Dealing with Oily Skin

Our skin produces and secretes oil naturally. This is actually a good thing, as the oil helps to protect our skin and keep it moisturized. Too much oil—or a build-up of oil over time—can cause problems, however. These problems can range from too much shine or sheen to problems with makeup that won't stay put or appears patchy or spotty.

So, what is one to so with naturally oily skin? The first thing (believe it or not) is to try to adjust your diet. Certain foods seem capable of increasing oil production, and if you decrease or eliminate those foods from your diet, you can naturally cut back on your oily skin. For many people, it helps to avoid sugary foods, alcohol, caffeine, and even shellfish.

With the diet under control, make sure that you clean your skin regularly. The cleaning should include the use of a good cleanser. You can find lots of different types of cleansers on the market, but you will want to read their labels carefully. Look through the "marketing hype" that you will find, and look for something that will help remove the oil without damaging or overly drying your skin. Use the cleanser regularly; at least once a day.

When it comes to makeup, you will want to look for facial makeup that is specially formulated for oily skin. You need something that will help soak up the oil without appearing patchy, and it should be something that will not clog your pores. (If your pores become clogged, this blocks the natural movement of the oil to the surface of your skin and can cause blemishes and sores.)

You might also consider reducing the amount of makeup you use, particularly if you are going to be in an area where you will be sweating or under stress. These can increase oil production, and it might be best to not use much makeup in those environments. For instance, you might use only a light moisturizer and blush or just add some natural-colored lipstick and mascara.

You might also benefit from some facial treatments. For instance, you might want to use a mask that can help to cleanse the skin deeply. Use some warm water or mist to open your pores, and then follow the directions that came with the masking agent. A good mask can help remove excess oil and impurities and may even help make exfoliation easier.

As a final note, consider keeping a journal of your skin conditions. This may sound strange, but you will find that if you have oily skin, it probably seems excessively oily at certain times and in certain environments. For instance, you might notice the oiliness more in the summer or in a hot, humid environment. You might notice it more a couple hours after a certain meal, or when you are under a particular type of stress. The journal will help you to spot trends and aggravators that cause the oiliness for you. When you spot these factors, then you deal with the factors themselves and benefit by decreased oiliness.