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No, this is not food. It feels wrong, I know. Maybe even a little shocking and misplaced, but I promise you’ll love this homemade tea tree oil facial cleanser I made for you.

A few weeks ago, I decided to gradually go chemical free. It was challenging at first, but once I experienced natural, wholesome products in there raw state, I was hooked.

It all started when I made Homemaker Chic’s recipe for Citrus Body Sugar Scrub. I’ve never experienced anything so lush and fresh. It left my body feeling silky smooth and moisturized–there was no need to apply lotion after the shower. It’s better than any scrub you’ll find in the store for a fraction of the cost. The recipe made 6-8oz. jars of scrub. I kept two jars for myself and gifted the rest. The quality is unbeatable and the savings are incomparable. It is Noelle’s scrub that gave me the nudge I needed to go chemical free. I thought, “If this scrub is so amazing, then there must be tons of other homemade alternatives floating around the inter web that are just as awesome. There were, and there are.  I’ll never return to synthetic and commercial products again.

I recently made Amber’s homemade deodorant recipe from Mama’s Blissful Bites. Wanna learn how to go green? Amber has you covered. The girl is a walking leaf. Several people–my mother included–claim I’m one step away from becoming a hippie. Being a hippie would require me to trash my hip leather pumps for canvas, or is it hemp? Either way, this gal isn’t parting with her beloved shoes. Nope. No way. Ain’t gonna happen.

The question “Does your homemade deodorant work?” arises quite frequently in conversation. I don’t smell. I haven’t been told I smell. So, I guess the answer is yes. Yes, my deodorant works. It’s made with coconut oil, so it also moisturizes and smooths my pits. Sexy, right?

I struggle with acne. At 29 years of age, I still struggle with acne. It’s depressing and frustrating and stressful–a breeding ground for acne. After making the sugar scrub, I was on a mission to find a homemade alternative to replace all of the facial cleansers that have ever failed me. My acne derives from hormonal irregularities, which is why it is so hard to rid my skin of the obnoxious inflammation. It’s a gigantic pain in the arse, really. One zit after another. Geez, I’m 29, when will it end? I’ve tried everything on the market. Proactive, Obagi, Skin Medica, and the list goes on. I’ve even tried oral medication from a dermatologist. It was a futile effort. Not only did none of these methods work, but they cost me a small fortune.

Enter the oil cleansing method. After extensive research, I found an article about using oil as a cleansing method. What? I thought oil caused acne? Fact:  It doesn’t. That’s a misconception. Bacteria, dirt, and fungus cause acne…even stress, but not oil. Oil is essential for healthy and clear skin. Who knew! When you use harsh chemicals on your skin, it strips your skin’s essential nutrients, causing your glands to produce an excessive amount of sebum. Unlike commercial cleansers, the oil cleansing method nourishes and heals your skin.

Homemade Tea Tree Oil Facial Cleanser  www.themessybakerblog.com

I started using the oil cleansing method (OCM) almost a week ago. I’m not lying, I could tell the difference after the first use. My skin was clean and moisturized all at the same time. My skin appeared smooth and had a natural glow. Could this be real?

Oh yes!

Homemade Tea Tree Oil Facial Cleanser | www.themessybakerblog.com -7720

How does OCM work? It’s made from a combination of four natural ingredients that aid in healing and contain anti-inflammatory properties:  castor oil, grape seed oil, jojoba oil, and tea tree essential oil.

  1. Castor Oil- It’s known for its powerful anti-inflammatory, cleansing, and healing properties. A little goes a long way. You’ll want to invest in good quality, cold-pressed castor oil.
  2. Grape Seed Oil- It’s high in vitamin E and antioxidants, and it’s also known for its astringent properties. It aids in moisturizing the skin as well as calming/reducing inflammation. This thin, light oil coats the skin without clogging pores.
  3. Jojoba Oil- This oil is almost identical to the chemical structure of our skin’s natural oils. It moisturizes without leaving the skin feeling greasy.
  4. Tea Tree Oil- This oil has properties that aid in curing infectious organisms and is an excellent natural remedy for fungus and bacterial skin irritations–perfect for fighting acne.

All of these products can be found conveniently on Amazon.

Will OCM work for everyone? Nothing is a guarantee. You’ll have to find what works best for you. For me, OCM is a miracle worker. I’m head-over-heels in love.

Homemade Tea Tree Oil Facial Cleanser | www.themessybakerblog.com -7725

If you would like to read more about the oil cleansing method, visit The Oil Cleansing Method website.

Onto some boring blog chores. As you may already know, Google Reader fell off the face of the Earth July 1st. Unfortunate, really, because I adored Google Reader. You can now follow my blog on Bloglovin’. It’s equally as lovely as Google Reader; I promise. I know change is hard, but we’re being forced into it here.

If you follow me on Facebook and you want to receive all of my status updates, then you’re going to need to refer to this tutorial by the ever so lovely Stephanie over at Eat. Drink. Love. She explains everything you need to know. Basically, Facebook wants money in order to share all of my posts to all  of my readers. I’m not giving them my money, so there’s a trick that you can do on your end in order to see every single post and blog update. It’s a simple two step process–nothing complicated. Why Facebook has to complicate things, we’ll never know.

Homemade Tea Tree Oil Facial Cleanser
Author: Jennie
Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup castor oil
  • 1/2 cup grape seed oil
  • 1/4 cup jojoba oil
  • 15 drops tea tree oil
Instructions
  1. Add all four ingredients to a clean bowl; whisk to combine.
  2. Store in a clean glass jar with a lid–I used a mason jar.
How to use:
  1. Wet your fingertips with the oil. Gently massage the oil into your skin for 1 minute, making sure you migrate to your neck region. Do not scrub the oil into your skin!
  2. Wet a clean washcloth with hot (as hot as you can tolerate without burning yourself) and place the cloth over your entire face. Steam your face until the cloth cools. Repeat if desired. I usually steam my face twice.
  3. Rinse the washcloth and wipe the oil off of your face.
  4. Pat your face dry with a clean towel.
***Note:
  1. I only use this method once a day, usually in the evening. Too often could potentially cause irritation and result in dry skin. In the morning I wash my face with water only using a clean washcloth.
  2. If you have sensitive skin, try reducing the amount of castor oil or adding more grape seed and jojoba oil.
  3. Eliminate the tea tree oil, and this makes for a great eye makeup remover.