A quick, easy and economical pick me up for oily skin suffers is a homemade mask for oily skin. Many different variations can be made from things already in your pantry and refrigerator with little requirements in the way of tools or fancy ingredients.
A mask for oily skin needs to do several things. First and foremost is to remove the excess oil. This causes an immediate sensation that the product is not only working but instantly helps you feel better about your skin. Second, the mask should have a longer term effect of helping to exfoliate the skin though the use of alpha and beta hydroxy acids. Third, the mask should have gentle yet effective anti bacterial action, helping to keep the pores clear.
A homemade mask for oily skin should be applied for no longer than 20 minutes at the risk of irritating the skin. It’s important that oily skin not be over dried or irritated which may cause an increase in oil production. Also, never apply any sort of mask, homemade or otherwise, more than once a week for the same reason.
When applying any mask the most important step is to cleanse the skin and apply a toner without alcohol. This preps the skin to absorb the nutrients and benefits of the mask. After applying the mask and washing off it’s important to reapply toner without alcohol and use a rich moisturizer to replenish any lost moisture as masks for oily skin can be drying. When using a mask, avoid using anything very harsh afterward like serums with glycolic acid or salicylic acid treatments.
When making your own mask you need to pick an item from each category, oil absorbing, anti-bacterial and exfoliating. Mix together only the amount you need and dispose of the rest as the mask could be at risk of growing mold or bacteria if stored.
Oil Absorbing Ingredients
- Oatmeal - Put oatmeal into a blender or food processor and process it into a powder. Use about ¼ to ? of a cup as the base of your mask. Oatmeal has an added benefit of soothing red, irritated skin and is great for eczema suffers as well.
- French Clay – This will likely have to be ordered from the Internet but is rather inexpensive and will last a long time. French clay not only dries up oil, but also has the benefit of being anti-bacterial. If using french clay you can skip adding an anti-bacterial ingredient. This one is especially good for those who suffer acne as well as oily skin. Use about ¼ to ? cup as the base of your mask.
- Egg Whites – The albumen in egg whites is a fantastic amino acid good for helping the skin boost firmness as well as dry up oil. Beat one egg white until fluffy. Add a tablespoon of oatmeal or french clay to help thicken the egg white up or use as is with a paint brush.
Exfoliating Ingredients
- Apples - Either bake and blend or use applesauce when using in a mask. Apples are rich in fruit sugars which are an alpha hydroxy acid, also known as a glycolic acid. What is in your skin care products is a refined form of these natural sugars. Add enough of this to your base to make a moist paste.
- Yogurt - Yogurt carries a duel benefit of having both exfoliating benefits as well as probiotics. Yogurt contains a natural form of lactic acid, another form of alpha hydroxy acid. Probiotics nourish and soothe the skin while fighting bad bacteria. Add enough yogurt to the base to make a moist paste.
- Carrots - Bake the carrots and blend until smooth. Carrots are a sugary vegetable and are a natural source of gylcolic acid. They are also rich in B vitamins which nourish dull, oily skin. A little spring, filtered or distilled water can be added to the carrots to make them smooth and then blend them with the base to make a moist paste.
Anti-Bacterial Ingredients –
- Honey - Honey has anti-bacterial properties as well as moisturizing properties. This will be an added benefit for those with combination skin and sensitive skin. Add 2 tablespoons to the mixture.
- Tea Tree Oil – This can be ordered online or purchased in either health food stores or major chain grocery stores. Tea Tree Oil is best for people with very oily skin or who are acne prone. 3 – 5 drops added to the mix is the most you will want to add as this is a strong oil. This is likely best avoided by people with very sensitive skin unless a patch test is done first to insure no reaction.
Making your own mask for oily skin is not only fun, but will give an instant perk to dull, tired skin. Costing a fraction of the amount that the big name masks charge while getting great benefits to your oily skin is well worth a little mess in the kitchen.
