The Oil Experiment

As I was searching for all my green-clean recipes, I kept coming across the "Oil Cleansing Method".  I was kinda curious about this, as it seems counterintuitive.  But after seeing how well the olive oil furniture polish works at not only shining but cleaning furniture, I thought there may be something to this.  You can do searches for more info, but basically the idea is that the oil dissolves the dirt and excess oil on your skin, thus cleansing you, while not stripping and drying out your skin.

Here's what you do:

Combine olive oil with castor oil in a 1:4 ratio (1 part olive, 4 parts castor).  Pour a dime-sized amount on your palm, and massage onto your face for about 10 seconds.  Then take a warm, damp cloth and massage the oil off.  You will feel a little "oily" but it's only because you're not stripping your skin like a normal cleanser would. 

You can stop your process here, but I also use witch-hazel as a toner, and then apply a moisturizer (I use Cetaphil cream).

Tyson and I have been using this Oil Face Wash for about two months now, and I'll be honest, we were both skeptical of it.  BUT, it works really well.  My skin doesn't feel dried out, and it does a great job of removing dirt and even make-up.

Best of all, the oils are completely organic and natural so they are better for you and the environment.  Also, a little goes a long way, so it's very cost-effective.  The bottle of Castor oil I purchased was about $9, and we are probably 1/4 into it after 2-plus months.  (and I usually have a Costco size olive oil, so just used a little of that, probably $1 worth)

Healthy-ish Oatmeal Cran-Apple Cookies

This is a recipe I've somewhat modified that I got from a Women's Health issue back in college.  It's always a hit wherever I take it.

Ingredients:
-1/4 c. applesauce
-1/4 c. coconut oil (could also use canola/veg)
-1 c. brown sugar
-1 egg (can even just use the white)
-1/4 c. almond milk (or regular or coconut or soy)
-2 tsp. vanilla
-3 c. old-fashioned oats
-1 c. whole wheat flour
-1 tsp. cinnamon
-1/4 t. nutmeg
-1/4 t. baking soda
-1 c. dried cranberries
-1 medium size apple, skin removed and diced

Directions:

Oven to 350. 

Combine applesauce, oil and sugar.  Add egg, milk, vanilla.  Stir in oats, flour, spices, and soda.  Then add cranberries and apple.

Drop onto non-stick pan, and bake about 12-15 minutes.

Optional icing to drizzle on top:
Soften 3 tablespoons cream cheese.  Add 1 cup powdered sugar and about 2 tsp. milk.  Blend.  Add more milk if it's too thick, more sugar if it's too runny.