If I had a nickel for every eyebrow raised when I tell them they should use oil on their already oily skin, I’d have about .65 cents. I realize it sounds counterproductive but it’s often times the answer you’re seeking. Oily skin often results in blemishes and believe it or not, the right oils paired with other natural ingredients can actually work wonders on reducing the appearance of zits and even preventing them all together!
Here’s the deal-oily skin is often a result of the skin over producing oil due to the vicious cycle of using products that dry the skin out. The skin is an incredible thing! Dried out skin is unhealthy and your skin is smart enough to know this is not a good state to be in. Therefore, your skin will over produce oil and struggle in a state of imbalance. The excess oil can often cause clogging and typical products for blemished/oily skin are drying and so the cycle continues.
Balancing the skin is KEY. Balanced skin is happy skin. By giving your skin the message that it no longer needs to produce extra oil, it can come into a state of balance.
DIYs for Oily Skin
- Tamanu Clay Oil Cleanser
- Organic Oil Cleanser for Oily Skin
- DIY Skin Clearing Serum
- Essential Oil Roll On for Blemished Skin
- Acne Clearing Facial Moisturizer
- Activated Charcoal 3 in 1 Mask, Exfoliator and Cleanser
Where to Start:
- Look into Oil Cleansing. Cleansers are often the skin care product culprits when it comes to drying out the skin. Soap can be harsh and strip the skin of not only dirt but also oils. LIKE DISOLVES LIKE. Oils do a fabulous job loosening sebum. By cleansing with oil and heat, you stop the cycle of drying out your skin. The heat from a hot wash cloth opens and purges your pores. Learn all about oil cleansing and why it works HERE and HERE.
- Use a toner with anti inflammation ingredients. Try THIS one.
- Use a facial oil that is antioxidant-rich, which prevents the oxidation of the skin’s sebum, a big reason we get acne. Fatty acids called linoleic acid are also important. Studies have shown that the sebum of acne-prone individuals tends to be deficient in linoleic acid, and that topical application of linoleic acid can help reduce breakouts.
Carrier Oils for Oily Skin
Hazelnut oil is the perfect balancing oil for oily skin types. It also helps reduce pore size! It’s hydrating, gentle and rejuvenating. It has a high antioxidant content and is antibacterial. It is a quick absorbing oil.
Hemp Seed Oil rates a 0 on the comedogenic scale. It is excellent for sensitive skin and like hazelnut, it helps balance oily skin. Hemp is very healing and helps calm the redness and inflammation that come with blemishes. It contains 62% Linolenic Acid which is what makes this oil a powerful anti inflammatory and healer.
Tamanu Oil has the ability to gently dry out zits, regenerate cells and heal. It’s a very smelly oil but it’s a great one for blemished skin types.
Pumpkin Seed Oil is high linoleic acid and zinc, both proven to improve acne.
Grape Seed Oil is very high in linoleic acid as well as vitamin E.
Jojoba Oil actually mimics the skin’s own sebum, helping it to producing less oil.
**Essential oils I recommend for oily skin are tea tree, ylang ylang, lavender and frankincense.
Mountain Rose Herbs is the best place to find these oils, in my opinion. Many of them are organic , they are properly processed and high quality with ethical sourcing.
Remember, while blemishes suck-there’s no other way to slice or dice that, oily skin ages slower and heals faster! The moral of this story is that you should not be afraid of using the right kind of oils on your oily/blemished skin. Drying out the skin does not work in the long term and actually ages your skin and puts it in a state of stress.
For more tips on oily/blemished skin read THIS post. You might find it helpful!
xx, Jenni
