Looking greasy is not the only problem that comes with having oily skin. Usually, it’s something that also causes large pores and lots of pimples. But the good news is putting oiliness under control is enough to ward off secondary cosmetic issues. But women with oily skin know that it’s not an easy task at all!

Frustrated that your oily skin doesn’t seem to want to cooperate? Make sure that you steer clear of doing things that are proven time and again to exacerbate the problem. See which of the following you are guilty of:

Washing Constantly

It can be very tempting to rush to the sink to wash your face the minute that it starts gleaming all over again. But did you know that it’s something that can actually make your skin oilier than before?

Washing your face all the time causes dryness. And when your oil glands sense it, they will spring into action and produce lots and lots of oils in an attempt to control skin dryness. It’s a vicious cycle — the more you try to get rid of the oils by frequently washing, the more oils will show up!

Experts say that you should wash your face no more than 2 to 3 times a day, using a mild facial wash. In between face washings, simply get rid of the oil with blotting paper to eliminate shine.

Skipping Moisturizing

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not just women with dry skin that should regularly apply moisturizer, but everybody else — including those with normal and even oily skin.

Just because your skin produces lots of oil doesn’t mean that it is getting enough moisture. Always remember that oil is not water. And it’s because of this why you should still regularly apply moisturizer even if you have oily skin.

However, it’s very important for you to opt for the right moisturizer. When shopping for one, look for something that is formulated for oily skin — it contains no ingredient that can leave the pores clogged. It’s a definite no-no for the pores to end up clogged if you have oily skin as it will cause black heads and pimples to appear.

Getting Too Much Sun

Allowing your skin to be touched by the sun can be very tempting to make your skin shine a lot less. While it’s a good idea to get enough sunlight, getting to much is not a good thing whether or not you have oily skin.

So aside from moisturizing, you should also apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 in order to shield your skin from the damaging effects of the sun’s UV rays. If you skip wearing sunscreen, you will only end up facing more problems than just oiliness, and some of them include age spots, wrinkles and deadly skin cancer.

Luckily, there are lots of sunscreens out there that are meant for oily skin. Go for something with the lightest formulation to keep the pores from ending up clogged.

Exfoliating Excessively

Since the pores of someone like you who has oily skin should be kept from becoming clogged to avoid added issues, it is a good idea for you to exfoliate on a regular basis to keep the pores free of debris.

But just because exfoliating can be beneficial doesn’t mean that you should perform it on a daily basis. If you do that, you can expect to have not only an even oilier face, but also irritated skin. According to experts, you should limit skin exfoliation to twice a week only to prevent the skin from irritation and damage.

Some of the mildest exfoliating agents out there are homemade ones, such as baking soda or brown sugar with a little honey or olive oil, or rolled oats with a little water.