There is nothing worse than washing your face only to have it be a greasy mess an hour later. You may have tried product after product only to find that there is no clear cut answer in regards to how to control oily skin.
There are both pros and cons to having this skin type: One of the good things is that your oily skin keeps wrinkles away for longer. On the bad side, you may find that you experience more breakouts.
Ultimately, you can never expect your oily skin to go away completely, but thankfully there are some great products on the market that can help reduce your shininess without breaking your budget.
Wash Your Face Twice a Day
There is a lot of speculation about how often you should wash your face and what cleansers you should use. From my own experience, I have found that washing my face in the morning and before bed has helped me to control oily skin. Overnight, my pores seep quite a bit of oil, so I want to make sure that I wash that off before applying any skincare products or makeup.
I also wash my face before bed because I want to get rid of any oil that has accumulated on my face throughout the day. If you do wash your face twice a day, make sure you use a cleanser that isn’t going to dry out your skin. Even though I have a very oily face, I still find that my skin can get dry if I use a product that is too harsh. Remember, the key word in how to control oily skin is ‘control’, not ‘fix entirely’.
I wish I had the perfect cure for this skin type, but the reality is that different products are going to work for different people. I’ve watched the infomercials that say Proactiv is a miracle worker, but it actually made my condition worse. I’ve also used very gentle cleansers that didn’t really help my cause either. What I’m saying is that you may have to go through some trial and error before you find your ideal cleanser. I really wish I could give you an exact guide that tells you how to control oily skin!
Wash Your Pillowcases Frequently
This is a simple tip for controlling oily skin that a lot of people could be more proactive about. Our pillowcases are covered with oils from our skin and hair, so it’s important to keep them clean. I like to wash mine once a week so that my face doesn’t have more dirt and grime to fight with throughout the night.
Blot Every Hour or Every Other Hour
I have found that blotting my face every hour or so has helped control my oily skin. If you’re like me and you don’t want to spend money on those little blot sheets that the store sells, use some of these things as alternatives (just make sure they’re clean):
- Brown napkins (I carry Chipotle napkins in my car whenever I feel the need to blot my face)
- Cheap brown paper towels (Often found in restaurant bathrooms or public restrooms)
- Lined paper (Not my favorite to use, but it gets the job done)
- Tissues (Yes, Kleenex will work)
- Post-Its (Prepare yourself to see your oil on any colored sticky notes you use)
- Receipts (Easy option that works like a dream – just don’t get the ink on you)
There are plenty of free options available to you, so get a little creative! If you absolutely must get the blot sheets, try to find a store brand version so that you don’t have to break the bank just to blot. Also, I would space out your blotting to at least every couple of hours.
Use a Mask
Clay masks are great thing to invest in if you are trying to figure out how to control oily skin. If you head to your local Ulta or beauty store, you will be sure to find an entire section that is devoted to face masks. I would suggest finding one that is especially made for your skin type. Some of the ones I have used in the past have contained lemon and/or mint because those ingredients are supposed to assist with managing oil production.
Prior to using the mask you buy, make sure you read the directions. Some masks should only be used a couple of times per week because they could dry out your skin if used too frequently. The package should also advise you about how long to keep the product on your face. It’s normal for the mask to feel tight toward the last few minutes that you have it on due to the fact that it has dried. When you are done with the mask, rinse thoroughly and wash your face if you need to so that you can get any extra residue off.
In my opinion, masks are one of the easiest things to do if you are trying to figure out how to control oily skin because they require little effort!
Hands Off: Easiest Advice for How to Control Oily Skin
I know how tempting it can be to rest your head on your hand when you are sitting at work bored or in a lecture that seems as though it will never end. No matter how strong your urge gets, keep your hands off of your face! We pick up so much bacteria and oil throughout the day because we are constantly using our hands for various things, so you don’t want to transfer all of that nasty stuff to your face.
Switch that Sugary Drink with Water
You hear it all the time: “Drink at least 8 glasses of water each day.” This is true for all skin types – the more water you drink, the better off you will be. Water keeps your skin hydrated and flushes out toxins that are in our bodies. Sugary drinks can have the opposite effect on us – they can clog our pores, potentially cause breakouts, and make us feel sluggish due to a sugar crash. Trust me, sugar crashes don’t do anything good for your skin!
Naked Collagen may be a good option, such as including it to your morning coffee or any favorite hot drink. Collagen Protein powder is not only great for joints, promoting strong hair and nails but it’s also great for supporting radiant skin to keep it smooth, hydrated and firm.
Use Translucent Powder
Controlling oily skin with translucent powder
I chose translucent powder because it goes on without any color (but feel free to choose a powder that has tint to it if you use that as part of your regular makeup routine). Personally, I don’t like to wear makeup much, so I prefer something that does its job without making it look like I’m wearing makeup. I also prefer to use a loose powder that I can apply with a brush.
If you use a compact powder, make sure your powder puff is changed frequently so that you don’t keep reapplying old oil and dirt to your face. The same goes for brushes – wash them accordingly.
No Magic Cure
Keep in mind, these are only tips for how to control oily skin. As much as I would love to wave a wand and cure my own oil problems, I’ve realized that this is just something I have to live with. The best advice I can give you is to keep your skin clean, eat right, hydrate, and don’t worry about it so much. It’s important to make sure the information you use for your skin-care is medically verified. Therefore we suggest looking at sites like guidingbeauty.com as they work with professional beauty experts.
Remember, oily skin can mean beautiful, younger skin later in life!
Article Updated in 2020
