Clearing clogged pores: Hemp oil and the oil cleansing method

Get rid of clogged pores once and for all! Hemp oil can actually cure your closed comedone acne safely, naturally, and forever.

The oil cleansing method seems almost counter-intuitive, especially if you have any kind of acne. I mean, putting oil on your face on purpose? Weird. BUT applying oil to the face actually helps dissolve the sebum plugs that form in your pores. It will also make your wrinkles less noticeable, and the massaging makes your botox last longer!!!!!


From Acne.org:

Oil dissolves oil. One of the most basic principals of chemistry is that “like dissolves like.” The best way to desolve a non-polar solvent like sebum/oil, is by using another non-polar solvent similar in composition: other oils. By using the right oils, you can cleanse your pores of dirt and bacteria naturally, gently and effectively, while replacing the dirty oil with beneficial ones extracted from natural botanicals, vegetables and fruit that heal, protect and nourish your skin. When done properly and consistently, the OCM can clear the skin from issues like oily skin, dry skin, sensitive skin, blackheads, whiteheads and other problems caused by mild to moderate acne–while leaving your skin healthy, balanced and properly moisturized.

The trick is to find the right kind of oil for your skin. You'll see a lot of advice about using castor oil and other types of oils, and that's okay, but for those of us with very clog-prone pores, it's best to stick to hemp or sunflower. I'll tell you why.

Two considerations: comedogenicity and fatty acid content (these two things are related)

What are whiteheads and blackheads, exactly?

Whiteheads and blackheads (Comedones) are thickened sebum that has become trapped in your pores.  

Sebum and fatty acid content

Sebum is a fatty substance that is manufacured in the sebaceous gland within the pore (hair follicle). The sebum flows up along the hair shaft and spreads across the surface of the skin. This keeps the skin moist and provides a slightly acidic environment known as the acid mantle. The acid mantle helps to kill bacteria and maintain your skin's proper pH. 

Among other things, sebum contains some proportion of linoleic and oleic acids, which are natural fatty acids.

Normal sebum has a higher proportion of linoleic acid, which is a thin, free-flowing fatty acid. Some of us have sebum with a higher proportion of oleic acid, however, which is a thicker and dryer fatty acid. Sebum with a higher proportion of oleic acid is MUCH more likely to clog the pores, because it is not free-flowing. 

When sebum gets caught in the pore, the result is a blackhead (open comedone) or, if the pore closes around the clog, a whitehead (closed comedone). A closed comedone can then turn into a cyst.

If you have clogged pores and a DRY complexion, a low proportion of linoleic acid in your sebum is almost certainly the problem. 

In order to FIX THIS PROBLEM, you must increase the proportion of linoleic acid to oleic acid in your skin, both topically and internally. 

Comedogenicity

Comedogenicity refers to the likelihood of a substance to cause clogged pores. This relates in part to the proportion of linoleic to oleic acid in the substance. 

Different substances have different comedogenicity ratings. If something is rated a 5, it means that it is very likely to clog pores. These substances are high in oleic acid. If something is rated a 0, then it will not clog pores. These substances are high in linoleic acid. Here's an excellent list: comedogenic ratings.

Most people can get away with using oils that are higher on the comedogenic scale, but if you are prone to clogged pores, it's important to stick with oils that are rated 0. 

A few oils are rated 0 on the scale. These are sunflower, grapeseed, safflower, and hemp. I use hemp. I take a spoonful daily to get my dietary linoleic acid, and I use it as a moisturizer and cleanser for my face and body. 

Topically, I use hemp oil in two ways. I use a drop or two as a moisturizer on my face after my cleansing and toner step, and i use it once or twice a week as a deep cleanser. 

Please note that oils high in linoleic acid tend to be very volatile; they go rancid quickly. I keep mine in the freezer. This keeps it from going bad. I've had mine in there for 5 or 6 months and it's still fine. It will start to smell funny when it goes rancid, and you'll have to throw it out.

Benefits of hemp oil: 

• high in linoleic acid;
• contains more essential fatty acids than ANY OTHER PLANT IN THE WORLD, meaning that it is super beneficial for your entire body, resulting in shiny, strong, healthy hair and skin;
• anti-inflammatory;
• non-greasy moisturizer;
• healing properties for eczema, psoriasis, and any skin lesions;
• makes a GREAT base for makeup.

The Hemp Oil Cleansing Routine

You don't have to remove your makeup to start, as this IS the cleanser! 

• Take a tablespoon or so of oil in your palm. Rub it in circles on your face. 
• It seems like a lot of oil, but that's okay. 
• Massage it into your face for at least 10 minutes. 
• You will start to feel the little sebum plugs coming out. They feel like little grains on your fingers. 
• Place a washcloth that you have soaked in water (as hot as you can stand it) over your face and let it steam until it grows cool. 
• Wipe your face with the washcloth. 
• Wet the washcloth again in hot water and steam one more time. 
• Wipe your face again. 
• It's really important to get all the oil off your face, so you may have to repeat the steam and wipe a few times. 

I find that the best time to do this is in the shower. Your skin is warm and steamy and all your pores are open.

Watch the video!

If I've worn makeup during the day, I will use oil to clean my face that night. I only massage it for a minute or so then, and it works fine. It really does clean your face.

And that's it! I don't follow that with toner or anything.

Good luck with this, people! Please share your experiences with me and ask me any questions you may have. 

hemp oil saved my skin forum (great read)

oil cleansing method forum

It took almost 4 months to get my face into shape with this method. I almost gave up many times, but I hung on because i just KNEW it would work, based on the science. I'm SO GLAD I DID! Now I spend pennies per month on my face (whereas before I was paying over 150$ per month) and my skin looks MUCH MUCH better than it ever has. I've been using this method for more than a decade now and my skin is still completely clear.

click the link for a more detailed overview of the clogged pore hemp oil cure.

*This is an updated version of a post that was first published in May, 2015.