10 Best Tips To Control Oily Skin
Oily skin is a common skin problem that seems overwhelming at times, but fear no more… I’m here with some of the best tips that will help you control your oily skin.
Oily skin is more of a problem in summer because of more humidity in the atmosphere. Even people with combination skin can get more oilier skin zones in summer.
Firstly, let us learn a little more about oily skin. Our skin has millions and trillions of pores. beneath each pore, there are sebaceous glands that are responsible to produce sebum(oil) to keep our skin hydrated and serve as a protective barrier too. Thus, this sebum(oil) is not entirely bad for our skin. But as I keep saying:
“Excess of anything is bad”
Oily skin is formed when our skin is dehydrated. The sebaceous glands produce more oil to cover up the lack of moisture in the skin. Dehydration in the skin can be caused by many factors including hormonal changes, eating processed foods, not hydrating your skin and the list goes on…
So… the tip that helps the most is to hydrate the skin.
It is important to treat oily skin because if not treated, this can lead to skin problems like acne, blackheads, whiteheads, and zits.
I will discuss the causes of oily skin in a separate post… So keep an eye on my new posts 😉
Now…Let’s get right to the tips…
Tips To Control Oily Skin:
Tip# 1: Using A Lightweight Moisturizer:
This is the best tip I have for you. Using the right moisturizer can reduce the problem of oily skin so quickly. It can magically change your skin to soft and glowing and healthy-looking skin. But the deal is to choose the right moisturizer for your skin.
Using heavy and thick moisturizers can not work on our oily skins. So we have to opt for a lightweight and light-textured moisturizer. Gel-based moisturizers have worked wonders for oily skin. If you want to know more about the type of moisturizers for oily skin then check this post. Click on this link below:
Top 5 Best Moisturizers For Oily Skin
I have some suggestions for moisturizers in this post that I’ve found best for oily and combination skin types.
Tip# 2: Don’t Skip Sunscreen:
Using sunscreen is extremely important regardless of what skin type you have. Sunscreen is going to protect our skin from free radical damage. If you skip sunscreen, then no matter how high-end products you are using to control oily skin, they are not going to work effectively.
Putting sunscreen on when you already have oily skin sounds quite irritating right? Yes it is irritating, especially in summer when sunscreens give a feeling of heat to the skin. That is why you need to use sunscreens that are designed for oily skin and will not leave your skin feeling more oily.
According to me, light-weight sunscreens are the way to go for oily skin. You should not feel like something is on your skin. I have found this sunscreen after trying soooooooo many products, and this is the only one that works for me so far.
COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF50 PA+++
This feels light, like a moisturizer on the skin. it contains moisturizing ingredients for the skin so it is okay to skin moisturizer if you are using this. don’t forget to re-apply after a few hours throughout the day.
To learn more about sunscreens click on the link below:
You Will Never Skip Sunscreen After Reading This
Tip# 3: Use Vitamin C:
Vitamin C is a very popular ingredient in skin care at this time. The free radicals on your skin are taken care of by Vitamin C, along with increasing collagen production on your skin. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, your oily skin and acne problems can be treated, making Vitamin C serum the perfect oily-skin solution.
Learn more about Vitamin C here:
Things You Need To Know Before Using Vitamin C
Tip# 4: Use Toners (Without Alcohol):
The use of toners can change your skincare game. If you are already using a toner and still have oily skin then make sure that you read the ingredients on your toner. If the first or second ingredient says ‘Alcohol’, throw that toner away because it is only increasing the problem of oily skin.
Alcohol will strip away the natural oils of our skin and make our skin dehydrated. As a result, more oil will be produced. Thus, more oily skin.
Use toners with hydrating ingredients like green tea, aloevera, rice water, etc. Toner should be applied after cleansing and before moisturizing.
Tip# 5: Don’t Use Harsh Cleansers:
Using cleansers that have alcohol in them or have other ingredients that are harsh on the skin can damage our skin barrier. Thus, signaling our skin to produce more oil to cover for the damage caused by the cleanser. So as a result, we are left with oily skin.
Excessive cleansing can also be a cause of more oily skin because you are stripping away the skin’s natural oils. So cleanse only twice a day (or at most thrice).
Tip# 6: Exfoliate:
As we age our skin slows down the process of renewing itself. This is why we get build-up of dirt, debris and gunk on our skin. People with oily skin tend to have more buildup due to more sebum(oil) production.
This is why we need to exfoliate to get rid of the build-up on our skin. Exfoliation will help our skin breathe. When pores are clean they will not feel oily thus, controlling the problem of oily skin.
Use chemical exfoliators like AHAs( Alpha Hydroxy Acids) and BHAs( Beta Hydroxy Acids). Most commonly used AHAs are: glycolic acid and lactic acid and commonly used BHA is salicylic acid.
Tip# 7: Use Vitamin A:
Vitamin A works wonders in renewing the skin. Vitamin A helps to directly control oily skin by controlling sebum production. there are many types of Vitamin A.
Commonly used are retinol, Retin-A, and tretinoin(retinoic acid). Each has slightly different benefits and effects. If you have never used Vitamin A before then you need to learn more about it before starting as it is a very strong ingredient and can cause irritation and inflammation if not used correctly.
Tip# 8: Eat Healthy:
Diet is the main factor in almost anything in our body. May it be hormonal changes, excessively oily skin, acne, etc, you name it… Most people skip this part and just apply topical products to treat any skin problem. Diet plays a very important role here.
I am not telling you to go on a strict gluten-free or dairy-free diet and eat grass only 😂
What I mean is that you should add fruits and veggies to your diet, and take note of what you put in. Are you taking essential vitamins through your diet? or are you only eating junk food and sugars? Whatever it is, you should adjust your diet and add a few healthy foods and drinks to detox your skin.
I have some recipes to detox your body and make your skin clear and glowing. Check the link below:
Drink Any Of These Daily For Detoxifying Your Skin
Tip# 9: Hydrate Yourself:
As oily skin is dehydrated skin. We need to hydrate our skin internally as well as externally. Moisturizers will take care of external hydration but for internal hydration, we need to increase our fluid intake. Fluids should not be sugary juices or more coffee and alcohol. I am talking about healthy fluids like water, green tea, fresh fruit juices, and smoothies.
Tip# 10: Use Blotting Paper:
If you use makeup, I bet this one will be a lifesaver for you. Gently press blotting paper on your face and it will pick up all the excess oil that is sitting on your skin.
Pssst… Wanna know a cheap alternative for blotting paper?
Use parchment paper 😀
Cut parchment paper into small squares around (3X3 or 4X4 inches) and staple them together. Put this little parchment paper book in your bag. Take one sheet out and use it whenever you feel like there is excess oil on your skin.
To Conclude:
- Oily skin is actually dehydrated skin, so the key to solving oily skin is to provide hydration.
- As I always say, you need a derm ritual (skincare routine) to tackle any skin problem you are facing.
- If you want to use Vitamin A or Vitamin C then do a little more research before starting them out.
- Stay healthy and keep an eye on what you intake, as this will definitely affect our skin health and overall health.
