Basic Skin Care for Oily Skin

Oily skin is sometimes hard to manage because you need to cleanse away oil that clogs skin, all while preventing shine and breakouts. If you have oily skin, here are a few tips to help moisturize without adding shine.

All skin has some oil on it, but oily skin seems to have more than necessary. While oil is good to have in a small amount, no one wants it to clog their skin, which may cause breakouts or rashes.

If you have oily skin, wash the face twice a day with a non-soap cleanser made for oily skin. It seems logical that by using a soap cleanser you can wash away the oil, but the opposite is true. By washing the face too hard or too much, it can prompt the face to make more oil to replenish it back to its usual state. Washing the face with a cleanser designed for oily skin allows the face to be cleansed, but without losing valuable moisture.

If you're prone to breakouts, try using a cleanser with salicylic acid, which calms inflamed skin and also cleans out pores to prevent acne. Salicylic acid can be drying though, so use it in moderation.

Depending on how your face feels after cleansing, you may or may not need a moisturizer. If your skin already feels soft and hydrated, you don't need to add moisturizer. If your face feels tight or dry, add an oil-free or non-pore clogging moisture cream to your face. Look for words like Oil-free or Non-comedogenic, which just mean non-pore-clogging.

After you cleanse your face, apply a mattifying gel or lotion. These products usually contain silica or clay to soak up excess oil. Clay masks are useful and cheap, and can rid the face of extra oil pretty efficiently. After applying the gel or lotion, use an oil-free sunscreen with a SPF of 15 or higher.

Look for oil free products in makeup as well. There are hidden oils in everything from foundation to pressed powder, so the best ways to avoid these are to look for any products that say "oil-free". Stay away from any products that use alcohol or witch hazel, because these over-dry the skin.

In the evenings, apply a retinoid lotion or serum to exfoliate, and if you don't need a moisturizer because your skin feels hydrated, you don't have to use it. Retinoid creams are derived from vitamin A, and they act to exfoliate, and then also promote collagen production. By using retinoid lotions, you can plump the skin, which in turn reduces wrinkles and sunspots and also firm skin. Retinoids however, make the skin thin and sensitive to sunlight, so they are best used at night, or before bed. If you choose to use Retinoids, try to avoid waxing or microdermabrasion, because the vitamin A found in Retinoid products can slow down the skin's healing abilities.

Always use protection on your skin, and prevent extra oil production with shine enhancing products. Look for makeup that is more matte than shimmer, because this can also cut down on the appearance of oily skin. Powders can usually soak up excess oil, but be careful of putting too many products on your face, because that can only lead to clogging of the pores, which in turn causes breakouts.

Oily skin can be manageable with the right products. Look for anything labeled 'Oil-free' and try not to cleanse the face too much with the thought of getting rid of excess oil. It isn't about the number of times you wash your face, but the products you use.