Organic Skincare Meets Oily and Combination Skin

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Some people seem to hit the gorgeous skin jackpot. Others not so much. Thankfully, with every skin type, even with acne, oily skin, and combination skin, there are organic and nontoxic solutions.

Reasons behind acne and oily skin

There are many reasons people have oily skin.  Some of these things we have control over, some of them we do not. Genetics, age, hormones,  diet, and environment can all play a role.  For example, women are more apt to have acne problems right before their period each month, due to hormone changes. These things can trigger the body to make more oil, which can combine with dead skin cells to clog pores. On the good side, oil can also moisturize and make you less prone to wrinkles. To control the oil, changes like a cleaner diet with less refined sugars and processed foods can sometimes lead to a clearer face. And, the ingredients in skincare matters too.

Why organic?

You might hear dermatologists use the words, “oil-free” or “non comedogenic,” meaning that it won’t clog pores. And these are a good thing to look for. But these terms are not actually regulated, so do your own research and read your labels too.

Personally, I want to use organic skincare because I don’t want cheap fillers and toxic ingredients causing other unforeseen problems. I want quality ingredients that work together to help improve any skin issues. Specifically, I want to purchase from a company that follows the precautionary principal, “which means not using anything we believe could cause you, or the planet harm.” And I want to avoid certain ingredients that would clog pores or aggravate my skin.

Neal’s Yard Remedies does follow the precautionary principal and avoids using silicones, mineral oils, and petroleum derivites (propylene glycol, carbomer, acrylates).

Meet Palmarosa

Palmarosa is a relative of lemongrass and citronella. The essential oil is distilled and it has a pleasant, sweet, flora-rosy smell. It has great skin-care properties: balancing, hydrating dry skin while normalizing the sebum secretions of oily skin. It also tones and revitalizes. Palmarosa is at the heart of the skincare line by Neal’s Yard Remedies designed for oily and combination skin.

Here are a list of the products available through NYR Organic specifically for people with oily and combination skin. As with any skin care, you should try the products for at least a few weeks to see how they will really work for you. And please note that you can also mix and match with products from other lines too.

• Cleanse with Palmarosa Facial Wash. This is a water based facial wash, which is good for oily skin, as opposed to a cream based wash.
• Tone with Purifying Palmarosa Facial Toner. This is a very gentle astringent. It doesn’t sting or tingle like some of the drug store acne fighting astringents you might have tried. It has organic witch hazel, organic mahonia, and organic aloe vera leaf juice powder.
• Treat with Purifying Palmarosa Mattifier. This is a great product to control shine and oil. It goes on after toning but before moisturizing and provides a matte finish and minimizes the appearance of pores.
• Palmarosa Purifying  Facial Mask. I love this mask. It is definitely one of those masks that dries and cracks when you smile. (Unlike our White Tea Facial Mask which stays a little more pliable when it dries.) This mask makes your skin feel so smooth after rinsing. It has fabulous ingredients like toning organic alpine willowherb and mattifying kaolin.
• Moisturize with Purifying Palmarosa Daily Moisture (day) A fabulous light weight moisturizer that comes in a convenient pump!
• Moisturize with Beauty Sleep Concentrate (night). I like to call this my first favorite Neal’s Yard Remedies product. It is good for all skin types. It is scientifically formulated to support your skins natural night time regeneration, and also helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.  You can read more about it here.
• Exfoliate with Purifying Palmarosa Facial Polish. This is a gentle exfoliator. The gritty pieces are lotus seed powder and wild rosehip seed powder. It also has kaolin, a natural clay mineral. There is no need to be harsh with ingredients or with the pressure of your hands. You don’t want to trigger higher oil production when the skin tries to rebalance itself.

Skincare Recommendations

Besides using the correct products, here are some recommendations to follow in your skincare routine.

1. Read your ingredients. Using a mild cleanser without synthetic fragrances or other toxic ingredients.
2. Moisturize regularly. If your skin dries out too much, it can start to overproduce oil. But use a lighter lotion instead of something heavy and pore-clogging.
3. Take care with your makeup too. Look for organic, water based formulas.
4. Wash your face before bed. Any extra makeup overnight can acne.
5. Combination skin is when you have oily skin in some places and normal or dry skin in others. Treat your skin as it needs to be treated. This could mean using a more nourishing moisturizer on any dry patches.
6. Remember skin changes with age. Don’t assume the skin you have now will always be.

Have any of these tips helped you? I’d love to hear about it in the comments. Also, join my Organic VIP group to stay up to date on the latest NYR Organic deals and information!