You want a glowing look on your face—but just the right amount of luminous and nothing too greasy.

As you probably know, the body naturally produces oil to keep the skin young and healthy.

However, when there’s too much of it, it doesn’t look nice at all.

Plus, it can lead to problems like acne and blemishes.

Excessive production of sebum or skin oil is the primary cause of oily skin [1].

Diet, age and weather are some other factors that seem to have an effect on the skin’s oil production [1].

It’s a good thing oily skin can be remedied using natural and safe remedies that you can do at home.

1. Apples

An apple a day keeps the oil away?

Beauty experts have long acknowledged that the topical use of apples produces many fantastic benefits for the skin.

Apples are said to have antioxidant, anti-aging, astringent and soothing properties, all of which make it an ideal remedy for oily skin [2].

Its malic acid can absorb oil from the surface of the skin and at the same time, get rid of dead skin cells [3].

Since these fruits are loaded with many essential nutrients—the same one that keep illnesses at bay—you can expect that apples can also help nourish your skin from within.

What You’ll Need:

• 1 apple
• 2 to 3 apples

Recommended Directions:

• Slice an apple into two.
• Grate both of the apple halves.
• Put shredded apple on your face.
• Let it sit for 15 minutes before rinsing with cool water.
• Do this once a day.
• Cut two to three apples into cubes.
• Snack on apple cubes throughout the day or add them to your dishes or desserts.
• Make it a habit to eat apple everyday not only to nourish your body but also your skin.

2. Milk

Milk has been used since the ancient times as a top beauty secret.

In fact, the story about Cleopatra taking a bath in milk has been told countless times.

History experts attest that there’s truth to this story.

Right now, many still use milk to combat skin problems like overactive sebaceous glands.

Lactic acid, a main compound in milk, has been used in numerous skincare products, and has been found effective in exfoliating the skin, getting rid of oiliness and restoring the skin’s proper pH balance [4, 5, 6].

Since this compound also has potent anti-aging effects, using milk on your skin can also help maintain its youthful and fresh appearance.

This is something that you’d like to consider if you want to preserve your young-looking skin.

What You’ll Need:

• 2 tablespoons of milk
• 3 drops of lavender oil
• 1 carton of milk
• 10 drops of rose oil
• Bath water

Recommended Directions:

• Combine milk and lavender oil.
• Use a cotton pad to apply solution on your face.
• Repeat once a day until skin oiliness subsides.
• Pour a carton of milk in your bath water.
• Add ten drops of rose oil.
• Swish bath water with your fingers.
• Soak in the tub for 30 minutes.
• Dry your skin with a clean towel.
• Do this remedy once a week.

3. Cucumbers

When it comes to puffy eyes, cucumbers are the number one remedy that people think of.

These are not only very popular but also highly effective.

What some people don’t know is that cucumbers can also ward off oily skin.

Cucumbers contain an important nutrient for skin health called silica, which keeps the skin firm and healthy [7].

Silica also helps improve the elasticity of the skin, and boosts its ability to repair itself [7].

A 2011 study published in the African Journal of Biotechnology reports that cucumbers have cooling, soothing and “anti-sebum secretion” properties that are beneficial for people whose skin types are characterized as oily [8].

This means that the active compounds in cucumber inhibits the overproduction of sebum, which leads to oily skin.

This conclusion was reached after participants with oily skin used 3 percent cucumber extract on their faces for four weeks [8].

In addition to this, cucumbers also appear to have bleaching and moisturizing properties [8].

What You’ll Need:

• 3 slices of cucumber
• 1 whole cucumber
• 1 tablespoon of honey

Recommended Directions:

• Gently rub cucumber on your face.
• Do this everyday before sleeping.
• Wash it off the next morning with cool water.
• Peel off one whole cucumber.
• Cut cucumber into small cubes.
• Put in a blender.
• Add honey.
• Blend until consistency is smooth.
• Transfer contents to a jar with a lid.
• Put in the refrigerator.
• Before using, put it out in room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Apply on the skin.
• Wash it off with cool water after 30 minutes.
• Repeat three times a week for one month.

4. Clary Sage

Clary sage oil comes from a perennial herb that’s known to have various therapeutic purposes [9].

It works as an astringent, antibacterial, antidepressant, antispasmodic, carminative, digestive, hypotensive and sedative, among others.

When it comes to skincare, the use of this essential oil is a boon for people with oily skin.

That’s because it does a fantastic job controlling the overproduction of sebum and at the same time, keeps the skin free from harmful microbes, thanks to its antimicrobial properties [9].

With its soothing and calming effects, clary sage can also keep your stress levels down, which is good since stress is said to aggravate oily skin.

What You’ll Need:

• 3 drops of clary sage oil

Recommended Directions:

• Apply clary sage oil on your skin using a cotton ball.
• Do this remedy every night before going to bed.

5. Apple Cider Vinegar

A pale amber vinegar, apple cider vinegar is made from apple and cider.

It has many uses for the home, health and hygiene.

Also, there are many beauty benefits that come with using apple cider vinegar on the skin.

Earth Clinic explains that apple cider vinegar controls the excessive production of sebum, so there’s no need to worry too much about having a shiny face.

Moreover, this “natural beauty agent” can also help keep the skin healthy and young, as well as blemish free.

It’s one of those few natural skincare solutions that can also be used for the hair.

What it does is get rid of chemical buildup to promote healthier hair and scalp.

What You’ll Need:

• 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar
• 3/4 cup of water

Recommended Directions:

• Mix apple cider vinegar with water.
• Use a cotton ball to apply this solution on your face.
• Leave it on for 10 minutes.
• Wash off with cool water.
• Repeat three times a week.

6. Lemon Oil

Lemons are a nutritional powerhouse containing vitamin C, B vitamins, vitamin A, vitamin E, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium and protein.

However, it’s important to know that the fruit is not only one overflowing with health benefits, so does the oil extracted from this plant.

Also a staple in the beauty chest of people who prefer natural beauty solutions, lemon oil is much loved for its antiseptic and astringent properties [9].

It doesn’t only rejuvenate tired and dull skin, it also detoxifies and gets rid of blemishes that are typical with oily skin [9].

It’s one of the few essential oils beneficial to all skin types: normal, dry and oily [10].

If you’d like a quick and natural solution for your oily skin, try applying a combination of lemon oil and honey.

What You’ll Need:

• 4 drops of lemon oil
• 1 teaspoon of honey

Recommended Directions:

• Blend lemon oil and honey.
• Spread a thin layer of this mixture on your face.
• Wait for 10 minutes before rinsing with cold water.
• Repeat every other day.

7. Aloe Vera

Traditional healers have relied on aloe vera for treating a wide range of ailments including constipation, sunburn, wounds, parasitic infestation, bacterial infections, cold sores, colic and many more.

Apart from resolving several health issues, it also has countless benefits for the skin.

Since the ancient times, aloe vera has been recognized for its wonderful effects on the skin, including its ability to promote healing [11].

Over the years, researchers have discovered that aloe vera protects the skin in various ways such as preventing skin aging, promoting re-growth of skin cells, and healing skin irritations [12].

Moreover, it can also tone down excessive oil on the skin and help keep it free from unsightly blemishes.

When you apply aloe vera gel on your skin regularly, you’ll notice that it’s kept moisturized and hydrated, but it doesn’t become too oily.

It retains moisture in the skin, but does not cause an overproduction of sebum.

What You’ll Need:

• 1 aloe vera leaf
• 1 cup of water

Recommended Directions:

• Break the aloe vera leaf into two.
• Scoop out the gel.
• Dissolve this in water.
• Use this mixture to wash your face.
• Repeat every other day.

8. Grapefruit Oil

Grapefruit is named as such because it resembled the appearance of clusters of grapes.

Like other fruits, this one is also loaded with nutrients that are important for the health.

However, you don’t have to eat its fruit to enjoy its benefits.

You can also use its essential oil, which is extracted and cold pressed from the fruit peel.

There are many benefits that you can get from this oil, which is said to have an invigorating and energizing aroma, stress reducing effects, and weight loss benefits.

Also, this list won’t be complete without this oil, which has always been a popular ingredient in skin and hair products [13].

It is among the essential oils that are said to be beneficial for oily skin [10].

According to Organic Facts, grapefruit oil can refresh and rejuvenate the skin, control oiliness, and keep it clean.

What You’ll Need:

• 3 drops of grapefruit oil

Recommended Directions:

• Soak a cotton ball in grapefruit oil.
• Apply on your face.
• Do this remedy every night before going to bed.

9. Tea Tree Oil

One of the most researched medicinal oils is tea tree oil.

For many years, people have used it to treat chest congestion, flu, colds, athlete’s foot, bad breath, respiratory tract infection, ear ache, cold sores, chickenpox, and many more.

The use of tea tree oil in beauty has also become popular over the recent decades [14].

For skincare, it is primarily used for its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic actions [14, 15].

It has also been found to be effective in controlling over production of oil in the skin [9].

Since skin oiliness can increase the appearance of blemishes like acne, it would also be a good idea to take advantage of tea tree oil’s anti-acne properties.

What You’ll Need:

• 3 drops of tea tree oil
• 1 teaspoon of olive oil

Recommended Directions:

• Dip cotton ball in tea tree oil mixed with olive oil.
• Gently rub cotton ball on your face.
• Leave it on for 10 minutes before rinsing with cool water.

10. Ylang-Ylang Oil

Another essential oil that’s beneficial whether you have dry or oily skin is ylang-ylang, which is native to the Philippines, Madagascar and Indonesia [9].

Ylang ylang oil is derived from the petals of the ylang ylang tree, which means “flower of flowers”.

It was named as such because of its pleasant floral scent.

It’s interesting to know that ylang ylang oil is one of the ingredients of the world famous Chanel No. 5 perfume.

As if this is not enough, you’ll also be glad to know that ylang-ylang has a relaxing effect on the mind and body [16].

Application of this oil on the skin can lower blood pressure and stress levels [16].

Stress, as mentioned earlier, can aggravate skin oiliness.

What You’ll Need:

• 3 drops of ylang-ylang oil

Recommended Directions:

• Pour ylang-ylang oil on a cotton pad.
• Blot your face with this cotton pad.
• Repeat once a day before going to bed.

Banish oily skin with these safe, effective and inexpensive home remedies that are very simple to make.

If you’re going to use essential oils, just make sure that you dilute them first in water or carrier oils to avoid unpleasant reactions such as skin irritation.

As long you follow proper procedure for preparation and application, these remedies can help you bid goodbye to oily skin for good.