The first thing most of us who have to deal with oily skin care want to do is mop up the shine. Cars should be shiny, not faces. However, be careful about over doing it. Don’t buy oily skincare products that are too drying. What you want to do is balance sebum production, not cause excessive dryness.
Dry skin is more easily damaged. It looks older, faster. Oilier skin stays younger looking longer. You may want to get rid of the shine right now, but you don’t want to cause premature aging.
For effective oily skin care there are a number of natural ingredients that balance sebum production. They can be used as moisturizers and to reduce oiliness. They are even beneficial in treating acne, which is accompanied by excessive sebum production.
Some of the best oily skincare products contain jojoba. It’s kind of like a liquid wax. It is made from the seeds of the jojoba plant that grows in Northern and Central America. It was used historically by Native Americans to help heal cuts, injuries and burns.
Scientific research has been done to support the traditional uses of the plant. The chemical makeup is very similar to that of human sebum. That’s why it reduces oil production without causing dryness.
Maracuja, a special passion fruit extract, has also been shown to balance sebum production. Women, in particular, will like the extract. It will leave your face feeling soft and velvety.
Cleaners are essential oily skincare products, but don’t go with anything too strong. Orange oil is probably the best. It is extracted from the peel and may be combined with tea tree oil or other natural ingredients.
A deep cleansing mask that contains clay extracts is also quite effective for oily skin care. The clay absorbs excessive oils and grabs dirt out of the pores. If the mask contains all natural ingredients, you can use it once or twice a week without worrying about overdoing it.
Now let me talk for a few moments about safety. Many cosmetic companies, even Neutrogena, Avon and Unilever, use ingredients that are either known to cause cancer or are strongly suspected of causing cancer.
One of the common ingredients in oily skincare products designed for deep cleansing is triclosan. Clearasil daily face wash, for example, contains it. The chemical has antibacterial and antifungal properties. If you have chlorinated water, you should not use cleansers that contain the ingredient.
When combined with chlorine, triclosan produces chloroform gas and dioxins. Both of which are classified as “probable” carcinogens. Dioxins are extremely toxic and are eliminated from the body at a very slow rate. Thus, the risk increases with use, as the toxins accumulate over time.
Another chemical that researchers advise us to avoid is parabens. They are the most common preservatives used in health and beauty aids. Parabens also accumulate in the body over time and may increase our risk of cancer.
Just one more tip on oily skin care: Protect your face from the sun with zinc oxide lotions, whenever you are exposed for more than 15 minutes. Try to wear a hat or stay in the shade, as much as possible.
Hopefully, this will help you find some safe and effective oily skincare products. They are available. You just have to know where to look.
