8 Easy Things You Can Do to Get Rid of Oily Skin
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Oily skin is a common problem for people of all ages. Whether an excessive amount of oil is a persistent problem, or you are experiencing it temporarily as a side effect of pregnancy or a medication; it can be frustrating. You may have a surplus of oil all over your face or you may even have combination skin, which is oily in some areas and dry in others.
While there are endless products on the market that claim to eliminate the shine, many contain potent chemicals which only remove oil for a short period of time. In some cases, these products may even worsen the condition as they strip away the natural oils of your skin. By the end of the day, your face is once again gleaming with oil and your makeup is sliding off. Eventually, the oil leads to clogged pores and before you know it, you are battling countless breakouts, in addition to your oily skin. To stop the vicious cycle, consider these eight easy actions to effectively rid your skin of oiliness:
1. Cleanse Regularly
One of the simplest ways to defeat oily skin is by regularly cleansing your face. Depending on the amount of oil your skin produces, you may need to cleanse your face twice a day. For others, however, once a day may be efficient enough to keep oil at bay. The key to cleansing oily skin is to use a gentle, oil-free cleanser. While it may seem tempting to opt for more powerful cleansers, the harsh chemicals may strip away the natural oils of your skin. This, in turn, prompts your skin to produce even more oil than before. The chemicals involved may also cause irritation, leaving you with even more oil and potentially, red blotchy spots.
2. Tone the Skin
After cleansing the skin, the natural PH balance of the skin is often disturbed. As the skin works to regain its natural level of acidity, it produces an abundance of oil. Facial toners help to restore this balance quickly while eliminating the excessive production of oil. They are also quite refreshing and can be used to remove dirt, oil, heavy makeup and sunscreen in-between cleansings.
3. Choose the Right Foundation
Whether you are using an inferior product that is blocking your pores or you are simply using the wrong product for your skin type, your foundation may be contributing to your oily skin. There are many foundations on the market and it is best to aim for high quality brands that are formulated specifically for oily or acne prone skin. Likewise, you should experiment with different consistencies.
Many who suffer from oily skin opt for powder based foundations as they believe it will offset the oil. Unfortunately, this often leads to clumpy foundation that settles into the pores. Other textures including liquids, creams, mousses, sticks and even tinted moisturizers may also be effective if they are formulated for oily skin. As no one's skin is exactly the same as another person's, finding the best foundation is generally a process of trial and error though there are copious resources designed to guide you in the right direction.
4. Use an Oil Free Moisturizer
Even the oiliest skin can feel dry from time to time. If your oily, acne prone skin is in need of moisture, opt for an oil-free moisturizer. An oil-free moisturizer gently adds moisture to your skin while keeping oil production at bay. At times when your oily skin is not dry, consider skipping moisturizer altogether.
5. Use Oil Blotting Sheets
For a quick fix while you're on the go, invest in oil blotting sheets. These small, waxy feeling sheets are specifically designed to attract and remove oil. Simply wipe a sheet over the oily regions of your face and the oil is transferred from your face to the blotting sheets. As a bonus, this method allows you to see all of the oil that has been removed from your face which is oddly satisfying. In a pinch, tissue paper or coffee filters work as excellent, inexpensive substitutes.
6. Add a Natural Oil
Adding oil to your oily face may seem counterintuitive but it is actually quite effective. By applying a pure, natural oil, such as jojoba oil, to your face- your skin is tricked into thinking it has produced enough oil. This triggers your skin to decrease the production of sebum (your skin's natural oil), while the applied works to dissolve hardened sebum that has resulted in whiteheads or blackheads that are embedded deep within your skin. There are a plethora of oils that are effective for this purpose and generally speaking, each one can be used on their own as a cleanser, moisturizer or spot treatment or mixed into existing products.
7. Exfoliate Your Skin
Exfoliating your skin is beneficial in removing dry skin and impurities but it is also an efficient practice for reducing the amount of oil on your face. As tempting as it may be to use a harsh and abrasive exfoliating product, choose one with minimal grit instead. This will minimize irritation, yet still provide you with smooth, matte skin. Also, keep in mind, that exfoliating can do more harm than good if you do it too frequently. Aim for a once a week exfoliating session for best results.
8. Pull Your Hair Away from Your Face
Your hair may not seem to have much to do with your face but if your hair regularly touches your face, it may be partly responsible for your oily skin woes. This is because your hair is full of natural oils. In turn, these oils are transferred to your face when your hair comes into contact with your skin. You certainly do not have to wear your hair in a ponytail every day to avoid oil, however, pulling it back at night before bed helps immensely in decreasing oil.
By following these eight simple steps, you are well on your way to achieving beautiful, oil-free skin.
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