How to Get Rid of Oily Skin in 2023 – Using Only the Best Treatments & Homemade Remedies

It’s hereditary… Enter here: sad face. There’s not much to say about this except for, make a note to self: thank Mom and Dad later – not.

Hormone levels are directly responsible for overactive sebaceous glands. When androgen levels change or increase, you’re more likely to see an outbreak of pimples, white heads, blackheads, or full-blown acne because of the excess oil production. Stress, pregnancy, peri-menopause, and pre-menopause can trigger hormone androgens.

This includes overuse and unnecessary use. Sometimes the glands get the signal to produce more oil because you’re inadvertently stoking the fire and telling them to. The good news is you’ll learn right here how to utilize products correctly and which ones need to go straight into the trash bin.

When you’re under stress and pressure, all sorts of hormone levels are affected, but in particular, androgen. When these levels are on the rise, in both men and women, it causes more oil production. But, we will take a look at lifestyle changes later in this guide to help reduce androgen levels by reducing stress and triggers.

If I had a comic strip for this, it would be something like this…

You: Oh, I look like I’ve been kissed by the sun…
Skin: I’m melting, I’m drying out, I’m shriveling up inside…
Sebaceous Glands: Attention! Injury has been sustained. You’re all working overtime for the next decade until this surface is as shiny and smooth as a baby’s bottom!
Bottom line: tanning in the sun – bad. But, you don’t have to give up that gorgeous, sun-kissed look. Instead, use a quality tanning lotion that uses olive tones as a base, not orange, and you’ll get that youthful vibrancy you’re after without harming your sensitive skin cells.

Sometimes it’s not just an oily T-zone because you got the wrong gene. Lack of or frequently interrupted sleep, a sedentary lifestyle, and poor diet void of nutrition can be a big reason your skin is suffering. At this point, the excess oil is just a symptom and a signal that some healthy changes need to be made.

That’s right, even the sun gets to have a say in how shiny your T-zone is going to be for the day – or the next three months! Your oily face may be more obnoxious during humid and warmer weather, not necessarily because there’s been an increase in sebum production, but because the excess oil may be more bothersome than usual. It may not get any better in the colder months either. Your skin may dry up causing the glands to overcompensate, work harder, and ultimately, produce an excess of oil in order to protect it.

Wash your hands. After all, your hands are tools, and there’s no point cleaning your face if the tools you’re about to use are covered in germs.

You’ll want to wet your face completely with warm water. Why warm and not hot or cold? There’s more on this later. But for now, warm water combined with proper massage will stimulate pores enough for cleaning and exfoliation.

Lather up your cleanser of choice onto your fingertips – think dime size. Now start massaging it in starting from the top of the forehead down along the nose, now out to the cheeks and down around the chin. Massage with the fingertips in small, circular, outward motions that are gentle.

Remember that although you’re not applying a ton of pressure, the cleanser is doing its job through the massage while also boosting oxygen and blood circulation levels.

At this point, you may use a muslin cloth to gently help rinse off, otherwise, just rinse off at this point with some splashes of cool water to close off your pores.

Now, use one hand to hold one side of the towel to pat dry areas of your face. No aggressive rubbing here. The skin around the eyes are very fragile and delicate, and although you may not think you’re doing a lot of damage right now, you’ll pay for it down the road.

If you have very oily skin, use a deep-cleaning exfoliant every other day using the same daily washing technique and massage.

If you have to use alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) skin care products, you want to be very careful that you don’t do more damage than harm.

If all your skin care products are AHAs, choose just one of them to include in your daily wash. For example, if you’re using an AHA cleanser, choose a non-AHA serum and non-AHA moisturizer to avoid skin sensitization, irritation, and over-stimulation.

Start off very slowly by only using it every other day for several weeks.

These are typically sold as cleansers and are aimed towards those with really bad cases of hormonal acne. AHA cleansers claim the same benefits as soap, although they’re usually soap-free, while also minimizing the active effects of acne with astringents.

If you’re suffering from just oily skin, it’s best to try other soaps since this is an extreme solution for your case.

These soaps usually have infused herbs and oils to help gently cleanse off acne-causing bacteria and to help restore the natural balance of oils without stripping you completely. They can contain essential oils, herbs like neem and rosemary, and ingredients like oatmeal or raw honey.

They’re also going to be void of perfumes, dyes, and chemicals that can worsen your oily skin.

They also have high levels of glycerin that pulls moisture from the air and draws it in, keeping your skin refreshed and hydrated, which keeps sebum production at bay.

These soaps are usually a mix between natural and AHA soaps in the fact that they are made to be gentle and sensitive as possible, but they still contain some ingredients that are made to medically treat the effects of oily skin.

These soaps may contain Triclosan, Sulfur, Biosulfur, Salicylic Acid, and others that are known to have anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties to help clean and sanitize skin.

Hot water sure does feel good, especially in the shower, but it doesn’t mean that it’s a good thing for treating oily skin. Hot water and steam may be great for opening up pores, but it’s an extreme and can come as a shock to the skin. It could possibly cause damage to the capillaries that are very close to the surface like around the nose and cheeks, worsening red and sensitive skin.

Even though it gets the pores wide and open for a cleanse, hot water and steam actually strips away all natural sebum and dries out the skin. This is a no-go if you want to get rid of oily skin for good.

Like hot water, it’s an extreme and can cause the same damage to your skin. Cold water isn’t very effective in washing away dirt and grime, and it sure does keep your pores tight and closed.

If you’re wanting to get rid of oily skin, this is the temperature you want to start with in your daily wash. It’s comfortable to the skin and gentle to all the sensitive nerve endings in the face.

Combine the warm water, good cleanser or soap, and proper facial washing technique and you’ll get a good, deep clean without compromising your oil balance. The glands won’t be signaled to make more sebum and you can keep your shine under control.

These are commercially-made exfoliants that have various amounts of different chemicals to help dry out your skin, and boy do they work. They’re effective because they’re very strong, and if you don’t use them right, they can be too harsh for the skin causing you to accidentally do more damage than good.

But, if you want to give it a try, run it by your doctor or dermatologist first to ensure correct use. They also don’t contain any particles or grains to help slough off the dead cells. These kinds of exfoliants will probably be AHA products.

These types will have grains and particles in them to help clean the surface of the skin, also marketed as scubs. The grainy scrub can be made from crystals, oatmeal, beans, beads, sugar, and even baking soda. You can even make your own scrub at home using ground flaxseeds, ground calendula flowers, or even coffee grounds. You should remember that as the grain or the scrubbing particles get larger, the more irritating it can be to the skin.

Some exfoliants and scrubs can include additional additives to help get rid of oily skin and boost skin health in general. These ingredients can range from green tea to jojoba oil and linoleic acid.

You also might want to look for a quality exfoliant for oily skin that contains salicylic acid (BHA) which has many benefits for your skin. It can:

If you have oily skin and you’re using one of these, like rosewater, throw it out, it’s no use to you. Although they usually have some form of humectant to keep moisture in the top layer of your skin, this type of toner is intended for people with dry to normal skin. The fragrances in these toners are usually too strong for the skin to handle.

These products can be alcohol-based to about 20 percent, and are stronger than a freshener or bracer tonic. They’re also for combination or oily skin. Common ingredients can include orange flower water, natural witch hazel, boric acid, and tincture of benzoin.

These contain more alcohol and are stronger than the rest. Because of this, they’re supposed to be extremely helpful for people with oily skin.

These toners use many beneficial, natural ingredients that are supposed to boost antioxidant activity and support other skin-repairing cells to help make pores more efficient at handling excess oil, clean out pores, and reduce the appearance of pores.

• Only apply to areas of the face that are oily. Example: forehead, nose, and chin.
• Don’t apply to areas of the face that are typically normal or dry, like the cheeks.

Now that you know the general dos and don’ts of using toner, this is the only method that you should use to ensure proper application. Use after your facial washing routine in the morning and before bed.

With your hands clean, wet your face with warm water. Dampen two cotton pads with the toner and gently wipe the oily areas of your face. You can also buy toner wipes which may be a convenient option, but again check the label for any deceiving ingredients.

You may have used a spray bottle in the past or even used a tonic facial gauze. Although these can seem to be more efficient and time-saving techniques, they’re more damaging in the process.

You only want to apply to the areas where you need the toner. These other methods typically cover the entire face which can exaggerate the effects of oily skin and irritate it, producing more oil at the base of the pore. It can also produce patchy and scaly skin where it’s normally dry.

The last thing you need is to clog your pores in the process of trying to clear them out!

Synthetic additives for sweet-smelling creams and lotions can turn out to be counterproductive because they will most likely prove to be irritating to your skin.  And, we all know where irritation leads to… more oil.

Look for moisturizers that are specifically for oily or acne-prone skin.  Using a moisturizer for dry skin is unproductive, but using a harsh non-acnegenic one on a mild case of oily skin may prove to be too drying and damaging.

Heavy emollients will feel like you’re smearing a thick layer of grease that are likely to be comedogenic.  Instead, look for moisturizers that don’t contain petroleum derived substances, dimethicone, mineral oil, paraffin, and lanolin.

These are the good kinds that have been extracted through cold-press methods.  These ingredients can be coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, and avocado oil.

Use a primer on oily areas of the face, like the T-zone. Use an oil-free product before applying anything else to your skin. This sets the stage for makeup to stay put.

Invest in a primer that’s designed specifically for eyelids. This will reduce makeup from creasing due to the release of natural oils throughout the day.

Go easy on applying the powder. Using a matte translucent formula can cut down the shine.

Go au natural or oil-free when it comes to foundations and blushes. You can decrease the tendency for pores to clog with non-comedogenic makeup products to still allow for pores to breathe.

If you want to keep your makeup on, make sure you have the right kind of makeup to get the job done. Invest in long-wearing makeup like waterproof products.

Since the sun and deliberate sun-tanning can damage skin and cause an increase in sebum production, you should always apply sun-screen daily before applying any makeup products to protect your skin.

Avoid oil-based sunscreens, including those with plant oils and the like. Instead, opt for a water-based sunscreen with upwards of SPF 25. Even better, find a light-weight formula that has added antioxidants and anti-skin irritants and is a specially formulated sunscreen for oily skin.

These water-based, mineral-infused sheet masks are typically used to hydrate the skin versus drawing out oil. They’re usually soaked in some sort of formula that has hydrating ingredients, such as cucumbers or even snail extract… Yes, go ahead and re-read that last sentence again, you read it right.

The bottom line about sheet masks: when your skin is hydrated, it’s protected, so there’s no need for your glands to produce more oil. Besides, it can feel soothing and refreshing to use these on a weekly basis. Way to go for a DIY facial at home!

These cool, oil-free gel masks are also appropriate for oily skin. Like sheet masks, they’re excellent at promoting maximum hydration for the skin. If you have oily skin with redness as well, gel masks may be able to help to reduce redness.

During the colder weather when skin can get taut and dry, these masks can help you ward off excess oil production by keeping the skin well hydrated and protected.

These kinds of masks are basically moisturizers that aren’t removed after it’s applied. They’re not typically recommended for those with oily skin since they’re used to add more moisture and oil back to the skin after it’s been removed from a cleansing regime.

Those with dry or normal skin are more likely to benefit from these cream masks.

You can buy these masks commercially on the shelves of a store or you can even make your own with homemade ingredients (more on this later). They’re recommended for those with oily skin because the clay mask is supposed to draw out and absorb all the natural oils, shrinking your pores in the process.

The only concern lies in the tightening effects that occur as the clay mask dries. It can be overly drying and inadvertently make your oily skin worse than before if you continue this process.

A way to test if it’s too strong or too drying? Try smiling after your face is caked in clay. Did your mirror crack or was it your face? If it was your face, you may want to use a skin serum first before applying the mask. Even better, only use a clay mask every once in a while, say, when there’s a big event coming up.

That’s it. Just saturate some cotton pads with the stuff and lightly dab at oily spots.

Either one of these herbs will work since they’re all natural astringents. Steep one tablespoon in cup of boiling water for 30 minutes. Strain and dab. Store the rest in the fridge for up to five days.

One tablespoon to one cup of water. Boil this mixture for 10 minutes then strain. After it’s cooled down, use a cotton ball to apply.

I know what you’re thinking. Tell me that you just had a visual of a woman with a pale, green cream mask and cucumbers on her eyes didn’t just pop into your head. It’s a classic, that’s why.

Cucumbers are high in vitamins and minerals, especially vitamins A and E, potassium, and magnesium which are all great for the skin.

For oily skin, cut the cucumbers into very thick slices then proceed to gently rub all over your face. Allow the residue to dry on your face overnight and rinse it off in the morning. You’ll notice it has natural astringent effects. This could be classified as a tonic since you’re leaving it on overnight.

To help unclog pores, draw out oils, and tone your skin, mash up a mango to soft pulp then apply. You only need to leave it on for a couple minutes and then you can rinse it off.

Either grind, ninja, or vita-mix two teaspoons of oats till you have a fine powder. If you want, you can make the grains a little bigger, remembering that the larger they are, the more course it will be on the skin. If you only want to apply to oily areas, add either some witch hazel, water, or aloe vera gel until it forms a paste.

You could double up on effectiveness by adding in one tablespoon of plain yogurt and one teaspoon of raw honey – make sure it’s warm and gooey. Then apply, leave on for 10 to 15 minutes and then wash off.

Grate half an apple and apply only to the oily areas of your face. Leave the grated apple on there for about 15 minutes and then rinse off. Apples are slightly astringent and have mild-antiseptic properties. The malic acid in them also acts as the exfoliant agent in this remedy.

An excellent all-purpose ingredient. This will help to balance out natural oils while gently exfoliating. Just mix one tablespoon of rosewater or water to two tablespoons of baking soda to form a paste. Apply, let it sit for five minutes and then rinse off.

As you can guess, this is another great exfoliant since really any slightly course powder could work. Mix in a little raw honey with it and you have your homemade scrub to gently cleanse out pores. Leave it on for no longer than five to ten minutes.

There are many variations of this home remedy. Whether they work or not can depend on consistency or try taking out an ingredient or two. They’re supposed to help firm up your skin while drawing out excess oils.

You can whip one egg white until it’s stiff enough to apply to your face, then let dry and rinse off. You could also mix well one egg white with one teaspoon of raw honey. Then add just enough flour (any flour) to make a paste. Apply everywhere, let it sit for 10 minutes, then wash off.

Everyone has heard of lemon juice because it’s the perfect, all-purpose fruit that does wonders for so many ailments. It’s antiseptic, antibacterial, and astringent-like properties make it a no-brainer in helping to treat oily skin.

Some popular recipes are…

» Use one tablespoon of lemon juice and mix it with half a teaspoon of water – it must always be diluted before applying to the skin. Apply it to oily areas with a cotton ball. Don’t leave it on longer than 10 minutes, then rinse off.

» You could also mix one tablespoon of lemon juice with one tablespoon of milk and half a tablespoon of raw honey. Once applied, leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes and then make sure you rinse off well.

» If you wanted to get super creative and don’t mind a bit of prep time, chop an apple and boil it till soft. Mash it up, throw in one teaspoon of either dried lavender, sage, or peppermint, and then finally one teaspoon of lemon juice. Leave this mixture on your skin for five minutes and then rinse off.

Cleopatra was onto something when she would luxuriously bathe in baths of milk. But, that doesn’t mean that you should. Avoiding extremes and treating the oily areas only, you should always use caution when using lactic acid-based products. Use plain yogurt to apply to oily areas and leave on for 15 minutes before rinsing off. For another simple recipe, refer to DIY Scrubs/Oatmeal.

Try this about one to two times a week to tone down those oily spots. Take an orange peel and grind or blend to a paste. Apply, leave it on till it dries completely and then just rinse if off.

That’s it. It’s great for replenishing the skin with antioxidants and nutrients while pulling out impurities. Just smear some of this stuff on, let it dry, then rinse off.

After using this, your pores should be clean, soothed, and brighter. Peel and blend one banana and one tablespoon of honey. You can also add a couple drops of either orange or lemon juice. Leave this on to dry for 15 minutes and then wash off.

These can get expensive if you’re buying them often. But, you can make them at home with facial clay. Yes, facial clay is different from pottery clay, so don’t buy the wrong kind.

You’ll want to look for bentonite clay that draws out all the gunk and purifies the pores. Natural health food stores should carry it, but you can also buy it online if it’s more convenient.

Mix one tablespoon of witch hazel with one teaspoon of bentonite clay, and there’s your mixture. If you really want to treat yourself to a facial at the same time, add in a couple drops of lemon oil and a couple drops of cypress for fragrance. Voila! You’re now at the spa.

Coconut oil makes a great base for your homemade face washes, scrubs and masks – even for oily skin! The benefits of coconut oil are so great that we have compiled some recipes based on coconut oil. Check them out here:

• 3 Coconut Oil Face Mask Recipes You’ll Absolutely Love
• 4 Coconut Oil Face Scrub Recipes to Try at Home Today
• 6 Coconut Oil Face Wash Recipes You’ll Go Nuts For

This is a must-have if you want to get your oily skin under control. It’s responsible for aiding skin cell structure by protecting it, strengthening it, and providing repair and maintenance. It also plays a role in hormonal balances by reducing inflammation caused by the immune system when excess sebum causes acne lesions.

It’s mostly known for its metabolizing effects on what you eat, but it also has two surprising benefits that affect your face. Vitamin B5 helps to reduce the appearance of large pores by shrinking them in size because pantothenic levels are increased. This is where the second benefit comes in. The Coenzyme A is increased when pantothenic acid rises which helps to reduce excess sebum production. So, you’re knocking out two birds with one stone: reduced oil production and smaller pores.

It might seem a little contradictory to treat oil with oil, but when it comes to diet and supplements, it actually helps. Omega 3 fatty acids help to reduce the release of androgen hormones from causing the increase of sebum production. It also helps to regulate the skin’s surface by preventing the onset of acne and blackheads.

You probably know that if you have zinc deficiency, that you’re more prone to suffering from breakouts. That’s because zinc helps is a natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory that helps out sebaceous glands. Your body can’t produce zinc, so it’s important that you get this either through your diet or by supplementing.

Vitamin C has very beneficial antiseptic and antimicrobial properties that help repair and protect the skin. This means, less collagen breakdown, less free radical damage to facial skin, and more of a boost to the immune system. If these things are in working order, your skin can be protected from environmental pollutants that can clog pores and be a cause of your oily skin.

• These foods can be fortified dairy products, tuna, salmon, lean meats, and whole grains.
• It can also include colorful veges and fruits like spinach, bell peppers, carrots, sweet potatoes, and winter squashes like butternut.
• Go for high protein foods.

• This means more omega 3 fatty acids and less trans and saturated fats.
• Gulp down one tablespoon of flaxseed oil everyday. Great source of omega 3s.
• If you use oil for cooking, use only olive oil and coconut oil.

• It provides a breeding ground of acne-loving bacteria and it’s greedy.
• It takes up all the stomach room that good, clean, and healthy foods could occupy.
• Reduce consumption of refined grains like white bread and instant rice.

Think about it… You’ve just done your night-time facial routine and you’re about to lay that clean, bacteria-free face onto an expanse of dirt, oil, and sweat. That’s right. Your pillowcase is also your very large makeup and hair product removal pad.

Whatever products you had in your hair, sweat and dirt that was on your face, and saliva from drooling in your sleep can get transferred right back onto your face exacerbating the effects of oily skin and even making it worse.

If you just suffer with oily skin on your face, then you could get away with only skipping the load with the pillowcases. If you suffer with oily skin on various parts of your body, say your back and chest as well, you may want to leave the fabric softener where you got it from – the store. They can leave behind a waxy residue that can actually end up clogging your pores in the process.

Some hairsprays, gels, shampoos, and pomades may be inducing inflammation on the skin as well as clogging up some pores. Some products contain panthenol which actually shows to be irritating to those suffering with the effects of oily skin.

Some shampoo “detergents” also contain sodium lauryl sulfate and ammonium lauryl sulfate which lather up really nice, but it leaves behind a reside that could be causing a breakout.

But, this doesn’t mean you have to go looking like a cave-man for the rest of your life. Instead, do your hair first before anything else, then cleanse your face of any possible residue or over-spray before applying makeup or lotions.

You could also skip the shampoo and use a conditioner if you wash your hair daily or better yet, only wash your hair a couple to a few times a week and choose a high quality sulfate free shampoo.

If this is your option, make sure your hair gets tied back and when going to bed. You could also buy acne-safe hair products too such as a specially formulated scalp acne shampoo.