Are you tired of your oily skin?
I know I was!
Yes, there may be a sea of products promising to reduce oiliness, to mattify or reduce shine…But even if they work, they do so only temporarily.
I want to give you something better.
Something proved to slash oily skin by up to 70%!
Something that gives lasting results, and, in my experience, reduces the oil so much so that you end up with perfectly dewy skin, instead of an oily mess!
Let's dive in into the only topical treatments you will need to manage your oily skin once and for all.
WHY YOU NEED DHT BLOCKERS TO REDUCE OILY SKIN
If you are an adult woman with acne, you want as little dihydrotestosterone (DHT) as possible.
You might have heard of the acne-inducing effect of testosterone or androgen hormones in general (both men and women have them).
However, it is actually DHT, a form of testosterone, that's the culprit!
This is the androgen hormone that stimulates the sebum-producing glands in your skin, which makes your skin oily. The more testosterone you have, the more DHT will be produced, too.
There is a special enzyme doing the conversion process of testosterone to DHT. It is called 5-alpha reductase.
Luckily, there are substances that block the action of 5-alpha reductase, called DHT blockers. DHT blockers help you decrease the excessive sebum production by decreasing the amount of DHT produced.
That's excellent news for anyone with oily acne-prone skin!
Ok, how do we use them and what are they? Read on.
DHT BLOCKER #1: UNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS
Essential fatty acids, including gamma-linolenic acid (source) and linoleic acid (source) are among the known DHT blockers.
Linoleic acid is found abundantly in certain plant-based oils, including hemp seed oil and grapeseed oil.
Those were the exact oils that turned my skin from oily to normal – within 6 months or so. No, not even combination skin, just dewy, clear skin!
Related: Prevent Acne And Breakouts With Linoleic Acid
My choice:
Hemp seed oil – This is my top recommendation for oily acne-prone skin. Keep it in the fridge!
Grapeseed oil – very light, absorbs quickly and does not leave a greasy residue. I recommend it to those who are just starting with oils in their skincare and generally have reactive and sensitive skin dried out by conventional acne treatments.
Linoleic acid is not the only fatty acid to have this effect. Gamma-linolenic acid, another DHT blocker, is one of the least common omega-6 fatty acids in nature.
Luckily, we find it in evening primrose oil (EPO) and borage oil. Evening primrose contains 9% of the GLA, whereas borage oil contains about 23%, so it's more potent.
Depending on how oily your skin actually is, any of them might be a good choice.
That said, I would definitely go for the hemp seed or grapeseed oil first. If you think that's not powerful enough, you can try using oil blends with GLA.
My choice:
Barlean's Evening Primrose Oil
How to use it: Take a small tsp of the high-linoleic acid oil (such as hemp seed oil or grapeseed oil), then dilute the capsule of GLA supplement in it. Apply immediately to clean skin. Best done at night.
Never used oils on your face before? Make sure to start slow, because your skin might not be ready for oils. Some skin types simply cannot tolerate oils. If you find that your skin is breaking out more after introducing oils, stop the usage.
DHT BLOCKER #2: ZINC
Zinc is a key player for clear and healthy skin. More often than not, acne patients are severely deficient in zinc.
While we must work on upping our consumption of zinc through diet, and allowing its proper absorption, it also works so well when applied topically! I find it to be a very soothing, anti-inflammatory and shine-reducing ingredient.
But how do we apply it on our skin? Glad you asked!
There are heaps of zinc in daily mineral sunscreen formulations that contain zinc oxide as their sun-blocking ingredient.
My choice: Marie Veronique Everyday Coverage Tinted Sunscreen SPF 30 (it also mattifies SO well!)
How to use it: At the end of your skincare routine, apply a thin layer over your face.
DHT BLOCKER #3: GREEN TEA EXTRACT
This DHT blocker may be mightier of them all!
Green tea extract contains a substance called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which is a DHT blocker (evidence here and here).
In fact, studies have shown that green tea extract, when applied topically, can reduce oily skin by 70% and reduce acne by even 50%!
In addition, it also reduces the skin’s genetic sensitivity to androgen hormones and offers photoprotection, mitigating some of the aging (and acne-inducing) effects of the sun exposure.
And it gets even better!
When we combine zinc and green tea extract, we get a super powerful combo for oily skin!
Again, we find both of them in selected daily SPF formulations.
Using non-nano zinc oxide as a physical sunscreen is my preferred way of sun protection (for a good reason). If it also contains heaps of green tea extract, like the Marie Veronique one, it's definitely a winner!
Truthfully, there are many other products out there that contain a green tea extract, but I rarely find a product that's completely natural, non-toxic and non-comedogenic (won't clog pores), so I get pretty excited when I find a good one!
DHT BLOCKER #4: SEA BUCKTHORN OIL
This oil does wonders for the oily skin. In clinical studies, it has been shown to reduce the oiliness by up to 40%!
It also makes the skin less sensitive to testosterone and more importantly, DHT (just like the green tea extract).
If you are naturally prone to oily skin, that's exactly what you want!
Sea buckthorn oil contains two anti-androgen compounds, beta-sitosterol and stigmasterol, along with vitamin A, which work together to reduce the oil production in the skin.
My advice is to start with the high-linoleic acid oils, and use them consistently during 2-3 months. If you feel you need something stronger, try out sea buckthorn oil or GLA in addition.
My choice: Sea Buckthorn Berry Oil – 100% Pure Virgin Cold-Pressed
How to use it: Use it instead of your moisturizer at night, starting with a small area of your face. Slowly increase the area during several days as your skin adjusts. You can also dilute it with a high-linoleic acid oil suitable for oily skin, like hemp seed oil or grapeseed oil.
TAKE ACTION NOW
I hope that you feel inspired now and see that it doesn't have to be impossible to reduce the oiliness.
Start out with your chosen high-linoleic acid oil and a daily SPF that contains both zinc and green tea extract. Other non-comedogenic products that contain green extract are welcome, too!
For a comprehensive guide to reducing oily skin from the inside, check out the following blog post:
Related: How to Get Rid Of Oily Skin – 5 Action Steps!
In radiant skin health,
Sara
Questions! Have you ever used any of these remedies for oily skin yourself? How do you manage your oily skin?
P.S. Some of the above links are affiliate links. Thank you for your support!
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Thanks for all your emails and articles!! I have very oily skin. I’m trying The Ordinary topical Niacinimide and zinc, their caffeine solution with 3% EGCG green tea extract, and today I just got their virgin sea buckthorn berry oil. Can’t wait to see if they work. Thanks again!
That sounds awesome!:))) Make sure to also follow my dietary guidelines from my Clear Skin Diet free email course:))
Nice article! Nature of my skin is oily and I want to treat it by following your blog. Thanks for sharing.
So glad to hear you find it helpful!:) I hope you see good results!
My dear Sara, I am from Bosnia and I am not available to buy the oils that you recommend here. I can only find oils from site iHerb, so I found only hemp seed oil from Nativa Organic. I have dried and dehydrated skin with a lot of comedones, so I would like to use sunflower or jojoba oil rather. I read that you recommend Dr Adorable and Teddie Organic for this oils, but they are not available on iHerb. Could you recommend some replacement for sunflower and jojoba oil that are available on iHerb or on our domestic market (Bosnia).
I follow your site for years. A lot of greetings for you