Stop an Oily Face

The skin on your face produces natural oils that protect it, but what if your face produces too much oil and you want to stop it? Oily skin may cause acne and make you feel self-conscious, but luckily there are some simple ways to care for your skin that can help put a stop to an oily face.

Steps

Cleansing Your Face

1. Use a gentle cleanser. Wash your facing using a gentle cleanser to avoid irritating your skin. Using harsh cleansers on your face can actually cause your face to produce more oil to compensate for all of the natural oils that were removed.
   • If using a gentle cleanser is not effective for you, try a cleanser that contains benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, or beta-hydroxy acid.
2. Don’t scrub your face too hard. Scrubbing your face with a washcloth or textured sponge can irritate your skin and scrubbing cause your face to produce more oil to compensate for all of the natural oils that were removed. If you do use a washcloth to wash your face, apply gentle pressure.
3. Wash your face in the morning and at night. Twice daily washing is essential to keeping oil under control. Wash your face after you wake up and before you go to bed.
4. Wash your face with warm water, not hot water. Hot water can irritate your skin and strip it of its natural oils, causing it to produce more oil to compensate.
5. Use a toner only on oily parts of your skin. If you use toner on your whole face, you may end up creating dry patches, which can become flaky and red. Target oily areas of your skin and leave the normal or dry parts alone.
6. Use astringent pads on the go. Astringent pads can be useful to remove excess oil when you can’t wash your face. Keep some in your purse or at your office if you tend to get oily skin later in the day.
7. Use a clay mask for special events. Clay masks dry out your skin and remove most of the oils on your face, so it is best to use these masks sparingly. Save clay mask treatments for special events when you need your skin to be oil free for a long time.

Moisturizing Your Face

1. Avoid moisturizers that contain oils like petroleum or shea butter. These ingredients will add excess oil to your skin and make oily skin worse. Read the ingredients listed on the moisturizer packaging before you buy.
2. Choose a moisturizer that contains dimethicone. Look for moisturizers labeled oil-free and that contain dimethicone rather than petroleum. Moisturizers that contain dimethicone will help create a matte effect while petroleum containing moisturizers may make your skin oilier.
3. Choose a moisturizer that is non-comedogenic or non-acnegenic. No matter what moisturizer you choose, make sure that the packaging says that it is non-comedogenic or non-acnegenic. Moisturizers that are labeled non-comedogenic or non-acnegenic contain ingredients that are less likely to cause pimples.
4. Use moisturizer sparingly. Apply a thin layer of moisturizer at first and then decide if you need more. Only dispense a chickpea size amount onto your fingertips and only add more if your face still seems dry after applying it.
5. Try a variety of moisturizers until you find what works best for you. Just because a particular moisturizer works well for someone else with oily skin does not mean that it will work the same for you.
   • If a friend recommends a product or you read rave reviews about a moisturizer, try to get a sample before you buy it. Makeup counters in department stores often provide samples of their products if you ask nicely.

Applying Makeup

1. Use a matte primer. After you have cleansed and moisturized your skin but before you apply foundation, apply a matte primer to your face. Matte primers help absorb excess oil throughout the day.
2. Choose oil-free and non-comedogenic makeup products. Look for foundation, powder, blush, and bronzer that are labeled oil-free and non-comedogenic. These products will not contribute to oily skin and they will not clog your pores.
3. Use a mineral based powder. Apply a light layer of mineral based powder to your face using a large powder brush. Mineral based powders will help prevent a caked-on look. Keep powder on hand at all times for touch-ups throughout the day.
4. Apply all makeup sparingly. Use only a small amount of each product that you use to reduce the amount of makeup on your face. Lighter layers of makeup will help your skin breathe and help prevent excess oil production throughout the day.

Incorporating Other Oil Stopping Habits

1. Avoid oil producing foods. Foods that are high in fat, sugar, and salt contribute to oily skin. Dairy and enriched flour products also contribute to oily skin. Avoid these foods or at least limit your consumption of them to help stop an oily face.
2. Eat oil controlling foods. Foods that are high in fiber such as legumes, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains will help stop oily skin. Leafy greens and citrus fruits are especially effective against oily skin. Prepare vegetables without adding excess oil by steaming or boiling them.
3. Drink plenty of water. Water helps keep your skin hydrated and it also flushes toxins from your body. Getting enough water each day is essential to keeping oily skin under control.
4. Control stress. Stress causes your body to produce cortisol, which leads to more oil production. To control stress and the excess oils that it causes, incorporate some relaxation techniques into your daily routine such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing.

Getting Treatment From a Dermatologist

1. Talk to a dermatologist. If you continue to have issues with oily skin, a dermatologist may be able to provide medication or prescription skin care products to help manage oil production on your face.
2. Ask about topical retinoid treatments. A dermatologist can prescribe a topical retinoid cream to help stop an oily face. Topical retinoid creams can reduce oil and fight acne as well. This treatment is only effective in about 20-30% of patients.
3. Ask about hormonal treatments. Women may suffer from excess oil due to hormone fluctuations. In some cases, taking an oral contraceptive pill can stop excess oil production and help clear up acne.
4. Ask about chemical peels. AHA/ Glycolic acid peels are gentle peels that help remove excess oils from the skin. The results of these treatments are only temporary, but a dermatologist can combine peels with other treatments to maximize your results.
5. Ask about Accutane/Roaccutane treatments. Accutane is a highly effective oily skin control and acne clearing prescription medication that is derived from vitamin A. Patients usually take Accutane daily for 15-20 weeks. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant cannot use Accutane because it may cause birth defects.

Tips

• Keep blotting papers in your purse to dab away excess oil throughout the day.
• Avoid over the counter products and products which claim to get rid of oil because most of the time they have chemicals in them which can damage/ harm your skin. Look for products which contain roughly 2% salicylic acid (but no more than 10%) this acid does wonders. Try Garnier pure active fruit energy daily energizing gel wash (containing grapefruit, pomegranate and vitamin c) as it works wonders.
• Change your regimen with the seasons. Your skim may be more oily in the summer than in the winter, so make sure that you reassess your skin as the seasons change to decide how you should adjust your daily regimen.
• Look for products that combine moisturizer, sunscreen, and foundation so that you don't have to put on so many layers.

Related Articles

• Make a Cleanser for Oily Skin
• Prevent Oily Skin
• Care for Oily Skin
• Cure Oily Skin

Sources and Citations

• Videos provided by Diana Saldana

See also

• Use Pore Strips
• Apply Makeup on Oily Skin
• Clean Clogged Pores
• Prevent Oily Skin
• Get Rid of Oil on Your Face
• Buy a Blackhead Remover
• Prevent Blackheads
• Treat Whiteheads
• Take Care of Oily Skin with Homemade Products
• Make a Tomato Face Mask

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