Tips for Oily Skin Care

Oily skin is caused by the sebaceous glands producing too much oil and as a result your skin may frequently appear shiny. Some persons who have extremely oily skin may experience a greasy or sticky feeling for several hours after cleansing.

Characteristics of oily skin
- Large pores
- More prone to breakouts
- Clogged pores and blemishes

Advantages of oily skin (Yes, there are advantages)
- Signs of aging, including fine lines and wrinkles, take longer to appear
- The large percentage of oil on the skin's surface helps the upper layer retain water, therefore protecting the skin from dryness caused by the environment.

Cleansing - Step 1 in oily skin care
Avoid harsh soaps which destroy the natural pH balance in your skin. Use a beauty bar or a lathering gel two times per day to effectively clear away impurities from your pores and remove oily buildup. Wash with tepid or warm, not hot, water.

Masking - an essential oily skin care step
Masks provide an extra deep cleansing and will help to absorb excess oils; remove dead skin cells; and refine the texture of your skin. Masks also help to minimize the appearance of large pores.

Toner/Freshner - the extra cleansing step
This is an important step, especially after applying a mask as it acts like an extra rinse cycle to remove any residue left by the mask. It also improves the appearance of your skin.

Moisturizer - Hydration!
Many women feel, as I did several years ago, that if you have oily skin you do not need a moisturizer. This is incorrect! The key is to identify the type of moisturizer suitable for oily skin care. The correct moisturizer should provide hydration where needed, and condition dry areas, if any. This should be applied two times per day after cleansing.

For oil control during the day, keep a pack of beauty blotters (blotting sheets) on hand to blot off the shine but keep your makeup in place leaving your face shine-free.