To just want an un-oily face?

[Rachie1986]

I'm posting her for traffic. Sorry.
I've also posted about this before but now I'm desperate for help.

DD (4) just touched my face and said "eurgh my fingers are slimy". I knew my face was oily and have been trying to sort it for the last few months to no avail. I now feel really bad about it :-(.

I started a face care routine last summer (aged 31!). Went with Clinique. Previously slightly oily but spots etc and they have cleared. However a few months ago I noticed my forehead and nose were getting really oily. I've tried stopping 1 of the products in my routine, been in store and got advice, trialled other things, all to no avail.

I posted on here before and got some advice for products, but they were online companies only and my skin is so sensitive I can't buy them incase they don't work. I can't afford to buy things to try them, I need a brand I can get trials for.. very short on money

Please help. I have parents evening tomorrow and am facing taking something to wash my face before the evening as I'm so self conscious about it :-(. I want this to be better!

I read a lot of skincare blogs (which does NOT qualify me as any sort of expert!) and have read that using facial oils can, counter intuitively, help with oily skin. I like Kiehls and Aurelia for oils but not sure where you'd stand with regards free trials for those brands.

Could there be an underlying reason for the change in your skin type?

There was a product I used some years ago as I had same problem. It was Roc, elubiol control range. It was amazing.

I have very oily skin..used to get teased about it terribly at school ( they used to joke that I could "fry chips on my face", so you can imagine)...counter intuitively I now double cleanse, first cleanse being with a facial oil (Superfacialist Rose), second with their cream cleanser, and the oiliness is greatly reduced.

I have really oily skin and have tried pretty much every product on the market.

The only thing that really made a difference was clairns lotus face oil.

It’s about £30 but worth every penny and has lasted me ages.

Could be hormonal or possibly caused by dehydrated skin (does your face feel tight as well as oily?)

What helped me was drinking spearmint tea and using more hydrating products including oils rather than harsh stripping products which only made my face compensate by producing more oil

Oh also I’d recommend oil blotting sheets

I’m oily. Feel your pain but on the plus side the wrinkles will take longer to form (in theory)
Don’t over cleanse - it’ll only make your skin pump out more oil.
I use La Roche Posay Effaclar range, there’s a great matifying mosituriser which keeps shine at bay til lunchtime. Then I use blotting paper (Superdrug it boots)
I get spots so Paula’s choice 2% salicylic acid is great as an exfoliant.

I know you don’t want internet but you can buy samples....

I use this mixed with cider vinegar x2/week:

www.amazon.co.uk/Aztec-Secret-Indian-Healing-Facial/dp/B0014P8L9W?tag=mumsnetforum-21

The ordinary has changed my life! ordinary niacinamide
It's only £5 a bottle but my oily skin has improved so much

La Roche Posay Effaclar range really helped my oil slick of a t-zone.
Do you moisturise? Oily skin can be a sign of over cleaning, something along the lines if you strip the natural moisture so your body makes more oil and the cycle continues.

Use olive oil as a moisturiser at night, sounds odd but it works apparently, I don't have oily skin but was reading up on olive oil last night and started using it.

Niaciamide as PP said - it’s about £5 and has really helped.

Clinique is only good when used in a country with harsh climates. Avoid it.

I would advise you to visit a Clarins spa if possible and they will tell you the exact products to use (ironically one will be an oil). Their products are very gentle and in my opinion the best for this. Decleor, Ellis etc and indeed most of the other leading brands they would still be too harsh for your skin.

I have tried niacinamide, Clarins oil (made a difference for a while then seemed to wear off), Effaclar and double cleansing (great for pores and general look of my skin) and I’m still a big greasy mess.
I got a facial oil in the M&S calendar which I am about to try but have nothing to recommend sadly. Even my eyelids are oilier now so I can’t wear any makeup except mascara and have to make sure it is smudge resistant.
I have spent loads on primers and they all suck too!

Wash your face with oil. Look up oil cleansing.

What is happening is that you are wiping away all the oil, your body says ‘hello, looks like we’re running low on oil, order in some more!’ And so the cycle continues.

I swear by it.

You can buy blotting paper to soak up excess oil on your face. Great little things, they come in a handy little booklet, you rip one out and dab away so can carry them around with you

I’ve always had an oily T-zone and the only thing that has ever helped in coconut oil. I use it to remove makeup (massage in then wipe with a hot facecloth) and in the morning I just splash water on my face and massage in a small amount of coconut oil as a moisturiser.

I’ve read that it can clog pores and cause spots but I’ve been using it since Halloween and my skin has never looked as good. Glowy, rather than oily and not a single spot.

Charcoal products have made a big difference to me.

Effaclar is good but spendy. I use argan oil and my foundation no longer slides off my face

Balm cleanser - lyonsleaf has helped me massively and they do sample pots for something like £1.99 (but a proper pot is only £12.95). I don't need an additional moisturiser with it though I use one at night occasionally. Then Hylamide pore control and The Ordinary niacinimide serum - the second one is under a fiver.

Make up wise I'm currently using a cheap Barry M primer, double wear light, and a powder over the top. It lasts me a 10 hour day with very light blotting at lunch. I honestly never made it til morning break before and now I go a whole day at work without worrying.

If you're on a budget I recommend the lyonsleaf balm if nothing else. It's been a total game changer for me.

I feel your pain. I use those blotting paper things if I have to go to anything after work as by about 3pm I am really quite oily.

There are a few things that work:

1. sleep - I am much oilier when tired. No idea why

2. cut out hot drinks. Again, no idea why, it is just like this for me

3. clairins facial oil at night. Proper double cleanse then this - it does seem to work.

The really good news is that I look much younger than friends the same age but with less oily skin. It does seem to make a difference to wrinkles, so at least there’s that.

Temple Spa products are amazing!

Thank you SO much everyone, I was convinced I would get no replies.

I'm going to write down all your recommendations and start researching and working through them.

Thanks again!

Try the nip+fab glycolic range. I get mine from superdrug (on offer at £15-20ish each or 2 for £18!). Great for oily skin. I use the overnight gel and the liquid glow especially.

My skin is so oily and has been for 20 years! Unfortunately mine is hormonal and while some products help the only thing that actually reduces the oil significantly is the contraceptive pill

banana I was just coming back on to say I think it has got much worse since coming off the contraceptive pill in early Dec! Hadn't made the link until now..

When I started the Clinique routine my reasons were spots and spots under the skin (iykwim) plus oilyness. Spots have improved, under-skin-spots a bit better, oil did improve but then got worse and when I came off the pill, bam!

Thanks again everyone, have hope now!