Finally, and after way too much to do, I have found a way to cleanse my face without irritating it or drying it out. What I love about this stuff is that it is soooo cheap to make and it is even easy to use. Also, since in is just ground up dried ingredients, it is easy to store and has a long shelf life. I started by just grinding up rolled oats into a fine powder. (Anything coarse would be too rough for daily use.) Then, the next day I read in The Herbal Body Book by Stephanie Tourles that adding water to this and leaving it on for about 15 minutes is a good idea. Well, I must have misread, since I can't find it anywhere now, but I added hot water while I was making tea. I guess I just always make oatmeal with hot water. So I let it cool, and then applied it all over my face and upper neck for 15 minutes (scared my husband a wee bit, the first time I did this). And get this! I don't have to sit with my head under a towel and over a hot bowl of water. I can fold towels, clean the kitchen, or even something funner. It was like a walking steam facial because when I rinsed it off with cool filtered water (chlorine is drying) my pores were tiny! The oatmeal was so soothing and my skin was left clean, blackhead free and moisturized. (I am no spring chick and so my mature skin appreciates this.) The next day I got fancy and added calendula flowers, rose petals and lavender flowers (all dried, of course) before I ground it. I am in love! AND it did not cost me beaucoup. Next time I use it, I am going to use some of my jasmine green tea instead of plain water. (I am actually excited about washing my face. Now if I can just make brushing and flossing exciting.)
P.S. I used a small electric coffee bean grinder. The kind that has a button on the lid, and the lid converts into a little dish. Enjoy!