Tejumade Nwafor: Quick Beauty Fixes for Your Oily Skin

“Dear God, why do I have an oily skin?”

Do you ask yourself this question every time you pick up your compact or look in a mirror? Well, let’s help bring some solace to you, dear ‘oily faced beauty’.

Your challenge lies in the fact that an oily skin produces more sebum than it needs. Sebum is great for protecting the skin as it contains antiseptic properties and protects the skin from becoming dry. As a result, oily skin tends to be less prone to wrinkles and more prone to acne and blackheads as the pores become easily blocked.

Using harsh cleansers and astringent toners containing high percentage of alcohol makes the situation worse as the skin produces more sebum in response. So, beware of cleansers that give a tingling or prickly sensation when applied. It may feel good at first but in the long run, you will find that all you achieve is getting your sebaceous gland go into hyper drive.

Instead, try out a simple two-step home remedy to get the best out of your skin. Cleanse and moisturize. Yes, you read right. All skin types need moisture to keep it supple and youthful. Read on to find out the best moistening remedies that won’t hurt your purse or clog up your skin.

Cleanser and toner for an oily skin

Lemon is an oily skin’s best friend. You can squeeze fresh lemon juice into the palm of your hand and apply to your face few minutes prior to shower. The enzymes contained in lemon juice will remove all your dead skin cells so that any cleansing you do after that will effectively remove all impurities, including bacteria, from your pores. If you want to exfoliate at the same time, add 1/4 tsp salt for a zingy cleanse.

Hydrosol of Roman Chamomile, Chamaemeleum nobile, is extremely astringent, and therefore very effective on oily skin types and skins that suffer from acne. A hydrosol is the distillate produced as part of the steam distillation process to extract an essential oil. It contains the same properties as the essential oil but in a gentler form that can be applied neatly to the skin. It is also the best three-in-one product around, acting as an effective makeup remover, toner and cleanser. Spritz liberally on your face to remove make-up, wipe off to cleanse and spritz again to tone.

Best moisturizer for an oily skin

The best moisturizer for an oily skin is a serum. A serum nourishes and protects without leaving oily residue, making it perfect for oily skin types. You can make a serum easily at home using 3 drops of essential oils that help regulate sebum production combined with 15 ml of carrier oils that are highly absorbent and leave no greasy residue.

The following are essential and carrier oils that are great for regulating sebum production and removing bacteria while at the same time nourishing and protecting:

Essential oil of atlas cedarwood, Cedrus atlantica, is the ultimate essential oil for oily skin. It is astringent (meaning it tightens the pores), bactericidal and balancing, making it great for oily skin and acne.

Essential oil of geranium, Perlagonium graveolens, is astringent, healing and antiseptic on the skin, very balancing and good for cleansing and toning.

Essential oil of grapefruit, Citrus paradise, is antiseptic, astringent and a good disinfectant. It is good for oily, congested skin and great for acne.

Essential oil of lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, is antiseptic, bactericidal, healing and calming. It works well for all skin conditions including acne.

Essential oil of sandalwood, Santalum album, is antiseptic, astringent and softening on the skin. It is good for oily skin and soothing for acne.

Essential oil of cypress, Cupressus sempervirens, is antiseptic, healing and astringent on the skin. It is great for acne and oily skin.

Carrier oil, jojoba Simmonsia sinensis, controls the accumulation of excessive sebum and reportedly prevents its build up. It is balancing to the acid mantle of the skin and therefore can be used on all skin types, including oily skin. It contains proteins and minerals as well as a waxy substance that mimics collagen (with a molecular structure similar to sebum). Jojoba is superb for oily skin and acne.

Carrier oil of apricot, Prunus armeniaca, is easily absorbed and hence great for all skin types, literally acting as an efficient ‘carrier’ for the essential oils to permeate the skin barrier. It is softening and nourishing and great for protecting the skin without leaving a greasy feeling.

When you have made your blend, massage into face, neck and décolletage daily, morning and evening in gentle upward motions. Apply while the hydrosol is still wet to create a ‘cream’ (since most cosmetic lotions are a mix of oil and water anyway).

DIY facial for oily skin – Steam treatments and clay masks

An oily skin benefits from a steam treatment two to three times per week. Add 3 drops of any of the essential oils above to a bowl of steaming water. Cover head with a towel and inhale for at least three minutes.

Follow with a highly beneficial clay or mud mask that can help deep-cleanse the pores and remove impurities from oily skin. Apply a good quality clay mask and leave on until you feel a ‘tightening’ sensation. Remove gently with warm water, follow with Roman Chamomile toner and application of the serum. And you are good to go!

Photo credit: webmd

Tejumade Nwafor is the CEO of Brushstrokes Makeovers. Visit her website at www.brushstrokesng.com. IG – brushstrokesng