Oily Skin Care - Home Natural Remedies

To get rid of those ugly acne, blackheads, blemishes and greasiness on your face, you should start with a gentle, foaming facial wash. This will remove dirt and oil without stripping away the needed moisture from your skin.

So, here are the most effective home remedies for oily skin care:

1. Tomatoes - Make a puree of fresh tomatoes, apply to the skin

2. Yoghurt - Mix one tablespoon yoghurt with fuller's earth and apply. Yoghurt itself can be applied o the face. It helps to soften the skin and restores the natural acid mantle

3. Aloe vera - This wonder plant of the household is the best at absorbing skin oils. Slice open a leaf and smear the gel on your face 3 times a day. Let it dry. Or you can also keep a small amount of gel in the refrigerator during the summers for a refreshing face-lift.

4. Honey - Mix half teaspoon honey with egg white and one teaspoon lemon juice. Add fuller's earth or brewer's yeast powder. Mix into a paste and apply. Remove after 20 minutes with water. 

5. Limes and Cucumbers - Citrus fruits and vegetables refresh our skin thereby reducing the oils. To get these benefits, mix 1/2 teaspoon lime juice with an equal amount of cucumber juice. Apply to your face a few minutes before showering.

6. Egg Yolk - A quick remedy to remove oil shine asks for one of the simplest foods: the egg. This egg yolk mask removes the excessive oils from your skin. Now apply the egg yolk with a cotton ball to oily spots and leave this on your face for 15 minutes. Then rinse with cold water.

7. Almonds and Honey - Make a paste of a small amount of ground almonds with honey and apply as a facial scrub for removing oils and dead skin cells. Now gently massage this paste on your face with a hot washcloth. Finally, rinse with cold water.

8. Papaya - Make a pulp of raw papaya and apply. Papaya has a cleansing action, softening dead skin cells and aiding their removal.

9. Apples - For a homemade oil-ridding facial, mix 1/2 cup mashed apple, 1/2 cup cooked oatmeal, 1 slightly beaten egg white and 1 tablespoon lemon juice into a smooth paste and apply to your face for at least 15 minutes. Then rinse with cold water. 

10. Salt - This is the best gift the sea could give to those with oily skin. Place tepid water into a small spray bottle and add 1 teaspoon salt to it. Now close your eyes and imagine yourself at the seashore. Squirt some of this salt spray on your face at least once a day and blot dry.

11. Vinegar - The best way to exfoliate your oily skin is to apply white or apple cedar vinegar using a cotton ball before bedtime. Leave it on your face for 5-10 minutes and then rinse off with cold water. Use this remedy for 3 weeks to observe positive changes in your skin.

WARNING: If you have a super-sensitive skin, then dilute vinegar with 4 parts water. For a summertime treat, chill the vinegar or freeze it into ice cubes and apply as a cooling facial.

12. Cornstarch - Mix 1 to 3 tablespoons cornstarch with warm water to make a smooth paste. Now rub the paste on your face and let it dry. Then shower or rinse off with lukewarm water in the sink. For best results, try this once a day.

13. Baking Soda - Add 1/2 teaspoon of Baking Soda to your liquid soap and rub very gently onto oily areas such as nose or chin. This will help you to get rid of blackheads as well as oil. Now rinse with cold water.

14. Lemons - Take equal parts of lemon juice and water and mix them well. Pat the dilute on your face and let it dry. First, rinse with warm water and then with cold water for a refreshing treat.

15. Eau de cologne - If your skin is excessively oily, mix in a few drops of eau de cologne. This not only helps keep oiliness away but also helps in refining the pores of the skin by acting as astringent, thereby preventing acne.

16. Cucumber - To prevent the problem of your makeup becoming patchy either on the forehead, chin or nose due to excessive oiliness in these areas, apply a little cucumber juice on the excessively oily parts of your face, dry thoroughly and then apply your makeup.

For more informative tips on oily skin care, go for the causes and preventive measures for oily skin. 

Oily Skin Care - Causes and Preventive Measures

Oily skin gives you the feeling of greasiness and dirt that gets accumulated on your face. The very shine on your face gives the impression of flash photography. But as there is no problem without solution, so oily skin also has an easy way out.

But for that you must be aware of the causes of oily skin. Overactive oil glands that produce the substance, sebum (a natural skin lubricant and moisturizer) are the main rootcauses. With the accumulation of sebum, it becomes thick and heavy in texture that makes your face greasy. If neglected, oily skin becomes the reason for excessive shine, pimples and blemishes.

But as a matter of fact, a coin has two sides and so has oily skin. There is also a good side to those having oily skin. 

Skin with active oil glands is less prone to wrinkles as compared to other types of skin. This is because the oil keeps more moisture in the skin making it more supple and flexible, therefore there are less possibilities of wrinkles. So while you may grumble and moan about your oily skin, it may be a blessing in disguise 10 to 15 years from now if proper care is given today.

And if left untreated, this oiliness in your skin may lead to clogged pores, blackheads, and build-up of dead skin cells making it nearly impossible for you to have a clean and healthy skin ever. It makes your complexion shallower with large and deep pores clearly visible.

CAUSES

Many women notice oily skin problems around the time of their menstrual periods, during pregnancy, or at menopause. Some types of birth control pills can also increase skin oiliness.

As such there is no fixed solution or treatment for an oily skin but at least you can make efforts to make your problem less disturbing. Patience is what you are expected to have for some time.

Some cases may require professional medical attention. And in most cases, the condition is simply put under control and never fully resolved. Even then, the skin will improve and thhe objective to not have greasy shiny skin will be closer than ever.

OILY SKIN CARE - PREVENTIVE MEASURES

1. Get rid of the excessive sebum on your face- Do not wash your face too often as too much washing and degreasing makes the condition worse since stripping your skin f oil will cause your oil glands to work overtime in producing more sebum.

2. Clean your skin with a very mild detergent or surfactant- It should not contain oils or other fatty substances as they increase the oils in your skin.

3. Use the product with small amounts of AHA (alpha hydroxy acids) that gently remove dead cells from the surface revealing a fresher layer of skin. This should be done on a regular basis. Follow this up with a light moisturizer with no creamsand oils, just to compensate for the drying effects of the cleanser.

4. A mild astringent used on a regular basis- clears off excess oils on your face. Strong alcohol-based products should be strictly avoided.

5. Do not dry your face completely- If you think that by doing this, your skin will get rid of the excessive oils then you are mistaken my dear. Rather this encourages more production of sebum thereby making your face more oily.

6. Cleanse your face twice a day to get rid of clogging- But be careful, do not scrub too hard as you will hurt your skin more than helping it. A slight pressure from your fingers is enough to remove your dull, dead skin.

7. Choose oil-free cosmetics, especially foundation and blush. Instead go for water-based and non-comedogenic products that prevents your oily skin from clogging.

8. Apply a non-oil based sunscreen- This is a must  or you can also use a gel as it is less greasy than the conventional sun block lotions. For long-lasting effect, your sunscreen should be at least SPF 15.

9. If you suffer from severe breakouts of acne, then use cleansers containing a mild amount of salicylic acid that clears your skin. Also a moisturizer with the same substance in it is quite good for your skin.

10. Your diet- Avoid refined starches, sugar and processed foods as these may aggravate your naturally oily skin. Consume foods low in fat and prefer fresh fruits,  vegetables and grains.Drink lots of fluids (6-8 glasses a day) of water, juices or teas to maintain a good skin tone.Keep your vitamin and mineral intake under check. Include vitamin A, C and B complex in your routine diet.

CAUTION: 

1. Do not moisturize your face everyday- If there is some occasion, apply a light oil-free moisturizer because your face might be feeling tight due to cleanser and toner use.

2. Avoid products containing mineral oils and cocoa butter as they prove to be too emollient for your skin.

To conclude, your skin will take some time to get into its right shape as far as being less greasy. But the efforts and discipline you put in will definitely pay off. And as mentiones earlier, as you care for your greasy skin today, the benefits of less wrinkled, dry skin will follow you years later.

Keep your skin very clean. Limit washing your face to two or three times a day. To cleanse oily skin, use oil-based products as they dissolve sebum effectively. Opt for oil-free moisturizers to maintain a shine-free complexion.