Oily Skin Care Help!
There are several beauty tips for oily skin that can help reduce the discomfort and embarrassment of over oil production.
1. Stimulating skin can lead to more oil production. Refrain from touching your face as a much as possible. Try not to rest your chin in your hand, press your phone against your face or let your hair hang against your face. Remember to clean your phone often to help reduce the spread of oil and bacteria. Don’t overly scrub your skin with harsh items and avoid washing or showering with hot water.
2. Don’t use anything on your skin that you can’t wash. Cosmetic sponges, eyeshadow sponges, loofahs, etc are all examples of things that should be avoided. Instead, use a foundation brush, makeup brushes and wash cloths. Anything that will spread the oil from your face to your makeup and back again should be avoided. By avoiding these items will stop the spread of bacteria which can help exacerbate the overproduction of oil. It will also keep the oil from your skin from ruining your makeup prematurely.
3. Don’t try to get a perfectly matte finish from your makeup. Skin that’s too matte will not only look unnatural, but you will be caking on layers of powder throughout the day. To reduce excess shine, blot with natural papers made specifically to remove the oil but leave your skin dewy and fresh. Pick makeup that will match your skin but will leave you with a healthy glow as opposed to a dull, matte finish.
4. Hydrate your skin from the inside out. Drink your required 8 cups of water (at least) to help give your skin a much needed drink. Also take an omega 3, 6 and 9 supplement to moisturize skin from the inside out. You can get these in the form of flaxseeds, flaxseed oil, fish oil capsules, whatever works best for you. Many people find the fish oils give them a bad taste in their mouth so if you find this is true take them with food or switch to flax.
5. Never apply alcohol to the face. Many products contain alcohol and while the momentary drying can feel like a relief, all it will do is dry your skin and stimulate further oil production. Alcohol is not just found in toners and astringents but in everything from creams to makeups.
6. Always use non-comedogenic cosmetics and facial products. These products are specially formulated to not clog pores. Oily skin is often congested and further clogging pores will only lead to breakouts.
7. All natural products are not always the safest choice. Many are formulated with harsh essential oils that can be stimulating and irritating to oily skin, only furthering the problem. While they are not bad, know that they may not be the right fit for your skin type.
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Homemade Mask for Oily Skin
A quick, easy and economical pick me up for oily skin suffers is a homemade mask for oily skin. Many different variations can be made from things already in your pantry and refrigerator with little requirements in the way of tools or fancy ingredients.
A mask for oily skin needs to do several things. First and foremost is to remove the excess oil. This causes an immediate sensation that the product is not only working but instantly helps you feel better about your skin.
Second, the mask should have a longer term effect of helping to exfoliate the skin though the use of alpha and beta hydroxy acids.
Third, the mask should have gentle yet effective anti bacterial action, helping to keep the pores clear.
A homemade mask for oily skin should be applied for no longer than 20 minutes at the risk of irritating the skin.
It’s important that oily skin not be over dried or irritated which may cause an increase in oil production. Also, never apply any sort of mask, homemade or otherwise, more than once a week for the same reason.
When applying any mask the most important step is to cleanse the skin and apply a toner without alcohol. This preps the skin to absorb the nutrients and benefits of the mask. After applying the mask and washing off it’s important to reapply toner without alcohol and use a rich moisturizer to replenish any lost moisture as masks for oily skin can be drying.
When using a mask, avoid using anything very harsh afterward like serums with glycolic acid or salicylic acid treatments.
When making your own mask you need to pick an item from each category, oil absorbing, anti-bacterial and exfoliating. Mix together only the amount you need and dispose of the rest as the mask could be at risk of growing mold or bacteria if stored.
Oil Absorbing Ingredients
Oatmeal – Put oatmeal into a blender or food processor and process it into a powder. Use about ¼ to ? of a cup as the base of your mask. Oatmeal has an added benefit of soothing red, irritated skin and is great for eczema suffers as well.
French Clay – This will likely have to be ordered from the Internet but is rather inexpensive and will last a long time. French clay not only dries up oil, but also has the benefit of being anti-bacterial. If using french clay you can skip adding an anti-bacterial ingredient. This one is especially good for those who suffer acne as well as oily skin. Use about ¼ to ? cup as the base of your mask.
Egg Whites – The albumen in egg whites is a fantastic amino acid good for helping the skin boost firmness as well as dry up oil. Beat one egg white until fluffy. Add a tablespoon of oatmeal or french clay to help thicken the egg white up or use as is with a paint brush.
Exfoliating Ingredients
Apples – Either bake and blend or use applesauce when using in a mask. Apples are rich in fruit sugars which are an alpha hydroxy acid, also known as a glycolic acid. What is in your skin care products is a refined form of these natural sugars. Add enough of this to your base to make a moist paste.
Yogurt – Yogurt carries a duel benefit of having both exfoliating benefits as well as probiotics. Yogurt contains a natural form of lactic acid, another form of alpha hydroxy acid. Probiotics nourish and soothe the skin while fighting bad bacteria. Add enough yogurt to the base to make a moist paste.
Carrots – Bake the carrots and blend until smooth. Carrots are a sugary vegetable and are a natural source of gylcolic acid. They are also rich in B vitamins which nourish dull, oily skin. A little spring, filtered or distilled water can be added to the carrots to make them smooth and then blend them with the base to make a moist paste.
Anti-Bacterial Ingredients –
Honey – Honey has anti-bacterial properties as well as moisturizing properties. This will be an added benefit for those with combination skin and sensitive skin. Add 2 tablespoons to the mixture.
Tea Tree Oil – This can be ordered online or purchased in either health food stores or major chain grocery stores. Tea Tree Oil is best for people with very oily skin or who are acne prone. 3 – 5 drops added to the mix is the most you will want to add as this is a strong oil. This is likely best avoided by people with very sensitive skin unless a patch test is done first to insure no reaction.
Making your own mask for oily skin is not only fun, but will give an instant perk to dull, tired skin. Costing a fraction of the amount that the big name masks charge while getting great benefits to your oily skin is well worth a little mess in the kitchen.
Microdermabrasion for Oily Skin
Microdermabrasion for oily skin is a way of scrubbing the skin with special crystals, a technique called exfoliation.
Exfoliation helps keep skin refreshed, youthful and allows products to absorb easily to deeper layers, improving their results. Oily skin is often found to be thicker and resists natural exfoliation more than normal and dry skin does so this is a great way to improve skins look quickly.
There are two main ways microdermabrasion can be done at home. One way is with a tool similar to those used at the doctor’s or esthetician’s office. Another way is with a cream that is easily applied with the fingers. Both have their benefits and drawbacks.
Dr. Brandt Skincare Microdermabrasion Exfoliating Cream is one at home option. It is less expensive than at home equipment and good for a first time user because of the gentle nature. Along with the micro-fine crystals there are several other benefits to the skin in this cream.
Grapefruit, lemon and orange extracts energize and add a naturally refreshing scent. Vitamin E is added to keep the skin soft. Chamomile, aloe vera and hibiscus flower combine to heal, soothe and hydrate the skin. Retinyl Palmitate, a form of vitamin A, promote skin renewal at a cellular level while adding the anti aging properties of improving fine lines and skin texture.
The retinyl palmitate can be irritating for some so it’s best to start off slowly. As with any manual scrub, it’s best to be very cautious of the pressure used in application and the amount of time spent on any area of the face as it’s possible to over irritate some areas.
Another option is the NuBrilliance Microdermabrasion System. This is the at home version of the professional diamond tipped machine. Rather than using crystals to scrub the skin with the machine uses a diamond tip to scrub the skin. There is also a suction tool to assist with cleaning out the pores.
There are complaints that the tip is too large and hard to use around the nose, but over all many find it to be nearly as good as getting it done by a professional at a fraction of the cost.
Microdermabrasion for oily skin is a good way to refresh your skin in a matter of minutes. However, be cautious in over stimulating oily skin with too much scrubbing too often. It can make oily skin react by producing more oil.
As with any new skin treatment, start off slowly and work your way up to your ideal level of treatment frequency that leaves your skin soft and glowing but not too overworked.
Best Makeup for Oily Skin
Having covered the best foundation for oily skin in a previous post, there is still the issue of the best makeup for oily skin.
Oily skin is a problem with makeup as eyeshadow works it’s way into the crease, wears off of other places, eye liner slides from where it’s supposed to be, all leading to raccoon eyes at the end of the day or too many touch ups.
To give eyeshadow the best staying power, it’s best to start with an eyeshadow primer. This helps reduce the spread of oil and gives eyeshadow the best staying power. Bare Escentuals bareVitamins Prime Time Eyelid Primer serves as a neutral, oil-free base for any eyeshadow. It keeps shadow from creasing as well as allowing the true color of the shadow to shine.
Bare Escentuals eye liner powders may be daunting to some. However, the company provides a kit with all the tools you need and instructions on how to make the line eyes to perfection. By being a powder it has a better staying power on oily skin than waxy pencils and is easier to learn than a liquid. Also, liquid eyeliners can promote the spread of bacteria around the eye so a powder is more sanitary.
These powder liners can be put on soft and smudged or intense and defined, giving unlimited versatility. When combined with Bare Escentuals Weather Everything the liner powders are able to be turned into a liquid liner with staying power that is second to none.
The key to a good eyeshadow application is professional brushes and a high pigment color.
Bare Escentuals offers both in a kit for any occasion. Their kits give instructions on application along with high quality brushes and shadows. While there is a learning curve due to the fact that many people don’t often work with loose powders, a little practice with the clear instructions will leave anyone able to apply like a pro. There’s the added benefit to loose powders, oil from the skin will not be transferred onto a pressed powder palliate and left to ruin the makeup and cause the spread of bacteria.
To round out the look, a little color should be applied to the highlights of the face. Bare Escentuals offers a selection of rich, powdered face warmths to highlight sun kissed spots, even if no sun actually kissed the skin. With their loose powder form they can be applied very light to stronger as suits the individual and the powder form promises not to clog up pores and helps to absorb oil from the skin.
The best makeup for oily skin will not slide, crease nor clog pores.
These products meet those requirements and go above and beyond in color selection and feel against the skin. Remember, with oily skin it will be necessary to clean the brushes often with soap and water to prevent a build up of oil and reduce the spread of bacteria.
Cream for Oily Skin
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It sounds very contradictory to use a cream for oily skin. However, all types of skin need moisture, including oily skin. Oily skin can at times both be dry and flaky as well as oily. Moisturizing oily skin does not make it oilier, in fact, it can help control oil production over time.
Korres Yogurt Cream is a fantastic cream for oily skin that needs a deeper level of hydration. Dull, unevenly textured overly oily skin is thirsting for a deeper drink than the usual light moisturizers recommended provide. This is especially true in the winter when going from warm and cold climates and dealing with dry inside air.
Containing full fat greek yogurt, Korres Yogurt Cream has rich ingredients which soak in to help rehydrate tired skin.
The olive oil and macadamia nut will naturally hydrate and while they are oils, they will not clog pores. The lactic acid from the yogurt is a natural exfoliating agent, helping to remove excess layers of dull skin.
This cream is a thicker cream and is not recommended for daytime use. In the beginning it will sit a little heavier on the skin and will not feel comfortable under makeup. It will be best used as a heavier night cream when the thicker texture and feel will not be so bothersome.
If used consistently, this sort of thicker cream can actually reduce the amount of oil produced by the skin during the day by telling the oil glands that the skin is not dehydrated. This cream may also be too heavy for comfortable summer time use.
Despite the drawbacks in heavier texture, using a thicker cream like this at night time is a good idea for oily skin. It’s especially recommended during the winter months or in harsher climates. Balancing oily skin with moisture can help reduce over oil production during the day, a worthy result of a little potential discomfort.
Oily Skin Moisturizing Gel
An oily skin moisturizing gel is a great option for those who really don’t like the texture of a cream.
Gels feel lighter on the skin and don’t have a greasy after feel that some creams will give. With a quick absorption rate gels are a fantastic vehicle to bring nutrients into the skin, which is essential regardless of your skin type.
Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel Moisturizer by Clinique is a high nutrient gel with many benefits. Pomegranate extract will assist the skins natural ability to hydrate itself by absorbing more moisture without stimulating oil production.
Collagen production essential to maintaining the elastic nature of the skin for anti aging and this is assisted by the addition of milk peptides to the moisturizing gel. Another natural moisturizing component of this product is hyaluronic acid, helping the skin cells to bind with water. Laminaria seaweed reduces excess oil as well as soothing the skin to reduce redness and irritation.
The one major drawback to this product is that it contains no SPF. It is crucial to apply an SPF of 15 minimum daily.
This becomes even more necessary if any other skin care products used contain glycolic or salicylic acid as these cause the skin to become very light sensitive. No matter the weather or time of year, we are exposed to UVA and UVB rays daily so an added sunscreen will be essential. The one exception is mineral makeup wearers. Many mineral makeups offer a physical block to the suns rays.
Oily skin moisturizing gel will allow more oily skin suffers to be more comfortable with putting on a moisturizer. Moisturizing oily skin is essential and this gel provides oil control ingredients with such a light texture that oily skin suffers will not have to suffer any greasy feel.
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