Summer is here, a little too early this year, and people like me with oily skin are already crying about the amount of grease they will witness on their faces every day. Whether it’s getting up in the morning with a bucket full of oil on your T-zone or 10 minutes after stepping out of the shower, the oil shall follow you EVERYWHERE. The only place where it’ll leave you would be at the gym because well, you won’t be able to tell the sweat from oil.

Unfortunately, a lot of us have to make our peace with oily skin and it seems to be a very difficult task. Especially when you spot all the dry-looking people, going about their day, without worrying about the stickiness on their faces. Hurts, doesn’t it? It doesn’t have to, anymore, at least entirely.

Here are a few skincare tips for oily skin to help fight that shiny looking face this summer.

1) Invest in an oil-free sunscreen lotion

There are many types of sunscreen lotions available in the market. All you need to do is choose the oil-free one and by oil-free, we mean the ones that come with a matte finish. Because not only do these refrain from adding an extra layer of oil to your skin, they leave your skin looking dry. So protection along with that dry feeling, win-win! We personally recommend the La Shield sunscreen gel for its oil-free and non-comedogenic properties. It’s not something you’d find at makeup stores but at pharmacies or medical stores.

You may also buy it online here

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2) Get an oil-free primer or lotion

While this may sound like one of those many skincare tips for oily skin that you’ve heard a gazillion times, it’s actually very important. Applying an oil-free base should be a very important part of your skincare regime. Not only do oil-free lotions help your makeup stay on for longer, these beauties control excess oil and leave your skin feeling dry and matte. We’d recommend MAC’s oil-control lotion which has been touted as a holy grail product for oily skin by many bloggers and users. The thing I love about this lotion is that it provides an absolutely no-shine base for people with greasy skin, it is light in texture and has a very mild fragrance that is far from irritating. You may also use it as a primer depending on your makeup requirements however some people prefer using a primer over it to keep the makeup on for longer. It may come across as an expensive product to buy but you only need a pea-sized amount for regular usage and it really lasts for very long (almost two seasons). You can get it any MAC store.

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3) Hello oil-free blotting tissues

Yes, they are a thing. Replace your face wipes or wet wipes with oil-free blotting tissues. These are especially designed for oily/shiny skin as they absorb the excess oil from the skin while keeping the makeup absolutely intact. The Body Shop has these incredible Tea Tree Blotting Tissues that absorb excess oil and its tea tree properties also keep acne at bay. You can buy them at any Body Shop store.

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4) Stay away from hair oil

It’s a known fact that hair oil can work wonders for damaged hair, we can’t say the same about its effect on your skin. When you apply hair to your scalp, your oil glands absorb all that oil and it may result in greasier skin. If you can’t absolutely avoid applying hair oil then we suggest washing it off within two hours of application. Keeping it on overnight is a BIG NO!

5) Tone your skin from time to time

Another one of those old skincare tips for oily skin, use a toner. Toning your skin is very important especially when it’s prone to being greasy. Toning cleans almost all residual makeup/dirt and keeps your skin’s pockets clean and ready to be hydrated. Use apple cider vinegar dissolved with water to tone your skin if you don’t want to invest in expensive toners. Apple cider vinegar kills germs and keeps your skin feeling dry. You can buy apple cider vinegar at any supermarket near you.

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6) Exfoliate

Exfoliation helps in removing dead skin cells from the superficial layer of the skin. And believe me when I say it, dead skin cells and fresh oil do not make a good mix. If you have acne-prone skin, we would recommend mild exfoliation that helps clean the surface of the skin gently. If your skin is only oily (and acne-free) then regular exfoliation, twice a week, will help keep the grease at bay. Since exfoliating your skin at home can be a tad bit risky, we’d suggest an organic fruit scrub to help. Forest Essentials’ hand pounded organic fruit scrub is filled with goodness of organically grown dates, peaches and almond seeds along with  rich apricot kernel oil, pure honey and finely milled almonds.

You can buy it here or at any Forest Essentials store.

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7) Stay hydrated

The worst kept secret to glowing skin is plenty of water. Summer calls for more water. Drink at least 10 glasses of water every day for two weeks and notice the change in your skin.