How to cleanse oily skin

The appearance of oily skin directly depends on the quality of skin care. But even expensive cream and regular masks will not help if you neglect the rules for cleansing this type of skin. Proper makeup removal and washing using suitable products is the basis for the beauty and health of oily skin. When the sebaceous glands are active, it is necessary to cleanse the face as thoroughly as possible, not forgetting about hygiene procedures both in the morning and in the evening.

Golden rules for cleansing oily skin

Oily skin can be recognized by an unsightly shine, enlarged pores, frequent inflammation, pimples, and blackheads. If you keep her condition normal with the help of comprehensive care, it is easy to forget about such unpleasant phenomena. Oily skin will turn matte and radiant with freshness if you follow the recommendations of cosmetologists. Instead of problems with appearance, with a reasonable approach, you can turn increased production of sebaceous glands into an advantage. After all, skin prone to oiliness later becomes covered with wrinkles.

When cleansing oily skin, you need to remember that you need to remove dirt and makeup residues in the morning and before bed. For the morning procedure, it is not necessary to use special products - gels, foams. Simply wash off the night cream and take care of toning the skin. In the evening, you can devote the available time to deeper cleansing using suitable products, sponges, and facial brushes. This scheme works because before going to bed you also need to remove decorative cosmetics from your skin. In the morning this task is not worth it.

Gel products will help keep oily skin clear in the summer. They slightly dry out acne, remove shine, reduce inflammation, and mattify. With the arrival of autumn, it is better to abandon antibacterial gels. To prevent the skin from flaking, in the cold season it should be replaced with a gentle foam. It penetrates deeply into pores and carefully removes impurities. Store-bought cleansers can be replaced with homemade ones. Caring for oily skin will complement facial cleansing with sour milk and a decoction of oatmeal.

The cleansing procedure must be completed using a tonic. This product soothes the skin and prepares it for the next stage of care. For enlarged pores, it can be replaced with cucumber juice or lemon juice greatly diluted with water. Regular washing with milk without any additives will help reduce pores. And inflammation can be treated with tea tree oil and salicylic acid solution.

To remove excess sebum during the day, you can use mattifying wipes. But they should not be used constantly. These products are only suitable for emergency situations.

The biggest mistakes in cleansing oily skin

Common mistakes in cleansing not only oily skin, but also other types of skin are:

1. Using soap when washing. You cannot remove dirt with simple cosmetic soap. The foam it produces dries the skin, causing dehydration and flaking. The alkali contained in the product destroys lipids and also deprives the skin of its natural protection. Therefore, with constant washing with soap, the skin deteriorates, ages faster, and becomes dull.
2. Washing with tap water. No less dangerous for oily skin is using tap water during the cleansing process. Any makeup remover must be washed off with liquid; ordinary tap water is not suitable for this purpose. It contains chlorine and other heavy impurities that negatively affect the skin. You need to cleanse your face only using filtered, boiled water. And under no circumstances should you wash your face with hot water!
3. Long-lasting application of makeup remover. There is often a myth in skin cleansing that the skin will look flawless if you hold the gel or foam or makeup remover milk for 5-10 minutes. But cleansing products are not designed to last long. They only need to be applied for 10 seconds and then washed off with plenty of water.
4. Use of alcohol lotions and tonics. Caring for oily skin should avoid the use of products containing alcohol. Although in the recent past it was believed that alcohol lotions help control the production of sebaceous secretions and prevent the appearance of rashes, these cosmetics greatly dry out the skin. Therefore, after using them, oily shine appears even faster.

What else you need to know about caring for oily skin

To make oily skin look well-groomed, do not neglect additional cleansers. These include a variety of scrubs and peels, masks. You can cook them yourself. So, you can exfoliate dead cells and regulate the production of sebaceous glands with scrubs made from coffee, crushed raspberry, and apricot kernels.

Mattifying masks include products based on cosmetic clay, healing mud, and other antibacterial agents. It is enough to use them only 2-3 times a week. But caring for oily skin should also include the use of moisturizing masks - at least once a week.

The following homemade masks will help make oily skin matte:

1. Protein mixture. Beat the egg white into a strong foam, pour half a teaspoon of lemon juice into it. Apply to face with a brush, remove with cool water after 15 minutes. A mask with protein eliminates shine and tightens pores.
2. Yogurt mask. Whisk 2 teaspoons plain Greek yogurt with 1.5 teaspoons honey. Add half a teaspoon of lemon juice. Distribute the mixture with massaging movements onto the skin, remove after 20 minutes.
3. Calendula remedy. Pour 100 ml of boiling water over a tablespoon of crushed plant flowers and cool. Soak gauze or a napkin in the liquid, place it on your face for 15 minutes, then simply wipe your skin with a dry towel.
4. Clay mask. Combine a tablespoon of white clay and corn flour, mix with egg white, half a teaspoon of lemon juice. The mixture should have the consistency of sour cream; if necessary, you can add a little water. Apply the composition for 15 minutes, remove with cool water.

Take the test

The facial cleansing procedure is used to remove whiteheads, sebum accumulations, blackheads (comedones), and dead cells. Cleaning is contraindicated for inflamed acne, boils, eczema and other skin diseases.

Before you start cleansing your face, it is recommended to take a steam bath, hot compress or paraffin mask. After any of these warming procedures, the pores of the skin expand and the ducts of the sebaceous glands open. In addition, surface dead cells are softened and blood supply to the skin improves.

At the end of the warming procedure, the face is wiped with 3% hydrogen peroxide and the actual facial cleansing begins.

Cleansing oily facial skin is done in several ways.

First way

1. Wash your hands thoroughly and wipe them with alcohol or cologne.

2. Using index fingers wrapped in sterile gauze pads, squeeze the walls of the sebaceous glands and squeeze out the sebaceous plugs from the excretory ducts. Comedones on the nose, forehead and chin are easily squeezed out.

3. If the plug covering the outlet hole is not squeezed out, it is expanded with a blunt needle. For this, an injection needle is used, disinfected in alcohol. Its wide end - the base with which the needle is put on the syringe - is positioned perpendicular to the surface of the skin so that the comedone falls into the middle of the needle hole. After this, just lightly press the needle, and the sebaceous core is squeezed out without pain.

During cleansing, the face must be periodically wiped with 3% hydrogen peroxide, which loosens and removes scales and also disinfects the skin. Alcohol and alcohol tinctures are not recommended, as they narrow pores, dry out the skin and thereby make cleaning difficult.

"If there are a lot of comedones, do not try to remove them all at once. It is better to do this in several steps, after 1-2 days."

When removing white dots - “gray marks” - you must first carry out a warming procedure, and then wipe the skin with alcohol or lotion. Next, soak a sharp needle in alcohol and puncture the skin in the epidermis parallel to the surface of the face (a vertical puncture can deeply injure the skin). The “millet” is easily removed through a puncture. The place from which it was removed is disinfected with alcohol.

If you are very injured the skin, cauterize the puncture site with 2 percent iodine tincture.

It is recommended to remove blackheads with a special cosmetic spoon, moving it along the massage lines of the face with light pressure. At the same time, the sebaceous glands are cleansed and blackheads disappear. After cleaning, wipe with 2% salicylic alcohol. Then apply a tightening mask.

You can clear your skin of blackheads using shaving cream. The whipped foam is thoroughly applied to those areas of the skin where there are blackheads. You need to soap for a long time so that the foam has time to penetrate into all the pores.

After the foam has dried, use your fingertips moistened with hot water to thoroughly rub the foam into the skin. Then take a wooden or bone knife for cutting papers and, wrapping it in a thin layer of cotton wool or gauze, press it tightly to the skin. In this way, you can remove all the foam from your face, along with the fat secretions.

Finally, rinse off the foam with hot water diluted in half with lotion, adding a pinch of soda or borax (if the skin is not irritated).

Second way

1. Add 3 percent hydrogen peroxide to 1 teaspoon of shaving soap and whip up the soap foam.

2. Apply foam to the appropriate areas of the skin. Then apply “Extra” salt to the soap foam using a cotton swab or sponge in a circular motion along the massage lines. Leave the salt soap suds until dry, and then rinse with hot water. Finally, rinse your face with cold water.

Third way

Use once a week for oily skin with comedones.

1. Take a 10-minute steam bath.

2. Rub soap foam (from soap cream or cosmetic soap) on the skin for 1 minute.

3. Wash your face with hot water.

4. Take a second steam bath for 5 minutes and wipe your face with a swab soaked in 5 percent hydrogen peroxide for 1-2 minutes.

5. Take a 5-minute steam bath again (preferably with herbs).

6. Rinse your face with cold water and wipe with a cotton swab soaked in a mixture of vinegar and water (1 part vinegar to 1 part water) to tighten the cleansed skin pores.

Many of us know that oily skin ages much slower than dry skin, but everyone dreams of getting rid of this problem. A greasy shine, the appearance of comedones and purulent pimples, enlarged pores, a grayish complexion, blurry makeup - these signs of this type of skin are familiar to many and cause a lot of anxiety, worry and inconvenience. Not only girls and boys going through puberty, but also people of more mature age can face this problem. And 10% of teenagers with oily skin remain oily even after 30 years.

What can you do to ensure that your skin is healthy, beautiful, clean, matte and well-groomed? You will get the answer to this question, which is important for many people with oily skin, in this article. In it we will introduce you to the causes of oily skin, principles of skin care and treatment. Using our tips, you will be able to look at your reflection in the mirror with pleasure and forget about the oily sheen that bothers you and many other problems characteristic of this skin type.

Why does skin become oily?

The main cause of increased oily skin is excessive activity of the sebaceous glands. Excessive production of sebum leads to the formation of an oily film on the face, clogging of the sebaceous glands with plugs (comedones), the appearance of a rash and deterioration of the complexion.

Why do the sebaceous glands begin to produce too much sebum? There are many reasons for their activation. Here are the main ones.

1. Excess testosterone. This most common cause of oily skin is most typical during adolescence, when powerful hormonal changes begin in the body. In most cases, by the age of 25, testosterone levels normalize and the problem resolves on its own. Hormonal imbalance can occur in women during different phases of the menstrual cycle or during pregnancy.
2. Hereditary predisposition. This reason is due to the peculiarities of hormonal levels and the functioning of the nervous system, and it cannot be eliminated. In such cases, owners of oily skin have to master the features of daily care for this type of skin.
3. Poor nutrition (fast food, fatty, sweet and salty dishes, excess preservatives, etc.). This cause of oily skin is due to dysfunction of many systems and organs, and you can only get rid of it by reviewing your diet.
4. Frequent stress or depression. This cause of oily skin is due to a disruption in the functioning of the nervous system. You can get rid of it by changing your attitude towards problems that arise, having a positive attitude towards life, or treating nervous disorders.
5. Disturbance in the functioning of internal organs: thyroid gland, intestines, stomach, pancreas, etc. Many of the diseases of the internal organs lead to metabolic disorders or hormonal imbalances, and the sebaceous glands begin to work in increased mode. To get rid of this cause, it is necessary to undergo a course of treatment for the underlying disease.
6. Frequent use of cleansers alcohol-based products. Under the influence of alcohol-containing tonics and lotions, the epidermis is actively dehydrated, and in response to this, the sebaceous glands begin to produce more sebum. To get rid of this reason, it is often enough to choose the right skin care products.
7. Frequent peelings. Facial cleansing using mechanical or chemical peels always gives noticeable and tangible results, and “in the pursuit of perfection” many begin to abuse these procedures. Constant microtrauma and inflammation of the epidermis that accompany the process of skin resurfacing lead to excessive production of sebum. You can get rid of this reason only by changing your attitude towards the need for peelings and performing them in a more “gentle” mode.

In some cases, excess oily skin can be caused by more than one reason.

Signs of oily skin

Oily skin type can be determined by the following signs:

1. an hour or two after washing, a greasy film appears on the skin;
2. oily shine (usually in the area of ​​the nose, forehead or chin);
3. frequent appearance of areas of inflammation or rashes;
4. enlarged pores (especially in the T-zone);
5. periodic peeling of the skin;
6. black and white comedones;
7. the presence of hyperpigmentation from rashes;
8. the appearance of scars and post-acne;
9. smudging makeup.

How to properly care for oily skin?

Oily skin needs special care, and its appearance will largely depend on its correctness and regularity. Caring procedures must be supplemented by compliance with the following recommendations:

1. diet: exclude spicy, sweet, fatty, spicy and too salty foods, alcoholic drinks, coffee and chocolate from the diet;
2. prevention of stress: excessive stimulation of the nervous system leads to more active work of the sebaceous glands, if necessary, sedatives should be taken;
3. frequent replacement of the pillowcase: it is better to change this piece of bed linen daily, since bacteria accumulating on it can cause inflammation of the skin and the appearance of acne;
4. no touching your face with your hands during the day: touching your skin with dirty hands increases the likelihood of inflammation and acne;
5. respect for the skin: do not squeeze out pimples and comedones yourself; such procedures should only be performed by a specialist, since if performed incorrectly, they can lead to infection and more severe complications (including sepsis);
6. mandatory makeup removal before bed: a layer of decorative cosmetics interferes with the normal functioning of the skin, clogs pores and leads to the appearance of acne and areas of inflammation.

Cleansing

If you have oily skin, you should cleanse your face 2-3 times a day. For this procedure, it is advisable to use slightly warm water and special cleansers: gels or foams for this skin type. It is not recommended to use antibacterial soap for cleansing, as it dries out the upper layers of the epidermis, activates the activity of the sebaceous glands and can provoke the appearance of inflammatory reactions.

If you have oily skin, you should completely avoid washing your face with hot or too warm water, as its high temperature will lead to increased activity of the sebaceous glands. Constantly using only warm water is also not recommended, as this causes skin atony and constant enlargement of pores. To avoid such consequences, rinsing your face with cool water after washing with a cleanser will help.

To wash with gel or foam, you can use a special brush or sponge for the face, which provides deeper cleansing of sebum from the pores. The cleanser is applied to damp skin, and gentle massaging movements are performed with a brush or sponge for 2-3 minutes. After this, the face is rinsed with water and blotted with a towel.

Toning and antiseptics

After cleansing the skin, apply a toner or lotion for oily skin containing zinc oxide and salicylic acid. For daily care, you should choose products that do not contain alcohol. Alcohol-containing products should be used only if there are inflammatory elements and pustules on the skin. To treat such problem areas, you can use tea tree oil, which has a strong antiseptic and wound-healing effect.

Peelings

For oily facial skin, it is recommended to exfoliate 1-2 times a week, which exfoliates dead skin cells and prevents clogging of pores. For this procedure, you can use ready-made cosmetics (scrubs and peels) for oily skin or products that were prepared at home.

Application of creams and gels

Oily skin, like any other, needs additional hydration and nutrition. This is why you should not refuse to use creams. They must be chosen taking into account the needs of this skin type: they should not contain a large amount of fat. To care for oily skin, you should use only light, non-greasy creams or special hydrogels. Their composition should include fatty acids, antiseptic and astringent extracts (birch, tea tree, witch hazel, eucalyptus, cedar, pine, etc.). Creams or hydrogels can be applied 1-2 times a day (morning and evening).

When choosing cosmetics to care for this type of skin, you should pay attention to products labeled “non-comedogenic.” Various dyes, thickeners and moisturizers can be comedogenic, i.e., clog pores, for oily skin. In some cases, this tendency to block the lumen of the sebaceous glands may be individual, and you will have to choose care products using a selection method.

Steam baths

People with oily skin are recommended to take steam baths 2-3 times a month. For this procedure, you should use decoctions of herbs (chamomile, sage, calendula, yarrow) or collections from them. Steam baths are best done before bed and only after thoroughly cleansing the skin. Such procedures improve blood circulation, cleanse pores and eliminate black and whiteheads (comedones).

Face masks

For more complete care for oily skin, it is recommended to make masks 2-3 times a week. Such procedures eliminate and prevent inflammation of the skin, dry it, deeply cleanse the pores, make them narrower and improve complexion. For masks, you can use ready-made cosmetics or healing compositions prepared at home.

Any mask is applied only to well-cleaned skin and removed according to the instructions. With such procedures, the duration of applications must also be observed.

Sunscreens

Oily facial skin needs protection from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays. Sunscreens for this skin type should not contain comedogenic ingredients or fragrances. Preference should be given to those products that were created for sensitive skin. Such creams are softer and do not clog pores.

For daily use, you need to choose products with SPF 15-30. When visiting the beach, pool or park - with an SPF of more than 30. The application of such products replaces the use of moisturizing creams or hydrogels. If necessary, sunscreens are reapplied to the skin (for example, after contact with water or at certain intervals).

Anti-aging creams

Many anti-aging creams are too heavy for oily skin because they contain comedogenic substances. For this skin type, it is better to use anti-aging gels or serums that have a lighter texture. Such anti-aging products should include anti-radicals and sunscreen components.

What care products for oily skin can you prepare yourself?

To solve many problems associated with oily facial skin, products that can be prepared at home help perfectly. For their production, medicinal herbs, food, essential and natural oils are used. When using such homemade cosmetics, be sure to ensure that there is no allergic reaction to the components.

There are many recipes for preparing oily skin care products. In this article we will describe some of them.

Soap based on white or blue clay

Grind 100 g of baby soap and place in an enamel bowl, add ½ cup of herbal decoction (chamomile, sage, calendula and oregano) and melt the resulting mixture over low heat, stirring constantly. Add 5 drops of tea tree oil, 2.5 ml of grape seed oil and a heaped teaspoon of white or blue clay to the soap base. If desired, you can add juice from ¼ lemon to this recipe. Mix all ingredients thoroughly and pour into a mold (for example, a small glass jar). After cooling, use for washing.

Oatmeal soap

Grind 100 g of baby soap and place in an enamel bowl, add ½ cup of herbal decoction (chamomile, sage, calendula and oregano) and melt the resulting mixture over low heat, stirring constantly. To the soap base, add a tablespoon of oatmeal ground in a coffee grinder, ½ teaspoon each of lemon juice and almond oil, 5 drops each of rosemary and mint essential oils. Mix all ingredients thoroughly and cool in the mold.

Sea salt and lemon juice scrub

Mix lemon juice and chopped sea salt in equal proportions. Rub the resulting mixture onto your cleansed face with massage movements for 1-2 minutes. Rinse off with cool water.

Scrub made from honey, wheat bran and lemon juice

Melt 2 tablespoons of honey in a water bath and add 1-2 tablespoons of lemon juice and a tablespoon of wheat bran to it. Mix thoroughly, cool to a comfortable temperature and apply to face. Massage the skin for several minutes and rinse with warm water.

Toner with apple cider vinegar and essential oil

Mix 2/3 cup of witch hazel or chamomile decoction with 1/3 cup of apple cider vinegar and add 5 drops of essential oil (lavender, tea tree, eucalyptus or juniper) to the resulting solution. Pour the tonic into a sterilized glass container, close the lid and shake several times. Be sure to shake the tonic before applying to the skin.

Tonic of mint, calendula and lemon juice

Pour boiling water over a mint tea bag and let steep for about 10-15 minutes. Prepare a decoction of calendula. Pour mint infusion into a sterilized glass container, add 2 teaspoons of calendula decoction and a tablespoon of lemon juice. Close the container with a lid and mix thoroughly. Store tonic in the refrigerator.

Cream jelly made from honey, glycerin and salicylic acid

Soak 6 g of gelatin in ½ cup of warm water and add 50 g of honey, 1 g of salicylic acid and 80 g of glycerin to the resulting mass. Place the bowl with the future cream in a water bath and keep it, stirring constantly, until all the ingredients are completely dissolved. If desired, you can add a few drops of essential oil (cedar, rosemary or lemon) to the cream for fragrance. Beat the cream, pour into a sterilized glass container and close with a lid. Store in the refrigerator for no more than 7 days.

Cream based on oils and beeswax

To prepare the cream, you can take various base oils:

1. apricot kernel oil – for severe peeling of the skin;
2. olive oil – if there are areas of redness;
3. grape seed oil – in the presence of comedones, acne and areas of inflammation;
4. wheat germ oil – for wrinkled problem skin.

Essential oils are also selected depending on the characteristics of the facial skin:

1. bergamot, lemon, cypress, geranium, eucalyptus, tea tree or juniper oils - in the presence of comedones, acne and areas of inflammation;
2. lavender, chamomile, neroli or lemon balm oils - for itching and flaking of the skin;
3. mala cedar, jasmine or sandalwood - for wrinkled skin.

Melt 15 g of beeswax in a water bath and mix it with 50 ml of base oil. Cool the mixture to room temperature and add 5 drops of essential oil to it. Beat the cream, pour into a sterilized glass container and close with a lid. Store in the refrigerator for no more than 7 days. Shake before application.

White clay and pineapple juice mask

Mix 2 tablespoons of white clay with a tablespoon of pineapple juice. Add another spoonful of juice and mix until smooth. Place the mask in the refrigerator for 5 minutes. Apply to cleansed skin. After 15 minutes, rinse with cool water. Make the mask 2-3 times a week. Pineapple juice can be replaced with lemon juice.

Vitamin mask made from grapefruit juice and oatmeal

Grind a tablespoon of oatmeal in a coffee grinder and mix it with ¼ cup of fresh grapefruit juice. Apply to cleansed skin. After 15 minutes, rinse off first with warm and then cool water. Make the mask 2-3 times a week.

What salon treatments are good for oily skin?

Many salon procedures help suppress the activity of the sebaceous glands, cleanse and tighten pores, remove age spots and acne scars, and improve skin color. They are selected individually for each client, and their choice depends on many indications, contraindications and skin characteristics.

In the salon, those with oily skin may be offered the following procedures:

1. Ultrasonic facial cleansing. This gentle procedure allows you to cleanse the skin of the stratum corneum of the epidermis and even out the tone and texture of the skin.
2. Vacuum peeling. This surface resurfacing procedure allows you to even out skin texture, remove comedones and excess sebum, eliminate fine wrinkles and improve blood circulation.
3. Biocybernetic therapy. This procedure normalizes the activity of the sebaceous glands, accelerates the removal of harmful substances, improves local metabolism in skin cells and accelerates its recovery processes.
4. Darsonvalization. Exposure to pulsed alternating currents improves blood microcirculation, narrows pores, suppresses the activity of the sebaceous glands, relieves inflammation, evens out skin color and eliminates compactions and hyperpigmented spots on the face.
5. Mesotherapy. This procedure allows you to deliver medicinal substances, vitamins and minerals into the deep layers of the skin. If necessary, can be used only on problem areas of the face.
6. LPG facial massage. This procedure is performed to eliminate enlarged pores, swelling, infiltrates and hematomas after acne, scars and post-acne, normalize the activity of the sebaceous glands and improve skin tone.
7. Laser resurfacing. This procedure allows you to get rid of increased activity of the sebaceous glands, eliminates areas of hyperpigmentation after acne, scars, post-acne and significantly improves complexion.
8. Microcrystalline dermabrasion. This procedure opens the pores of the sebaceous glands, removes the top layer of dead skin, evens out the complexion and gets rid of scarring, hyperpigmentation from acne and post-acne.
9. Superficial chemical peeling. To perform such procedures, non-toxic alpha hydroxy acids can be used: glycolic, tartaric, lactic, malic, trichloroacetic, mandelic and salicylic. Such peels can suppress the activity of the sebaceous glands, tighten pores, prevent the appearance of acne and improve complexion.
10. Medium chemical peeling. To perform such procedures, Pro Anthox methods are used (peeling using a composition of 5% TCA and 10% glycolic acid) or Yellow peel (peeling using a composition of retinoic, azelaic, phytic, ascorbic and kojic acids). Such procedures allow you to get rid of deeper skin defects: hyperpigmentation after acne, post-acne, scars and wrinkles.

Salons can also offer complex individual care services for oily skin using professional lines of cosmetics. Such cosmetics not only allow you to achieve a temporary aesthetic result, but also have an effective therapeutic effect. Their prescription should only be carried out by dermatologists or cosmetologists.

The most popular lines of professional cosmetics for oily skin care are the following brands:

1. Dermalogica;
2. Natura Bisse;
3. GIGI Cosmetic Labs;
4. Comodex;
5. Dermo Control;
6. A-NOX;
7. ONmacabim et al.

In what cases is treatment necessary for oily skin?

Proper and regular care for oily facial skin in many cases helps to cope with the unpleasant manifestations of this skin type, but for some diseases of the internal organs it gives only temporary results.

To eliminate such problems, it is necessary to undergo a series of diagnostic examinations that will identify the cause of excessive activity of the sebaceous glands. To do this, you need to seek advice from the following specialists:

After analyzing all the data from the diagnostic examination, the doctor will prescribe a course of treatment that will not only get rid of the underlying disease, but will also significantly affect the condition of the skin. And proper and comprehensive care for oily skin in such cases will be an effective addition to the therapy prescribed by a specialist.

To learn how to care for oily skin and tighten pores, watch the video magazine “The Expert Speaks.”