6 Most effective home remedies for oily skin

Oily skin is very tricky to deal with. Managing oily face is really a challenge, especially for people having large pores. The excess oil which gets accumulated on the outer skin layer often leads to whiteheads, blackheads, blind pimples and other skin irritations. It needs to be treated with the right products which suit such a skin type to get a flawless and glowing skin. The excess oil results from the sebaceous glands in the skin producing excess sebum. Those who have this condition usually have shiny skin and large pores. But research shows that oily skin is not that bad too as it tends to age better and develop fewer wrinkles than dry or normal skin.

While especially women are more prone to oily skin during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, or menopause and while taking birth control pills, there could be  various reasons why one's skin tends to be oily, it could be genetics, dietary choices, too much stress or hormone changes in the body due to puberty. Here we present to you some of the most effective face packs for oily skin which will sure surely bring back the liveliness on your face.

Curd:  Yogurt is one of the most popular home remedies for oily face. Lactic acid in the curd helps to gently exfoliate the skin and absorbs excess oil from the face. This could be best used by applying one tablespoon of plain curd thoroughly over your face and leave it on for 15 minutes. Then rinse it off with cool water. Do this once daily. Alternatively, mix one tablespoon each of curd and finely ground oatmeal. Then stir in one teaspoon of warm honey. Apply the mixture on your face. Leave it on for 10 to 15minutes and then rinse with warm water. This could just do wonders to your skin

Apple Cider Vinegar:  Apple cider vinegar is great in exfoliating the skin. Applying apple cider vinegar is best done before going to bed. Let it stand for 5-10 minutes, then wash with cool water. To see good results, you have to do this remedy for at least 3 weeks. If you have sensitive skin, add a half cup of water into the apple cider vinegar. Alternatively during summers you can also freeze the vinegar into ice cubes, and then apply it to your face for effective exfoliation.

Lemon Juice:  Another great home remedy for oily face is lemon juice. Lemon juice is a good source of citric acid that works like an astringent. It also has antiseptic properties that can lighten skin discolorations and restore the skin’s pH balance. In order to use it on your face you could combine 1 tsp. of fresh lemon juice with ½ tsp. of distilled water. Dip a cotton ball in the mixture and apply it to your face. Let it stand for 10 minutes and rinse with warm water. Lemon juice can dry facial skin, so use some moisturiser after cleaning your face just to keep it soft and avoid over drying go your skin.

Alternatively you could also mix one tablespoon of lemon juice, one-half tablespoon of honey and one tablespoon of milk. Apply this paste on your face and leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes before washing it off with cold water. If done once daily, this remedy will give you great results within a week of using it.

Egg whites:  High in vitamin A, egg whites can effectively dry out skin blemishes as well as tone and tighten up oily skin. You could beat one egg white until it appears stiff. Spread it evenly on your skin. Let the egg white dry and rinse with warm water afterwards. Repeat the process at least twice a week. Another alternative is to whip one egg white and add lemon. Apply the mixture on the face and let it stand for 15 minutes, then wash with warm water.

Cucumbers:  Cucumbers have soothing and cooling properties, which is beneficial for oily skin. It is a good source of vitamins andminerals, including vitamin E, vitamin A, potassium and magnesium, which are good for oily skin. Cut fresh slices of cucumbers and rub it into the skin and put them on your face for as long as you can. For best effects wash it the next morning with warm water. In an alternative method, you could also mix one-half teaspoon each of cucumber juice and lime juice. Apply this mixture to your skin, let it dry, and then wash it off with warm water. Do this daily. This remedy can also be used to lighten freckles and reduce sunburn.

Tomatoes:  The high vitamin C content in tomatoes is very helpful for acne-prone skin. Tomatoes are great for oily skin due to their cooling, clarifying and astringent properties. Also the natural oil-absorbing acids in tomatoes help get rid of excess oil. You could cut a tomato in half and rub it on your skin. Allow the juice to soak into your skin for at least 15 minutes.

Rinse your skin with cold water, pat it dry and apply a light oil-free moisturiser. Alternatively you also could make a face mask by combining three tablespoons of tomato juice with one tablespoon of honey.

..Divya