5 Tips to Reduce Oiliness on Your Face That Actually Work.

Last Updated on April 2, 2024

Tired of your skin being a greasy mess? Here are 5 solutions that actually work to help you control and reduce oil production on your face.

As an oily skinned person, most of my skincare efforts are targeted on reducing oiliness on my face. As excess oil is the top cause of my breakouts and acne.

So after several years of trial and error as well as intensive research, I have finally found some ways to reduce excess oil on my face.

What Causes Your Face To Produce Extra Oil?

Th oily substance that makes our skin greasy is known as sebum. It is secreted by the sebaceous gland present in the dermis and helps protect our skin from irritants and moisture loss. 

The amount of sebum secreted is determined by our genetics. But there are other factors too that influence it.

1. Hormones– Having excess androgen hormones in your body can put your sebaceous glands in overdrive causing your skin to turn oily. 
2. Climatic Conditions: During summer or monsoon, your skin produces more oil as compared to winter. Also if you live in hotter climate, you skin is more likely to get oily.
3. Age: During teenage years, oil production is usually at the highest. And it gradually decreases as we start aging. 
4. Wrong skincare:  Using products that are drying in nature or skipping moisturizer can also make your skin greasier.

5 Strategies to Control Oil on Your Face

1. Add Oil Balancing Ingredients To Your Routine

Did you know there are certain ingredients that can actually reduce the amount of oil secreted by your face?

One such ingredient that control oil on face is Niacinamide. Niacinamide aka Vitamin B3 reduce size of enlarged pores which helps in reducing oiliness.

It also strengthens your skin’s barrier function thereby keeping acne at bay. If you are struggling with acne, incorporate a moisturizer of serum with Niacinamide in your daily routine.

Recommendations:

Earth Rhythm 10% Niacinamide Serum (Discount code: DEMURE20)

Greenie Mill Tea Tree and Niacinamide Serum

The excess levels of androgen are a key factor in making your skin oily. And green tea has catechins called EGCG that have an antiandrogenic effect.

So if your skin experiences excessive oiliness due to hormonal imbalances, it’s time to add green tea to your skincare.

Green tea is also a wonderful natural treatment for acne due to its powerful anti-inflammatory effects. So it will not just reduce oil secretion but also calm inflamed acne bumps.

Recommendations:

Earth Rhythm Green Tea Water

Tattvalogy Green Tea Hydrosol (Use code RUTUD10 for extra 10% off)

Greenie Mill Clary Sage and Green Tea Toner

2. Focus on Hydration

A lot of oil-control facewashes in the market can actually make things worse if you have oily skin. Because they usually contain harsh surfactants (like sulfates) or alcohol. 

These ingredients tend to strip away all the sebum from our skin leading to even more oiliness as your skin tries to compensate for the lost sebum.

Harsh ingredients like sulfates and alcohol can even weaken our skin’s barrier function leading to irritation and acne. So make sure your skincare products have humectants to keep your skin well-hydrated.

For cleansing, I really recommend using powder cleansers in the morning skincare routine. They are extremely hydrating and even help reduce dullness.

You can also make your own DIY powder cleanser or buy a readymade powder cleanser. ( I recommend either Neemoi or Green Tea Mint Cleanser)

For the evening routine, I am loving the Moms Co. Natural clay face wash. It is affordable, hydrating and helps remove excess oils as well. I even liked the Soultree Nutgrass Facewash which is another non-drying face wash for oily skin.

P.s Never ever skip a moisturizer just because your have oily. Apply a water-based moisturizer after cleansing to keep your hydrated.

Also Read: How to Pick the Right Moisturizer for Oily Skin

3. Try Astringents Toners

When we hear astringents, our mind straight goes to dehydrating alcohol-based toners that were popular during the early 2000s. But it’s 2020 now and we have some amazing natural astringents that help control oil on your face without drying it out.

Astringents help shrink your pores temporarily which reduces oil secretion by your sebaceous glands. This prevents your pores from clogging up and reduces breakouts and acne.

So it’s a great step to add your oily skin care routine after cleansing your face. Here are some natural astringents you can try out-

• Witch hazel (alcohol-free)
• Rose water
• Peppermint hydrosol (Discount code: DEMURE10)
• Lemon hydrosol
• Basil hydrosol

Toners for Oily Skin:

Conscious Chemist Porology Toner

Earth Rhythm Pore Away Tonique

Neemli Naturals Pore Refining Toner

4. Don’t Forget Clay Masking

Regular use of clay masks is the key to keeping oiliness in check. I like to think about masking as a biweekly deep cleansing ritual that unclogs your pores, improves blood circulation and draws out all impurities from the skin.

While a clay mask doesn’t reduce oil produced by your sebaceous glands, it helps mop up all the excess to prevent pores from clogging up. There are tons of options in the market but I  recommend either kaolin clay or Multani mitti as they are gentler. 

Here are some 3 easy homemade face masks for oily skin to inspire your creations. If you need something stronger, go with rhassoul, bentonite, or dead sea mud clay. 

Also Read: Skincare Villa Green Clay Mask Review

5. Cut Down on Junk Food.

Yes, we also need to alter our eating habits to control oil production on our face. As eating too many refined carbs may increase sebum production and acne. 

Such foods are high on sugar and spike your blood sugar levels. This causes your insulin levels to rise which in turn increases androgen levels in the body leading to more sebum production.

So cut down on the amount of refined, processed foods like desserts, white bread, chips etc. And make space for more whole foods. This won’t just affect your sebum levels but improve your overall health too. 

So go ahead and try this 5 tips to control oil on your face

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