Very few people are lucky enough to have normal skin. The rest of us have to make the best of what we’ve got, be it dry, oily or a combination, but that can sometimes be a huge chore. Oily skin in summer is an especially difficult cross to bear. However, there are solutions, and a lot of them can be tried out right at home. In case you’re wondering if you really do have oily skin, we’ll tell you how to identify the problem, not to mention how to treat greasy skin, with some time tested home remedies for oily skin.
Causes: what makes your skin so oily?
- All that oily skin is caused by the overproduction of sebum by the sebaceous glands in your skin
- Genetics can occasionally play a very strong part
- Dietary choices can cause excess oil production
- High stress levels can also be responsible for oily skin
- Skin can change from normal to oily to dry from season to season
- Hormonal imbalances due to the menstrual cycle, birth control pills and pregnancy can also cause oily skin
- Facial oil will generally accumulate on your forehead, cheeks and nose
- Oily skin on face makes it look greasy and shiny
- People with oily skin generally have enlarged pores
- Skin starts to feel oily within a few hours of washing it, due to the buildup of oil
- Normal sunscreen adds to the greasiness
The most effective home remedies for oily skin
Not only does oily skin look terribly unflattering, but it feels even worse. Sure, you don’t have to use moisturizer regularly, and your skin is far less likely to wrinkle or age prematurely, but at some point, all that oil gets too much. Use these tried and tested home remedies: this collection comprises the best natural oily skin treatment permanently alleviating your skin issues.
1. Aloe vera
Aloe vera gel is available at practically any health-food store, as well as an increasing number of drugstores. After washing your face, apply the gel a few times a day and let it stay there till it dries. Not only does it absorb extra oil, it feels very refreshing even if it hasn’t been chilled.
2. Witch hazel
After washing your face, take some witch hazel and apply it onto your face with the help of a cotton pad. Make sure to do this at least two times a day, and for around 3 weeks. After that, reduce the frequency to once a day. This will help tighten your pores and dry them up, due to the astringent nature of witch hazel.
3. Essential oils
There are very few problems which can’t be solved (or at least reduced) with one or more essential oils! In this case, it is neroli and lavender, the former extracted from orange blossoms. The combination of the two can be used as a toner and skin cleanser and sprayed onto your skin whenever it feels particularly greasy.
4. Peppermint, sage and yarrow
Like witch hazel, these three herbs are very strong astringents, and you can make a very effective skin toner with them. They will make your oily skin look better, and feel far more comfortable too. Take one tablespoon of each herb in 1 cup, and pour boiling water over it. After it has steeped for half an hour, strain the water, cool it, and apply the herbal home remedy to get rid of oily skin. If there’s any left, you can keep it fresh for five whole days by refrigerating it to use later.
5. Dry oats
Instead of making a home-made skin toner, you can also make yourself a face massage pack with a fine powder to absorb all that extra oil, as well as unclog your pores by getting rid of any dead skin. Take two teaspoons of dry oats and grind them into find powder before adding witch hazel. Massage the resultant paste lightly into your skin, using just your fingertips. Afterwards, use warm water to rinse.
6. Buttermilk
Using buttermilk to massage and wash your face can have a huge number of benefits, but one of the best ones is the significant improvement to oily skin. Buttermilk, after all, contains a number of natural acids that help in tightening your pores and cleaning out dirt, which also makes it one of the best and simplest to use home remedies for oily skin. Make sure to rinse off after a few minutes.
7. Egg whites
A mask made from egg whites can soak up oil and make your skin firmer too. For best results, mix the egg white with a teaspoon of honey. Make a paste by adding just enough flour, but make sure it isn’t too much. Avoid the eyes during application, and don’t swallow any of it! It should be dry in around ten minutes, and then you can rinse it off using warm water.
8. Lemon juice
The citric acid in lemon juice is another useful astringent to get rid of all that grease. You can either wash your face with it, or mix it up with mashed apples and a teaspoon of dried astringent herbs (such as peppermint, lavender or sage) to form a face mask. After application, rinse it off with warm water after five minutes.
9. Mangos
Mangos can actually be used either in homemade skin toners or face packs. The mask can be made by mashing one up into a soft pulp and massaging it gently into the skin. Rinsing it off after it dries onto the skin unclogs the pores and gets rid of excess oil while also toning the skin.
10. Mud or clay masks
Mud masks can do a lot for your skin, including getting rid of impurities and reducing oiliness. If you can’t find one at your local drugstore, you can make one at home using any kind of facial clay (don’t use potter clay, please) and mixing it with witch hazel. Take a teaspoon of the facial clay and blend it with a tablespoon of witch hazel. You can also add a couple of drops each of cypress oil and lemon oil. Once the face mask is dry, wash it off.
11. Flaxseed oil
Along with the skin toner or face mask of your choice, taking a tablespoon of flaxseed oil every day can improve the condition of your skin. For best results, have it in the morning.
12. Vinegar
You can exfoliate your skin with vinegar, be it apple cider or white, before you turn in for the night. After application, leave it on for ten minutes or so before washing it off with cool water. Dilute it with water if you have sensitive skin, and keep it up for two weeks or so to see results.
Precautions –
Our home remedies will have the best effect if you combine them with these simple tips for taking care of oily skin. It may feel like a losing battle at times, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
- Use gentle cleansers, particularly those with ingredients suited to oily skin
- Make sure not to scrub your face, which can actually trigger off more oil production
- Blotting paper or medicated pads can help you deal with oil build up in between washings
- Choose the right moisturizer and makeup to minimize oil production
- Clear your pores of oil and dirt at least once a week by exfoliating thoroughly
Read Here – 15 Home Remedies to Get Rid of Blackheads – Overcoming those Pesky Dark Spots