How nice would it be to be able to rub your hand against your forehead and feel smooth, spotless skin? You’ve probably been told that it is impossible for people with oily skin, because oily skin causes acne and you can’t have one without the other blah blah blah.
But if that’s true, it would mean that not a single celebrity has oily skin. What are the odds of that? That alone is proof that it is possible to have oily skin without acne, and now we want to make sure it happens for you.
You may not be a celebrity, but you definitely deserve smooth skin, oily or not. These skin care tips for acne and oily skin are simple to do, just how we like them.
Clean your Skin Twice Daily
When oil builds up on your skin, it clogs pores. When pores get clogged, they often get bacterial infections, leading to pimples, cysts and other nasties on your face, chest or arms. In order to minimize the chances of bacterial growth, clean your face every morning (which we usually do anyway), and every night, especially if you use makeup.
But when you clean, don’t scrub. In an effort to reach deep down to the dirt, we try to scrub our epidermis away. Not good. The strain frim scrubbing will either irritate your skin or trigger the production of excess oil as a rebalancing mechanism.
Use a gentle, foaming cleanser, with as few chemicals as possible. Some homemade recipes can be highly effective too. Try a small amount of a new product first, to see how your face responds to it.
No two oily conditions are the same, so no, it doesn’t mean your dermatologist is a quack if their recommendation doesn’t work. All it means is you need to try something else, like the next four tips.
Use Toners with Caution
Toners work great in theory – they clean the skin and make pores smaller (for short periods of time), thus reducing the chances of a breakout. They come in three main types, with astringents being the ones most often recommended for people with oily skin.
Astringents contain a high amount of alcohol and antiseptic ingredients. While these are known to reduce oiliness, they can also cause irritation. Their abrasive nature could strip parts of your skin and alter your skin chemistry.
That being said, the right toner can yield terrific results without destroying your skin. Do your research on every product you use on your face.
If you are to use astringents, apply them to the oily areas of your face. Not every part of your skin is oily, so do target the acne infected areas only.
Use Water Based Skincare Products
Oil based products will make your skin more susceptible to acne. We’ve probably figured as much, though it can be difficult to find water based skincare products (or maybe we just can’t be bothered), but they are highly recommended for people with acne and oily skin.
Sure, they might cost you a pretty penny, but you could also decide to use a homemade recipe. If you have to pay a little extra to get a quality product, it will be worth it in the end.
Purchase water-based facial gels, sunscreens, makeup and any other cosmetic you’ll leave on your skin for longer than an hour. Some of these products will be labelled ‘noncomedogenic’, which means they are formulated to prevent pore blockage.
You can find water-based skincare products for almost anything, including acne medications. Water based products feel lighter on the skin and the gel can also cool your skin, which is quite the relief from irritating acne.
If your dermatologist recommends a cream based topical acne treatment, you may want to see if it makes a difference before requesting a water based option.
Wash your Linens
For those of us with oily skin, we have to be a bit more compulsive when it comes to hygiene than those with normal and dry skin. Because of the generous oil secretions, our bed sheets, pillow cases and towels suffer a constant dosage of our oil secretions.
If you have acne and oily skin, it means the bacteria in the pores gets passed on to your sheets and towels, even when they don’t look dirty. So even after we have cleaned our skin, it can pick up the bacteria deposits on our towel and sheets, thus giving the illusion that our treatments are not working.
To prevent this, we need to change our sheets and towels more often than others.
The same goes for vests, bras or tops we wear often without washing. If you have acne on your chest or arms, you would need to change these too, so the vicious cycle does not persist.
Chew Wisely
Last but not least is our guilty pleasures. It is impossible to treat acne and oily skin without dealing with foods that cause it. It might be hard to say no to the nuts and fatty foods we love, but some sacrifices have to be made.
All you need really, is a bit of creativity with your meals. There are literally dozens of ways to have chicken without it being fried for example. Even if you have to fry some foods, choose the right oil for your skin.
Also, many people don’t know that excess sugar consumption can cause acne, due to an increase in the body’s insulin production. Eat more fruits, vegetables and fish.
To reduce inflammation, increase your intake of Omega 3s and drink your recommended amount of water. By replacing fizzy drinks with water, you are hydrating the skin and balancing your sugar levels.
Don’t Forget to Smile
There are many causes for acne besides oily skin. One of them is stress. By reducing stress and managing our hormones, we become less prone to acne. Exercise is a good way to clear pores and lower stress.
It is important to follow these tips on a daily basis and not to give up hope when they don’t seem to be working.
These skin care tips for acne and oily skin will get you the smooth skin you desire, and remember to keep up the good work even after your skin looks flawless.
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