Natural Remedies & Ingredients for Oily Skin
Having oily skin often leads to clogged pores and acne, both of which are frustrating issues to deal with. You may wonder what you can do to remedy your oily skin issues, but there’s another equally important question you should consider as well: what is causing the grease to build up in the first place?
Skin gets oily when it produces too much sebum, an oily substance secreted by the sebaceous glands. There is no clear answer as to why some people have oily faces and others don't, but a few things can influence your chances of fighting an ongoing oily skin battle.
Excess sebum production can be caused by genetic predisposition, hormone fluctuations throughout the month or with pregnancy, stress, and due to certain medications. In addition to these factors, you also must consider climate, seasonal changes, and aging, all which impact oil production in your skin.
Overproduction of sebum can also be impacted by using the wrong products for your skin type. If you use overly drying cleansers or astringents, as well as ingredients that are stressful for your skin, you are likely causing a cycle of exacerbating oil production.
But don't fret; there is good news on the way. There are many plant-based remedies that can both naturally remove excess oil as well as help address the root causes.
Natural Ingredients to Remove or Control Oily Skin
Full-spectrum CBD
Full-spectrum CBD oil is a critical player in the oil-fighting skincare world, as it’s a well-established natural remedy for imbalanced sebum production while also providing antioxidant benefits. Full-spectrum CBD, specifically, contains multiple hemp plant extracts, including essential oils, terpenes, and cannabinoids. All these chemical compounds work together to produce the entourage effect, meaning they are more effective together than in isolated forms like other types of CBD.
Topically applied CBD can help regulate the production of sebum, the oil produced by sebaceous glands, by interacting with the skin’s endocannabinoid receptors. This interaction helps balance oil levels, preventing the overproduction that can lead to oily skin and acne. Additionally, CBD's anti-inflammatory properties can reduce the redness and swelling associated with excess oil and breakouts.
It may feel counterintuitive to put more oil onto greasy skin. For the best results, combine CBD oil with other CBD-enriched skincare treatments, such as our CBD facial cleanser and Detox + Renew Charcoal Clay Mask.
Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid used for dissolving oil without causing dryness. This ingredient is commonly used in skincare for greasy face remedies with anti-inflammatory properties that help clear out debris that collects in your pores, thus reducing acne breakouts. Salicylic acid is mild enough to be used regularly since it is a natural oil-soluble ingredient. Its non-comedogenic properties help keep pores clear, making it an ideal ingredient to combat oily skin. You can find this natural remedy for oily skin in our Calming Facial Toner.
Niacinamide
Niacinamide is a powerful natural remedy for simultaneously combatting oil production while boosting moisture. How? Similar to CBD, it helps regulate sebum production by balancing inflammation and oil production.
Adding niacinamide to your daily regimen can assist in removing oily skin naturally, making it a must-have for anyone with oily or acne-prone skin types. It can treat acne, reduce oil production, minimize pores, and strengthen the skin's lipid barrier, keeping moisture where it needs to be.
Activated charcoal
If you are searching for a natural treatment for your oily face, an activated charcoal mask or cleanser could be the solution. Activated charcoal is an all-natural ingredient that draws out impurities from the pores, effectively combating oily skin by eliminating excess oil, blackheads, and dead skin cells. By gently exfoliating dead skin, activated charcoal allows the skin underneath to absorb moisture better. It can absorb toxins and draw out impurities such as oil, dirt, sweat, and makeup, making it a powerhouse for detoxifying all skin types. Although it can naturally help oily skin without causing irritation, it is still advisable to use it only a few times a week rather than daily. Intrigued? Check out our Detox + Renew Charcoal Clay Mask.
Witch hazel
After you wash your face, a great home remedy for oily skin and pimples is using witch hazel as an astringent. Many toners are made from alcohol, which is very drying, making it a big no-no for oily skin. The natural ingredient, witch hazel, is free from alcohol and an excellent remedy for greasy facial skin. Witch hazel contains tannin, a polyphenol that acts as an astringent when applied topically. Astringents bind to the sebum, or oil, in your pores that, when built up, cause breakouts. Ingredients like witch hazel tighten pores, causing a reduction in oil production, making it a prime choice to include in our CBD-enriched facial toner.
Squalane
With its moisturizing ability, squalane oil includes antioxidant benefits that help protect your skin from environmental irritants. These antioxidant benefits also help preserve the skin from lipid peroxidation, a process that damages the skin's surface and the deeper pore lining where the oil is initially created. Squalane helps moisturize the skin without clogging pores, allowing the skin to stay hydrated longer. This increase in moisture actually combats oil production, offering multiple benefits at once.
Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is at the top of the list for naturally treating oily skin, containing powerful antiseptic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. This go-to ingredient helps calm skin prone to excessive oil by removing sebum and other impurities trapped in the pores. Tea tree oil is helpful with soothing irritated acne and providing an overall healing benefit to the skin.
Oatmeal
Want another way to remove oil naturally from your face? An effective home remedy may be found in your kitchen cupboards.
Oatmeal is a natural anti-inflammatory ingredient that can help calm skin and reduce oil. The grain within oatmeal absorbs excess oil while gently exfoliating the skin, making it an easy and safe home remedy for an oily face. Using an oatmeal mask with cooked, cooled-down oats can help moisturize your face and reduce inflammation. Oatmeal contains proteins and vitamins that your oily skin will love, as well as natural antioxidant skin-benefiting properties. Excess oil on your face leads to acne breakouts, but luckily, oatmeal has highly absorbent properties, allowing it to treat excess oil buildup in the most natural way.
Coffee
A useful home remedy for oily skin and pimples that you might not know about is using coffee grounds as a natural exfoliant. The the granular texture can rub off dead skin cells and other impurities, leaving your skin primed for an effective cleanse and moisturizer. The antioxidant and antibacterial properties naturally contained in coffee make it a powerful cleaner of environmental toxins from your pores.
Rosehip oil
Rosehip oil is cold pressed from the fruit and seeds of the rose plant, not to be confused with rose oil. Rosehip oil is a non-greasy natural oil, making it an excellent natural moisturizer for all skin types because it adds moisture without clogging pores. Used for centuries for its healing properties, rosehip oil assists in eliminating impurities from the skin, reduces oiliness, and maintains the skin's pH balance. Using rosehip oil as an exfoliant can reduce dullness, leaving your skin less greasy and more vibrant by improving your skin’s natural ability to stay hydrated. If these benefits aren't enough, this natural ingredient also contains antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties.
Lemongrass oil
One of the benefits of lemongrass oil is its ability to reduce oiliness and control shine. Lemongrass oil is a common ingredient in skincare products as a natural astringent to help control excess oil on the skin. In addition to its oil-fighting properties, lemongrass oil combats acne with antibacterial properties that inhibit pimple-causing bacterial growth.
Green tea
Green tea is an effective home remedy for oily skin and pimples because it helps reduce sebum production in the skin. Packed full of vitamin B3, which helps reduce swelling and skin irritation, green tea can also decrease the size of pores, leading to the prevention of acne breakouts. As a powerful antioxidant with tremendous anti-inflammatory properties, this natural ingredient is a great option for at-home anti-oil remedies.
Skincare Products to Naturally Remove Oily Skin
DEEP CLEAN FACIAL CLEANSER WITH CBD & ALOE
Packed with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, this Deep Cleaning Facial Cleanser combines the natural power of full-spectrum CBD with moisturizing aloe vera, shea butter, and more. Enriched with vitamin E and omegas, this natural cleanser is an important first step in balancing any skin type and achieving a hydrating glow.
DETOX + RENEW CHARCOAL CLAY MASK
One of the first steps in fighting an oily face is exfoliation and cleaning out your pores, which makes this activated Charcoal Clay Mask a top choice for combatting an oily complexion. With the added benefits of kaolin and bentonite clays, CBD, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide, this mask is everything your face has ever asked for and more.
ELITE ELIXIR
If you want to keep your skincare clean, simple, and effective, Elite Elixir is your one-stop shop. Combining 1500mg of full-spectrum CBD along with organic hemp seed oil, this serum will keep your skin clean and combat oiliness to leave your skin hydrated and glowing.
SKIN ELIXIR SET
This best-selling Skin Elixir Set incorporates three serums that brighten, tighten, and stimulate your skin with the added bonus of a crystal quartz face roller. In addition to CBD, you’ll find serums enriched with Vitamin C, squalane, and plant stem cells to bring out the best in your skin.
Additional Ways to Naturally Remove Oily Skin
Regularly cleanse and exfoliate semi-regularly
Washing your face with a gentle cleanser each morning and night is crucial for maintaining clean, healthy skin. Incorporating gentle exfoliation a few times a week is another vital step in keeping your pores unclogged and preventing oil and breakouts. Use skincare products labeled oil-free and noncomedogenic, which won't contribute to clogging your pores and increasing oil production.
Blotting papers
A well-known greasy face remedy is utilizing blotting papers to absorb excess oil from the skin’s surface. By gently pressing blotting papers against the skin, the paper absorbs oils, dirt, makeup, and debris, contributing to oil production and greasiness. Blotting papers offer an effective way to remove shine from your face and reduce breakouts for oily-prone skin. However, the results are fairly temporary.
Focus on relaxation practice
Reducing stress may not be the first thing you think of when it comes to naturally treating your oily skin problem, but it can definitely help. Stress triggers the release of hormones, including cortisol, which increases sebum production—aka making your skin greasier. Incorporating stress-reducing techniques such as exercise, deep breathing, or meditation are good options for lowering your stress and cortisol levels.
Avoid alcohol-based and harsh skincare products
Using skincare products that include alcohol may initially seem like a good idea for remedying oily skin, but it’s actually one of the worst things you can use. Alcohol is a skin-drying ingredient that can worsen oil production as your skin tries to counteract the dryness by producing more oil. Instead of harsh ingredients like alcohol, opt for clean skincare products that are gentle and nourishing to avoid causing more harm than good.
Stay hydrated
Drinking more water can improve elasticity, flush out toxins from your pores, and reduce oil production, all of which help control oil production and achieve clearer skin. Staying hydrated by drinking at least 8 glasses a day is a good step toward having a healthy body and skin.
Reconsider your diet
Your diet can significantly impact the state of your skin. Avoiding processed foods and high levels of sugar while opting for fresh, healthy options can help control oil production. Focus on non-processed foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and clean proteins if you are battling a greasy face.
Reconsider your choice of facial sunscreen
While daily sunscreen is essential to maintaining your overall health, some are more likely to clog your pores than others. Mineral-based sunscreens containing zinc oxide and titanium oxide are good options because these oil-friendly ingredients sit on the skin without exacerbating oil production.
By Emily Wegener
With a unique background as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Masters Degree in Teaching and experience in Psychology, Emily spends much of her time researching and trying out new holistic healing modalities.
