The truth is that there’s plenty of things you can do to combat shiny face syndrome – and no, it doesn’t have to mean washing your face every two hours. In fact, over washing your face or washing with the wrong cleanser can actually make the problem worse. Whether your problem is a minor inconvenience of a major one, we recommend following these simple 5 steps to reduce or eliminate oily skin – so you can get on with business!

Find the right facial wash – and use it every day. To be clear: when it comes to facial wash, NOT any old soap or cleanser will do. Every person’s skin requires a different moisture balance in order to keep a healthy, oil-free tone. Some cleansers may dry out your skin, causing flaking and, eventually, even worse oiliness as your skin combats excessive dryness by overproducing oil. Other cleansers, such as oil-based cleansers, on the other hand, can be too oily for your particular skin, making shiny skin and creating more acne.

And listen closely, regular bar soap is out! O-U-T….

The best thing to do is to first understand your skin’s make up. Is it excessively dry? Oily? A combination of both? Once you know your skin, look for facial cleansers that specifically address your skin’s needs. Buy the smallest bottles or sample sizes available and try several out, using each type for at least a week. Take note of the results, and stick with the one that helps your skin achieve the best balance.

It IS possible to wash your face too often! Your skin needs a certain amount of natural oil to maintain a good tone, and washing too often can strip your skin of much-needed natural oils, causing it to overproduce even more oil. Try washing once in the morning and once at night, and if you notice this causes excessive dryness, switch to washing at night and use a simple, gentle toner in the morning.

Moisturize properly. Like facial cleansers, not all moisturizers are made equally. Use the same process we recommended for choosing a cleanser when picking out the right moisturizer for your skin. Keep in mind that some moisturizers are oil-based, and unless you have dry skin, you should steer clear of these. Oil-based moisturizers tend to clog pores and cause more oiliness.

Again, regular hand or body lotion WON’T cut it when it comes to your face!

Moisturize after every time you clean your face. In dry winter months in cold climates, you might consider keeping a little tube of moisturizer on hand to apply to dryness-prone areas of your face throughout the day.

Use a toner. Most toners contain witch hazel, a gentle antiseptic, as their main ingredient. The purpose of a toner is to cleanse your face’s pores without stripping its natural oils. Swabbing with facial toner (or simple witch hazel) is a perfect way to clean up quickly in the morning or midday, and if you struggle with excessively oily skin, it’s a great way to swab up excess oil without making your skin overly dry.

If you feel that washing your face every few hours is the only way to combat an excessive oil problem, try using toner instead of cleanser – it’s much better for frequent use. You don’t have to spend $20 on a simple toner, as I mentioned before, witch hazel works just fine.

Change that diet. You’ve heard it before, but it’s still true. A diet that contains excessive amounts of fatty and/or sweet foods – pizza, potato chips, fries, soda – is a big contributor to excessive oil production in your skin. Do your skin (and your body) a favor, and replace these types of foods with fresh veg, whole grains, and home cooked meals. It’s alot easier than you think if you put your mind to it and it’ll go a long way in making you and your skin healthier.

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