10 Oily Skin Care Tips: How to Control Oily Skin

Your skin needs oil to stay healthy, but too much can plug your pores. Oily skin is the result of overactive oil glands beneath the skin's surface. The sebum and sebaceous glands produce fats that help moisturize and protect the skin from drying out, but excess oil production can cause pores in the skin to become clogged, often resulting in acne breakouts. People living in humid climates are more likely to experience oily skin.

Go from oily to oil-free with these skincare tips.

1. 1. Always read the label on skincare products. If you have sensitive skin, acne-prone skin, or rosacea, look for skincare products labeled "oil-free" or "non-comedogenic." In addition, ingredients such as retinol, retinoids, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and hydroxy acids can help control the amount of oil the skin produces.
2. 2. Use a gentle facial cleanser. Periodically washing your face is essential to having healthy skin, but over-washing your face can strip away a lot of your skin's natural oils. A gentle cleanser is designed to clean the skin while also hydrating and soothing the skin. Use an oil-free, foaming face wash to regularly cleanse the skin of impurities and residues.
3. 3. Use a moisturizing lotion after washing. An oil-free moisturizer won't clog pores or create blemishes, but it will help keep your skin hydrated and less prone to overproducing oil.
4. 4. Wear sunscreen daily. When the skin becomes dried out from the sun, it responds by increasing sebum production. Wearing a daily sunscreen (SPF 30+) can prevent both dry skin and oily skin.
5. 5. Use astringents sparingly. Astringent toners can help remove excess oil from the skin, but they may cause dry skin if used too frequently. If you want to include a toner in your skincare routine, opt for a natural astringent (such as witch hazel) and only use it on particularly oily days.
6. 6. Try mattifying make-up. Mattifying make-up is a cosmetic product designed to give skin a matte look as opposed to a shiny sheen. It is not a long-term solution to oily skin, as it does not address the root cause, but it can be useful in a pinch.
7. 7. Keep blotting papers on hand. Blotting papers can help remove excess oil from the skin throughout the day. Gently dab on your T-zone—forehead, nose, and chin—to remove excess oil.
8. 8. Apply an exfoliating face mask. When dead skin cells mix with excess sebum oils, they can collect and clog large pores. The result is usually pimples and blackheads. Use an exfoliating face mask to gently remove dead skin cells. Opt for face masks that use anti-inflammatory ingredients to soothe irritated skin.
9. 9. Consider topical acne medication. If you have persistent oily skin that is leading to severe acne breakouts, consider speaking to a dermatology professional about prescription acne treatments that include ingredients like tretinoin and clindamycin.

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