Homemade Astringent for Oily Skin

If you struggle with oily skin, you are probably frustrated. You may have tried everything under the sun to get rid of that sheen on your face, but no avail.

This is because there isn’t anything you can do to get rid of oily skin for good. It lies woven into your genetic make-up, something you have as much control over as the color of your eyes, or how curly your hair is.

People who have chronically oily skin just have it in their genes to be more sensitive to androgen, to make more sebum. Larger pores equate to oily skin as well, as more sebum can be released.

Just because you can’t kick the oil forever, doesn’t mean there aren’t things that you can do to help manage it, but you should understand a few misconceptions about clearing up your skin first (read tips.)

The silver lining to having oily skin is that you won’t show your age as much as those without because all that sebum means you will have supple skin that wrinkles less, and looks youthful.

Astringent stimulates blood circulation as well as the entire skin system, reduces oiliness and assists in refining pores of rough, unevenly textured skin.

It has many uses in the cosmetic and medicinal field because of its antiseptic and antibacterial properties that help in getting rid of bacteria and excess dirt from the pores and underlying skin.

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Benefits of the Ingredients
① Lemon is an astringent, which means it causes contraction of tissues, in this of case your skin and pores. Reducing the size of your pores will reduce the amount of sebum coming out of them, and your face ends up less oily.

② The aloe gel you should use in this recipe is the all-natural kind, not the green gel you usually see, but clear. If the lemon dries your skin out, the aloe helps bring back light, balanced moisture.

③ Note that lemon juice can lighten skin – so if you have freckles be aware of this.

It will also make you more sensitive to the sun, so avoid extended exposure to U.V. rays for 24 hours after application, or apply extra sunscreen.

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You’ll Need:

• 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon of aloe vera (fresh or the store-bought one in clear color)
• Cotton balls or cotton pads

Directions:
① Mix lemon juice and aloe thoroughly and then soak cotton balls in the mixture.
② Apply to your face, paying specific attention to your T-zone (forehead, and either side of your nose, where there is a high concentration of sebum producing glands.)

③ Let the mixture dry. You can then leave it on, or if you have more sensitive skin, rinse off gently with just water. Pat your face dry and apply pure aloe or a light moisturizer.