Excessively oily skin can dull your skin's appearance and often cause pimples, blemishes and blackheads.
People who have oily skin have overactive oil glands that produce more oil in the epidermis layer than is needed or wanted. This is what leads to the greasy shine and enlarged pores which can lead to various skin problems.
Your skin should have a certain amount of natural healthy oil. However, skin that is consistently too oily is generally a sign that there are changes needed to your diet, your lifestyle and skin care routine.
Luckily, there are natural ways to remedy oily skin at home so that you can experience beautiful, glowing skin. And NO, you don’t need expensive products, 12-step routines or fancy cosmetic cleansers!
Here we share the main causes of oily skin, as well as simple remedies so that you can restore and revive your skin back to it's natural best.
Causes of Oily Skin
Oily skin can be caused by a variety of factors that you can and can’t control. Cosmetics, environmental factors, birth control pills, over-the-counter and prescription medicines can all cause imbalances in the body which can lead to oily skin.
Then there is the issue of diet.
Oily skin is usually a sign that your skin is undernourished, usually the result of consuming too many processed and refined foods and drinks.
A lack of moderate exercise is also a cause because your skin naturally expels toxins through perspiration. Without this channel of elimination working optimally, it will have a big impact on your skin's overall health and appearance.
Other factors are pregnancy, menopause and overly humid climates, which can all upset the normal oil balance within your skin and increase the activity of sebaceous glands.
Another common cause of oily skin is the daily use of chemical soaps and cleansers which strip your skin's natural healthy oils content, causing it to counter by over producing oil. The use of commercial soaps over a long period of time can be a major factor that leads to a life time of oily skin, so it's best to avoid these and find organic soaps prepared from natural ingredients, which are readily available in good health food stores these days.
Oily skin is also quite common in teenagers due to their hormonal changes, but it can also occur at any age. Luckily, the skin tends to become dryer as we age since the flow of oil decreases with age.
It’s also quite normal to have skin that’s oily in certain areas but dry or normal in other areas; this is called "combination skin" and you should treat the areas individually.
Here are 7 effective ways to deal with oily skin naturally...
1. Exfoliate with Sea Salt and Essential Oils
Every skin type needs regular exfoliation to maintain healthy composition and balance.
When practiced with all natural ingredients, regular exfoliation is the secret to renewing the cells of your skin, boosting circulation and unclogging your pores and maintaining a healthy glow.
Exfoliation can be done both for your face and body using a gentle circular motion straight from the palms of your hands, or use a loofah sponge to reach those hard to reach places on your body.
If your skin is super oily, you may want to start by exfoliating every second morning or night to begin with, to first gauge how your skin reacts before incorporating this practice regularly into your self care routine.
We recommend preparing your own DIY exfoliate at home by combining Fine Celtic or Himalayan Salt with Almond Oil, Aloe Vera and your favourite essential oil, such as Lemon or Lavender.
Alternatively, try our handcrafted Renew Body Salt Scrub and Glow Facial Polish Exfoliate available in our store at tolmanselfcare.com
2. Cleanse with the "Right" Soap
Cleansing is incredibly important when it comes to caring for oily skin, but if you use the wrong type of cleanser or soap, you'll only worsen the problem.
Most people assume oily skin needs strong chemicals to remove the oil, but these products actually cause flakiness and your oil glands to work harder than ever to compensate for the loss of oil that these chemical products cause.
Avoid the temptation to use products that leave your skin feeling taut and dehydrated. These products actually restrict the flow of oil through your pores, which can actually cause blockages and breakouts.
Choose a cleanser or soap specifically designed for oily skin that is made from chemical-free, completely natural or organic ingredients - for example, that uses vegetable glycerin and plant extracts as a base.
Another option is to use six drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil in an eight-ounce glass of water, splash and rinse the face after gentle exfoliation, and then pat dry.
Clean your skin well, but don't over do it because over cleansing can strip the healthy natural oils, a certain amount of which you need to maintain nourishment, complexion and glow.
Opt for hot water rather than lukewarm or cold water and wash your skin in an upward and outward massaging motion. Avoid rubbing too hard while washing, because rubbing soap deep into the skin can clog pores.
Castille Soap such as Bronners which is available in our online store, is also a great gentle facial cleanser. Just be mindful that you only need a few drops because a little goes a long way!
3. Choose Your Moisturiser Carefully
Oily skin typically doesn't need too much additional help in the way of moisturiser, however there are great benefits in gently applying a small amount of skin food like plant-based Divine Face & Body Butter to bring nourishment back into your skin.
Keep the skin hydrated (while also flushing out toxins) by drinking plenty of pure water - at least 6-8 glasses or 2 litres per day.
It’s also a great idea to mist the skin with water and Lavender several times a day because lavender is excellent for oily skin. Lavender is one of mother nature's true skin health miracle remedies.
4. Use A Natural Toner
If you did nothing more than focus on the steps already shared here, you'll be well on your way to re-setting your skin and making overly oily skin a thing of the past.
However, to take things a step further, you can also apply a natural toner which can be helpful as it helps to gently close your pores to protect your clean skin from the elements.
The nice thing is you don't need to go out and buy an expensive cosmetic brand toner. You can tone your face using ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.
Mix a half teaspoon each of lime and cucumber juice together with one teaspoon of witch hazel and apply it to your clean face. It will help to prevent acne and blemishes by keeping oiliness away and naturally protecting the pores of the skin.
Apple Cider Vinegar is also a wonderful toner that can be substituted for witch hazel if you'd prefer or have access to this.
5. Use Clay Masks & Clay Bath Soaks
Natural clays like Bentonite Clay and Diatomaceous Earth are chelators which means they help strip impurities from beneath the surface of the skin, including excess oil.
Add a cup of Bentonite Clay to a hot running bath with 10-12 drops of Lavender Essential Oil and soak for 30 minutes 2-3 times per week.
To use as a face mask, blend together one teaspoon of Bentonite Clay, one teaspoon of raw honey, 2-3 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil and enough water to turn it into a smooth paste. Gently apply to your face and allow to set before removing with a hot shower or warm, wet face washer. Pat dry.
Do this at least three times a week or more.
Try our handcrafted Radiance Face Mask with Detoxifying Clay to instantly improve skin without over-drying it.
6. Eat A Clean Diet
One of the most important ways to care for oily skin is to eat more high fibre, high water content plant foods - yes you guessed it...fresh, seasonal, locally sourced fruits and vegetables!
By include plenty of seasonal fruits and veges and leafy greens in your diet, you will ensure that your cells are nourished with enough vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants to support the health of the largest organ of your body, your skin.
Also, even a slight deficiency in vitamin B2 can cause oily skin, so make sure you eat good sources of vitamin B2 like organic beans, raw nuts and whole grains. Black beans, buckwheat and whole rice are an exceptional supply of iron to the body and they are known for their powers in rejuvenating the skin too.
Avoid processed meats such as pork, sausages, bacon, ham, salami and corned meat, as well as fried food to reduce the bad fats and chemical preservatives in your diet which are significant culprits in causing unhealthy skin.
Additionally, avoid all white flour, white bread, white rice, white pasta, packaged cereals, packaged sauces, cookies, cakes, biscuits, soft drinks (basically all packaged processed food) and limit your intake of alcoholic, particularly spirits and those which have chemicals and preservatives.
It should go without saying that you should also avoid processed and refined sugars and artificial sweeteners. Instead, satisfy your sweet tooth with raw organic honey, medjool dates, organic maple syrup and raw cacao powder.
Learn more about the importance of what you eat and skin health in our blog, Why Diet is A Key to Glowing Skin.
7. Embrace Pure Essential Oils
Essential oils have long been considered nature's medicines to support human health, including the skin.
As pure plant extracts, some of the best essential oils for oily skin include:
- Lavender
- Tea Tree
- Frankincense
- Bergamot
- Cedarwood
- Cypress
- Geranium
- Juniper
- Lemon
- Sage
Choose at least two of these that appeal to you. You can browse our full range of doTERRA essential oils here.
Additional Self Care Tips To Improve Oily Skin:
- Try Apple Cider Vinegar on oily areas of the skin for a neutralising effect;
- To stimulate circulation and rejuvenate the skin, regularly brush and massage the entire body;
- The skin repairs itself most while we sleep, so get plenty of good sleep!
- Exercise regularly because it will nurture and cleanse the skin from within and it boosts circulation and encourages blood flow;
- Swim in the ocean and get sunshine - a combination of soaking in sea water and a little exposure to natural sunlight can do wanders for detoxifying, re-setting and re-nourishing the composition of your skin and restoring youthful glow;
- Use an infra-red sauna - Having a session in an infra-red sauna 1-2 times per week will help to detoxify the skin from the inside out and is also a very healthy, restorative and meditative practice for all over body and mind health;
- Use a natural blemish clean up product such as our Skin’s Love Potion Blemish Clean Up Gel prepared from aloe vera and other natural ingredients to clear up skin.
Learn more about taking good care of your skin in our blog Skin Health: 5 Natural Healing Tools to Replace Toxic Personal Care Products.
The Main Take Away
Even though a certain amount of natural oil is needed for healthy, glowing skin, excessively oily skin can lead to various skin problems.
Taking good care of your skin should be a part of your weekly self care routine if you want to preserve the health and appearance of the largest organ of your body.
No matter your skin type, by embracing even just a few of these natural skin care tips and remedies, you'll be on the path to rebalancing your skin and enjoying that youthful, healthy glow.
Tolman Self Care.
