How to Care for Oily Skin

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By esthilove
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Care for Oily Skin

Oily skin can be both a blessing and a curse. The blessing being because of the constant hydration (in the form of over-productive sebaceous glands) oily skin appears to age at a slower rate. The curse is that you may experience acne well into your 40's. Our goal is not to fight & get rid of the oil but rather control it.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Mild, gel cleanser
Light-weight, oil-free moisturizer
If needed: oil-free, water-based foundation

Step 1

First you need to determine if, in fact, you do have oily skin. This is best determined by skin that tends to have larger pores & appears to be quite shiny throughout the day, makeup that disappears after only a few hours of wear, or the appearance of a light layer of oil shortly after cleansing.
Step 2

Once you've determined that you have an oily skin type you need to pick out the most appropriate cleanser. Try a mild gel cleanser formulated for oily skin. Cleanse twice a day- morning & before bed. DONT buy cleansers with harsh, oil-stripping ingredients such as alcohol.
Step 3

If you absolutely must use an astringent, choose a very mild one with water, rose-water, or witch hazel as a main ingredient. Or, you could create a natural astringent at home using 1 cup witch hazel with 1/2 tsp. tea tree essential oil.
Step 4

Even oily skin needs moisturizer! Just be sure to pick one that is a lotion base with a humectant as a main ingredient (glycerin is a great one). Try to look for something light-weight, oil-free and with at least an SPF 15.
Step 5

When choosing makeup (if this is an option) always go for oil-free, water-based foundations. You can also use an oil-inhibiting matte primer before applying the foundation to help control excess oil. Throughout the day use oil-blotting papers.