Oily skin causes a lot of problems for your skin and also your daily life. It leaves you with pores that are clogged, redness, and blackheads. Oily skin is caused by overactive sebaceous glands which produce more oil than the skin can regulate. Having greasy skin is always a pain, but there are some things you can do to help prevent it! Here are 15 ways to keep your skin looking fresh and clear.
Drink lots of water every day
Water is important for your body. It’s also important for your skin! When you drink water, it helps flush out the toxins in your body. Water is good for your insides, but it’s also important outside of your body. Water moisturizes and lubricates your skin to keep it looking fresh and healthy. Staying hydrated will help the body get rid of toxins that cause acne breakouts. So drink up!
Stop touching your face all the time
This may seem like an odd one, but our hands are basically dirt-magnets. When you touch things throughout the day, especially dirty things like money or doorknobs, those germs get on your hands and then on to other places (cough cough face). If you can stop yourself from touching things throughout the day, this habit will really help prevent oiliness with the rest of the habits! Fun fact: wearing glasses can cause greasy faces.
Eat less dairy
If you’re looking for ways to prevent oily skin, look no further than your diet. Oily foods are often high in fat, which is what causes the majority of oiliness when it’s seeping out of your pores all day long. If you need cheese in your life (and who could blame you?), only have a little bit and try some alternatives like soy cheeses or non-dairy yogurts. There are plenty of tasty options that don’t clog your pores and zap moisture from your skin!
Moisturize at least once a day
Moisturizing will help balance the oils on your face and keep them from getting too crazy. Moisturizing also helps fight acne by keeping pores clear of excess oil. It’s very easy to do, just follow your regular face washing routine with a thin layer of lotion or cream, and you’re ready for the day!
Avoid sugar
Eating too much sugar increases insulin levels in the blood which encourages an increase in the production of sebum oils from the oil glands on your face. And while this means your face will be a little shinier, it doesn’t mean you should totally avoid chocolate or candy. Just don’t gorge on sugar throughout the day!
Use oil-blotting sheets to reduce shine
Oil blotting sheets are an easy way to maintain a matte look all day long. These can be found in most drugstores and they’re super convenient! They wipe away excess oils from your face so you don’t have to worry about looking like a fry cook after only a few hours at work. It’s good for your skin too because having no oil is one of the best ways to prevent oily skin, so try these out!
Exfoliate at least twice a week
Dead skin cells are the main cause of clogged pores which lead to blackheads and acne. So try using an exfoliator (or a washcloth) about twice every week to remove that layer of dead skin cells that can block up your pores! It will leave your face feeling fresh, smooth, and oil-free.
More: How Often Should You Exfoliate Your Face if You Have Oily Skin?
Be careful with makeup
One more thing on the list of things you can do to help prevent oily skin is being careful about what kinds of makeup you wear. Some makeup products contain oil or other greasy ingredients that will only worsen the problem. If you have oily skin, look for foundations without any extra oils or scents mixed in.
More: Top Drugstore Foundations for Greasy Skin
Use powder over liquid foundation
This one is very similar to the previous tip. When you’re looking for makeup products to reduce oil on your face, find ones with powder in them! If you don’t know how to choose, most of the liquid foundations are greasy and will only cause more oil production. However, if you want to use a liquid foundation, make sure to use foundations that are designed for oily skin.
More: Top Drugstore Powder Foundations for Greasy Skin
Use a toner
A toner is a simple way to remove the last traces of oil and dirt on your face after you wash it. Just fill a cotton ball with some toner and rub the cotton ball all over your face, then rinse off any excess residue left behind. This will leave you with a clean, matte finish without having to go through all the trouble of washing your face twice! You can use either store-bought toners or make your own toner at home.
Avoid sharing towels with other people
Not only will it help prevent acne, but it will also stop the spread of bacteria that could cause more breakouts. Moreover, it’s one of the best ways to prevent oily skin around other people because, well, you wouldn’t want their oil on your face. Besides that, it’s always nice to have your own towel that you can use when you’re in the shower!
Use an astringent
Astringent is good for oily skin, it removes excess oil from your face which will tighten pores up and prevent future build-up. So, try using an astringent twice a day and follow up with a moisturizer. You will notice a huge difference in how oily your skin is. This list of top astringents for greasy skin may come in handy just in case you need one.
Exercise more often
Believe it or not, exercising has many benefits for your skin, and can also help with preventing oily skin. When you move around and sweat more throughout the day, you’re helping the oil glands on your face to produce less sweat/oil.  Plus, it will make you feel good about yourself!
Remember to wash your pillowcase often
Oils from your hair and scalp can transfer onto your pillowcases and irritate your face while you sleep! If you want some easy ways how to prevent oily skin, just remember to change out your pillowcases every few days or so!
More: Why Is My Skin So Oily When I Wake Up?
Use gentle soaps
Avoid harsh cleansers or anything with alcohol in them, which can dry out your skin and make it oily. It’s recommended that you only use non-comedogenic soaps, which are designed for people with oily skin. They work by preventing your pores from clogging up and will leave you feeling refreshed!
More: Is Dove Soap Good for Oily Skin?
Eat more veggies and fruits
Just like exercising has benefits, so do veggies and fruits! That’s right, increasing the amount of leafy green vegetables in your diet can help prevent oily skin. It basically helps to reduce the excess oil out of your system, so eat up! Also, it’s good for your overall health, so why not?
Scrub your face before you sleep!
One of the most important things on this list of how to prevent oily skin is scrubbing your face with warm water and a loofah every night before you go to bed. Then follow up with some moisturizer! This will remove excess oil, dirt, and grime from your pores while also preventing acne breakouts. That way when you wake up in the A.M., you’ll still have clear skin free of oily build-up! You can buy face scrubs for oily skin or make your own face scrub at home.
Wash your makeup brushes often
Having dirty brushes can cause bacteria build-up which can lead to breakouts! So wash, clean, and dry your brushes often for fresher skin that is much less oily.
More: 14 Best Blushes for Oily Skin According to Customers
Final thought
If you’re looking for a solution to your oily skin, this article’s got all the best tips! From using toner and astringent to eating more vegetables and exercising more often and etc…We’ve covered how to prevent oily skin in every way possible. We hope that these 15 ways will help you live life without feeling self-conscious about your skin or breakouts.
