Facials for Oily Skin

Growing up I had super oily skin. My parents were concerned I would end up with severe acne like my Dad had as a youth. In order to prevent potential acne and scarring my parents started me on a rigid skin care regimen. Below are some of the things I learned about caring for oily skin.

• Start with diet. A well balanced diet is going to have the biggest affect on oily skin. Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. Stay away from fried or greasy foods. Adding fresh fruits and leafy green vegetables to your diet can assist your body in regulating oil production.
• Have a consistent skin care program. Oily skin is especially difficult to care for. Skin should be cleansed two to three time per day. Removing make up products will reduce the chances of clogging pores and experiencing acne. Try not to touch your face throughout the day as this adds to the contaminants that can clog facial pores.
• Use products designed for oily skin. Harsh detergents in soaps can strip pores of natural oils and trick the sebaceous glands into over producing oils. There are many good cleansers on the market formulated especially for oily skin.
• Clarify your skin. Keeping pores clean is an important step in acne prevention. After cleansing, use a non-alcohol based astringent, like witch hazel, to clean away residue from make up. Oil is produced to help clear away debris caught in pores, if the pore is clogged a blemish forms.
• Moisturize twice daily. I know it sounds silly to moisturize oily skin but it is an essential part of daily skin care. Use an oil free moisturizer to complete the skin care routine. Some moisturizers have oil absorbing agents to help fight shiny faces throughout the day. If you still experience excessive oil, invest in oil blotters to freshen your look throughout the day.
• Use a mask and exfoliate once or twice a week. Each week treat yourself to a mask. There are several types on the market. If blackheads are problematic for your skin, find a mask that has ground up walnut shells to help exfoliate dead skin from your face. Bringing new skin to the surface aids in creating a healthy glow and producing an even skin tone.

Keep in mind that facial skin is delicate. Be gentle and be aware of the direction the skin grows and use motions that go with the grain of the dermis not against it. Use your ring finger, as it is the weakest finger on your hand, to prevent pulling against the skin. Use an upward circular motion on the cheeks, forehead and throat areas. Use a downward motion on your nose. Gently go from the outer corner of the eye toward the nose, avoid scrubbing action when removing make up.