So you wake up in the morning feeling as fresh as a new pair of Brian Atwood’s 6’’heels. After completing your daily routine, you work out your professional make-up skills (that you finally mastered thanks to u-tube), you get your glam going and there you go heading off to the daily hassles and tassels of life.
Sadly the make-up doesn’t last till midnight, and you have to go about your day battling with a shiny face using an endless array of blotting sheets. Well, my friend, you are among the many oily skin victims out there.
On a positive note though, having oily skin is beneficial as it tends to age slowly and stays hydrated. On the downside, oily skin is susceptible to blackheads and is acne-prone.
Oily skin (seborrhea) is a condition that affects both men and women. Here, it appears shiny due to the excessive sebum produced by the sebaceous glands found beneath the skin. Oily skin is caused by many factors; hormones, genetics, poor product choice, certain medications, and lifestyle.
There are two types of skin conditions. Some exhibit excessive oiliness, and there are those with combination skin (oily only at the t-zones). Understanding which one is your is the first step to getting the right products.
Similar to other types, an oily skin type requires care routine in which you wash your face at least twice a day, use a proper/gentle cleanser, use an oil-free moisturizer, and regular exfoliation.
Most people grapple with the issue of cutting down on that unpleasant shine while at the same time eliminating acne or blackheads.
Some of the common practices of dealing with the issue include sticking to a daily care routine, developing a healthy lifestyle that includes proper dieting, as well as purchasing products that contain effective acne treatment ingredients.
Overall, it is important for you to pay attention to your skin and take the time to discover what works for you.
When shopping for a face wash for oily and acne-prone skin, look for products with key ingredients such as salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or glycolic acid. Products with these ingredients can easily penetrate the pores and remove all the acne/blackhead causing substances, such as dead skin cells, the excess sebum and bacteria.
Here is a list of the top ten best face wash for oily skin, along with their prices.
Oily skin is thick. Therefore, it can tolerate a strong, sebum-controlling liquid cleanser specifically formulated for it. Products such as the Neutrogena Oil-Free acne wash cleanser contain salicylic acid.
This acid helps to treat blemishes and prevent acne break-out. However, if you prefer bar cleansers, you can opt for the Neutrogena Oily Skin Formula Facial Cleansing Bar.
If you have sensitive skin, you can try Cetaphil. If not, you can go for Almay cleanser which is labelled hypoallergenic, making it ideal for you.
The efficacy of the product also depends on your cleansing procedure. Here are the correct steps to wash your face:
The truth is that there are vast arrays of products in the market promising to get rid of your blemishes and giving you that baby soft skin that not even your mother has ever seen. To some, the use of soap cleansers may lead to over-drying thereby making it worse. However, some can swear that they have benefitted from some good soaps for oily, acne-prone skin.
True, there are great soap products out there such as the Olay cleansing bar, and Neutrogena faces wash soap. There is also the body shop aloe calming facial cleanser.
As a rule of thumb, avoid lava soap, or any other soap with harsh chemicals. Second, if you feel like your face has tightened five to 10 minutes after drying your face (remember to pat-dry), then the product may be over-drying your face.
If you experience greyness or scaliness after using the soap, then it is likely that the soap contains strong chemicals such as alcohol or acetone. Also, if your skin gets irritated or you experience redness, then you should forgo the product.
Products with fragrances, herbal essence, or floral ingredients may fail to deal with the acne or blackheads and can also lead to an irritation.
The oily affair is not unique to women; men also have their share of the oily face experience. The good news is that there are great products out there for men to try out.
Here is our list of the products with high reviews:
If you seek to avoid purchasing products altogether and you are more interested in the DIY techniques, then you can try natural face wash alternatives for oily skin. You try a mixture of baking soda, organic honey, and turmeric (optional). Honey has antibacterial properties making it ideal for acne-prone skin. The anti-inflammatory characteristics of honey eliminates the bacteria causing acne. Also, the baking soda has neutralizing properties that are beneficial for oily, acne prone type.
Remember, these things take time. Good luck!
