Do you have over-productive sebaceous glands that shine your skin all the time? Is it so that you get frequent breakouts, large pores and greasy skin? While the oily skin type gets wrinkles much later than the dry skin type, the overactive glands invite many skin problems. These include blackheads and whiteheads, pimples and acne, and large open pores. Some characteristics of oily skin are:

• oily surface to look & greasy to feel
• tendency to breakout
• large open pores
• slightly coarse skin (in some cases)http://www.howtodothings.com/fashion-and-personal-care/a2319-how-to-care-for-oily-skin.html

The reason why oily skin suffers from breakouts is that it tends to attract more dirt and dust. http://www.targetwoman.com/articles/oily-skin-care.html But this can also because of the hormonal problems or genetics. Other causes include high humidity levels and use of inappropriate cosmetics and birth control pills.http://www.indianchild.com/beauty/oily-skin-care.htm

While there are many professional treatments for acne, large pores, blackheads and whiteheads, you can treat these problems in an inexpensive way at your home. The first step in balancing out an oily skin is to start caring for it yourself. There’s no point in contacting your dermatologist before you try everything yourself. There are plenty of products specialized to normalize oily skin, plenty of ways to eat healthy food and to incorporate exercise and physical activity to your lifestyle. Here are some steps that are crucial for proper maintenance of your oily skin considering these changes. All you have to do is to follow them religiously.

The first step to keep all the problems associated with oily skin at bay is to adopt an appropriate regime that not only includes the good old cleansing but also some other steps that are necessary for its survival. The product selection comes in handy here if you’re really into it. Try to pick a cleanser that is specially formulated for oily skin. Choose one containing salicylic acid. http://www.howtodothings.com/fashion-and-personal-care/a2319-how-to-care-for-oily-skin.html Also look for products containing benzoyl peroxide that help unplugging pores and reducing bacteria.http://www.targetwoman.com/articles/oily-skin-care.html You can also choose an acne treatment cleanser if you breakout frequently. The cleanser should be either liquid or gel-based since this work great for oily skin by not leaving any residue and washing off the excess oils from its surface. A face wash with exfoliating beads will take care of blackheads and whiteheads apart from exfoliating skin gently. Alternatively, use a separate scrub or exfoliator twice to three times a week for exfoliation. Wash your face with the cleanser twice a day, once in the morning and once before bed. Use an astringent toner afterwards to close the open pores. Follow with an oil-free moisturizer. If you’ve got acne or scarring it’s better to replace moisturizer with the acne spot treatment. Some good choices are Murad Acne Spot Treatment, Peter Thomas Roth Acne Spot and Area Treatment and Neutrogena On-the-Spot Acne Treatment. Avoid moisturizers with cocoa butter and minerals oil as they make the skin oilier. For makeup the best choice is mineral makeup that absorbs the excess oils from the skin. Also, using a makeup primer or translucent powder can help absorbing the excess oil. For sunscreen make sure to choose a lighter, oil-free or gel-based version.http://www.howtodothings.com/fashion-and-personal-care/a2319-how-to-care-for-oily-skin.html

Cleansing on daily basis is not enough for oily skin since this skin needs extra treatment to cure the oiliness, acne and related problems. Once a week, use a deep-cleansing mask that helps in cleaning out the blocked pores. Clay mask is best for oily skin since it helps cleaning off extra oil and dead cells that make the skin dull. Also go for essential oils added to your mask since these are known to effectively treat the oily skin. Some options to consider are lemon, rosemary and cedarwood oils.http://www.targetwoman.com/articles/oily-skin-care.html These oils can be also used as moisturizer or add to your moisturizer to get the added benefits. You can also treat your skin with cucumber, lime, aloe vera, strawberries, tomatoes, oatmeal and lemon since all these ingredients are natural astringents. http://www.targetwoman.com/articles/oily-skin-care.html

Here are some great nourishing and deep-cleansing masks for oily skin that can be put on once a week besides clay mask:

Strawberries & Yogurt Nourishing Mask –This mask is great for balancing the skin moisture level. Just blend a few strawberries and mix in a tablespoon of yogurt to make a paste. Apply all over face and neck. Rinse off after 15 minutes to discover a smooth fresh glowing skin.

Oatmeal & Cucumber Cooling Mask –Blend together a tablespoon of oatmeal with a whole cucumber. Apply on face with cotton to cover properly. Let sit for 10 minutes and wash off with cold water for a refreshed skin.

Tomatoes Deep-cleansing Mask –Puree a large or two small tomatoes and apply thickly all over face. This mask is great with only a single ingredient since tomatoes do all the magic themselves. Let sit for 15-20 minutes and wash off to discover a new oil-free skin beneath.

Diet is another important factor in controlling the oiliness of the skin, preventing the acne and blemishes and balancing out the skin moisture. It’s just simple as that –you’re what you eat! You may notice that your skin responds by producing excess oil whenever you take diet rich in fats. The excessive oil not absorbed by our body comes over to the surface making the skin oilier and greasy. So, the point is in taking a diet that is loaded with fresh fruits and vegetables. You might also want to consider proteins since they help in the tissue regeneration process to replace the old, dull and problematic skin with fresh new glowing skin. Avoid sugar, high-fat and junk food as much as possible. Instead make your meals healthy with more proteins (eggs and fish for instance), carbs (beans, legumes, nuts) and less fat (meats).This way your body will detox it on its own naturally without you undergoing expensive cosmetic procedures and a lot of other product use in order to treat it. Drink plenty of water all throughout the day to make sure that toxins flush away with your urine and sweat from the skin and problems like acne are avoided. Take supplements including wheat-germ, yeast, and multivitamins to make sure your skin is getting the proper dose of all the nutrients that make it supple and problem-free.http://www.targetwoman.com/articles/oily-skin-care.html Make sure that you don’t have a vitamin B2 or B5 (the vitamins crucial to healthy skin) deficiency.http://www.indianchild.com/beauty/oily-skin-care.htm

The next important thing to healthy food is the exercise –yes, it can make a perfect combination with healthy food to balance your skin. Start your day with a light exercise such as walking or jogging for 15-20 minutes and then hit shower to wash away all the sweat that is clogging your pores. Indulge yourself in sports to discover a healthy, smooth and even complexion. This will surely pay in the long run!