In this guide, we’re talking about how to stop oily skin, with recommendations for natural skin care for oily skin as well as tips on how to take care of your skin. Your diet can also have an impact on how much oil your skin produces, so we’ll be talking about that too.
Summary:
- Use gentle, ethyl alcohol-free cleansers to clean skin without stripping it
- Incorporate prebiotic and plant-based ingredients like Willow Bark, Pineapple and Tea Tree to support the microbiome and rebalance oil levels
- Cleanse twice daily, exfoliate gently and use lightweight moisturisers or serums to hydrate without clogging pores
- We recommend Green People Spot Control Bundle for oily skin
- Eat a nutrient-rich diet with leafy greens, fresh fruits, whole grains, Omega-3s and B vitamins while reducing sugar, junk food and processed fats.
All about oily skin
To understand how to stop oily skin, first it is important to understand more about why some people produce more oil than others.
Oily skin has hyperactive sebaceous glands, working overtime to produce excess sebum (natural oils). Cellular renewal is faster too, which results in shiny skin, visible pores, pimples, blemishes, acne and inflammation.
Oily skin can also be caused by a poor diet, fluctuating hormone levels, hormonal contraceptives and choice of cosmetics. Humidity and hot weather can make the skin feel and look even shinier.
Oily skin often increases during adolescence, pregnancy and after menopause, again because of hormonal changes. The problem can occur at any age but tends to decrease with age. One big advantage of oily skin is that it shows signs of ageing more slowly than other skin types.
How to stop oily skin
When it comes to oily skin, it’s all about getting the balance right. It can be tempting to use skin care containing ingredients such as ethyl alcohol or SLS that strip away the oil, but this can actually be counterproductive and can make your skin produce more oil to compensate.
Instead, rebalancing your skin is a better option than stripping all the oil from your skin. It’s about building a strong, healthy skin barrier that supports this balance in a better way.
At Green People, we have developed a range of natural skin care products for oily skin that contain natural actives to help to gently balance and control oily skin.
One of the ingredients we use is Inulin Prebiotics. Prebiotics work with your skin’s natural ecosystem to promote long-term balance. They help to nourish the beneficial bacteria on your skin, supporting a healthy skin barrier and reducing the likelihood that spot-causing bacteria will proliferate.
We also draw upon Pineapple Enzymes and Tea Tree Extract, which reduce the risk of spots by preventing blocked pores and banishing bad bacteria.
Made without harsh, stripping chemicals like alcohol (ethanol), found in many high street products, our natural products for oily skin instead use a gentle approach to help skin to regain its natural balance.
A great place to start is with our Spot Control Bundle. Featuring a foaming face wash, light moisturiser and deep-cleansing face mask, this skin-friendly natural skin care routine has been designed for oily skin.
Spot Control Bundle
Bring your skin back into balance with this natural spot-control routine
You can also buy our oily skin care products individually.
Tips for controlling oily and acne-prone skin naturally
As well as using natural skin care for oily skin, there are some other changes you can make to your beauty routine to rebalance your skin and reduce your natural oil production.
- Use plenty of warm (not hot) water and a gentle, yet effective cleanser to stop your pores clogging. A foam-based cleanser that is organic and rich in active plant nutrients reduces the risk of cleanser-induced skin irritation.
- Avoid astringent lotions and irritating alcohol-based toners that strip the skin of natural oils. Your oil glands will just work harder to compensate for the oils lost.
- Avoid mineral oils and silicone as these ingredients can block the pores, preventing the skin from breathing and trapping dirt - it’s like wrapping your skin in cling-film.
- Wash your face two or three times a day (morning and evening are essential), but no more or you will over-stimulate your skin to produce more oil
- Always rinse your face thoroughly
- Use a facial micro-fibre cloth or a muslin cloth, which works as a gentle exfoliator to dislodge dead skin cells and cleanse the pores. Remember to wash the cloth thoroughly every day. You can follow this with an alcohol-free facial mist to hydrate the skin
- If your skin feels tight, apply a light Firming Face and Neck Serum or a balancing moisturiser like Oil Balance Moisturiser
- Apply a deep-cleansing mask twice a week
- Only ever apply make-up to thoroughly cleansed skin, and remove all traces of make-up before you go to bed.
Discover more about our natural skin care for oily skin
It’s time to take control of your skin with gentle, organic skin care that helps to rebalance and reduce oil production.
Formulated for spot-prone, oily or combination skin, our Foaming Face Wash uses ingredients like Green Tea, Inulin Prebiotics, Bergamot Oil and Aloe Vera to soothe, rebalance and calm your skin, while controlling excess oil and spots. The Prebiotics help to support your skin’s natural microbiome, keeping everything in balance.
Foaming Face Wash 100ml
Purify, tone and clear with this certified organic foaming face wash
279 kr
As the name suggests, our Oil Balance Moisturiser helps you to calm, clear and balance your skin - all while targeting blemishes and spots. This light, non-greasy moisturiser contains Pineapple Enzymes and Willow Bark to purify and bring redness under control. It uses Prebiotics to rebalance your skin’s natural microbiome and has no skin-drying alcohols that can strip your skin. Our soothing plant-actives help to hydrate without clogging pores.
Oil Balance Moisturiser 50ml
Balance and calm with our best organic day cream for spot-prone skin
376 kr
Our Scent Free Mineral Sun Cream SPF30 is another great one for oily skin. It contains mattifying Zinc Oxide which protects your skin from sun burn and also has healing properties to reduce inflammation. This facial SPF is gentle and suitable for all skin types. Pore-purifying Jojoba and soothing Aloe Vera help to calm and balance your skin.
Scent Free Mineral Sun Cream SPF30 50ml
Reflect and protect with this 100% mineral sun cream
439 kr
Diet for oily skin
Diet can make a difference to oily skin. We firmly believe that you need to nourish your skin inside and out to keep it in balance. Here are some tips on diet for oily skin:
- Eat plenty of leafy green vegetables and fresh fruits
- A deficiency of vitamin B2 can cause oily skin. Good sources include brewer's yeast, whole grains, beans and nuts.
- Buckwheat, black beans and whole rice are rich in iron, which can rejuvenate the skin
- Add plenty of Omega-3 fatty acids to your diet
- Drink lots of filtered water to both keep your skin hydrated and flush out toxins
- Avoid saturated and hydrogenated fats, fired and highly seasoned foods, soft drinks, alcohol, sugar, chocolate and junk food.
We hope our guide to oily skin has been helpful! Shop our range of natural skin care for oily skin and find your perfect rebalancing combination to fight spots, excess oil and inflammation.
Our UK customer care team is happy to help with any questions you have about caring for oily skin. Please call us on 01403 740350 or chat to us on social @GreenPeopleUK.
REVIEWED BY CHARLOTTE, FOUNDER OF GREEN PEOPLE
This blog post has been reviewed by Charlotte Vøhtz, founder of Green People, who has 25+ years of experience in the natural and organic beauty industry.
A recognised leader in the field of organic beauty, Charlotte helped inform the UK's first organic beauty standards and was voted the People’s Choice in the 2023 list of Who’s Who in Natural Beauty.
A published author, she wrote the organic beauty bible ‘Naturally Gorgeous’. Previously, she qualified as a nurse and spent over 10 years working in pharmaceuticals.
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