a cleanse!
Great post btw!! 🙂 Thanks!
Noelle says
Hi Amanda! Give the Norwex cloths a try. They are much better for makeup removal than regular wash cloths, which is exactly why I use them. I find I do have to do some extra light wiping over my eyelids to get my mascara off on heavier days. I think you’ll find they are a tremendous help!
Mary Blair says
What do you use when you travel? Is there a good face wash/toner you recommend?
Noelle says
I take it with me! I use a mini weck jar for coconut oil, and then a small screw cap bottle with my toner in it. Typically, I put it in a sealed baggie, but I haven’t had leak issues to date. 🙂 Hope that helps!
Lotus says
I have a quesion, Can you wash your face with cold water to remove the coconut oil in your face?
Noelle says
Hi Lotus! Warm is OK, cold will only harden the oil and won’t lift and remove the dirt. Hope that helps!
Kyle says
I’ve read that coconut oil works great on skin with acne and I haven’t tried it yet, but I was just wondering if it will cause me to break out at first? I’m only 14 so acne is normal for me and all, but it’s still kind of embarrassing to me. I’ve tried so many things to help clear my skin, but everything I tried made me break out terribly for a couple months before it started to clear my skin a bit, and when my skin did start to clear I’d run out of what I was using. But with the coconut oil will it cause me to break out at first?
Noelle says
Hi Kyle! All the answers you are looking for (based on your skin!) can be found in the article above! 🙂 Hope that helps!
Athena says
Hi, I’ve been doing coconut oil, tea tree, and hazelnut for probably about a week now. I have very acne prone skin and trying to clear it up. Did you find that you broke out more at first before getting fresh clear skin?
Noelle says
Hi Athena! I personally didn’t, but as you’ll read above – it is common. Use your own discretion, however – especially if it is a different kind of breakout (like comedogenic acne!) or something different from what you usually experience.
Allison says
Any thoughts on hemp oil? I read elsewhere that it’s completely non comedogenic. I’m trying to decide what oil(s) to try (currently have completely clear skin but am coming off birth control and expect that to change).
Noelle says
I haven’t tried it personally, but I do think it’s a great option and have heard wonderful things. Give it a go and let me know what you think!
alexandra sibille says
Do you also apply coconut oil before going to bed at night? Or do you recommend only washing with coconut oil?
Noelle says
Totally depends on your skin, and if you feel you need to moisturize afterwards or not. I talk about my personal experience in the article more above. Hope that helps! 🙂
Riana says
Hi Noelle,
You very much inspired me to starting using a natural skin care routine and I immediately started cleaning with coconut oil and toning with ACV and have been for the past 3 months with great results.
However in the past 3 weeks my skin has flared up with red, itchy irritated acne (which i understand could be a other factors aswell) so I came online to have a re-cap of your processes.
Only now I see that you have said to repeat the oil wash 3x!!? But I have only been doing one oil wash with pretty good results..?
So just to confirm.. in your routine you cleanse and rinse 3 times?
Sorry if its a silly question but I just want to know im doing it correctly!
thank you 🙂
Noelle says
Hi Riana!
So, if your skin still continues to respond this way – discontinue the process and use a different oil. I recommend trying Jojoba oil. If your skin immediately gets better – then you know it was the coconut oil! 🙂 As for the 3x rinse, it’s just something I recommend for making sure to remove all the oil… especially if you’re wearing makeup. However – it is NOT absolutely necessary. So, if you feel you are getting clean with just one rinse, then that is totally fine! I rinse my wash cloth and then do it again because I like it, and I usually have makeup/dirt that needs a bit more “lifting.” Hope that helps!
Riana says
that makes sense! thanks for confirming that 🙂 Thank you so much for your response! x
EbonyDuchess says
Hi Noelle.
Thanks so much. I’d like to know if I’m supposed to wash my face first with soap before cleansing with coconut oil. Didn’t see you write about that anywhere. After a long hot day, no soap on my face at all?
Thanks so much…
Xoxo
Noelle says
The coconut oil is what is used to wash your face. So, no – no soap is needed. 🙂
Maggy says
I just tried this technique after trying several times using coconut oil as a face wash.
I combined it with the Tanaka face massage and my face felt soooo good afterwards.
Recommended 🙂
Katherine says
Hi! Thank you so much for posting! I was wondering if steaming my face by running hot water in my sink and leaning over it with a towel over my head would work just as well as the washcloth. Thanks!
Noelle says
Hi Katherine! You’ll still need to use something to actually lift and remove the dirt and oil off your skin. So, I would use a warm wash cloth afterwards if you choose to do that. 🙂
Katherine says
Good to know! I used this technique last night, along with the apple cider vinegar toner, and I could not be more impressed! My skin looks great just after one night, I will definitely be doing this consistently. I do have one more question(sorry!!): should I be washing my face with coconut oil twice a day, once a day, every other day? Is it bad if I do it too often? Thanks so much! This stuff is amazing!
Noelle says
Just once – at night. However, you might feel you need to do it twice and that’s ok. Further instruction is in the text above! 🙂
Katherine says
Never mind, I just say that you instructed only once a day.
Liz Shields says
I am new to this have suffered with acne prone skin for many years and would like to try the caster oil and jojoba oil for sensitive skin please can you tell me how to go about this and the amounts to use in drop form sorry if this appears to be a silly question.
Noelle says
Hi Liz! Just follow the guidelines above! There is no one recipe that will work for everyone, but – based on your skin type, go with the ratios I’ve laid out. Hope that helps!
Buze says
Hi, i wanna be my face s pure and softenny. my face type s dry i used to many kind of tereatemente no change in my face and black dote some times. one time i hear the use of coconut oil. does use any type of the face?
Noelle says
Yes! 🙂
Caitlin Reardon says
Hi Noelle! Great blog! I wasn’t clear from the instructions if we were supposed to repeat step 3 three times or just steps 4-5 three times, i.e., do you massage a tsp of oil onto your face three times or just use the warm washcloth three times? Thank you!
Noelle says
Hi Caitlin! Great questions! Just repeat the warm wash cloth. Only rub oil into your face once. Hope that helps! 🙂
Debbie says
BEWARE! Coconut oil as good as it is for almost anything will seriously clog your sink or tub drains. It’s quite a messy job to pull apart the drain pipe for those that are handy and an expensive plumbing bill for those who are not.
Noelle says
Hi Debbie! Actually, this is a myth that many people “speculate” about on the internet, however – many plumbers agree, it’s not typically the coconut oil that causes the problems. Hot water melts coconut oil and makes it very viscous, so it washes down the drain as any other fat would. In my Coconut Oil for Skin: Everything You Need to Know post, I also talk about how using soap at the same time washes any coconut oil away as well (as soap breaks apart coconut oil even further.) When doing oil pulling, it’s best to spit it in the trash, simply due to the amount of coconut oil that is used. I, as well as MANY other people, use coconut oil as toothpaste, shaving cream, etc. on a regular basis and have no issues. This does not mean that all people won’t – so I recommend cleaning out drains with a simple drain tool a few weeks into using coconut oil just to make sure all is well with your pipes! Hope that helps!
Alice says
Hi, I’ve been cleaning my face with coconut oil for a few days now and LOVE it. I don’t even seem to be going through a detox period! One question, though, and I’m not sure if this has been already addressed in the comments here or not, but why do you suggest not to do it twice a day? I would like to do it twice a day, every day. Is there a downside to that? Thanks so much!
Caitlin says
Hi, I was also wondering about Alice’s question. You say not to to do it more than once a day
“because the oil cleansing method is a deep cleansing method.” Why should a deep cleansing method not be used twice a day? Thanks! I started the OCM and ACV toner on Sunday – liking it so far! 🙂
Noelle says
Hi Caitlin! There is no specific science or research on using the oil cleansing method, so I don’t have any solid answers on what is going to work best for everyone. The empirical data suggests exposing your skin to the oils multiple times a day might not be the best for some people. Knowing what we do about the skin and the lipid barrier, I think it’s best to let the skin’s natural oils balance out, and not disturb it multiple times a day. Personally, the less I do it, the better. BUT, that doesn’t mean that is what is going to work for everyone. So – if YOU want to use it twice a day, I would recommend trying it and seeing if it works for you. Once your skin is adjusted and balanced from the OCM, you shouldn’t need to do the OCM in the morning if you just did it the night before. Simple using some water and the apple cider vinegar toner will work great. Hope that helps!
Natalie says
Hi I want to start using the OCM in my daily routine. I just want to use coconut oil. At the moment my skin is dry on the nose but I have pimples on other parts of my face. I currently use a face wash on my skin and I wear foundation and mascara. However my foundation is very flaky on my skin so that’s why I want to start cleansing with coconut oil. So to use it when I get out the shower do I just rub coconut oil into face and apply warm washcloth to face for 30 seconds and then lightly wash off or do I repeat rubbing in and applying wash cloth? Also will this be ok for my skin I’m worried I’ll get a lot of pimples is there a way I can test? Thanks.
Noelle says
Yes – that is exactly how you do it! Also, I talk about testing above in the article, and in Coconut Oil for Skin: Everything You Need to Know. 🙂
Meg says
Hi Noelle! Thank you so much for writing this post on coconut oil because it was so so helpful. I was wondering how long did it take for your skin to make a change? I’ve been using the cold pressed oil for three days now and I’m not sure if my skin is breaking out because of the oil. There are just some pimples that came on my face during these three days. And the pimples I had before didn’t go away either. Is it because my face is taking the time to adjust from the oil? Should I give it some more time? I really want this to workfor me to stop having acne troubles. Did you break out first and then the oil start working? I have noticed my skin being brighter and radiant so that’s really nice.
Noelle says
Hi Meg! I wish I could tell you what to do in this situation – but I can’t. As mentioned above, I did not break out, and I recommend only trying it on a patch of your skin first. For me, my skin healed over the course of about 6 months. Hope that helps a bit! Please also read Coconut Oil for Skin: Everything You Need to Know.
Natalie Toull says
Hi I’m really nervous about using coconut oil on my face, however I have used cleansers for most of my life and all they result in is more acne and dry skin! So I’m planning on trying the OCM with coconut oil. I usually wear make up however my foundation tends to go on weird because I have combonation skin and my nose is dry with pimples and my skin is partly dry part with acne. I am hoping this method works for me. Do I use this method every night to remove make up or will this be bad for my skin? Also my coconut oil seems to go hard so do I melt for 10 seconds in the microwave before washing face? I also read that tea tree oil is good for your face too but some people say it can be over drying. Have you ever tried putting a drop of tea tree oil in your hands when you use this method? I was also wondering if you know any good DIY face exfoliators or masks I could make. Also do you know any good overnight fixes for acne and dry skin?
-Thanks
P.S Great article:)
Noelle says
Hi Natalie! You can actually warm the oil up in your hands by rubbing your hands back and forth. Second, it’s OK to use this method each night, however – while you are transitioning, I would recommend doing it every other night. As for the tea tree oil, hold off doing that so you only expose your skin to one new thing at a time. I love tea tree oil and use it for spot treatment on bumps and cuts, and add it to my apple cider vinegar toner. Lastly, I recommend doing a clay mask with THIS pure clay. Hope that helps! 🙂
Elizabeth says
I’m trying this tonight as I’m sick of using expensive products that end up leaving my face feeling dry and tight.
Hopefully I’ll be so hooked on this method that I’ll never have to worry about buying another bottle of toner again.
Thank you for all the great info!! 🙂
Noelle says
Absolutely! Let me know how it goes! 🙂
Shivani says
hello man please let me know that is there any negative impact of coconut oil on face if there is facial hairs. actually I have hairs on my face so can I apply it on my face
Noelle says
There is not!
Isabelle says
What do you use for an exfoliator or do
U not need one?
Noelle says
I personally don’t use one – but I find that baking soda (just a pinch!) is great for exfoliating! 🙂
Illeanna says
I really want to try this but I’m afraid my face would break out and I also only have the extra virgin coconut oil so I was wanting to know if I’d be okay to use that, I live in TN and it gets really humid here in the summer so then my skin gets oily and then really dry and windy in the winter so then my skin is really dry. I have combination skin and get some breakouts here and there I’m 15 so I know that that’s pretty normal, I also get these bumps on my chin or nose that hurt and take forever to get rid of. I use the clean and clear for a morning face wash and use tea tree oil on my face at night, I was wanting to know if I should just keep that routine and just add in the COM or take something out. Also since you did the COM at night was there anything that you used in the morning for a morning face wash?
Noelle says
Hi Illeanna! I would do the OCM at night, and slowly stop using your other cleanser in the morning. You will NOT need to use anything in the morning to clean your face if you use the OCM at night – just water will do! 🙂
GoWithTheFlo says
Hi Noelle! Great read!
I have acne prone skin and I an acne wash, a toner, and a topical acne cream at night. I want to try to wash my face with coconut oil, though. Do you recommend using other products after using the oil and how often do you recommend washing your face with it?
Thanks!
Danielle
Noelle says
Hi Danielle! After spot-testing the oil on your face for a few days, I would recommend trying the OCM in place of your cleanser, and then following it up with a toner, like the DIY Apple Cider Vinegar Facial Toner. Using this once a day, at night is ideal! 🙂
Hannah says
Hi Noelle! I have a quick question. I haven’t read through all of the comments, so I’m not sure if you already addressed this. But, I just tried coconut oil with a couple drops of tea tree essential oil. Do you think that will help my acne laden face? I get acne on my cheek area and chin area. Not on my forehead if that makes a difference. I also have moderate oily skin, so I find myself having to reapply powder on my face in the middle of the day. Sorry for the paragraph of a ‘quick’ question!
Noelle says
Yes! 🙂
Hannah says
Thank you! 🙂
Jocey Gomez says
I haven’t read threw all the comments, I want to try coconut oil on my face tonight for the very first time, after washing my off my make up and letting my face soak in the towel is there anything else I should put on my fac
Noelle says
Nope. Just follow the steps!
Star says
Hi!! can i use an eye creme on my eyes for dark circles after i use coconut oil to clean my face?
Noelle says
Absolutely!
Jack says
Hi Noelle,
I have been trying this technique for a week and a half – using the coconut oil 3/4 times a week, with the routine you outlined in this article. Unfortunately, I have found that my face has been “breaking out” with a new acne blemishes dotting my face. I have always had sensitive skin, and I have had issues with acne in the past. I’d really like to find a natural remedy for my skin type, as my girlfriend and I have both been switching to more natural products (Dr. Bronners/ KissMyFace). My diet is pretty good so no issue there.
If you can offer advice I’d love to hear it. I am not sure if this is a period that I need to just get through before my skin looks better or if I need to switch my routine.
Thanks!
Noelle says
Hi Jack! Highly recommend reading Coconut Oil for Skin: Everything You Need to Know to figure out if coconut oil might not be the best option for your skin. Coconut oil can cause comedogenic acne for some people – and it’s important to recognize the difference between that and the “detox” reaction that can occur. If it continues to occur after 3 weeks time, I would recommend trying a different oil, like jojoba oil, which is great for sensitive skin. Hope that helps!
Jack says
Thank you Noelle! I might give Jojoba oil a shot if my acne don’t get better with coconut oil.
Sabrina says
Can I just wash my face with two carrier oils everyday or is it too much?
Noelle says
You can absolutely do that, Sabrina!
Piya says
First of all, Thank you Noelle for such a wonderful article. I recently started my hair care routine using coconut oil+Castor oil+tea tree oil and since I was researching more on the oils, I read ur article, first I was reluctant to apply coconut oil on my face but then I thought of giving a try.
I cleansed my face using coconut oil + 2drops of tea tree oil. I had pimples that occur after I workout and sweat, and after cleansing just two alternate days they were all gone and my skin felt so bright. Though I have a combination and sensitive skin, I will give a try adding Castor oil too.
I also once a week apply coconut oil + not more than 2 drops of tea tree oil + few drops of lemon juice + aleovera gel + honey and use the same method as u mentioned in d article, and it makes my skin so soft and shiny.
I am 26, and have rarely applied any moisturizer on my skin and I never use any kind of makeup except I bleach my face once in two months. But recently I realised my skin was going a bit dull but didn’t know what to do, ur article came in timely 🙂
Thanks again !!
Noelle says
You are so welcome, Piya!
Kate Hopkins says
Hi! I have had a problem with combination skin and not been able to find a face cleanser that would work for me in the sense of not over drying or under drying. Do you think that this would really work for my type of skin? Plus on top of that i have a lot of acne on my chin. Does it help with that also?
Noelle says
Yes!
Tem says
Hi, dear so i put the coconut oil on to my face and then sunblocker, which is also make up foundation too, i wonder is that is gonna be bad for my skin, please give your suggestion☺
Noelle says
Hi Tem! That should be fine! If you are cleaning your face with the coconut oil, you should be removing the oil from your skin. I recommend using an Apple Cider Vinegar Facial Toner afterwards, and THEN putting on makeup. Hope that helps!
Lurdes Trejo says
So if i want to use the coconut cleansing method, will this method also work if I have a full face of makeup? Should I do something extra to ensure the makeup is completely gone?? Thanks
Noelle says
Yes! Coconut oil does remove makeup very well. I use the Norwex cloth to remove my eye makeup beforehand if I’m using waterproof mascara. Hope that helps!
Emily Shannon says
I’ve seen that you suggest an Apple Cider Vinegar mix as a facial toner. I’ve used witch hazel in the past and was wondering what your thoughts are about its effectiveness as a toner.
Noelle says
Hi Emily! I think that’s a great idea! I don’t have any specific recipes to try, but I have seen some good recipes that others have suggested. Give it a go and let me know how it goes!
kaitlin says
I have done this for about 2 years now. not only have I saved money, I have never had better skin! I tried everything I could think of and wouldn’t you know ACV and coconut oil were my savior! never again will I wash my face with cleansers again! I wish I had known this in middle school!
Elizabeth says
Thank you so much for this. I saw this a year ago and had been using Dove soap (at the recommendation of my dermatologist at the time) for about 17 years. My skin started changing when I turned 30, I was still dry all over with excess oil due to dryness in my T-zone, but I had moved from Florida to California, taking me to a place with no humidity most of the time! My forehead started getting little bumps and I ran across this article (thank you Pinterest 🙂 ) and thought it wouldn’t hurt to try. I have since thrown out ALL of my anti aging creams and the dove and my skin has never looked better.
I use a combination of coconut oil, castor oil, vitamin e and lavender oils. The vitamin e has actually lessened some of my oncoming wrinkles and acts as a fabulous anti aging product. The rest just works like magic. I was lucky enough never to go through a trial and error process, because I have the patience of a 3 year old and would have given up on the first go around.
Thank you again!!!
Noelle says
You are so welcome, Elizabeth! SO glad it’s worked out so well for you. Thanks for sharing your experience! 🙂
Jennifer says
I’ve been cleansing with coconut oil and ACV toner for about 3 weeks and I’m liking it…my skin feels great…but I feel like my pores look bigger. Is that something that can happen? Should I change things up or give it some more time?
Noelle says
Hi Jennifer! I’d keep going with the protocol and see what happens. I haven’t heard of that happening – but the fact that your skin feels great is a good sign! 🙂
Erin says
I just tried using coconut oil to wash my face for the first time yesterday and my face became flushed and felt very warm afterwards for roughly an hour. Is this an allergic reaction? Can I continue using this method to wash my face?
Also, does distilled water need to be used when making the ACV toner or can I use purified water? I am very excited to make this tonight!!☺
Thank you for everything!
Noelle says
Hi Erin! Do you have any dietary reactions to coconut products? If you’re unsure about your reaction, I would make sure to spot test it for 3-4 days before rubbing it all over your face. If the reaction continues, or gets worse, I would switch to using jojoba oil. Also – purified water is absolutely fine for the ACV toner! 🙂 Thanks!
Lynn says
I have very dry skin, I’ve been using a “gentle” face wash and moisterizer and my face was always so dry! I looked up some of the ingredients and realized the chemicals are very harsh and drying, even in my moisturizer, believe it or not! I get bad acne and putting on makeup over it after using drying products was an ugly mess. I tried the coconut oil as a face cleanser and I cannot believe how outstanding the results are!!! I do it morning and night and follow up with micellar water. I’ve never had my foundation and powder go on so well. the over-drying products were causing sebum to be over produced in some places, and dry skin to clog my pores in others, causing acne. I’ve never been “pro-natural” when it comes to products per se, but I am a fan of coconut oil. THANK YOU for your advice and tips! You are saving my skin!
Noelle says
Lynn! This just made my day! So happy it’s worked so well for you! 🙂
rachel says
can I rub the oild on my face then take a hot shower instead of using a wash cloth?
Noelle says
Hi Rachel! You’ll need to use a wash cloth to lift the oil, and the dirt off your face. But, you can do this in the shower. Hope that helps!
mc says
I have very fair, sensitive, dry skin (and maybe the beginnings of rosacea). I started wearing less foundation and using the Somaluxe Face Cleanser to wash off my foundation. Its the only face cleanser I have found that really gets my foundation off – AND I starting getting compliments on my skin. This is what I do:
1. I take off my mascara with the Somaluxe Face Cleanser
2. Rinse face with warm water.
From other reviews, I then massage my face with the cleanser for 30-60 seconds. Skin feels nice not tight.I am 40+ and everyone says I look 30 !
Noelle says
Great! So glad its working well for you!
WM says
Hi Noelle, thanks a lot for sharing!… i saw that 2 or 3 times a week its recommended, but what can i do for the other days? mostly before sleep..
Noelle says
Absolutely!
Amber says
Hi, Noelle. I am 38 yrs old and have been dealing with acne in my T-zone area for about a year now. I’ve finally decided to use natural products. I was wondering what your opinion was on using the following regimen. Using baking soda and water scrub on face weekly, using witch hazel on pimples as they arise, using coconut oil as noted above, then applying grapeseed oil. Is this too much? Thank you. Amber
Noelle says
I think that is great! I would recommend trying things one at a time in the beginning so that if you react to something, you know what caused the issue. Only apply the grapeseed oil after cleaning your face with coconut oil sparingly. You may find that the benefits you receive from the coconut oil is enough! 🙂 Hope that helps!
Amanda says
Hi Noelle! I originally got to your site from Pinterest as I was looking for a toner, and then read about this coconut oil cleansing. I just recently got a Clarisonic for Christmas and was wondering if I could this with the coconut oil then use a warm washcloth after cleansing. Would I just use the coconut oil like I would any other face wash? Also, what do you think about exfoliating? Would you happen to have a recipe for a once a week facial exfoliator? Thank you!
Noelle says
Hi Amanda! You can absolutely still do the cleansing with coconut oil. I would recommend doing the exfoliation first, and then doing the cleansing with coconut oil. I’ve never used one personally, but I would think the coconut oil may not work well with the Clarisonic because it doesn’t coat the skin like the gel they sell with it does. I think exfoliating can be great once a week – I typically do it with just a bit of baking soda or clay, and I occasionally do clay face masks. Hope that helps! 🙂 Let me know if you find out what else does work with the Clarisonic.
Lisa Stone says
My 11 year old daughter has bad acne and I would like to try. How should I begin please. She also has LOTS of black heads in her ears. They are clearly seen by others and am concerned she will get bullied at school 🙁
Also bit concerned about coconut oil clogging drains. Would flushing with boiling hot soapy water clear it thought the pipes or is there norm no prob with it?
Many thanks for any advice.
Noelle says
Hi Lisa! Just follow the steps above – and be sure to spot test her skin to make sure she doesn’t react to it. Please also make sure she is not reacting to dairy or gluten. I would recommend removing each of those for 30 days to see if her acne improves. MANY people find skin conditions clear with the removal of both of those. And lastly, the idea that it will clog drains is a bit of a misunderstanding. Rinse your drain with hot water when you perform the oil cleansing method, and clean your drains out with cleaner ever 6 months or so – and you should be fine. Hope that helps!
Aimee says
I’ve been doing this OCM for a few days right now and I’ve been wondering, is it normal for it to be still oily after cleansing your face? After I use this method, I still feel the oils on my face and i”m wondering if this just meaning I still have to wipe off the oil with the wet cloth more then I’m doing right now.
Noelle says
Give it a bit more time. I would make sure to apply the warm cloth twice, and wipe any excess oil away. Also, please make sure to use the apple cider vinegar facial toner afterwards. It will make a difference! Hope that helps. 🙂
klynncarr says
I just started listening to your Podcast yesterday and I have already listened to 5 episodes. I have some medical background and worked in the field as an Emergency Medical Technician and as a Firefighter. At 27 years old my face is still temperamental from time to time. Harsh products just over dry my skin and nothing seems to actually be beneficial. I coach CrossFit and WOD 5-6 times a week (yes, I know, I don’t know when to quit. I am trying to learn this, it’s a process).
I used reluctantly used coconut oil and a homemade astringent off your website…. and WOW, I love it! Even from one use, my skin feels hydrated, some small imperfections cleared up literally over night!
Having been in the medical field I love the human body, knowing and understanding how it works, why it works as it does. Health wise, learning the intricacies of micronutrients has been great, as I have struggled with eating disorders. I cheered in college and that for me was more detrimental than helpful, despite what others may think.
With that said, thank you for diligently researching and explaining things in depth. It’s great to be reminded of self-love. When you don’t have it or it’s not a focal point it helps to be reminded and it helps to refocus on why health is so important and to adjust my approach to fitness and healthy eating for the RIGHT reasons. So thank you!
Noelle says
Wow.. thank you so much! So appreciate you sharing your experience, and your support! 🙂
Anna says
Hi Noelle– I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but the directions above 1-5 and the graphic don’t match. It’s a little confusing. In the directions, you say, “repeat the previous 3 steps.” This implies you might *re-apply* the coconut oi and re-wipe off. But I *think* what you mean is if you need to use the cloth a second time, you can do that.
I am just starting this method. (Day 1!) so I’m really working through the steps. Can you clarify. The “repeat” part. What *exactly* am I to repeat?
Noelle says
Hi Anna! I recommend just re-doing the warm cloth application. You can redo the coconut oil application if you feel you missed some spots. But if you massaged it in for awhile, that shouldn’t be necessary. I changed the text to make sure it’s super clear! 🙂 Thanks for that!
Anna says
Thank you! I’ll keep you posted!
Anna says
One more quick question– how soft is the Norwex cloth? Soft is important for rosacea folks. I have seen on some boards recommendations to use organic cotton baby cloths. But if the Norwex cloth is soft, I like the antimicrobial idea.
If this works well for me, I will post the whole story and recommendations based on my experience.
Noelle says
It’s microfiber, so it’s pretty soft. 🙂
Dave says
Hi, could i use coconut oil for cold sores? thanks
Noelle says
Sure! 🙂
Linda Tan says
Hi noelle! I came across this post and decided to try the apple cider toner first( started last week), my skin was so much softer and the acne on my face shrunk faster then i’d imagine!! I then decided to try your way of clensing the face too (slowly changing my facial clensing routine so that my face wouldnt be overwhelmed by many changes! my face is acne prone) but I am so dissapointed to find out that the Norwex cloth could not be delivered to Singapore (i live here). Are there any other alternatives that i can use other then the Amazing Norwex because I am dying to try this natural way of clensing the face!
Noelle says
Hi Linda! Just start with a basic washcloth! 🙂 So glad to hear your skin is improving!
Robbin Vick says
Hi Noelle, I have been using your coconut oil face wash and ACV toner for about six months or so. Was very satisfied with the results until this week. I do have dry skin and all of a sudden the dry spots started reappearing again on my forehead, cheek and jaw area.I Don’t understand why? Maybe the cold air. Are there other oils I can mix with the coconut oil. Waiting to here your reply.
Noelle says
Hi Robbin. It can absolutely have to do with the dry, cold air, or changes in your diet. I would recommend using a high quality moisturizer post-cleanse, like this serum. Jojoba oil is great as well. Hope that helps!
mesanti says
Hi, I would like to know after you have applied coconut oil on your face, I can just use a warm wet towel to just wipe my face right? Is that the right way to do it?
Noelle says
Yes! 🙂
Mesanti says
Thank you! (: And one last thing, I do not need to wash my face with my cleanser after that right?
Noelle says
Nope! This is the process of cleaning your face.
Regina Thomas Dillard says
I tried this for the first time last night and followed up with your ACV (w/lavender, rosemary) toner. It was was a wonderful experience! The coconut oil face wash goes against everything I’ve believed when it comes to adding MORE oil to my face. However, it wasn’t oily at all, just felt really moisturized. The hot towel at the end gave me a spa-like experience. I’m all for natural personal and self-care. I’ll be keeping an eye out for more from your site. Thanks for the tip!
Noelle says
You are so welcome! So glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Sheri Biggs Morrison says
Hi, I have organic virgin coconut oil, it’s not refined, may I still use this for cleansing? I have a lot as I get it at Costco and use it daily in my coffee and for cooking. Loved your article on coconut oil, thank you
Noelle says
Yes! Above, you’ll see I recommend using organic unrefined coconut oil for cleansing. Good luck!
Rebecca says
Hi, I have just started the ACV toner. After using it as a cleanser, I massage some coconut oil on my face as a moisturiser and leave it on throughout the night. Is this all right?
Noelle says
Hi Rebecca! The ACV toner is not a cleanser. Please opt-in to receive my free video tutorial on exactly how to clean your face, and use toner and moisturizer here.
Rebecca says
Thanks Noelle. I followed your instructions and cleaned my face with coconut oil and use the ACV as a toner after that. It was certainly a good clean feeling. Having not made the moisturiser yet as you suggested (DIY face serum), is it possible after the coconut oil cleansing and ACV toner to moisturise with coconut oil?
Since we coconut cleanse only 3/4 times a week, on other days, do we just use ACV and say moisturise with coconut oil?
Thank you.
Noelle says
Yes, and yes! 🙂 By the way – I think using the OCM once a day at night is absolutely fine, especially if you are using coconut oil, and then following up with the ACV toner.
Rachel says
Hi Noelle! Thank you immensely for this post. I am 24 and have struggled with very dry skin and acne since I was about 14. I have tried countless prescription methods, all of which have been harsh and did absolutely nothing to my acne. I had tried using coconut oil as a moisturizer in the past, but unfortunately it was never quite moisturizing enough and did not really help with my acne. I read your post a few weeks ago and have honestly been shocked that my skin hasn’t felt tight or dry. Its really like a spa experience! And I am in LOVE with using natural products. Never going back to Cetaphil! But I do have a quick question. I wear makeup and so I typically do the coconut wash twice (once to get the makeup off, and again to actually “clean” the skin, with a Manuka honey mask in between). Is this not necessary? I then use Rose Petal Witch Hazel as a toner and put a light layer of Egyptian Gold Butter as a slight moisturizer (cuz my skin is that dry)! All of these products being organic and high quality from our health food store. I haven’t noticed my skin to be oily, but its been two weeks and my acne has not really gotten better, actually has gotten slightly worse, even though my complexion has seemed to even out more (which is super exciting!). I also have begun to notice a slight roughness occurring (like little bumps) forming on my cheeks and jaw. Nothing noticeable to the eye, but just to the touch. Didn’t know if this sounded more like a “detox” to you or if perhaps the coconut oil is making things worse. Is it too early to perhaps switch to a Jojoba and Castor oil blend to see if that helps? Sorry this comment is so long! I just wasn’t sure if you saw anything off in my routine. Any thoughts would be super appreciated!:)
Noelle says
Hi Rachel! I would actually suggest switching to the jojoba oil and castor oil. I can’t be sure, but the small bumps may be a comedogenic acne sort of reaction. Of course, if you want more insight please see a dermatologist. But, I think it’s safe to go ahead and switch to the jojoba oil. Let me know how it goes!
Krista says
Hi Noelle!
I’ve struggled with adult acne for the better part of two years, so naturally I was pretty excited to find a solution.
I’ve been following your directions, using cold pressed virgin coconut oil, ACV toner, and your DIY facial serum (which smells great!) for about three weeks. Every morning I wake up to a new whitehead in the making. ?
It’s always in my T zone. Do you recommend I stop using them completely? Or tryout the liquid coconut oil?
Also, I feel like my Norwex cloth never gets clean after I wipe the oil off. How often should I wash it? Not just rinse with hot water?
Thanks so much!
Noelle says
Hi Krista! So, it’s hard to say since you have done a couple of changes at once. I would suggest first just stopping the DIY face serum and see if that helps. You may not need that extra moisturizer right now, and I would suggest just allowing your face to adapt to the coconut oil face cleanse. Then, if it doesn’t improve switch from using coconut oil to using jojoba oil for the face cleansing. As for the Norwex cloths, I use one side one night, and the other side the next night. So, after two washes, put them through the washer. I have three total. Hope that helps!
Krista says
Thanks Noelle!!!!
I actually have a dry chin/forehead after (usually the next morning), which is why I loved the DIY Serum. I only wash/tone/moisturize at night time, so when I wake up to get ready for work, my t-zone is pretty flakey.
I really appreciate your help!!
Erik says
Hey! Was just wondering:
1. in step 5. “Gently wipe the oil from your face” Do you do that with the warm wash cloth you had on your face or with something else?
2. How many times can you use the same wash cloth?
kind regards, Erik
Noelle says
Hi Erik! 1. Same cloth 2. I would say twice is great. I use one side one night, and the other side the next night, and then wash it. 🙂 Hope that helps!
Leah says
Hey my name is Leah. I just started using the. Coconut cleanse method.I did not use a moisturizer after hoping that I wouldn’t need it. My fave is very dry. Is that normal and will it adjust?
Noelle says
Hi Leah! As your skin is adjusting (2-4 weeks), I recommend using just a bit of oil on your face as a moisturizer when you feel dry. You can use coconut oil, or jojoba oil. If it continues to get worse, I would try using jojoba oil, or avocado oil to clean your face and see if that helps. 🙂
Sarah says
Hey, When I buy my coconut oil, it’s always liquid at room temperature, is it still okay to use?
Noelle says
Sure!
sandy says
I am just wondering if I am the only one having this problem. I LOVE using OCM to wash my face, but my one BIG problem is that my sink drain clogs up after rinsing and my sink has an oily film. Does any one else have this problem? It has gotten so bad that I stop using OCM. Any solutions??
Noelle says
Hi Sandy! If you’re using coconut oil, and you feel it hardens or gets in the sink, trying letting hot steamy water run through the drain after you’re finished. You can also try using a different oil, like jojoba oil to see if that helps. Also, you shouldn’t be using that much oil, and most of it should end up on the wash cloth. So, consider using a bit less. We regularly clean our drain out (hair always seems to be the problem for us!) so it might be good to get a small drain cleaning tool to use every couple months.
tasneem says
Hello! I was wondering if you can just wash you face with hot water (leaning on the warm side) instead of the wash cloth burden?
Noelle says
No, you will need a cloth to lift the oil (both the oil you rubbed in, and the dirty, etc.) off your face.
Anii says
would it help in regaining back the glow that i had before
Irene Micheal says
Hi Ms Noelle,
Greeting and hope this mail of mine bring you at your best.
This is for my daughter who’s turning 20yrs this July.
I just two days ago brought Virgin Coconut Oil and want my daughter to use it under her eye.
The problem is her under eye, has very fine lines and it’s very dry too. She ‘s also have a eye bag.
It all just started about two days. I thought of taking her to see a doctor or could you advice me, thanks.
Noelle says
Hi Irene! I would be careful with what you put underneath your eye.. but I do think she should try using coconut oil, or another nourishing oil, to clean her face. It may definitely help the dryness. For the puffiness under the eye, I would recommend something like a Vitamin C serum, and sleep!
Gia says
Hi Noelle! I definitely want to try out the coconut oil cleansing method plus the ACV toner however I have a few questions on how I should use it routinely. I’ve been using coconut oil to wash my face at night, but only for a few days now (I just started) and I’ve also mixed in my own acne treatments and astringents into my skin care routine. I can’t say I notice any drastic differences right away but I definitely want to take out all the other acne products I had been using from my routine and just go with more natural products (aka just coconut oil and ACV). About 3-4 times a week I plan to wash my face with coconut oil at night. Right after cleansing should I follow up with the toner right away? Also, I like to wash my face in the morning too, after waking up. Will rinsing my face with just warm water and following up with the toner cleanse my face enough? And on “off” days, where I don’t use coconut oil, can I just use the warm water + toner method in both the morning and evening? Is it okay to use the toner more than once a day?
Noelle says
Hi Gia! Awesome… so glad you’re exploring natural skin care! As for your questions, YES, you follow up immediately with the ACV toner. Also, rinsing your face with warm water + toner is enough for preparing your face in the morning. On “off” days… YES! If that works for you, then do it. You can use coconut oil every night if you’d like to clean your face. As for the toner, you can use it as often as you’d like, and as fits your skin’s needs. 🙂 Hope that helps!
Gia says
Thanks so much for your help Noelle!! I’ve been using organic, unrefined, cold-pressed coconut oil to wash my face about 4 times a week and using my ACV toner twice, daily. I love the simple and natural routine I’ve developed and have been doing it for a little more than 3 weeks now. Before using coconut oil, the face care products I’ve been using often made my skin feel tight and irritated. I’ve always had a small case of acne where I would develop occasional breakouts and sometimes they would be rash-like and I would suffer from redness around my cheeks especially. I also suffer from oily and sensitive skin and the products I had been using made me develop dry patches. Three weeks into using my new natural method, I’ve noticed that my skin feels so much more relaxed, I never feel tight skin, my redness has died down, I no longer have dry patches, and even my dark spots/acne scars have gotten lighter and are starting to go away! I’m very impressed and happy with the improvements however, I notice that I still get small breakouts, but nothing more than what I’m already used to. Rather than my breakouts being in a rash-like form, they are often just 2 or 3 small pimples. I’ve also noticed that I still develop several whiteheads, which again, is nothing I’m not used to since I’ve been battling whiteheads for as long as I can remember. Sometimes the pimples I get will also turn to whiteheads in a few days time. So far, the coconut oil + ACV toner hasn’t drastically increased the amount of whiteheads I get, but it hasn’t decreased it either. Whiteheads are definitely my biggest issue of concern for my skin and I can’t seem to get rid of them. I was wondering if the reason I still have acne breakouts is because my skin is still in the adjustment period of my new face care? Or if coconut oil is not right for me and I should try a new type of oil? Or maybe I should try a new form of coconut oil? What do you suggest I do?Also, do you have any other tips that can help me improve my breakout problem?
Noelle says
Hi Gia! Since you’re seeing improvements, I would stick it out with the coconut oil another 3-4 weeks and see if it continues to improve. If it doesn’t, I recommend switching to something like jojoba oil or avocado oil to see if it improves after that. You’re doing a great job with figuring out what works best for your skin! Thanks for the feedback. Please let me know how it goes!
Alex says
I wanted to know when making the ACV toner is it ok to use a plastic bottle? I was thinking of mixing green tea with ACV and see how that would do, but everyone says storing it in a glass bottle so I wanted to know does it make a difference.
Noelle says
Typically, I don’t recommend putting something acidic, specifically, something you’ll be storing for a long period of time and putting on your skin, in a plastic container.
Jessica Blankenship says
Hi there!
I tried this over the weekend and I absolutely love it! I also love all of my step-by-step products, and was surprised at how well the coconut oil worked for me. My question to you is what type of all natural skin care can I use to moisturize that has SPF for daytime?
Thanks!
Jess
Noelle says
Hi Jessica! I recommend just using a small bit of sunscreen. I personally use Primal Life Organics Sun Protector. Hope that helps!
Irina says
Hello!
Thank you for your article. I used to cleanse my face with coconut oil to remove make up, but I was following with the “regular” not homemade washing gel. I did it to avoid oil residues. May be this is not the best solution…
So I would like to try your way of cleansing.
One question – how do you clean the cloth after cleansing? 🙂 You have to wash it every time? Isn’t it too oily and dirty? Can I use just a small cotton towel for the cleaning or you have some other suggestions?
Best,
Irina
Noelle says
Hi Irina! You should only be using a small amount of oil to clean your face, so the wash cloth should not get too oily. I typically use one side of the cloth, and then the other side the next night. So, have 3 wash clothes total for the week, and then wash them in hot water in the laundry. Hope that helps!
Irina says
Hi Noelle,
Thank you very much for your answer!
Yesterday I’ve tried to clean my face with coconut oil, I liked it, but still miss a little bit the squeaky feeling which I had after gel cleanser. But I’ve decided to give it a try for a week at least..
I have a couple of questions more if you don’t mind 🙂
I also use Clarisonic brush from time to time to achieve the smoother skin, what do you think about this kind of cleaning? (And I use it with the cleansing gel..)
And I also tried to use coconut oil as a body moisturizer, but I don’t know why. but i still fell this “tightness” even under the oil! I can only avoid this feeling with body lotion from the shop… But I would like to switch to natural care.. I’ve tried to use different oils, but had the same effect:(
Noelle says
Hi Irina! I don’t personally use or know anything about the Clarisonic, but I do know it’s an exfoliator. I typically recommend doing gentle exfoliation if you feel you need it with coconut oil + baking soda. As for using coconut oil as a moisturizer, I recommend going with a body butter or homemade aloe vera moisturizer that blends oils and has a thicker texture.
Irina says
Hi Noelle,
Thank you very much for you answer! I will try!
Best,
Irina
Julia says
Hello Noelle,
when I read your article I was all up for it and gave it a go.
I loved the cleanse, the smell, my make up melted away, such a lovely feeling.
Once removed with the washcloth though it wasn’t as nice feeling anymore, as if the oil was only on surface.
I followed up with your ACV toner, as suggested, and it was kind of better.
I have those dry patches on both my cheeks and on my forehead towards my hairline and I felt it being quite “tight” and dry so I applied some coconut oil on top.
It burnt the living hell out of my skin.
It was mighty unpleasant.
I kept going for a few days and it got better, after about 10 days now, I reapplied some oil after the acv and again it burned, itched and generally didn’t feel nice.
I SO want to like this method. But had to go back to Avène this morning to save my skin 🙁
Any advice?
Noelle says
Hi Julia! Coconut oil should NOT be burning your skin. I would highly recommend switching oils, and using something like jojoba oil instead. Only use a very small amount, rub it into your skin, and then use a microfiber cloth and let the cloth sit on your face to allow the oil and dirt to be lifted off your face. Coconut oil, by it self, isn’t the best moisturizer for your face. I would recommend using this homemade aloe vera face moisturizer, and seeing if that helps.
Giulia says
Thank you for your answer Noelle 🙂
I tried something else yesterday evening, I didn’t follow up with the ACV toner and just applied a bit more coconut oil before going to bed on those pesky dry areas and it didn’t burn !! 🙂
I will empty the jar with this method since I don’t have a lot left and will the switch over to Jojoba oil.
Do you know what happens if I don’t use the ACV ? My pores won’t get as clean right ?
Noelle says
Nothing bad will happen, for me, it’s just an added benefit and helps to remove excess residue in the event I didn’t get all the dirt/oil off with the oil cleansing method. I would make sure to apply the cloth to your face with warm water twice to make sure you get the residue off. Also, you may want to dilute the ACV more! Hope that helps!
Megan says
Hello,
Was wondering what/how I should wash my face on off days, since the coconut oil should only be done 3-4 days a week! Thanks in advance 🙂
Noelle says
Hi Megan! As described above, you can do this every day if you’d like, or use water/wash cloth in between. 🙂
Megan says
Okay thank you!
I do have another question…would you suggest anything to put on those stubborn pimples that appear randomly? I’ve been using salicylic acid products, but that’s probably not good for your skin.
Noelle says
Hi Megan! I would recommend using a high quality vitamin c serum like C-ex. Primal Life organics also has spot treatments. It works WONDERS!
Natalie says
Hi Noelle!
i am currently struggling with acne and have been for a few years and i have tried everything to get rid of it. i am going to try this and see how it works out but i have one question. usually after i wash my face my skin feels very tight and dry, so after i was my face with the coconut oil what should i put on it if it starts feeling dry?
Noelle says
Natalie, try this DIY Facial Serum. You can also use another oil, like jojoba oil.
Jenna says
Hello! I don’t know if someone asked this already but I just started using coconut oil to wash my face and I can’t get used to the way it feels when I use it in the morning. I was wondering if I would be hurting my face if I used coconut oil at night and then a different cleanser in the morning? Or should I just stick with using it at both times and wait for my skin adjust?
Noelle says
Hi Jenna! Please read the post above. It’s not necessary to clean your face twice a day. Just do this at night, and use water to freshen your face in the morning. There are other options for morning freshening that I talk about too, like using an apple cider vinegar facial toner.
Beth says
Hi! I’d like to ask about the coconut oil used? I’m currently using extra virgin coconut oil, but unlike yours (or seemingly any other’s), mine is a clear liquid. Is this any different from using the coconut oil you use- should I not use it on my face? (I’m also using the same coconut oil for my teeth [oil pulling] and eyelashes [for lash growth].) I’d appreciate it so much if you could help me with this!
Noelle says
Coconut oil’s melting point is 77 degrees. So, if it’s warmer, the coconut oil will be liquid. Either way, it’s still coconut oil. Hope that helps!
Caroline says
I’ve been using coconut oil to remove make-up and clean face at night, then rinse well with a washcloth. I then apply a moisterizer to my dry zones only.
In the morning, a cold water rinse and more moisure before make-up.
Sammy says
Hi Noelle I love your advice but I’m a bit confused about a few things 🙂
If you wash your face with coconut oil in the evening, what do you do in the morning? Is it just water? Or apple cider vinegar then water? Or water then apple cider vinegar?
After washing your face in the evening with coconut oil, do you use apple cider vinegar afterwards every time?
What do you do on your offdays? Just use water in the evening?
Thanks
Noelle says
Hi Sammy! I just use water in the morning, and then follow-up with my apple cider vinegar facial toner. I always use the toner after I do the oil cleansing method. On off days, I just use water, and then the apple cider vinegar facial toner.
Sharon says
Hi! I would love to start this new skincare regime. To start off, I have acne prone skin and my skin gets really oily in the morning. My face would get red and oily when I’m under the sun too. I use Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser then the ACV as a toner daily in the morning and before I sleep. I also use coffee scrub and egg white as a mask twice a week and twice a month respectively.
If I’m going to switch my cleanser to your coconut oil, do I just use it at night time and use cetaphil in the morning daily? Thank you! P.S I’m afraid my face will get even oilier when using coconut oil
Noelle says
Hi Sharon! That seems like a good solution. Try it in the evening, and see how it goes! Nourishing oils will not make your skin more oily. Oil dissolves oil, and it will help to restore lipid barrier function. Harsh face cleansers can strip your skin of oil, making it overproduce more oil. So, hopefully the OCM will balance your skin. Eventually, I would suggest ditching the face cleanser in the morning, and just using the toner as a “refresh.” Hope that helps!
Sharon says
Thank you for the reply!
Just to clarify, I can just use the coconut oil on my face without adding on other oils, right? (I’m unsure of what oils to add, rather play safe ?) and how much coconut oil should I be putting on my face if I’m gonna try it out to see if I will have any reactions to it? (should I apply it directly on my cheeks where I’m having acne?)
Honestly, I’m unsure if it’s acne or something else because it has no whitehead Nor blackhead and its tiny red (only when under sun or irritation) clustered together looking like a rash. I would love to show you a picture of it but I don’t think I can put a picture here.
Noelle says
YES! You can JUST use a carrier oil like coconut oil. I would just use a little dab. A small spot on the side of your forehead might be a good idea. Have you thought about changing your diet to see if the skin reaction you’re having is the result of a specific food?
Sharon says
I googled about my acne and it seems like I have acne papules I think? The description sounds really familiar. Do you think applying coconut oil can help with it? 🙂 so sorry for the spam!!!
Noelle says
It might! Best to test it first. Also, if inflammation is the root, I highly recommend removing some common allergens for a few weeks like gluten and dairy to see if that helps!
Sylvia says
Hi Noelle
Many thanks for the great post! I’d really like to try this method but there is something I just can’t seem to work out for myself – I’m mystified. After cleansing, and applying the toner, won’t one’s skin need a moisturiser, i.e. will the toner not get rid of the oil altogether, so it (the oil) can’t really double up as a moisturiser too? I realise everyone’s skin is different and I won’t know how my skin reacts until I try but I’d love to hear what the theory is behind this. Thank you again, you really have a great blog!
Noelle says
Hi Sylvia! No, the toner doesn’t remove ALL the oil. Harsh cleansers WILL strip your face of all it’s own oil, leaving it dry. The oil cleansing method using oil to dissolve oil, and helps restore lipid barrier function. The toner just helps to remove any excess oil. If you feel you need a bit of moisturizer after while your skin adapts, try using a DIY face serum.
Sofia says
Hello Noelle!
I usually wash my face first thing in the morning and before going to bed. I am now trying the coconut oil facial cleansing. Do you recommend to still wash my face twice a day with coconut oil? or would it become greasy?
Another thing, is it good to apply the ACV toner and the DIY facial serum EVERY DAY after cleaning my face with coconut oil? Is it too much to apply this twice a day?
Noelle says
Hi Sofia. Timing questions are answered in the post. You can apply the ACV as many times as you’d like, and the DIY face serum everyday.
Sofia says
why are the norwex cloths so expensive? can i use another one?
Noelle says
Sure!
Christy says
Hi Noelle!
I just found your site a couple of days ago and “WOW” – I’m amazed! You have so many helpful tips and tricks! I was wondering what you would recommend as a cleanser between the coconut oil and caster oil. I have been try out the coconut cleanser for two nights to my face and so far it’s been great, but I was wondering if caster oil would be better? I have oily skin and I’m starting to treat acne and scars. Is one better than the other? Also, I was wondering what you would recommend for a moisturizer afterwards? The ACV is great by my skin does feel tight. Would applying a little argon oil and jojoba oil help? I’ve found that I react to lavender in skin care products. Lastly, what brands of makeup have you found work the best?
Thanks!!
Noelle says
Hi Christy! If you read the post above, I actually make recommendations for different oils to use, and how much castor oil to use based on your skin type. As for moisturizer afterwards, that’s entirely based on your skins needs. As mentioned above, I don’t use moisturizer. You can try my DIY face serum if you feel a bit dry.
Lisa says
Hey Noelle! I just came across this blog post and I really loved it. I’m 20 and I stopped to take the pill last August. My skin has been freaking out ever since. I tried everything and since I like to use coconut oil as a conditioner, I’d love to start with the cleansing method as well.
Here’s my question: You said in the post that you only use it 3-4 days a week. How do you get rid off your foundation/make-up on your “off-days”?? I’m sure this has been asked alot already, but what do you use for moisturizing after the oil and/or ACV treatment??
Thank you and have an awesome day!
Lisa xx (Austria)
Noelle says
Hi Lisa! Any day I wear makeup, I use the OCM with coconut oil to clean my face. I don’t wear makeup every day, and for those days, I use just a bit of water, and my apple cider vinegar toner. For post-cleanse moisturizer, when I’m feeling dry, I use my DIY face serum, or C-ex Vitamin C Serum.
Sharon says
Hello!
I’m back once again. I just bought an extra virgin coconut oil raw but it’s in liquid form. Nonetheless, it will still be as effective as solid ones, right?
Noelle says
Same product. Coconut oil’s melting point is 77 F, so if the ambient temperature is above that, it will be liquid.
Miranda says
Can I use organic refined coconut oil? Or does it have to be unrefined? Thanks, Miranda
Noelle says
Hi Miranda! As stated above, either works. I recommend prioritizing unrefined for full benefits.
Miranda says
Ive been washing with coconut oil for a few weeks now and honestly, I can’t get used to how dirty/greasy my skin feels afterward. Even my pillow cases are dirty because of my greasy face. What am I doing wrong? Thanks, Miranda
Noelle says
Hi Miranda! There shouldn’t be any oil, dirt, or “grease” on your skin after you wash your face. Please make sure to use a warm wash cloth, and go through a couple cycles of rinsing the wash cloth, and holding it on your face/wiping away the oil. Also, follow up with this DIY apple cider vinegar.
rodger says
we only have refined in our stores locally but I love the idea
Zahra says
Can I use sesame oil for cleaning my face?
Noelle says
Yes! I would recommend making sure to use a cold-pressed, organic sesame oil.
Chiko says
Hi there please after washing my face with coconut, should i do it after my night shower or before, because i would still love to use soap on my face while bathing.
Noelle says
Hi Chiko! Using the oil cleansing method as described in this post will clean your face. You do not need to use harsh cleansers or soaps as well. I would recommend transitioning away from using soaps or harsh cleansers to clean your face. You can clean your face before or after your shower… totally up to you.
Chiko says
And also there is a facial cream/mosturizer cream i rub every night, would it be right to aplply it after the coconut facial wash?
Noelle says
Hi Chiko! As described in the post above, moisturizers may be needed afterwards if your face still feels dry. The time to apply moisturizers would be after you clean your face with coconut oil, and use a toner.
Chiko says
Thanks for your response, but must i use a toner, cant i use the coconut oil cleansing and mosturizer when needed alone.
Noelle says
You can.
Steph says
I want to try out the version of the cleanser that uses astringent & carrier oils. Are there other astringent oils besides castor oil and hazelnut oil that you could recommend that are good for either all skin types or combination skin? I personally am not a fan of castor oil and I’m mildly allergic to consuming tree nuts, so I think hazelnut oil might irritate my skin.
Thanks!
Noelle says
Hi Steph! Great question. Grapeseed oil has mildly astringent qualities, as does borage oil. So, I would recommend giving either of those a try. Let me know how it goes!
Victoria says
Hi Noelle,
I’d love to try removing mak-up with the Norwex Antibacterial Microfiber Washcloth but it’s not available in the UK 🙁 Is there any other brand you recommend?
Thanks.
Noelle says
Hi Victoria! Oh no. 🙁 Right now, I don’t know of anything like Norwex. If you can look for a microfiber cloth of some sort, that would be your best option. You can also simply use the oil cleansing method to remove makeup with a regular wash cloth, it’s just not as easy. Let me know if you find anything!
Sal soliz says
Is it really that bad to use coconut oil twice a day? ( in the morning & at night ) If Its recommended to only use coconut oil at night before bed then what would you recommend we use for moisturizer in the morning? Would we need to? Also is it bad to use coconut oil & sweat, say if we’re playing basketball or working out? Sorry for all the questions. Just amazed with my results & dont want to do anything that will ruin it. Thank you for this article !
Noelle says
Hi Sal! The oil cleansing method is a bit heavy for some, which is why it’s recommend only once a day. If you clean your face at night, you won’t need to also clean it in the morning. As for moisturizer, I would recommend using a lighter oil, like jojoba oil, or this DIY Facial Serum. I tend to find that using coconut oil as a moisturizer, and then going to workout (and sweat) tends to make your face a bit slimy, and leads to a few breakouts. This is simply because coconut oil takes a little bit to absorb. So, use the apple cider vinegar toner before and after your workouts. Hope that helps!
Maureen says
I make a salt scrub. Just mix some coconut oil and salt in a container(you can add whatever you want too for added benefits or smell). I started doing this about a month ago after receiving a similar product in my ipsy bag that was made with mineral oil(it felt like coconut oil). Anyway, it works great. My face has been moisturized and my pores are a lot smaller. I dont’ like cleansers and have never used them and any facial scrub I’ve found in store either has those shitty micro-beads or smells like a man. Best thing I’ve ever used on my face. I just used it like a scrub and then slowly add cold water until the salt is dissolved and then pat dry.
Noelle says
That’s awesome, Maureen! I’ll have to experiment with that. Thanks for sharing!
Megan says
Do you typically use table salt or course sea salt?
egbowawa eloho says
What if I use lemon juice as facial cleanser then rub the coconut oil on the face afterwards. Would that reduce breakouts
Noelle says
No. I do not recommend putting lemon juice on your face.
Jean Stewart says
Hi I found you this afternoon after learning about coconut oil at my Whole Foods. I am a young 72 and have good skin but on the dry side and have the lines above the lip. Also losing firmness. Which of the oils will help I just washed with the coconut oil and now feel dry.
Thanks
Jean
Noelle says
Try the recommendations for dry skin. I personally love avocado oil. Hope that helps!
Nichola says
Plz be careful when using coconut oil to remove eye makeup. Remove most w/ makeup remover cloths instead of rubbing coconut oil into eyelashes. I accidentally clogged my glands in my eyelids. While coconut oil does not clog pores,dirty mascara does. My eyes would not stop watering for months and I went to the eye doctor. I used tea tree oil on my eyelids and 2 days later no more tears. Just a heads up. It was one of the most annoying things I’v ever dealt with.
Noelle says
Thanks for sharing, Nichola! I’ve personally never had that happen before of heard of anyone experiencing that, but I think it’s important to make sure people treat coconut oil like any other cleanser (gentle around the eyes, and wipe away excess oil and dirt with the cloth.) Glad you were able to go to the doctor and get it sorted out.
Rebecca Painter says
Great article. I’m 53 with some wrinkles and large pores on the nose. I also break out if something is too greasy. My recipe is made in a jar. I use 6 tablespoons of coconut oil, 5 drop of peppermint oil and 2 drops of lemon oil. The lemon help tone the color of skin and the peppermint keep the oil from breaking my skin out. This has worked really well on my dark under eye circles as well.
gladys says
wow! i would try this later tonight! we bought vco w/lavender and ive been using it on my body and underarms. i will try it on my face tonight, hopefully i wouldnt break out. ive been searching for something to put on my face to lessen my breakouts and to clear my skin.
Gavin says
I just started using this method at the beginning of the week and it feels great . How long should I expect it to take to clear up my face? I’m using the method every night.
Thankyou 🙂
Noelle says
Hi Gavin! It’s different for everyone, however, I would expect to know whether it’s working for you or not in 2-4 weeks. Hope that helps!
Rein says
Hi Noelle,
I tried OCM last night using coconut oil. I am holing that it will treat my acne and acne scars. You mentioned in your article to try it for 3-4 weeks, should it be every night for the 3-4 weeks or 3× a week for the next 3-4 weeks will be fine?
And is it ok that after I do the OCM, i am planning to apply castor oil to may affected areas and leave it there overnight?
Thanks in advance!
Noelle says
Hi Rein! I would recommend just seeing how your face does after doing it a couple nights in a row. If your skin reacts well, continue on with doing it for a few more weeks. No need to overthink it. Keep doing it if it works, stop if it doesn’t. Applying whatever you want to afterwards is totally up to you and how your skin responds. If the castor oil afterwards helps, then keep doing it! 🙂
Riley says
I have been using coconut oil for 5 days and I didn’t have huge breakouts, but I got small pimples all over my face. Is this because of the detox? Also, I haven’t used acv yet, but I plan to soon. Do you it would help?
Noelle says
Hi Riley! I may be comedogenic acne. Please see Coconut Oil for Skin: Everything You Need to Know for more information. I would recommend trying a different oil. Yes, the ACV will help!
Yunisky says
Hi there! I just have a question, because I can’t search this anywhere. Is it okay if I still wash my face with a facial cleanser after doing OCM? Because I wanted to make sure all the oils are removed from my face afterwards, and I’m used to using a facial cleanser to feel refreshed. I’m just new in this skin care world so Im so confused haha. Thanks for replying!
Noelle says
Hi Yunisky! No, I wouldn’t recommend it. The OCM is a method for washing your face. Washing your face afterwards with cleansers and soaps voids the OCM. You remove the oils with the warm wash cloth. The oils are nourishing and help to moisturize your face, so you don’t want to strip your face of all oil, which is what harsh cleansers do. To remove excess oil residue, try my apple cider vinegar facial cleanser afterwards.
Roema Eunice says
Thank you so much for clearing this up because I was so confused! I was so scared of letting go of my facial cleansers because I have very oily skin, and I was scared that excess makeup residue would stay in my face after the OCM. Another question, does OCM alone cure the oiliness of my face? And is it safe to use OCM in the night and facial cleansers in the morning? I’m so sorry, I just can’t let go of the cleansers that fast and I’m still accustoming myself of the smell of ACV as a toner. :'(
Noelle says
That’s OK. Please read up on Coconut Oil for Skin: Everything You Need to Know. The questions you have are answered in this post, and that one. 🙂
rachel says
what oil do you recommend if this doesn’t work? i’ve been doing this for a week and still have small pimples and got some more. i don’t have extremely oily skin and i don’t usually have big acne
Noelle says
Please see section titled “Using Other Oils for The Oil Cleansing Method” in the post above.
leah says
Can i wash my face with a facial oil ( like Julep Love Your Bare Face Hydrating Cleansing Oil ) and moisturize with oils after? I tried coconut oil but it didn’t work.
Noelle says
You tried coconut oil for what? Cleansing or moisturizing? You can wash your face with whatever works for you, and moisturize after with whatever works for you. I recommend this DIY facial serum. You’ll often find you DON’T need to moisturizer after doing the oil cleansing method.
Mika says
Hi! I read this article of yours just now, and I am super excited to go home and give it a try. I always struggled with bad skin, and never had skin without acne. I am 32 years old and so fed up with always having bad skin. I used Roacutan when younger but stopped using when I wanted to start a family 8 years ago. I stopped using the Pill 4 months ago to get pregnant again, and my bad skin only got worse. At this stage, I am super frustrated with my skin. I went for Nimue facials twice now in the past 2 months, but it only seems to get worse. The beautician had me started on some of the Nimue cleansers, toners and moisturisers but it does not seem to help. My skin seems oily but is actually very dry and sensitive. I also struggle with red patches especially on my chin. Do you think Coconut Oil might help? I am desperate for a solution and improvement.
Noelle says
I do, for all the reasons listed above. Please read through the entire article before doing it so you know what to look out for to tell if it is, or isn’t working well for your skin.
Tamara says
Hi there! I am a big fan of coconut oil and use it to moisturize my whole body without problem. However 3 weeks ago, I started using the OCM on my face (first daily, now 3 times a week) and my forehead is FULL of pimples. Will they go away if I add tea tree oil and use Apple Cider Vinegar afterwards? I can’t buy any other essential oil right now, cause I’m staying at a really far off place until the end of this month. If this 2 other things don’t help, what can I do to clean my face in the meantime?
Noelle says
Hi Tamara! I’d recommend switching to a different oil. Try using jojoba oil. Please read Coconut Oil For Skin: Everything You Need To Know for more info.
Kaitlyn says
I’ve been trying this method and the Apple Cider Vinegar toner treatment really dries out my skin when I use it after the coconut oil treatment. What do you recommend I use as a moisturizer?
Noelle says
Hi Kaitlyn! Try using less ACV (so, change the ratio so there is more water). Also, you can use my DIY Facial Serum as a facial moisturizer. Hope that helps!
Jessica says
Question….I have acne. I usually use benzoyl peroxide or some type of spot treatment. Should I not use that anymore? I plan on using your face wash and facial toner recipes.
Noelle says
Hi Jessica! Totally up to you. You can chose to use it or not. This is just how you’ll be cleaning your face and toning. I would see if switching up your routine helps, and make changes slowly and incrementally. Let me know how it goes!
Mika says
Question: I am in the fifties, and am getting wrinkles around my eye, and am trying if this helps. Is it ok to apply bio oil after cleansing with coconut oil, or is that not a good idea. Clarify for me please if I’m suppose to do avc after every cleansing with coconut . Also I know you saying use filtered or distilled water , however it’s too much for me to warm filtered water ( I don’t have filtering system in house)and use for coconut cleansing, do you think it’s ok to use my tap water? Another question is will this coconut cleansing clear off my foundation , can I apply over my foundation to clean, I’m not so sure so I’ve been kind of wiping with warm water and cloth first, then clean with coconut .
Noelle says
Hi Mika! It’s ok to use oil afterwards, and the ACV comes after the oil cleansing with coconut oil as described above. Your process for removing foundation sounds fine! Please do what works best for you. As for the ACV, I do recommend filtered water. Hope that helps!
Rylie says
Coconut oil clogs my pores when I use it to wash or moisturize. If I use products with coconut oil in them not just by itself, will that still clog my pores? I have all the Tropical Traditions facial moisturizers, and when I first used them they made my skin super soft, but then I kept getting bumps. Is this because of the coconut oil?
Noelle says
Hi Rylie! I’d recommend avoiding coconut oil for skin application as it seems to not be right for your skin. Try sweet almond oil or jojoba oil for the oil cleansing method and as a moisturizer. Hope that helps!
Jenny Wilson says
Hi Noelle, I was looking for a natural way to clean my face and your blog was the first one I read, I decided to give it a go, I happened to have some good coconut oil in my pantry so I started straight away, I realise I have to wait for a couple of weeks or so to see results (I had a really close look at my skin first) but I have to say that my skin feels alive right now, can’t wait for a couple of weeks to have another close look. One other thing, I had to use a normal wash cloth but I have just found out that Norwex cloths are available here in Australia, a bit expensive but I am getting one after Xmas. Cheers.
Noelle says
Great to hear Jenny! Thanks! 🙂
William says
Hi Noelle,
Thank you so much for this helpful advice. My only question – if I do this coconut oil wash every night, should I still wash my face with a more traditional face wash every morning?
Thank you!
Noelle says
Hi William! No, you should have to. After cleaning your face at night, your face won’t be dirty again in the morning. I recommend just using a splash of water, or my apple cider vinegar facial toner to freshen your face in the morning. Hope that helps!
Wally says
Thank’s for your prompt reply Noelle! So just double checking – the only time I need to wash is once daily, at night, with the coconut oil? And besides that I can use a splash of ACV in the morning? Thank you!
Noelle says
Hi Wally! Your skin routine will be very individual to you, so I recommend starting there, and adapting that according to your skin needs and what works best for you. Good luck!
William says
Sorry one more question – last one I promise – should I do anything to my face before applying the coconut oil? You mention make up, but if there’s no make-up do I need to rinse with water or wipe with a cloth before applying the oil or anything like that? Thank you so much, and happy new year!
Noelle says
Nope! 🙂
Wendy says
Will the coconut oil clog my sink or pipes?
Noelle says
No
William says
Hi Noelle – So I’ve been doing this coconut oil cleansing method for about a month now, my skin’s been looking and feeling extremely healthy and moisturized and has a lovely ‘glow’ to it – and about two weeks in I started using the ACV too.
However, for the last week I’ve had constant breakouts. This is new and it’s been really bad. Any suggestions on what to do next? Should I stop the coconut oil all together and see if it gets better?
Noelle says
Hi William? What are the breakouts like? It is anything like you’ve had before, and would this be related to anything else other than the OCM? If it’s comedogenic acne, that might be a sign that it’s the coconut oil. You can try using another oil, like jojoba oil, to see if that helps clear things up.
William says
Noelle – Thank you so much for your reply, and sorry for my late response. It was just like other breakouts I’ve had, but a little more severe. There were no other major changes in my routine or diet so I’m certain it was from the coconut oil.
I will do some research on washing my skin with jojoba oil! Do you think it will have the same positive effects that the coconut oil had? Like I said, before it started causing breakouts, it made my skin look and feel better than ever. I’m sad to give it up, but certainly have to. Thank you!
Noelle says
All the positive effects you see with cleaning with coconut oil will also be see with jojoba oil. All depends on your skin, and what works best for it. Simply follow the steps exactly as listed above, and use a different oil—like jojoba oil. All oils are great (I list some other oils and oil combinations you can use above), however, jojoba oil is an oil many people do well with and it’s a oil I recommend shifting to first if coconut oil isn’t working great. 🙂
William says
P.S. If you have any advice on washing with the jojoba oil let me know! Thanks 🙂
Michelle says
Can you mix the astringent oil with the carrier oil and store them in a bottle together? And, can the coconut oil be whipped with the astringent oil and be stored together?
Noelle says
Yep! 🙂
Roni Swaine says
i just started washing my face with this method and using the Apple Cider Vinegar toner and wow!!!! My face has never looked or felt this good before. i was using Panoxyl Benzoyl Peroxide face wash before and my face would literally burn if I didn’t immediately put on moisturizer right after. Now my face is always feeling fresh and moisturized even if I forget to put on my organic face moisturizer. My acne has cleared up and some of the discoloration in my face is clearing up and my skin is becoming much more even. I love it!! acne scares were always my biggest problem. I will recommend this to everyone i know that struggles with acne or dry skin or discoloration!
Maia L. says
Hi there! Great article. Question though–you noted you wouldn’t recommend applying the coconut oil on your face as a moisturizer after washing with the oil. I’m just thinking I’ll still be dry after cleansing with the oil. Would you recommend applying a regular moisturizer after washing with the oil? How about a serum? My normal routine is cleanse, serum, moisturizer, and then facial oil. Just wondering if that should change if I start to use the oil as a cleanser.
Noelle says
Hi Maia! As explained above, everyone’s skin is difference. So, I recommend trying it first, seeing how your skin feels, and then determining if you need moisturizer afterwards. The serum I recommend for using when your face does feel a little dry is my DIY Facial Serum. Good luck!
Morgan Will says
Hey I just started using the oil cleansing method and everything is going great but I feel like I need to exfoliate once a week because I seem to be having a little bit of dry skin on my face, any suggestions?
Noelle says
Sure! Just use a little bit of baking soda, or you can add a little sugar to oil and use that as an exfoliator. You can also use my DIY Face Mask, which will exfoliate skin.
Lisa @ The Wellness Wife says
Were the white bumps you were getting milia? Were they right under the eyes and on your upper cheek? I get milia and the dermatologist said absolutely no oils, but I really prefer natural facial products.
Noelle says
Hi Lisa! It wasn’t milia. Have you tried cleaning your face with coconut oil yet to see how your skin responds?
Lisa @ The Wellness Wife says
Thanks for the response! I haven’t tried coconut oil because of the dermatologist saying no oils whatsoever, but it’s sure worth a try!
aimee says
Hi,
I will try using coconut oil at night and the apple cider toner in the morning.
Do you recommend any follow up step for sun protection in the morning? sunscreen/moisturizer makes my face so shinny
Noelle says
Sure! If you’d like to use sunscreen, you can chose to do so after the toner.
Ruchiccio says
Hi thanks for the great tutorial! Just wondering if it is ok for my face to feel somewhat oily (not greasy or thick) afterwards? I mean it’s not exactly possible to remove oil with water but justbwanted to make sure this is expected! Thanks again!
Noelle says
Hi Ruchiccio! You want to feel moisturized, but not “oily.” I recommend doing another round of the warm washcloth, and using my apple cider vinegar toner afterwards if you do.
Ruchiccio says
Hi it’s Ruchiccio again. I do use your ACV toner recipe afterwards. I guess it could be that my skin is so used to feeling dry that any bit of moisturizing feels like oil 😉 Like the morning after using the coconut oil/toner my face doesn’t feel oily. How can I tell the difference between somewhat oily and moisturized?
Noelle says
Might just be something you need to experiment with, Ruchiccio. Keep on giving it a go and see how your skin does long-term! 🙂
Gee says
Hi Noelle! I have oily, acne prone skin and i really want to try this regimen. Since you recommend the coco oil wash in the evening, what do I use in the mornings? Also, can I use the acv toner twice a day? Thanks!
Noelle says
Hi Gee! Use water/ACV in the morning. And yes, as per the apple cider vinegar toner post, it can be used multiple times a day.
Angela says
I am planning on doing this with my 13 yr old that has acne but im a little confused. Do i mix castor oil with coconut oil for him to do daily? Then do acv? Ive never done all natural stuff but since the store stuff isnt working i thought id give this a try before going to dermatologist.
Noelle says
You can! You can just use coconut oil, or use a mixture of oils depending on what works best for his skin. Please make sure to test coconut oil on a small patch of skin by itself first. I recommend using the apple cider vinegar toner after doing the oil cleansing method. Good luck!
Reja says
Can i remove all type of makeup like Longwear/HD/Waterproof ect by coconut oil ?
Noelle says
Yes!
BreeLee says
So I have a silly question. I started trying this method about a week ago. I clean with the coconut oil and then do your DIY ACV timer afterwards. I noticed that the last two or three days I have done this my face felt right and dry afterwards and I felt like I needed a moisturizer. And today I saw that I do have some peeling on my nose and cheeks. The first two or three days I did this method o just did hot water from my sink and let the washcloth sit on my face for 30 secs and then repeated probably twice. Then I thought maybe my water wasn’t hot enough to open my pores and clean and such so I started microwaving my water and letting it cool a little and then hold the cloth to my face. First question do you think the water may be too hot and is the warm water from the sink enough to truly pull the oils and clean? And also are you supposed to wipe until you feel like the oil is gone completely or just wipe once and then use He timer? Maybe I am wiping too much of the coconut oil off before applying the toner and that’s why I am peeling and dry….? Also will using the DIY facial serums be too heavy and cause your face to be too oily and break out? I was thinking of making the one you had in your other post that is for all skin types. Thank you for the help! I am brand new to this natural hair and skin care stuff and really want to learn it but am having difficulty with it.
BreeLee says
Correction on spelling errors: “timer” is supposed to be “toner” and I noticed my face felt tight and dry not “right” lol sorry silly autocorrect
Noelle says
Hi Bree! I would actually recommend only using warm water… NOT super hot water. After the toner, follow-up with just a tiny bit of serum and see if that helps. If it doesn’t, try using a different oil altogether, like jojoba oil, for the oil cleansing method! Good luck!
Christina Gertz says
Let me know if this is correct. I should cleanse with the coconut oil and them follow with the toner? Should I use the serum after the toner? Does the toner remove some of the oil from the cleanser?
Noelle says
Hi Christina! That is correct! The oil cleansing method cleans and moisturizes your skin. Toner has a different purpose, but it does help to wipe away some of the excess oil. Depending on your skin type, you MAY need a light serum afterwards. I recommend waiting to see how your skin does without it first. If you feel a bit dry, apply the serum after the toner dries. Good luck!
Matthew says
You said that we should only use the coconut oil once per day at nighttime, so what do you suggest we wash our face with in the morning. I read the DIY apple Cider Vinegar and how we can apply in the morning but it says to apply to a “clean” face. So how do you suggest we naturally clean without using coconut oil?
Noelle says
Hi Matthew! Water works. 🙂
sharon says
Hiya! Just wanna ask. How many times should i do the oil cleaning and also the apple cider vinegar facial toner? Thanks
Noelle says
Hi Sharon! In each post, I give guidelines and recommendations for how much/how often depending on what works for you. 🙂 Good luck!
Kelli says
Hi Noelle!
I see you recommend cleaning with coconut oil once a day, why is that? Is it bad to use twice a day? I have always washed my face two times a day, what should I use in the mornings? I just found your page and I’m so excited to try your ideas! 🙂
Noelle says
Hi Kelli! In the post and in the comments above, I recommend using water or a Norwex cloth for morning washes. However, try what you like and do what works for you! 🙂
Sann says
Hello, Noelle.
I’m 24 and have been washing my face with only water(then air drying) followed by coconut oil as moisturiser for the last two years without having any skin issues, Alhumdulilah. I also use a paste of sandalwood powder, raw milk and raw turmeric every other day & wash it with only water.Though recently I was told to wear sunscreen(the only chemical on my skin) everyday regardless of going out. That’s when I figured that I would need to thoroughly clean my face and remove the sunscreen every night and I had ZERO clue as to how to go about it! I never wear makeup so there was never a need for me to wash my face with anything but water. And now with this new product in my life, I want to know how I can clean it off my face everyday. A few more questions though:
1. Won’t using wash cloth everyday act as a mini scrub?
Wash cloth is a light physical exfoliation and ACV is a chemical exfoliation. Won’t I be over exfoliating my face on a daily base? (Considering I bruise like a peach! #FriendsRef) ????
2. How can I deep cleanse & rid the sun screen off my face every day if I don’t follow the OCM?
Thanks & regards.
Noelle says
Hi Sann! 1. Using a wash cloth to clean your face using the method above will not act as an exfoliant. If it is too much for your skin, then don’t exfoliate beyond washing your face and using the apple cider vinegar toner. I personally don’t use an exfoliator because my skin doesn’t need it. Do what works for you! 2. You can clean your face however you’d like! I recommend following the process above, but if it doesn’t work for you, use another cleanser.
Molly says
Hi..I have been applying coconut oil when sleeping and just washing my face with plain water the next morning. Is this correct?
Noelle says
Hi Molly! If you are following the steps above to clean your face at night… then yes! 🙂
Zeek says
Hi, I just started using coconut oil for my skin. Is it okay if i use it in the morning & night everyday after cleaning my face with african black soap ? the soap leaves my face very dry so i would use some coconut oil to moisturize my face and wipe off with a hot rag after 5 minutes.
Noelle says
Sure! Experiment and see how your skin responds.
Angela Fares says
Hi, thank you for your fantastic article. I would like to know if I should wash my Norwex body cloth everyday after using it, and if so, how I should do it. Should I use regular laundry detergent or is there a more natural option? Should I leave it soaking in a small bowl with some natural product and then wring it out, or should I just wash it by hand right after I finish using it and put it to dry. Thank you so much again!
Noelle says
Hi Angela! I purchased a 3-pack and use each twice before washing. Rinse in hot water after use, and wash with whatever laundry detergent you use in hot water.
Jessica says
Hi I use tea tree oil and clean and clear every morning and night. I use coconut oil both times. I’m not too sure if I’m applying the products too often or if I’m applying them correct. I also work in a kitchen. Need some pointers because some days I’m doing better then others. Should I include my skincare routine during my 10 hour shifts or is there an alternative? And if so how would I incorporate it?
Noelle says
Hi Jessica! Is what you are doing now working? If so—keep doing it!
Jessica says
I noticed a big difference while using the two oils together. Although I’m not breaking out I noticed there are still inflammation.
Mike says
Hey, just wondering about the time the coconut oil is left on the face. I’ve read other methods where it says to leave it on for 10 minutes to really let it penetrate. Why only leave it on for 60 seconds as you suggest?
Noelle says
You are simply using it to wash your face. Doesn’t need more time to penetrate. 🙂
shanelle says
is this method good for pimples and blackheads? Because I have a bunch of pimples and i want to get rid of them and I cant find anything good for them .
Noelle says
Yes!
Tina says
Is it okay to use this method every night before bed?
Noelle says
Yes!
Emma Street says
I have very sensitive, eczema-prone skin, and found that this method didn’t work for me. At first, it felt great, but after about a week my skin started to break out. With trial and error over the years, I’ve discovered that 1) my skin is more prone to bacterial reactions when I use coconut oil and 2) that the warm water and abrasiveness of the washcloth irritate my skin, no matter how light a hand I use with this method. I now use jojoba oil to remove my eye makeup, just by rubbing it on my fingertips and then on my eyes, and rinsing afterwards with lukewarm water, splashing my face many times to remove all makeup, then patting dry with a towel. I use no other cleansers at all, and moisturize afterwards. This has turned out to be the best formula for me.
Kimberly says
I have been using coconut oil for a year now and it has worked great for me up until now.. I’m experiencing dry skin and this has never been an issue for me. My nightly routine is to use a soft wash cloth and warm water to take my makeup off then I apply the coconut oil as described above. I do not use any other products on my face. Do you have any suggestions? I live in Florida so it does not get too dry here.
Noelle says
Try a different oil! Both avocado oil or jojoba oil are great for dry skin.
Ankita says
HIGHLY RECOMMEND DOING THIS. I had awful hormonal acne from starting the pill, and even worse when I got off it. Nothing seemed to work, from all natural face washes/moisturizers, topical acne ointments, nothing… UNTIL I TRIED RAW HONEY AS A CLEANSER!! People have said that they’ve broken out after trying it, but it was the complete opposite for me because my existing blemishes diminished over night!! My face looks beautiful, with acne scarring here and there, and I’m so happy I tried this. For those wondering, I use Whole Foods regular raw honey and it works great.
Heide says
Hey thanks for all this info on oil cleansing. I’ve been doing it for about three weeks now, but I’ve been noticing that since doing it I’ve been getting loads more blackheads and small spots. My skin is usually a little dry and i very rarely get spots. Do you know why this could be? I’m using a mix of almond oil and castor oil. Thanks
Noelle says
Hi Heidi! Have you tried other oils yet? Might be a good idea to try jojoba oil to see if there is a change.
Lauren says
Hi Noelle! I saw this post recently and was wondering your thoughts on the first point: https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/the-3-most-common-natural-skin-care-mistakes-and-how-to-fix-them. They mention using a toner before the oil but I know you’ve said to use the ACV toner after. They say that once oil is applied, the skin’s barrier is sealed, so the toner won’t be effective. What do you think?
Noelle says
I don’t agree. You wouldn’t put toner on, and then wash it off with the oil cleansing method. Best method includes washing your face (with an oil or balm-like cleanser), then applying the apple cider vinegar toner. Once it dries, you can apply a serum, and then a more robust moisturizer.
Christine says
Hi there,
Thanks for your article. I tried the method last night and my skin felt great. Also this morning my skin didn’t feel dry. Can I go right ahead and put on my makeup without doing anything else?
Thanks!
Noelle says
Sure!
J says
Noelle
Wow thx for sharing
Acne prone since i became vego 14 yrs ago…
Every mornimg i would wake up to new ones
Spent tens if thousands at dermatologists n no cure except for roccatane solution i refuse to take
Wise uncle suggested face oil pulling sep 16
Today no more acne…
Blemishes from 12yrs of acne have diminished by 85%
Every nite i rub organic cold press virgin oil ( edible ) cocount oil and dab off excess so remaining is merely thin layer which is left on n wash off in the morning
Im midst of trial to combact age spot which i have just one mammoth one …n since sep 16…everynite even on vacation i nourish w oil..
Today 1 1/2 yrs on…i can share tat the age spot have diminish by 80%….
Laser age spots most times relapses n come back…
Sep 16 i also started on potent omega 3 ( miracles to beautiful skin ) ( i only take 6 tbs chia everyday without miss)
So i believe my successful story is owed to omega 3 and god gifted natural coconut oil.
Chris says
I like to cleanse in the morning. I tried the oil cleansing method with coconut oil but found my face a little to greasy during the day. Do you suggest I try a different oil for daytime cleansing? Or do you have a way to completly get the coconut oil off of the face.
Noelle says
Try using my apple cider vinegar facial toner afterwards. 🙂
jules reed says
can i use ACV after the hot cloth clensing method
Noelle says
Yes!
jules reed says
for the past four days, ive been using the oil cleansing method…kind of. i use the hot wash cloth and then i apply your apple cider vinegar facial toner and a bit of aloe vera once that dries. its been great for my skin and i also have a stye that wont go away, and the hot wash cloth seems to help! but this morning i noticed that my other eye is puffy, much like the start of a stye. what could i be doing wrong? i immediately use my hot wash cloth on both my eyes and used a Q-tip to apply the ACV toner over both eyelids but im really freaked out 🙁 any help is appreciated!
Noelle says
Hi Jules! I’m sorry—I don’t have any insight on this. I do get those from time to time, and it seems to be caused by makeup and sweating. I would recommend really making sure you remove all your makeup and use the apple cider vinegar toner a few times a day to freshen your face.
Sammy says
Hi!
I just wanted to clarify some things. After applying the coconut oil do i press the towel in my face and leave pressed for a while? If so for how long…. Also after this process if I want to use the ACV toner do i wash all the coconut oil off my face or wipe it off with the towel. Im sorry can you please clarify…?
Thank you 🙂
Noelle says
Hi Sammy! You let the wash cloth sit on your face until the heat dissipates, maybe about 30 seconds? Wipe all the coconut oil off your face with the cloth, and then use the toner. 🙂
DIVYANSH TRIPATHY says
hi one more question
is your skin care rountine same or do u add something new
i mean washing face with coconut oil + DIY facial serum
PLEASE let me know ,
WAITING FOR YOUR RESPONSE
Noelle says
I do different things depending on my skin’s needs. Right now I use Beautycounter’s Cleansing Balm instead of coconut oil. I use my toner all the time! 🙂
Brooklyn says
Hi! I was wondering if you recommend this method for teenagers?
Noelle says
DEFINITELY!
Katie says
Hi! Coconut oil leaves a sheen and I was wondering when wiping th wool off do you wipe until you get everything off or do you leave a little bit of that greasy on there and the toner combats that?
Noelle says
I wipe it off until my face feels clean and light. Shouldn’t feel greasy! The Norwex cloth is the best for lifting the oil off the face, which is why I recommend it.
Joquim says
I’ve always had extremely oily skin and initially stayed away from oil. But then I learned about the benefits of Coconut oil. Coconut Oil kills bacteria, bacteria is a cause of breakouts. What an amazing discovery. I now frequently use it as a moisturiser and certainly it calms my overproducing oil glands. Wish I’d had known this years ago.
Marg says
Hi! I recently introduced an anti-aging serum into my skincare routine. When do you think it should be applied? After the ACV toner?
Noelle says
After the toner! Routine should be Cleanse, Tone, Serum, Eye Cream, Night Cream. 🙂
Sushmita says
Can I use scars cream like mederma after oil cleansing method
Noelle says
Sure!
Ozzie says
Can wash the coconut oil off just using my hands? Is the cloth necessary?
Noelle says
The cloth is necessary.
Jake says
Hi Noelle,
I am a 20 year old guy with combination/mild acne prone skin.
I just had a few quick questions..
1) What oils would you recommend pairing with the coconut oil for acne prone skin, and how much of them should I use. 1 Drop?
2) Do I need to use the toner afterwards?
3) I only take cold showers, so I can’t use coconut oil in the shower. If I shower in the evening, would you recommend I wash my face before or after I shower?
4) After removing the oil with a warm wet washcloth, should I then use something else to dry it completely, or let it air dry?
Looking forward to hearing back from you, thanks!
Sana says
Can i clean my face first with gram flour and then coconut oil?
Or vice versa?
lizzy says
can you mix the coconut oil with avocado oil? if not what can you mix coconut oil with?
Noelle Tarr, NTP, CPT says
Yes! All blending instructions are above!
Eden says
Hi there I’m 52 years young and I have a sensitive face , can I use rose water as tonerAfter oil cleaning instead of Acv? Looking forward for your answer . Thank you God bless
Noelle Tarr, NTP, CPT says
Sure!
Kayla says
Oh! I just asked something similar, more because I can’t quite handle the smell of ACV.😬 Has the rose water been working well for you?
JBC says
Thanks so much. I’ve been doing the coconut oil and ACV combo each day for about 2 weeks now, and I can already see a difference. Also I get cystic acne each month but this time around I noticed they were starting out that way but then turned into regular zits. that was a first! So happy about it. thanks again ?
Peter says
Great advice
Ann says
Hi Noelle,
Have you tried coconut oil for removing zinc based sunscreen at the end of the day? I have dry, sun and age damaged skin, and hope it will work. Thank you.
Noelle Tarr, NTP, CPT says
I’m sure it would work!
Simi says
Hi! Im 38 years old with dry skin and have just started using a blend of hemp seed oil (60%) and apricot kernel oil (40%) as my first cleanser. I’m loving it so far. Do you think I should add virgin coconut oil too in the blend? Also, I have not heard of these exact oil blends so I hope it wont clog pores.
Noelle Tarr, NTP, CPT says
Hey Simi! If you are loving what you’re doing now—no need to change!
Abhulimen Angela says
How do I know my skin type
Noelle Tarr, NTP, CPT says
Is your skin more dry, more oily, or neither?
Teni says
Hi! I just came across your blog post after searching Google. I found it very detailed, yet in a simple language and it answered virtually all the questions I had in mind, thank you! I’ve only started using the coconut oil cleaning method over a week ago and I’m noticing a bit more breakouts on my face but I’m no longer worried since you indicated this may be expected. I however, will like to ask if I’m doing something wrong by still washing my face with typical soap wash when taking a shower and after the coconut oil wash…I always thought this was still required; I’m I wrong please?
Helen Thorpe says
Your information is presented so well I really learned a lot . You sound very enthusiastic and come across friendly – thank you from a coconut oil and water cleansed face 🤣