Natural skin care treatments can help cleanse oily skin preventing problems such as open pores and acne. Oily skin requires proper cleansing to remove excess oil. Harsh astringents should be avoided as they can dry out the skin. Gentle exfoliation, steaming and masks are useful for deep cleansing oily skin.
Causes of Oily Skin
Oily skin can be caused by changes in hormones (such as during puberty or menstruation) and can cause skin to produce excessive oil and trigger acne outbreaks. Some types of birth control pills can also increase skin oil production. Oily skin doesn't always cause acne, but it can be a factor if the skin isn't kept clean enough. Acne occurs when pores are clogged with oil and dirt creating a breeding ground for bacteria. The bacteria then causes swelling where white cells fight the infection. Keeping skin clean is important to prevent acne breakouts.
Natural Aromatherapy Cleanser
The best oily skin cleanser gently removes excess oil and tightens pores without leaving skin too dry. This recipe use witch hazel a mild astringent:
- 50ml distilled witch hazel
- 50ml vegetable glycerin
- 40ml aloe vera gel
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- a squeeze of fresh lemon juice
- 3 drops grapefruit essential oil
Mix the ingredients in a bottle and shake well. Dampen face with warm water and massage cleanser into skin. Rinse well with tepid water.
Natural Toner Remedy
An astringent or toner lowers the pH of the skin after cleansing. It tightens skin pores and is an important part of skin care for oily skin types. Witch hazel is an excellent astringent and appears in many acne treatments as it effectively absorbs excess oil from the surface of the skin. Lavender helps to balance oil production.
- 250ml distilled witch hazel
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
Combine ingredients in a bottle and shake well. After cleansing skin dampen a cotton pad and gently wipe skin with the toner. The astringent can be kept in a spray bottle to refresh skin throughout the day. Keep in the fridge and use up in 48 hours.
Pure aloe vera taken from the leaf of an aloe vera plant is an excellent moisturiser for oily skins.
Natural Facial Sauna Treatment
A herbal facial sauna containing rosemary, yarrow, peppermint and lavender makes a refreshing steam for oily skin.
- 3 litres of water
- 3 tablespoons dried lavender
- 2 tablespoons dried rosemary
- 2 tablespoons dried yarrow
- 1 tablespoon dried peppermint
- Put all ingredients into a large pot with lid.
- Bring the pot to a boil.
- Remove from the heat and allow herbs to steep for five minutes.
- Place the pot on a firm surface.
- Remove the lid and place the face over the steam (taking care not to burn) surrounding the steam with a towel over the head.
- After around ten minutes, rinse with warm water and follow with a facial mask.
A clay-based mask is ideal for oily skin as it will clear away excess oil. An easy option is to mix one spoon of honey with a spoon of green clay powder. This can then be applied for 20 minutes and rinsed off with warm water.
Other good ingredients for home facial masks aimed at oily skins include:
- lemon juice (helps in clearing the complexion)
- turmeric (brightens the skin)
- chickpea flour (a natural exfoliating agent and soaks up excess oil)
- Fuller’s earth (smoothes and clears skin by removing oil)
- oats (gently exfoliates the skin)
Read How to Have a Facial at Home with Natural Products for more advice on deep cleansing skin. A positive aspect of oily skin is that it often wrinkles slower than dry skins. Home treatments based on natural ingredients can cleanse oily skin eliminating excess shine, spots and pimples. The following articles give more information about taking care of skin and hair at home:
Natural Dry Skin Remedies: Skincare at Home
Natural Sensitive Skin Remedies – Easy Treatments at Home
Natural Acne and Blemish Solutions - Easy Homemade Treatments
Source:
Vukovic, Laurel 1001 Natural Remedies Dorling Kindersley, 2003
Priya Chauhan - A designer, topic editor and feature writer (for Hinduism) and all round experimenter of healthy living; Priya enjoys being creative, and ...
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