KESEHATAN
Have you ever had that awful oily shine on your face and you can’t seem to get rid of it? Oily skin is definitely a challenge found most often on people with thick, large-pored skin. It can be due to stress, hormonal changes, genetics, side effects of medication, or misuse of skin care products.
Oily skin can be difficult to manage, but there are many things you can do to solve this common problem. There is no need to use expensive, chemical-based skin care products. Many people have found simple home remedies to be equally effective.
Home Remedies For Oily Skin
1. Wash Face Properly
Oily skin becomes more oily often for two reasons: you wash your skin too often, or not enough. Washing your face too often dries out your skin, causing your body to try and compensate by creating more oil. Washing your face infrequently causes old oil to build up. Find a happy medium by washing your face twice daily; when you wake up and before you go to bed is the best time.
Some soaps dry out your skin too much, causing your face to create more oil while others contain ingredients that clog pores and create more oil as well. Find a facial soap - bar or liquid, it doesn’t matter - that is made especially for oily skin. For extremely oily skin, a detergent facial soap may be considered, but this may be too harsh and dry out your skin too much.
When you’re washing your face, use hot water; this will break down the oil more effectively than cold or warm water is able to. Hot water also opens your pores, making it easier to clear out the excess oil. When you finish washing your face, splash it with ice cold water. This will close up the pores and tighten the skin, keeping it clear of oil and grime for longer.
2. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are great for oily skin due to their cooling, clarifying and astringent properties. The high vitamin C content in tomatoes is very helpful for acne-prone skin. Plus, the natural oil-absorbing acids in tomatoes help get rid of excess oil.
Cut a tomato in half and rub it on your skin. Allow the juice to soak into your skin for at least 15 minutes. Rinse your skin with cold water, pat it dry and apply a light oil-free moisturizer.
Note: You can also make a face mask by combining three tablespoons of tomato juice with one tablespoon of honey.
3. Cucumbers
Cucumbers are known for their cooling properties. Also, the high vitamin and mineral content, including vitamins A and E, magnesium, and potassium, are good for oily skin.
To control your oily skin, cut a fresh organic cucumber into a few slices and apply it all over your face. Leave the spread on overnight and rinse it off with warm water the following morning.
You can also put the cucumber into a blender and make a fine paste, mix it with honey and leave it on your face for 20 minutes and then wash it off with warm water. Do this daily.
Alternatively, mix one-half teaspoon each of cucumber juice and lime juice. Apply this mixture to your skin, let it dry, and then wash it off with warm water. Do this daily. This remedy can also be used to lighten freckles and reduce sunburn.
4. Honey
Honey can help reduce excess oil on the skin’s surface, clear pores and even prevent wrinkles. Honey has moisturizing properties that nourish the skin and keep it sufficiently moisturized without making it oily. Also, the natural antiseptic property of honey is highly beneficial for acne-prone oily skin.
Apply a thin layer of honey over your face and leave it on for 15 minutes. Then wash your face. Do this twice daily.
Simply extract a spoon of lemon juice from a fresh lemon and combine it with an equal amount of honey. Apply the moisture on the face and neck. Rinse it off with cold water after 15 minutes.
You can also mix a small amount of ground almonds with honey. Gently massage the paste onto your oily skin to remove oil and dead skin cells. Then wipe your face with a warm cloth to open up the pores. Do this once a week.
5. Yogurt
Yogurt is a rich source of lactic acid that is known to exfoliate the skin by absorbing the excess oil from the skin. Apply some yogurt on your face directly using the circular motion, leave the yogurt on your face for about 10 minutes and wash it off using cold water.
Alternatively, mix one tablespoon each of organic yogurt and finely ground oatmeal. Then stir in one teaspoon of warm honey. Apply the mixture on your face. Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes and then rinse with warm water.
6. Aloe vera
Aloe vera has antimicrobial properties that make it ideal for treating acne-prone oily skin. Also, aloe vera can help absorb excess oil from your skin’s surface.
Cut an aloe vera leaf in half and extract the fresh gel. Apply the gel on your face. Let it dry and then wash your face with clean water. Do this two or three times a day.
Alternatively, boil an aloe vera leaf in water for a few minutes. Grind the leaf along with some honey to make a paste. Apply it thoroughly over your oily skin. Leave it on for 20 minutes and then rinse it off with cold water. Do this once every week.
7. Egg White
Egg white is a rich source of vitamin A that dries out the excess oil from the skin and at the same time helps in toning and tightening of the skin.
Whip one egg and add about 1 tea spoon of lemon juice to it. Spread the mixture on you face and leave it there for 15 minutes. Rinse off using warm water.
8. Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is a good source of citric acid that works like an astringent. It also has antiseptic properties that can lighten skin discolorations and restore the skin’s pH balance.
Mix one tablespoon of lemon juice, one-half tablespoon of honey and one tablespoon of milk. Apply this paste on your face and leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes before washing it off with cold water. If done once daily, this remedy will give you positive results within a week.
Mix one teaspoon of fresh lemon juice with one-half teaspoon of distilled water. Apply it on your skin using a cotton ball. Leave it on for 10 minutes and then wash your face with warm water. Lemon juice can dry out your skin, so apply some oil-free moisturizer afterward. Do this once daily.
9. Milk
The alpha hydroxy acid of milk exfoliates the oily skin making it soft and supple. Milk also helps in maintaining a proper skim PH. You can make a mixture of milk by adding 2-3 drops of lavender oil to it. Apply the mixture gently on your skin using a cotton plug. Leave the mixture on your skin for the whole night and wash off in the morning using cold water.
10. Apples
Apples work as a great exfoliating agent and they have mild antiseptic, astringent, and soothing properties that make them a great home remedy for oily skin. The malic acid in apples helps exfoliate dead skin cells and absorbs excess oil from the skin’s surface.
Mix one teaspoon each of grated apple, yogurt and lemon juice to form a smooth paste. Apply it all over your face and leave it on for 15 minutes. Then rinse your face with cool water.
Grate half an apple and place the shreds on your skin. Leave it on the skin for 15 minutes and then wash it off with tepid water.
11. Maize
Cornstarch is an ideal natural remedy to remove excess oil in the face. Mix one to three tablespoons of cornstarch with enough warm water to form a paste.
Apply by rubbing the face and let dry. Then rinse with warm water. You can do it once a day!
