Being able to control oily skin means having less skin shine and fewer acne breakouts. It takes active steps to control oily skin, because the situation is due to things that cannot be controlled - such as heredity, hormones, humidity, over active glands that produce a substance called sebum, or a response to cosmetics or birth control pills.
There are natural ways to control oily skin that are much gentler than using chemicals. Chemicals, though often effective, tend to be a very harsh on skin. When trying to control oily skin, it is better to aim for gentle options that will not lead to agitation, because excessive agitation can trigger breakouts.
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Cleansing Practices:
Keeping skin that is prone to oiliness clean is of the utmost importance. Use lukewarm or cool water, as hot water is too harsh and may strip your skin of all natural oils. Did you know that a 'lathering cloth' is used for facial cleansing? Due to their form, these cloths have very low levels of surfactants and are very gentle on the skin. The conditioning agents are directly deposited on the skin's surface, which is a direct way to help control oily skin. So, these products can improve the skin's overall condition besides cleansing it gently. They also allow for gentle exfoliation, which removes flaky dead skin cells.
Natural Masks:
Use white/pink clay masks, as they are gentle and declog the pores of your skin. A face pack/mask made of crushed strawberries, aloe vera, and yogurt kept on for 20 minutes will act as an astringent that mildly clears the excess sebum and dirt from your skin. A puree of fresh tomatoes and yoghurt will help keep your skin smooth without being oily.
Diet:
Watch your diet when trying to control oily skin. No food can match the nutrient density of dark green leafy vegetables. These will increase blood flow and supply you with vitamins and minerals that will help the health of your skin. Walnuts, wild salmon and fresh/dried seaweed will supply fatty acids and flavonoids - nutrients strongly associated with healthy blood vessels. Wheat germ, nutritional yeast and whole grains, beans and nuts will help control the sebum production and keep your skin less oily and healthier.
Natural Oils:
Moisture is important to healthy skin. Over-washing can strip the natural oils, and when trying to control oily skin, it is quite possible to actually strip the skin of moisture. Furthermore, as we try to control oily skin by stripping its oils, that works against efforts because it tends to trigger skin to produce more oil. If this happens, focus on replacing lost moisture.
Aromatherapy is getting more and more popular because it has proved effective. Moisturize with aromatherapy oils to help control oily skin naturally. Aromatherapy oils - lemon, rosemary and cedar wood - mixed with lanolin and massaged into your skin helps to reduce the roughness and sallow texture and keeps your skin silky and smooth.
Ways to Control Oily Skin Naturally at Home
Mahogany H is a Singapore-based skin care geek. She has a background in fashion, having been signed to Ford Models, Elite Model Management, and a series of international agencies since 1999. Her beauty insight and passion for skin care is channeled into a resource website that helps people understand how to get clear skin.