Every skin type has its own needs and should be taken care of in a different way. Each skin type is beautiful. We only need to take a little extra precaution while determining our skin type and its requirements accordingly. Oily skin is a common skin type, and most teenagers deal with it during and even after puberty. It gets irksome to deal with that stubborn oil on your face that spoils makeup and makes skin look greasy and tired all the time.
To overcome this problem, here are eight simple habits that work magically if you have a difficult time dealing with your oily skin.
1. Wash your face with chickpea flour
If you’ve tried all the face cleansers on the supermarket shelf, with the label “specially designed for oily skin,” and only got more breakouts, or say, no results, then try this one out. Forget your old skincare regime and get natural this time. Use chickpea flour in place of your chemical-based, ultra-drying, and not-so-promising facial cleanser. Just wet your face, take some chickpea flour on your palm, mix few drops of water only to make a thick paste for smooth application, and softly rub all over your face and rinse off. You can apply aloe vera gel or any of your face serums afterward.
Chickpea flour can absorb the excess oil from the skin without making the skin devoid of natural oils. Wash your face twice a day, and you’ll see the difference in no time.
2. Replace your regular scrub with orange peel powder
Exfoliation is essential for every skin type, but when it comes to oily skin, exfoliation becomes a necessity due to the increased sebum production leading to clogging of pores. If you are reading this by now, you must have tried almost everything in your reach to get rid of oily skin. This time, try using something easily available at home. Dry out some orange peels and grind them to get orange peel powder. Use this to exfoliate your skin thrice a week. Take some of it on your palm, mix with water (it’ll be a coarse paste), and scrub your face gently(don’t be too harsh).
3. Rub an ice cube every morning
This might sound weird to some, but it works. Take an ice cube, wrap it up in a clean, cotton cloth, and apply it all over your face gently while applying a little pressure over your cheeks, jawline, and forehead. It not only depuffs your morning face but also helps to get rid of dirt and oil trapped under the skin. It leaves a relaxed feeling all over the face and improves the texture of the skin. You can even apply aloe vera gel before using an ice cube. Never use an ice cube directly on your face, wrap and use it, always.
4. Apply diluted lemon juice
Lemons are an excellent source of antioxidants. They have the property of drying out, hence take some lemon juice in a bowl and dilute it with water(dilute it in 1:2). Next, soak a cotton ball and apply it over your face. It can cause slight irritation at first but will slow down gradually. In case it causes continuous irritation, wash your face with plenty of water and face cleanser. Lemon juice, when applied to the skin, can change its pH level. It can also increase skin sensitivity, and therefore it is necessary to do a patch test beforehand. Do this only once or twice a week. If it doesn’t suit you, discontinue use.
5. Use clay masks
Clay masks are best suited to oily skin. They absorb all the excess oil from the skin making it less greasy and smooth. You can either use a readymade face mask or make one at home with Fuller’s earth, also known as Multani mitti and rosewater. Just leave it for 10-15 minutes and rinse it off with cold water. Even oily skin requires moisturization, so don’t forget to moisturize afterward!
6. Drink lemon honey water on an empty stomach
This is something that most weight-watchers add to their morning schedules. When taken with warm water on an empty stomach, Lemon and honey flush out toxins from the body and add glow to your skin. Little do we know that this ordinary drink can do wonders for oily skin too. Try introducing this new habit to your morning regime to pump up your mornings with energy. Lemon removes the excess oil, while honey provides natural moisturization to the skin.
7. Drink lukewarm water
If you are constantly worried about your oily skin and are ready to do anything for it, this one’s for you. Coldwater is a strict no-no for everyone. Try switching from regular water to lukewarm water to reduce the oil under your skin since warm water has drying effects on the skin. Warm water also increases the body temperature and blood flow, removing toxins from the body, but it gets challenging to drink it during summers when it’s boiling outside. Remember not to drink very warm water as it isn’t good for your health, and if warm water isn’t your thing, don’t go for it.
8. Drink green tea
Green tea is full of antioxidants, and as mentioned above, if taken hot, it too has drying effects on your skin. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties that help in preventing breakouts. Researches have shown that if taken regularly, it can improve oily and acne-prone skin. You can even make a green tea face pack and apply it twice a week to get soft, clean, and bright skin. A green tea toner is also effective for oily skin.
All these tips are easy and simple to add to your daily routine. These look ordinary but, once followed, can have miraculous effects on oily skin. One thing worth noticing is if something doesn’t suit you, don’t compel yourself to follow that as every skin is unique and beautiful.
Edited by Prakriti Arora
