An important part of keeping oily skin under control is keeping the topmost layer of your skin free of debris and oil build-up. It is important not to over-strip the skin and to use mild cleansers because harsh skin care products can create a cycle of oiliness that just gets worse. When your skin is too dry, it tries to correct the moisture imbalance by creating more of its natural oils. By adding exfoliation to your skin care regimen, you open pores and remove toxins from the skins surface, allowing the skin to breathe more naturally. This is important in alleviating oily skin. Aside from this, fine lines will become less visible with regular exfoliation and your skin will have a healthy glow.
These steps describe a total body exfoliation, but may be adapted for exfoliating only the face. It should be noted that over exfoliation can lead to cracked skin and broken capillaries just beneath the skins surface layer, so exfoliate but do not over do it.
Wet your entire body in the bath or shower. A slick, smooth skin surface is important to keep the skin from being pulled (which stretches it).
Apply an organic exfoliating treatment (you want to find or make one for oily skin) to a pair of exfoliating gloves (the exfoliation surface of the gloves should not be too rough). Make sure the treatment is well dispersed over the exfoliating surface of the gloves. Exfoliating treatments that utilize citric juices as ingredients are good for oily skin.
Beginning with your feet, massage the treatment over the entire surface of your skin, being very careful with sensitive areas like the insides of arms and thighs. Your massaging should consist of small circles which overlap each other repeatedly.
Once you work up to the top of your thighs, switch and start on your arms. Your torso should be last. It is recommended to save your face by exfoliating it with your normal skin care. Exfoliating your face in the mirror allows you to see when you are being too rough with it. You do not realize how much you are pulling your facial skin when you cannot see it.
Rinse your body thoroughly. Cleanser left on the skin can be overly drying and lead to even more oil production.
Follow with a good organic moisturizer for oily skin applied to wet or damp skin. This will help seal water into the outer layers of the skin which can help balance the moisture content and allow your skin to slow its oil production.
Tips:
Exfoliation is for men, too! When making your own exfoliating treatments, you can make your man more comfy about this by watching the fragrances of essential oils you may use. Using the woodsy essential oils will give the treatment a more masculine scent. By making your own moisturizers, you can do the same with moisturizer; he may be more inclined to use it this way.
When exfoliating the face, apply a bit of witch hazel with a cotton ball for a mild astringent to help with oil control.
Mix 4 tablespoon organic oat flour with 2 tablespoons powdered milk and 1 tablespoon lemon juice to make a smooth paste. Apply to face, let sit until dry, and rinse with warm water. This can be used a couple of times a week.
If you have contacts, be very careful. The fine particles in exfoliating treatments (which are necessary for exfoliation) can scratch or tear your contacts or become trapped under your contact and scratch your cornea. When rinsing, make sure your eyes are tightly closed.
Oatmeal exfoliation can be very soothing to your skin. It is rather sticky and messy, so be sure to do this over the sink (so you can rinse you hands easily after application and so the mess falls in the sink not on the floor). First take a tablespoon of honey and spread it over the entire face. Let this sit for 3 to 5 minutes because its moisturizing properties will loosen the upper layer of debris and old oil.
Then take oatmeal and press in onto the face, making it stick to the honey, leave for another 3 to 5 minutes (allowing the natural chemicals in the two to mix). Begin massaging the mixture all over the face making tiny circles. You can just rinse with warm water after this process, but you may want to use a mild, organic cleanser. Either way, follow with a good organic moisturizer for oily skin. |
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