Oily Skin: Traits and Treatments

If you have oily skin then you’re probably sick and tired of dealing with the frustrating breakouts and greasy look and feel of your skin. At times it may seem like there’s nothing you can do to stop another pimple from popping up or control the shine that comes out on your face, but there are a few things you can do to control the oil and improve the look and feel of your skin.

Written by Elizabeth Jacobs, Green Health Research Contributor

Oily Skin Treatments: Skincare

The first line of defense in combating oily skin and breakouts is choosing an effective cleanser. You want to make sure that when you’re washing your face you’re removing the dirt and excess oil, but not totally stripping your skin of all of its oil, because this can lead to dryness and other problems. Gel cleansers generally work well for oily skin because they tend to be a little more drying than creamy-type cleansers but not as harsh as pure soap which can damage the delicate skin on your face. Make sure that you’re using water-based, not oil-based, facial products as adding more oil to your skin will only make things worse.

Also consider using a gentle astringent like witch hazel after washing your face to control oil without irritating any existing breakouts. Use a light SPF 15 moisturizer, again, water-based, after washing your face to protect it from the sun and provide enough moisture to your skin so that your oil glands don’t secrete oil to keep your skin moist.

Oily Skin Treatments: Cosmetics

After washing and moisturizing your skin, the next step is makeup. Again, check your makeup to make sure it’s not oil-based and also look to see if it contains bismuth oxychloride. Bismuth oxychloride is a compound made of copper, lead, and chlorine byproducts that gives some foundation, blushes, and eyeshadows their pearly look. This ingredient can be very aggravating to skin and can trigger breakouts and cause itching. It’s also good to avoid bismuth oxychloride because any product which gives too much of a sheen to the face can make skin appear oily.

Read the labels of your products and if they say ‘non-comedogenic’ this means they won’t clog your pores. Also look for formulas that contain witch hazel, Vitamins C & E, and aloe which are all naturally soothing to the skin and help to protect it from free radical damage. After moisturizing and before applying makeup, use a foundation primer to give the skin a nice matte look and control excess oil throughout the day. With these tips you should be on your way to healthier, more manageable skin!