Make a 1:3 mixture of castor oil:extra virgin olive oil. Massage it in to your pores. Let it sit for ten minutes, then steam the oil off by repeatedly putting a hot wash cloth over your face. Once all of the oils are off, tighten your pores with witch hazel or some other astringent.
Google “oil cleansing method” for more details.
The claim is that the castor oil can easily penetrate the skin due to it’s low molecular weight. Since it’s an oil, it readily dissolves the sebum and other gunk that tends to build up in the pores of those with acne problems. It’s supposed to be both gentler and more effective than traditional benzoyl peroxide / salicylic / glycolic methods.
I ask this because I’m a 30-year-old guy who just can’t seem to get rid of the deep, embedded blackheads on my face, especially on my nose. Occasionally, one of them erupts into a nasty whitehead, or worse, a red, inflamed cystic sucker. I’m currently sporting a nasty third eye of Shiva right between the eyes.
So, what gives? Is there any medical reason to think it will or will not work? I mean, it makes logical sense to me, but I’d like to avoid a trip down the laxative isle if I can.
Ricin is not present in castor oil, it’s part of the waste material you get when you process castor beans into castor oil. cite. I wouldn’t press my own castor beans or anything, but commercial castor oil is safe.
It seems plausible, although IANAChemist. I know that lots of people in the Mediterranean use olive oil for cleansing, historically and today. Cold creams, used for decades to remove makeup and clean out pores, are oil based, as well.
Me, I think I’d pick up a jar of Noxzema, instead. Less mess, and no search for castor oil.
I’d guess that that’s the important part right there; basically an extended washing plus an astringent. If I were a betting man, I’d wager that the initial oiling is at worst counter-productive, and at best pointless.
You could run a half-face-each-way experiment, but it might be hard to generalize from one case.
