12 essential skin care tips for oily skin
Oily skin can be frustrating but there are ways to manage and balance the oil content while maintaining essential nutrients and moisture levels.
Firstly, let’s have a look at the role of the skin’s natural oil and the reasons behind excess oil production.
The skin produces oil for two important reasons – it lubricates and protects the surface, and it makes the skin waterproof. Some people’s skin produces more oil than others, or there are stages in life where your skin is oilier than usual.
Excessive oiliness can leave you wondering if you will be stuck with shininess permanently. There is one very favourable benefit to having oily skin however – it ages slowly in comparison to dry skin. The reason is that the oil produced by your oil glands keeps the skin nourished, moisturised and lubricated, while helping to prevent wrinkles and fine lines.
What causes excessive oiliness?
There are various causes of oily skin including hormones, genetics, diet, and dehydration. Dehydration is often not considered as a common cause for oily skin, but skin experts believe that many people with excessive oil production are simply dehydrated. The skin needs moisture and will overcompensate with more oil production if it detects there isn’t enough hydration.
Dehydration is caused by internal factors such as not drinking enough water, a lack of sleep, consuming too much alcohol or sugar, and external factors like too much sun or stripping away natural oils with harsh skincare products.
Is your skin oily or dehydrated?
It’s important to first find out whether your skin is oily or dehydrated by drinking more water and avoiding activities that cause dehydration for a few days. Observe how your skin responds and use a gentle cleanser and moisturiser during this time before employing a full-force oily-skincare regimen. If you’re simply dehydrated and use products intended for oily skin, you will end up doing more harm to your skin.
Once you know whether you have oily skin rather than a dehydrated complexion, you can select skin care products that balance the oils in your skin and soothe it. Never use harsh cleansers or toners on oily skin which strip away natural oils. Your skin needs oils to function properly. Instead, use astringent cleansers and toners.
The ultimate objective of conducting this exercise is to ensure that you clean up excess oil on the skin, but with products that are intended to balance oils, instead of removing them.
Our essential skincare tips to care for oily skin
Tip # 1 – Look for a gentle skin balancing cleanser
The first tip for reducing excess oil on the skin is to correctly cleanse it, morning and night. If you have oily skin which is acne-prone, cleansers with a gentle foaming action can help to remove excess oil from the skin. Double cleansing is also very helpful if you wear makeup.
The benefit of a natural foaming action is that it is less severe and there is no need to over-cleanse which can worsen your complexion. “Using harsh cleansers can strip the skin of its naturally occurring oils. This makes the skin overcompensate for this loss by producing excess oil, which results in oily skin”, says Marie Kapetanakis, founder of Kosmea. It is important to not over-wash the skin. If you over-wash it, the skin gets deprived of its natural oils which can result in an increase in oil production.
We recommend a cleansing product like Clarifying Facial Wash 150mL to balance oil production with its gentle, natural and foaming action.
Tip # 2 – Exfoliate your skin 2-3 times a week to stimulate skin cell renewal
Exfoliating helps skin cell turnover, rejuvenating and regenerating skin cells to prevent further breakouts. A good exfoliant should have natural, gentle ingredients and no microbeads.
Kosmea’s Reveal Your Glow Mask contains ground rosehips and crushed chamomile flowers as natural exfoliants.
Tip # 3 – Look for antioxidants in your skincare for positive long-lasting results
It is important to look for skin care products that consist of antioxidants especially if you have oily skin. Although it is important to use sunscreen in the summer sun, daily antioxidant use can help you protect your oily skin from infrared radiation and environmental stress. Look for products with antioxidants such as vitamins C & E, coenzyme Q10, green tea extract, raspberry, sea buckthorn.
We suggest products such as our Revive Illuminating Essence and Eighth Natural Wonder® Revitalising Facial Serum 30mL
Tip # 4 – Avoid alcohol and spicy foods
You may enjoy your alcohol and spicy foods but if you want to reduce oily skin, it is a big no-no. The primary reason is that spicy foods and alcohol dilate your blood vessels and make you perspire. Moderation is key and maybe reduce the intake to weekends only.
Foods high in Vitamin A such as melons, carrots and spinach will help to slow down the oil production in the skin.
Tip # 5 – Let skin breathe overnight to restore
Do not clog pores with thick creams overnight. Instead, cleanse and apply Certified Organic Rosehip Oil onto damp skin, and leave it at that. Nothing else. Let skin breathe overnight whilst you are sleeping. Rosehip Oil will help to repair and renew the skin overnight.
Tip # 6 – Apply a face mask on oily or inflamed skin
Face masks help to hydrate skin, draw out impurities in the skin, and balance skin oils. We suggest Kosmea’s Energising Radiance Mask 75mL or Reveal Your Glow Mask 75mL
Tip # 7 – Exercise daily to get rid of toxins and increase your blood flow
Working out regularly helps to increase the blood flow and assists in nourishing your skin cells. It opens the clogged cells which aid in removing toxins from your skin. It is also best to wash your face pre and post-workouts to remove dirt, pollution and sweat from the skin, all of which can result in oily or acne-prone skin.
Tip # 8 – Apply honey on your acne-prone skin to soothe inflammation
Honey is a humectant which helps to keep your skin moisturised. It is also a natural antiseptic which can be highly beneficial for acne-prone skin and helps to soothe inflammation.
Let us look at some different ways to apply honey to acne-prone skin:
1st Method
Step 1 – Mix honey and milk in equal proportions.
Step 2 – Apply on acne-prone skin and let the mixture dry.
Step 3 – Wash it off with water. This can be applied once a day.
2nd Method
Step 1 – Mash half a banana and mix it with a tablespoon of honey.
Step 2 – Smear on your face and wash it off with warm water after 15-20 minutes.
Step 3 – Repeat this process 2-3 times a week.
3rd Method
Step 1 – Mix honey and brown sugar together to make a scrub.
Step 2 – Massage onto the face smoothly and wash it off with warm water.
Step 3 – Repeat this process weekly to combat acne.
You could also try a product containing honey as an ingredient, such as our Nourishing Treatment Cream.
Tip # 9 – Don’t wear too much makeup
Do not overdo your makeup application. Too much makeup can clog the skin and prevent it from breathing. This can result in the skin producing more oil and potentially acne. Try to use natural, or mineral makeups that allow the skin to breathe and are not too thick.
Tip # 10 – Remove makeup before bed
It is very important to remove your makeup before going to bed. Sleeping with makeup on can result in break outs the following day as makeup clogs skin pores. Select a makeup remover that is gentle and make sure to remove all makeup from your face. We recommend using our Purifying Cream Cleanser 150mL to remove makeup gently.
Tip # 11 – Apply toothpaste if you get a pimple on your oily skin to get rid of it overnight
If you get a pimple try this home remedy that has been passed down from generations to help get rid of it overnight.
Simply apply a small portion of toothpaste on the spot where you have a pimple. This needs to be done before you go to sleep at night.
Follow these steps:
Step 1 – Add a little toothpaste over the top of the pimple.
Step 2 – Wet a soft piece of paper and press this on top of the toothpaste.
Step 3 – Peel off the excess of paper around the finger.
Step 4 – Let it dry. It will become like a paper-mache.
Step 6 – Leave it overnight.
Step 7 – In the morning, place a wet towel on top to remove the paper and toothpaste. The pimple should come off.
Tip # 12 – Drink lots of water
Drinking five to six glasses of water daily can also assist in flushing out toxins from your body which stimulates all sorts of regeneration including your skin!
If you would like more information about skin care tips, contact us today and we will be glad to assist you further with your skin care needs.
