Can you steep green tea in oil to use for OCM?
EDS Skin Care Forums Forum Index » Skincare Tools & Do-It-Yourself Skincare

Sat Jul 25, 2009 8:53 pm

I've been doing OCM with a mix of castor oil and abyssinian oil, and I love the results. However, I'm concerned about the possibility of the castor oil stimulating facial hair growth. I've read the various opinions, but I think I might be seeing some facial hair that I didn't have before - definitely not a desirable result!

Anyway, I've been interested in the benefits of green tea toner for skin, and it also happens to inhibit facial hair growth. So, rather than a toner, I'm thinking of soaking green tea in my OCM mixture. Does anyone know if that would work? Would the polyphenols penetrate into the oil?

Also, is camellia oil the same as green tea seed oil? If so, I wonder if doing OCM with camellia oil would have the same effects...

free skin care · Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:02 pm

Dried herbs don't tend to go very well in oil. I've made herbal infused oils for years and fresh is best. However there is one way you can use dried herbs and that is to heat the green tea and oil together. Below is a very good method for infusing dried herbs in oil.

Mix together the herb with some white wine and allow to steep for a few hours or overnight. The essential properties of the herb will be leached out by the wine. The next day, put the white wine/herb mix in a a double boiler with the oil of your choice and simmer over low heat uncovered. Stir occasionally and continue to simmer until the wine has evaporated. This can take a very long time depending on how much wine you have used. When the wine is basically evaporated, allow the mixture to cool and then strain, pressing really well to get all the goodness out of the herbs. There will be a small amount of moisture. You can either leave the wine to settle so that you can pour the wine off the top leaving the liquid behind, or you can simply leave the liquid mixed with the oil, it's up to you. If you leave the liquid with the oil it won't last as well.

Using this method the oil will be slightly cloudy looking and can have a slightly burnt smell if you have used too high a heat or simmered it too long.

I've used this method and it works very well, but dried herbs do tend to give a somewhat burnt smell. Good luck.

free skin care · Thu Jul 30, 2009 2:15 am

ariane wrote:

I've been doing OCM with a mix of castor oil and abyssinian oil, and I love the results. However, I'm concerned about the possibility of the castor oil stimulating facial hair growth. I've read the various opinions, but I think I might be seeing some facial hair that I didn't have before - definitely not a desirable result!

Anyway, I've been interested in the benefits of green tea toner for skin, and it also happens to inhibit facial hair growth. So, rather than a toner, I'm thinking of soaking green tea in my OCM mixture. Does anyone know if that would work? Would the polyphenols penetrate into the oil?

Also, is camellia oil the same as green tea seed oil? If so, I wonder if doing OCM with camellia oil would have the same effects...

I've seen a green tea essential oil. Can't remember where, but an online search should provide it.

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