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Oily skin looks shiny by noon, clogs pores, and attracts every speck of dust within a five-foot radius. The upside? You’ll age slower than your friends. The downside? You’re dealing with this right now.
Excess oil (sebum, if we’re being technical) comes from overactive glands. Hormones, genetics, stress, or just bad luck with your skin type. Birth control, pregnancy, menstrual cycles all mess with oil production too.
Most commercial products strip your skin so hard it panics and makes more oil. These home remedies work because they balance instead of scorching.
1. Egg Whites
Separate an egg and beat the white until it’s frothy. Slap it on your face, leave it for 15 minutes until it tightens and dries, then rinse with warm water.
The protein temporarily tightens pores and soaks up excess oil. You’ll look less greasy for hours. Do this three times a week.
Yes, you’ll smell like breakfast. Deal with it.
2. Lemon Juice
Cut a lemon, squeeze some juice into a bowl, dab it on with a cotton pad. Leave it for 10 minutes, rinse off.
The citric acid cuts through oil and the natural astringent properties tighten pores. But here’s the catch: lemon makes your skin photosensitive. Do this at night, not before you go outside.
Mix with water if your skin’s sensitive. Straight lemon can sting.
3. Yogurt
Plain, full-fat yogurt. Not the sweetened stuff with fruit chunks.
Smear a tablespoon over your face, wait 15 minutes, rinse. The lactic acid exfoliates gently and the fat content doesn’t strip your natural barrier (which would trigger more oil).
Use this one in the morning. You’ll look matte for most of the day.
4. Tomatoes
Slice a tomato, rub it directly on your face, or mash it into a pulp and use it as a mask. Leave it for 15 minutes.
Tomatoes contain salicylic acid (the same stuff in acne products) and naturally absorb oil. Plus the vitamins help with overall skin texture.
This works best on combination skin where your forehead and nose are oily but your cheeks are fine.
5. Apples
Grate half an apple into a paste, apply it to your face for 15 minutes, rinse.
Apples have malic acid and work as a mild astringent. They’re gentler than lemon but still effective. Good option if citrus irritates your skin.
The downside is you’re grating fruit. It’s annoying. But it works.
6. Cucumbers
Slice them thin, lay them on your face like you’re at a spa, or blend them into a juice and use that as a toner.
Cucumbers are cooling and mildly astringent. They won’t transform oily skin overnight but they’re gentle enough to use daily. The silica content tightens pores a bit.
This is the method that feels nice but doesn’t deliver dramatic results. Use it as maintenance, not a fix.
7. Apple Cider Vinegar
Mix one part apple cider vinegar with three parts water. Dab it on with a cotton pad like a toner after you wash your face.
The acetic acid balances your skin’s pH and breaks down oil. Don’t skip the dilution step or you’ll burn your face off. Start with a 1:4 ratio if you’re nervous.
This one actually works fast. You’ll see results in a couple days.
8. Milk
Dip a cotton pad in cold whole milk, wipe it over your face, leave it for 10 minutes, rinse.
The lactic acid exfoliates, the fat soothes, and the proteins tighten pores. Skim milk doesn’t work as well because you need that fat content to avoid stripping your skin.
Smells weird. Works anyway.
9. Aloe Vera
Fresh aloe from a plant is best. Cut a leaf, scoop out the gel, rub it on your face. Leave it for 15 minutes or overnight if your skin tolerates it.
Aloe absorbs oil without drying you out. It’s also anti-inflammatory, so if your oily skin comes with breakouts, this handles both.
Store-bought aloe gel works but check the ingredients. If it has alcohol high on the list, skip it.
10. Honey
Raw honey. The cloudy, thick stuff, not the clear supermarket bear bottles.
Smooth a thin layer over your face, wait 10 minutes, rinse with warm water.
Honey is antimicrobial and humectant, meaning it pulls moisture into your skin without adding oil. Your skin stays hydrated, which prevents it from overproducing sebum to compensate for dryness.
This is the method for people whose oily skin is actually dehydrated skin in disguise. Try it for a week and see if your oil production calms down.
What Actually Works
Egg whites and apple cider vinegar deliver the fastest visible results. Yogurt and honey are better for long-term balance.
Don’t use all ten methods in one day. Pick two, rotate them, and give your skin a week to adjust. And stop washing your face twelve times a day. You’re making it worse.