How to Make Your Skin Less Oily

Were you born with naturally oily skin? Don’t worry; you are not alone. Luckily, there are some measures you can take to make your skin less oily and ultimately reduce your chances of getting blemishes. The best part is many of the tips on this list are relatively inexpensive and take little to no effort. Their impact on your skin is phenomenal though.

Clean Your Face Everyday

Cleaning your face every day will help reduce the amount of oil in your skin. Most people with oily skin avoid oil-based cleansers because they believe that using an oil-based product will make their skin even oilier. In reality, you actually need oil to properly break down the unwanted oil in your pores. Using an oil cleanser will remove excess oil while leaving your skin looking healthy. Using a water-based cleanser on oily skin may make your skin less oily, but it also has a greater chance of drying your skin out. So, stick with an oil-based cleanser if you can.

why Hydration is Key for oily skin

This is by far one of the most vital tips on this list. The more dehydrated your skin gets, the more oil it produces. So, instead of using harsh products that strip your skin of moisture, look for ones that are packed with ingredients that hydrate the skin. Ingredients like cocoa butter, aloe, honey, vitamin d, etc. work best. It’s also beneficial to drink lots of water throughout the day, as this will help keep your skin hydrated as well. Avoid drinking teas and coffee, as these drinks are diuretics that will dehydrate your body.

Avoid Harsh Chemicals

It’s natural to choose cleansers that leave the skin feeling fresh, but not all cleansers that make your skin feel good are actually good for you. When you use harsh cleansers that contain sulfates, they will temporarily remove excess oil from your skin. The process by which sulfates does this leaves your skin dehydrated and deprived of essential moisture. It is only a temporary fix to your oily skin and it has negative side effects.

Utilize Clay Masks to treat oily skin

Clay masks draw out excel oil, dirt, and impurities. They also help reduce oil production thanks to their drying out process. As always, be sure to stick with moisturizing clay masks that won’t strip the skin of moisture. Read the label and look for ingredients that are known for hydrating the skin like ones that contain cucumber, honey, or shea butter. Make sure you follow the instruction on the back of the mask properly in order to get the best results. Applying a clay mark improperly can cause more harm than good.

Exfoliate oily skin Often

Exfoliating your skin on a regular basis will help reduce the amount of oil in your pores. Excess dead skin cells clog pores and dehydrate the skin. They also block your skincare products from working properly. As a result, your skin dries out, and your skin produces more oil to compensate for the dryness. If you exfoliate your skin on a regular basis (at least once a month), this will prevent your skin from drying out and ultimately prevent your skin from feeling the need to produce excess oil.

Consider Using Linoleic Acid

Linoleic acid is an unsaturated fatty acid found within the skin’s surface lipids. This wrinkle-fighting acid is known to protect skin from environmental stress and keep it looking smooth. Research has shown that those who suffer from oily, acne-prone skin generally have lower levels of linoleic acid in the skin. When skin is low in linoleic acid, the oil in the skin becomes thicker and more likely to clog pores. This is the main reason why those with oily skin are more likely to develop acne. Using a linoleic acid supplement should balance oil production and help prevent acne. Makeup pros recommend using a primer for oily skin that contains such beneficial ingredients.

Wrap Up: how to care for oily skin

For those of you who have oily, acne-prone skin, please do not lose hope. Following the tips we have provided for you above should make a positive impact on your skin. Over the course of a few weeks, you should notice a difference in your skin. It should become less oily and your acne should begin to clear up. For more information on skincare products for people with oily skin, please read through these helpful articles.

Resources— AAD, Byrdie

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