Dealing with oily skin is truly no easy task. I can hardly count the number of times I have been asked what highlight I’m wearing, with the reply always being “oil.” There’s nothing like running through packs of blotting papers, having pores the size of Jupiter, watching your beat face slowly melt off as time passes, and leaving a grease slick on every cell phone screen you come in contact with.
The path towards effectively combating oily skin is a long one. Now that I have been able to control the shine, I notice how many people have the same struggles that I once had, most of them not sure where to start or how to help themselves. Not to mention the fact that we do not all have $800 to casually drop on all the best face masks, cleansing brushes, exfoliators, etc. For anyone who has oily skin troubles and has no clue as to what to do about it, these tips are for you.
- All of the lines you have probably heard, such as “Drink water!” and “Wash your face everyday!” are pretty annoying to hear yet very true. Most articles will try and say how much water you should be drinking a day, but your ideal level of hydration is pretty personal and depends on a number of factors, such as weight, height, age, climate, etc. There are plenty of apps and websites that can take these factors and calculate the amount of water you need to stay healthy, this one being my personal favorite. If your skin is hydrated, oil production in your skin will decrease. When your skin is dehydrated, your oil glands will begin to overproduce oils and sebum, resulting in the much hated greaseball aesthetic. So drink up! Washing your face is also extremely vital when taking care of your skin. Those with oily skin should probably try and wash twice a day, when you wake up and before bed, especially if you wear makeup. Do not forget to follow up with a moisturizer!
- Avoid moisturizers that are thick, and if you wear makeup, avoid packing on too many cream products. These tend to clog pores and worsen oil overproduction. Moisturizing is still very important, and oily skin is usually a response to dehydration. Light moisturizers are your best friend, and most moisturizers that are oily skin friendly come in a gel form.
- Some will recommend bar soap as a face wash for oily skin, however, your best bet is to avoid bar soaps at all costs. Bar soaps tend to be extremely drying and throw off your skin’s pH balance. Use a gel cleanser instead!
- Avoid too many products with lemon in them. Lemon is occasionally cited as a great ingredient to combat oily skin. Small doses of lemon may possibly help, however too much of the acidic fruit used in nonproblem areas will cause dryness and hyperpigmentation.
- Toners work extremely well and can be used to freshen and minimize pores. However, many toners have harmful ingredients in them. Ditch any toner that consists of the following: denatured alcohol (drying), isopropyl myristate (too strong), petrolatum (too thick), ethanol (drying), palmitic acid (too thick), and mineral oil (overpowering).
- The best toners are usually green tea toners, as they eliminate excess sebum and help get rid of sunspots.
- Using cleansers and makeup that are oil-free are just better overall. Best ingredients to look for: Sodium PCA and Sodium Hyaluronate. Both latch onto skin and seal in moisture.
- Clay masks are fantastic for oily skin. They help reduce sebum and draw out every little impurity from your face, including oil, bacteria, sweat, etc.
For any additional questions or concerns, ask your dermatologist what is best for your skin!
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