Oily skin has a shiny appearance due to overproduction of sebum by the sebaceous glands. While sebum is beneficial for the skin because it acts like a moisturizer, excessive sebum combined with dead skin cells can clog and enlarge the pores, which causes blackheads and acne outbreaks. Excessive oiliness makes the skin look thick, coarse, dull colored and lacking suppleness and tenderness.
Oily skin is the ideal environment for dust and germs, therefore good hygiene is the first step in caring for oily skin. It is important to avoid touching the face with dirty hands.
Wash your face 2 times a day with lukewarm water (opens pores) and a mild cleanser soap for oily skin (removes sebum without irritating the skin), then rinse with cold water (closes pores to keep oil from clogging). Make sure to apply sunscreen when going outside.
If necessary you can remove the oiliness during the day with blotting papers or medicated pads (with salicylic acid or glycolic acid).
Step One
Cleansers for Oily Skin - Instead of tap water use filtered water or cooled boiled water to which you add ½ tablespoon of lemon juice or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda).A natural alternative to cosmetic cleansing foams and gels is egg white mixed with the juice of half a lemon and 15 ml camphorated alcohol, added drop by drop. Because lemon can cause sensitivity to sunlight you should use it only in the evening and the next morning rinse your face thoroughly and use sunscreen before sun exposure.Pat your skin dry using paper towels instead of cloth towels.Avoid washing your face more than 2 times a day because frequent elimination of all oil increases the secretion of sebum and thus oiliness and shine.
Step Two
Scrubs for Oily Skin - Exfoliating regularly, once or twice a week, with a gentle scrub is important in order to remove the dead cells and excessive oil from the skin. You can easily prepare your own homemade scrubs for oily skin using natural ingredients like oats, bran, cornmeal, honey, lemon juice, sea salt and sodium bicarbonate, which acts as an antiseptic to help prevent infections.To avoid irritation of the skin never scrub too hard or for too long. If possible, perform a professional cleansing of the skin once a month.
Step Three
Lotions for Oily Skin - If after washing you still feel your face oily you can apply an astringent lotion containing salicylic acid or camphorated alcohol, which have antibiotic and antimicrobial properties.Avoid alcohol lotions that are too harsh for the skin (the ones containing ethyl alcohol, ethanol benzyl alcohol, methyl and isopropyl alcohol) because they excite sebaceous glands making them produce extra oil.You can easily prepare your own lotions for oily skin from several plants in the form of infusions using thyme, plantain, lettuce, green tea, black tea, peppermint or lavender. Keep the lotion in a bottle in the refrigerator and apply on face for 5-10 minutes, letting it dry naturally without wiping it off.You can also use apple cider vinegar mixed with water. Leave on for 10-15 minutes then rinse with cold water.Herbal compresses with infusions of Morning Glory and Pansy give good results in combating acne. They heal and wipe off acne marks.
Step Four
Face Masks for Oily Skin - One of the most effective ways to control oily skin is to apply regularly skin cleansing masks. Using a face mask once or twice a week will clean and refine your pores and prevent blemishes. You can easily prepare your own face mask at home with natural ingredients found around the house. Choose from these Homemade Face Masks for Oily Skin. face masks for oily skin face masks for acne and acne scars. Clay-based masks and especially green clay masks absorb the oil and cleanse the pores. Test as many as you can to see which ones have the best results on your skin and include the "winners" in your facial regimen.
Step Five
Moisturizers for Oily Skin - A common misconception is that oily skin doesn't need moisturizing because the skin's natural oils are already acting as a moisturizer. While this is true to some extent, the reality is that through cleansing you remove most of the natural oils that your skin needs to stay supple and moisturizers help restore and replace these oils. If you don't moisturize then your skin will actually produce more oils in order to balance out.There are some moisturizers out there that aren't great for oily skin because they can be heavy and make your skin feel even more oily/greasy throughout the day. However, they are also moisturizers that are suitable for oily skin. Look for a lightweight and non-comedogenic formula that won't clog your pores.Adding essential oils to your face cream can help control oily skin and keep it moisturised at the same time. A great moisturizer for oily skin can be made by adding essential oils (5 drops of lemon, thyme, cedarwood, cypress or lavender essential oil) to 50 ml of cream. You can use this product every night.To fight acne caused by oily skin combine 10 ml of carrier oil (like sweet almond, grapeseed, avocado or jojoba oil) with 2 drops lavender, 2 drops of lemon and 2 drops tea tree essential oil and apply it on the affected area once a day.In the morning apply a light moisturizer for oily skin and then a mineral powder. Powders are necessary in caring for oily skin because they absorb the oil and make skin shine disappear. Mineral powder will absorb any oils on your face and leave your skin feeling fresh.
Step Six
Makeup for Oily Skin - Don't use many cosmetics products at once and choose a special lightweight formula that is not greasy and does not cause blackheads and spots (oil free and non comedogenic).Choose powder makeup over creamy and use oil-free sunscreen.