How To Get Rid Of Oily Skin

Feb 25, 2020

Overview of Oily Skin

If your skin feels oily and shiny shortly after cleansing, then you probably have an oily skin type. But why do we get oily skin by the way? And how do we get rid of oily skin?

Oily skin is a problem not only for teenagers but also for the majority of adults, especially men.

Increased androgen hormone is the main culprit of excessive sebum production. During puberty, there is an increased male hormone which triggers the oil glands to produce more sebum. For some people, there is an abnormal production of sebum that results in oily skin and acne breakouts.

Oily skin can occur on the body too. The sebum that we get on our body is the waxy, oily substance which helps in protecting and hydrating our skin. While the sebum is vital in keeping our skin healthy and hydrated, too much sebum production can cause the opposite effects, which are oily skin, clogged pores, and acne.

Remedies For Oily Skin

Choose A Gentle Oil Fighting Cleanser

Cleansing several times or using too strong of a cleanser with alcohol or sulfates in the ingredients may cause rebound oil production. Scrubbing the skin with harsh brushes or physical scrubs can strip its protective oils, damage the skin barrier and trigger oil production.

Washing skin twice a day, once in the morning and evening is usually enough. Try a cleanser that foams if you have oily skin, rather than oil based or cream cleansers.

Recommended Cleanser: All Clear Mint Cleanser

Adjust Toner Usage

For most with oily skin, toners are their go-to for the skincare products. Toners work by removing excess oil, grease and dirt from the skin. Alcohol-based toners are not suitable to use because they only remove the physical grease from the skin but dry out the top layer of the skin.

You can also use micellar water has a gentle formula which cleanses, hydrates with glycerin and keeps oil production under control.

Recommended Toner: Vitamin C Beauty Elixir

Apply The Right Moisturizer

Yes, everyone can benefit from moisturizing—even those of you with oily skin. Skipping moisturizer can make the skin more oily because if skin gets dehydrated, it creates more oil to compensate. Moisturizer helps reduce oiliness because it works to slow down sebum production. Aloe vera is a great ingredient found in moisturizers for its anti inflammatory properties.

There are light and oil-free moisturizers available in the market. Try to find lighter moisturizers that absorb quickly into skin or water based moisturizers.

Recommended Moisturizer: Vitamin C Creme

Use A Clay Facial Mask

Many clay masks are formulated for oily and acne-prone skin. As a general rule, these masks are only recommended for 1 to 2 times use per week.

Clay Face masks can help treat and decrease oily skin by absorbing and cleansing the oils from our skin's surface.

Skincare ingredients for Oily Skin

AHA glycolic acid
sulfur
Cosmetic Clay
niacinamide
witch hazel

Always Wear Sunscreen

Choosing the right product for your skin type is a must! Same is necessary for choosing a sunscreen. There are lightweight formulas that contain zinc oxide and titanium oxide. And there are options for non-comedogenic formulations that do not contain heavy moisturizer.

We know how significant it is to choose the right sun protection factor for our skin. Oily skin is one of the most challenging skin types, but gel based sunscreen formulas work best since it has a slight drying effect.

Gel sunscreen formulas work best because it has a drying effect and does not make the skin look greasy. There are also sunscreens that are powder based that work well for oily skin too.

Oily skin may also be treated with the following products:

Home Remedies For Oily Skin

Egg Whites

Believe it or not, egg whites make a good home remedy for getting rid of oily skin (only except when you are allergic to eggs). Egg whites are rich in vitamin A which is proven to effectively tone and tighten up oily skin.

Whip one egg white. You can also add a teaspoon of lemon juice for better results. Gently apply the mixture on your face, allow it to dry for 15 minutes and then rinse it off with warm water. Do this twice a week.

Lemon Juice

Another household product or home remedy that works great for getting rid of oily skin would be lemon juice. Lemon is a citrus fruit high in vitamin C. It works as a strong antioxidant.

Prepare one teaspoon of lemon juice and stir it with one-half teaspoon of distilled water. Apply liberally on your face using a cotton ball. Leave it on your face for 10 minutes before washing it off with warm water.

Milk

Milk works as a cleanser, exfoliator, skin softener, and toner that can make skin healthy and glowing. Milk contains alpha-hydroxy acid that helps exfoliate the skin gently and maintains the skin’s natural pH balance, thus maintaining an oil-free skin.

Prepare two or three drops of sandalwood or lavender oil and mix them with two tablespoons of milk. Apply the mixture on your face using a cotton ball. Gently massage the skin for a few minutes to improve blood circulation and leave it on over the night. Wash your face with cold water upon waking up in the morning. Do this daily.

Honey

Honey works to reduce excess oil on the skin’s surface, minimize large pores and can also prevent wrinkles. It has moisturizing properties that nourish the skin and keep it sufficiently moisturized. In addition, it has natural antiseptic property that prevents acne breakout and oily skin.

Gently apply a thin layer of honey on your face, massage the skin and leave it on for 15 minutes. Then wash your face with clean water. Do this twice daily.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes help dry out oily skin due to their cooling, clarifying and antioxidant properties. It is also high in vitamin C. Moreover, it has natural oil-absorbing contents that help get rid of excess oil.

Prepare a sliced tomato and gently roll it on your face. Allow the juice to dry into your skin for at least 15 minutes. Rinse your face with cold water and pat until dry.

You can also create a face mask by mixing three tablespoons of tomato juice with one tablespoon of honey.

Causes Of Oily Skin

Oily skin is known with many causes. Oily skin that is linked to family history can be challenging to prevent. Even oily skin caused by hormonal changes is difficult to control.

Symptoms of having oily skin include:

A shiny or greasy appearance
Very large or noticeable skin pores
Thick or rough-looking skin
Occasional or persistent pimples
Clogged pores and blackheads

Genetics

If your parents have an oily skin type, you will likely inherit the same. Oily skin can be passed through the genes. Having a strong family history is a significant factor of determining whether you'll have oily skin too.

Genetics is responsible for the amount of sebaceous glands that produce excess oil. The normal function of sebaceous glands is to build and secrete sebum, a group of complex oils and fatty acids breakdown wax and other fats to create sebum.

Environment

While genetics affects the underlying causes of oily skin, environmental factors also can make a difference. People tend to get oilier skin in hot and humid weather. While in cold weather, skin tends to get dry.

Wrong Skincare Products

Oily skin can also be due to using skincare products that do not suit your skin type. Using the right skincare products can make a big difference in the amount of oil that is left on the skin. It is essential to know your skin type before choosing your skincare products.

For example, applying a heavy night cream on oily skin can make it worse. One of the essential products is a facial cleanser. When choosing a facial cleanser, you should consider your skin type (oily, dry, normal, or combination) and if you have any other skin conditions (rosacea, eczema, or psoriasis).

Diet

It is difficult to avoid dairy, sugar, and processed carbohydrates. But too much of these tasty foods trigger the overproduction of sebum. Diet with too much sugar can cause inflammation in the body, which also harms the skin and makes it oily. Dairy consists of hormones that can lead to inflammation that cause oily skin.

Hormonal Changes

Hormones affect oil production. Mainly, androgens are the hormones that are responsible for oil production and can stimulate a relative increase in sebum production.

Oral hormone medication can cause an increase in oil production. In general, some medications can also result in dehydration that leads to the overproduction of oil.

While we can't always control our environmental, hormones, or genetic factors, The most effective way to prevent and treat oily skin is to find a consistent and effective skincare routine that combats oily skin and sticking to it!