How to care for oily skin

If you have oily skin, chances are you’re not always in love with your skin. I mean, shine on your hair is OK but a shiny face is something else altogether.

The over abundance of oil in the wrong places is not cute.

Annoying as it may be to you, your oily skin is actually less prone to wrinkling than dry skin. I bet you didn't know that now did you?

The sebum or oil produced by your sebaceous glands keeps your skin nourished, moisturized and lubricated hence reducing appearance of fine lines.

Before tackling this tricky skin problem, we need to understand what makes skin oily.

Hormones and genetics are major factors to blame for oily skin. As sebaceous glands mature, sebum production increases and the higher the androgens present in the body, the more sebum is funneled through the pores. This gives rise to blackheads and pimples when excess oil gets trapped in the pores and combines with bacteria and dead skin cells.

Tempted as you may to over-wash, that is not the solution. Do this instead. 

Cleanse daily

This is a crucial step in caring for oily skin. Do so twice. In the morning and evening before bedtime. The reason for this is because you do not want to strap your skin of natural oils. If the oil gets too uncomfortable, wash with clean water and bloat your face with some tissue.

When choosing a cleanser, opt for chemical free and pick one that contains plant-based ingredients. Oil free cleansers also work great especially those with salicylic acid. This will keep your skin matte while fighting breakouts.

Go easy on makeup

On hot days, foundation feels heavy as it melts into your pores clogging them causing them to produce more oil. 

If you really have to wear makeup prime your skin first with a primer formulated for oily and acne prone skin. It will act as a good base for your makeup.

For coverage opt for concealer because it contains less oil than foundation. But if you really want some foundation, oil free or mineral are the best options. 

After that you can set your foundation with a translucent light powder 10 minutes after applying the foundation.

Finish off with a spray to set the makeup and help it last longer. This is crucial as it forms a barrier and resists oil production.

Apply sunscreen

The fear of adding more oil to the face is a great fear for women who have this skin type. However, the results of not doing so are brown spots and hyperpigmentation from sun exposure.

Go for a sunscreen that is made for oily skin like a gel based one which will leave your face dry and well protected.

Watch your diet

Your skin is a reflection of the inside. The unhealthier foods you eat, the more it shows on your face. Stay away from oily and sugary foods.

Drink lots of water to flush out the toxins, include green leafy vegetables in your diet and have at least one fruit each day.

If you follow this to the tee, your body will regulate how much oil your skin will produces.

Use an astringent

To explain it in layman’s terms, astringents are like special toners made for oil skin. They help remove excess oil and tighten the pores. A good astringent like witch hazel works wonders.

On a clean face apply some on a cotton ball or pad and wipe all over the face including the neck area. Always use it after washing your face to get rid of the shine.

Don’t skip moisturizer

Just because your skin is oily or combination it doesn’t mean you skip moisturizer. It still needs hydration.

If you do all the above and skip this crucial step will only exacerbate the problem. When your skin is stripped of moisture it will encourage the sebaceous glands to produce more oil to compensate.

Pick a moisturizer formulated with a humectant like glycerin that attract moisture from the deeper skin layers to the outermost layer and also draw in moisture from the air to keep skin hydrated or an emollient like vitamin E that helps repair the skin.