Stop Oily Skin

To stop oily skin can be a real problem for some people to the extent that even keeping make-up on is a battle.

After washing, an oily skin can become shiny within half an hour and you really don’t want this if you are going to work or out with friends.

Run your finger along your forehead to see if your finger is oily. This oil protects your skin against bacteria and infection and is called the acid mantel. Your skin becomes too oily because you have over productive sebaceous glands. This can be a good thing because it keeps your skin well moisturised and therefore your skin will not age as rapidly as someone with dry skin. On the other hand it can be a bad thing because with an over production of oil comes unwelcome spots, pimples and zits and, if you are really unlucky, acne.

Washing your face with soap can actually stimulate even more oil production. Washing your face with soap damages the the acid mantel by changing the ph of the skin encouraging bacteria and infection into your skin. It’s best, especially if you have not been wearing make-up or been anywhere with lots of pollution, to wash your face only with water.

Some Causes of Oily Skin

• Getting too hot can cause excess oil on your skin
• Hormones can cause upset to skin especailly in the teens, pregnancy and the menopause
• Over stimulation of the skin such as over exfoliation

So What Can You Do To Stop Oily Skin ?

• Taking a piece of tissue can help by blotting oily patches every now and then throughout the day : this method won't reduce the production but will keep the oil sitting on top of your skin at bay.
• Steaming your face is another excellent remedy for oily skin. Steam your face with one of our recipes once a week.
• Aromatherapy oils which are especially good to stop oily skin are lavender, ylang ylang and chamomile.
• Exfoliate your face once a week using a gentle exfoliator, such as our oranges and lemon scrub.
• Fruit Acid can be very beneficial in the fight against oil production. Try our delicious strawberry face mask or our orange face mask.
• Fullers earth is another treatment which can really help reduce sebum on the skin. Our chocolate face mask with fullers earth is ideal.