So, I mentioned earlier in Beauty Regimes – the beginning, that I was looking into the Oil Cleansing Method: www.theoilcleansingmethod.com.
I went out (OK – I searched on eBay, and ordered!) and bought my castor oil, which seemed innocuous enough – thick, gloopy and not as smelly as I anticipated… in fact not smelly at all. Because I am an impatient naughty little rabbit sometimes, I didn’t go back to the oil cleansing site, but did my usual: I’ve read it once so now I know what to do… and you know – this works! What a fantastic start.
The oil cleansing method according to Dottymummy goes something like this:
Take an attractive small ramekin-sized container (I have a particularly fetching yoghurt pot) and glug in some castor oil, then stroll over to the cooker, pick up your olive oil (extra-virgin, of course) and glug some of that in. Now tootle off upstairs to your bedroom or bathroom and sprinkle in a drop or two or lavender oil. While you are up there, you might as well get started. Hair away from face, wiggle fingers in pot to mix up and then just massage into your face and neck. You can either clean it off now, or chat to a pal for a while or have a cup of tea and then do it. Best not to leave it too long in case you forget and go out to pick up the kids… then people will talk (and not in a kind way). OK, now you need a flannel (don’t go and get organic muslin, unless you feel you absolutely must: I use 19p ones) and it needs to be put in hot hot water, then ring it out and lay it over your face so you get that lovely end of curry feeling. Wipe, do the hot hot thing again and rub the rest of the oil off. Almost it.
Your skin will feel as though it has just had a very expensive facial, but there is one step remaining. Moisturise and you know what? Chuck out the pots and tubes and serums – get a £1.50 bottle of coconut oil, run it under the hot tap and pour a tupenny-sized puddle into your palms. Smooth this over your face and neck, then rub into your hands. Real moisture, no grease, some sun protection and not ONE chemical. How can this not be good?

If I was not quite so shy and retiring and devoid of any vanity I would take a photo of my skin right now, two weeks in. I am blemish-free, my pores have disappeared, blackheads – what are they?, and even those nasty time-of-the-month flare-ups… gone.

Try it: it will cost you less than a new lipstick – less than a bottle of cleanser – less than a nail polish, and you will look and feel beautiful.

Oh – and if you are still not convinced: you don’t need to do this twice a day! This is Dottymummy slut heaven. Wiggle in the evening and in the morning all you need is a quick flannel rub in the shower and a spot of coconut oil when you do your teeth.

Next stop: shampoo. I gaily switched to the Tesco B-Natural line, happy to be paraben-free… but it is still laden with Sodium Laurel Sulphate: boo! I’ll keep you updated: bad hair days and all!