Natural Home Remedy for Controlling Oily Skin

Natural Home Remedy for Controlling Oily Skin
Photo Credit skin care image by Allyson Ricketts from Fotolia.com

Oily skin is a genetic predisposition of irregular hormone metabolism that must be treated with both internal treatments directly combined with external applications. Many fads have come and gone in the efforts to treat the shiny, acne-prone skin of over-oily faces, but a simple, natural remedy can help moderate the skin's surface oil without overly drying the skin and allowing proper balance to create a radiant complexion.

Step 1

Take saw palmetto daily, from 900 to 1,800 mg. The anti-androgen effects of saw palmetto are attributed solely to its ability to suppress the production of DHT from testosterone. Testosterone is a naturally occurring androgen within the body, while DHT is a more potent hormone produced from it. Testosterone is converted into DHT through an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase, which is effectively inhibited by saw palmetto. Androgen production stimulates sebaceous glands and cause them to enlarge. The androgen-stimulated sebaceous glands produce more sebum and can result in oily skin and acne.

Step 2

Cleanse the face with a mixture of 1/4 cup organic whole milk and 2 drops of lavender essential oil. Milk is a natural, oil-free and nutrient-rich resource that aids in balancing the pH of the skins surface. Rinse the face with lukewarm water after 1 minute, then pat dry with a clean face towel.

Step 3

Mix 1/6 cup lemon juice with 1/2 tsp. of turmeric powder then apply to the skin avoiding the eye area right after your face is cleansed. Leave this mask on for 6 to 8 minutes. Lemon juice is packed with antioxidant rich vitamin C that helps cleanse the skin and stimulate collagen production. The fruit acids and natural sugars of lemon strip excess oil from the skin, leaving a balanced and toned skin surface. Turmeric also has a very high ORAC value (antioxidant value), and has powerful anti-inflammatory qualities that make skin supple and radiant. Use a damp lukewarm washcloth to remove the mixture from the face until the mask is removed from the skin.

Step 4

Cover the face liberally with pure honey, directly after the lemon juice and turmeric mask. Be gentle under the eyes, and leave the honey on the skin for 5 to 10 minutes. Honey has been used for centuries as an antimicrobial that helps cleanse away harmful bacteria and balance skin pH. Soak the towel used in the previous step with lukewarm water to thoroughly remove the honey from the skin.

Step 5

Dilute ceder wood essential oil in a carrier oil of jojoba or almond oil when finished with the honey treatment. The health benefits of cedar wood essential oil can be attributed to the antiseborrhoeic, antiseptic and astringent properties, Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac. This oil cleanses, tones and balances the skin, reducing the oily sheer that often accumulates upon the skin's surface.

Tips and Warnings

  • This process may take anywhere from 30 minutes to 45 minutes, so plan ahead and don't rush the process. This can be done 3 to 4 times per week to maintain a clean, balanced complexion. Purchase organic products as to avoid harmful additives, hormones or chemicals found in mainstream products in order to make the treatment as beneficial as possible.
  • When applying new products to skin, always do a skin test on the inner wrist for 4 to 8 minutes, to make sure no allergies or reactions occur.

Things You'll Need

  • Saw palmetto
  • Lemon juice
  • Turmeric powder
  • Organic honey
  • Organic whole milk
  • Lavender oil

References

Article reviewed by Jenna Marie Last updated on: Aug 11, 2011

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