It can also be difficult to keep your face from appearing shiny and feeling clogged from oil that accumulates throughout the day. Fortunately there are measures you can take to mattify your skin and make its oiliness more manageable.
Do you have oily skin?
Most people find themselves with a combination of oily and dry skin, while others may identify as having predominantly oily or dry skin. It is important to consult your esthetician or dermatologist to determine specifically what kind of skin you have and how to take care of it properly.
However, you can usually tell if you have oily skin if you constantly notice that your skin looks shiny and feels slick.
If you find that you do have oily skin, even if it is just in a few areas of your face, then it is now time to explore your options in taking care of it.
Overall, care for oily skin involves gentleness, moderation, and limiting oil production. To assist you, here are 8 simple tips you can implement to care for oily skin.
1. Wash your face twice a day, and no more.
You should try to wash your face twice a day- at morning and before bed. Though it may be tempting to wash your face more than twice because of the shine that may appear by midday, frequent washing can actually stimulate your skin to produce more oil and exacerbate the problem. Dryness, ironically, begets more oil production.
Unless you sweat after a workout, you should not try to wash your face more than this recommended amount.
2. Use a gentle cleanser.
Using the right cleanser will make sure you are not over-stimulating your skin and triggering more oil production. Some basic ground rules are to avoid harsh soaps and avoid buffs and washcloths because they can make your skin produce more oil.
If you find that you need a cleanser that is tough on oil, then cleansers with benzoyl peroxide, glycolic acid, beta-hydroxy acid, or salicylic acid can all fight oil. These ingredients traditionally fight acne but are also good at controlling oil.
Take care when you are trying out a new product, though, because these ingredients can be irritating to certain people. If you notice anything amiss, discontinue use and try a new cleanser.
3 Use clay masks.
If you have oily skin, you may find that some days you may need an extra boost of oil control. Clay masks help give a matte effect to your skin, eliminating shine while also cleaning out your pores. These are quite soothing at the end of the day because they rejuvenate tired-looking skin.
4. Limit exfoliation.
Though exfoliation has many benefits for your skin including removing dead skin cells and improving blood circulation, too much of it is not good for oily skin types. Scrubbing your face often can stimulate oil production and make your problem harder to control. Instead, exfoliate just once a week to help clean your pores and make your skin glow.
5. Limit your toner use.
If you want to use a toner, only apply it to oily places on your face. If you use toner on drier areas of your face you risk creating dry patches or uneven skin.
6. Use blotting paper.
A long day at work, school, or out in town can cause stress on your skin. As oil accumulates, however, you don't have to worry if you have oil blotting sheets on hand. Many cosmetic brands make blotting papers that absorb excess oil anywhere you go. A quick application can mattify your face and help you feel fresh with the added benefit of not having to wash your face and trigger more oil production.
7. Choose the right moisturizer.
You may think that since your skin is oily that it doesn't need a moisturizer. However, that is the farthest from the truth! Your skin still needs a quality moisturizer so that washing your face won't dry out your skin. Also, the right moisturizer will help your skin feel soft and pampered. For oily skin, choose an oil-free, water-based moisturizer and avoid heavy creams. There are even mattifying moisturizers that help take the shine factor away from your oily skin.
8. Choose the right cosmetics.
Oily skin responds better to non-comedogenic cosmetics that are specially designed to not clog your pores. Stay away from oil-based cosmetics or anything with parabens as well, which are known to irritate skin and cause acne. Your goal should be to choose light, effective, and gentle cosmetics.
You will be amazed to see all the products that are made to help curb oil! For example, jane iredale has a primer that makes your skin matte before you apply your foundation.
For days when you are active and do not have time for an all-out makeup routine, BB cream is also light on your skin and can come in matte finishes. You can also carry pressed powder to touch up your skin during the day, with many product lines dedicated to mattifying effects.
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