12 DIY Face Masks for Oily Skin (Control Oil Secretion)

Shiny hair, lips, and nails work great to amplify your look for a night out. But an oily T-zone? Not so much!

Oily skin is one of the most frustrating and problematic skin types. You wash your face in the morning, and after 2 hours, you look no less than a grease ball.

If you can relate to the scenario, then you also know that oily skin gives rise to a host of other skin problems. As if having an oily skin was any less of torture!

Sebaceous glands produce oil as a defense against dry skin. However, in certain individuals, including you perhaps, these glands produce more oil than normal. This can be due to genetics, your hormones, or the environment you live in.

Excessive oil production by your skin leads to perpetually clogged pores, which then give rise to breakouts, acne, blackheads, and whiteheads.

However, there are practices you can adopt and DIY face masks that you can apply weekly to banish the grease for good.

Also, you need not break the bank for this. Just rake up your pantry, and you should find most of the stuff there. Everyday ingredients such as lemons, fruits, oats, and clay work miraculously to get rid of oily skin.

Lemon Face Masks

Method 1: Lemon and Yogurt

The citric acid present in lemon can help neutralize and control the natural oil secretion of your skin.

Yogurt, on the other hand, contains lactic acid that acts as a natural cleanser, sloughing off dead skin cells and excess oil that may give rise to acne breakouts.

Things you’ll need:

• Fresh lemon juice (control oil secretion) – 2 tablespoons
• Yogurt (skin cleanser) – 2 tablespoons

Step 1. Combine lemon juice and yogurt

• Take 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt in a bowl.
• Add 2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice to it.
• Use a hand blender to form a consistent paste.

Step 2. Apply the face mask once weekly

• Using a face pack brush, apply the paste all over the face, leaving the area around the eyes.
• Leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes, and then rinse with warm water.
• Apply an oil-free, non-comedogenic moisturizer.

Use this DIY face mask for oily skin once a week.

Method 2: Baking Soda and Lemon

Baking soda is an excellent ingredient for oily and clogged skin. It helps maintain the pH balance of your skin and thus prevent breakouts.

Lemon works as an antibacterial agent, preventing skin troubles and also controls oil secretion. Lemon also works as a lightening agent to lighten skin tone.

Things you’ll need:

• Baking soda (maintain pH balance) – 2 tablespoons
• Lemon juice (control oil secretion) – 1 tablespoon

Step 1. Mix baking soda and lemon juice in a bowl

• Take 2 tablespoons of baking soda in a bowl.
• Add 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice to it.
• Mix the two well. The baking soda will start to bubble up, which is normal.

Step 2. Apply the baking soda–lemon face pack

• Apply the face mask, avoiding the eye area.
• Rub the mask in slow, circular motions around the oily T-zone.
• Let it sit not more than 15 minutes. Rinse it off with cool water.
• Then apply a non-comedogenic moisturizer.

Use the baking soda–lemon face mask not more than once a week to keep oily skin in check.

Method 3: Lemon and Turmeric

This mask can be used as a natural exfoliating scrub for oily skin. The mask uses gram flour that helps slough off dead skin cells, accumulated oil, and grime from the pores.

The turmeric adds antibacterial and anti-acne properties to the mask and also helps take away tanning. The milk, containing lactic acid, acts as a cleanser, and the lemon helps control oil secretion.

Things you’ll need:

• Gram flour (exfoliator) – 2 tablespoons
• Milk (cleanser) – ¼ cup
• Turmeric powder (antibacterial) – ½ teaspoon
• Lemon juice (control oil secretion) – ½ teaspoon

Step 1. Mix gram flour, turmeric, milk, and lemon juice

• Put 2 tablespoons of gram flour in a bowl.
• Add ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder to the flour.
• Pour ¼ cup of milk and mix all the ingredients well.
• Finish by adding ½ teaspoon of lemon juice to the mix.
• Use a hand blender to get a lump-free paste.

Step 2. Apply the lemon–turmeric face pack once a week

• Apply the face pack evenly all over your face.
• Let the pack work on your face for a good 10 minutes.
• Rinse it off with water and apply a non-comedogenic moisturizer.

Use the mask for weekly exfoliation and to prevent oily skin.

Fruit Face Masks

Method 1: Banana

Bananas are not just essential for the morning energy kick but also give you healthy skin. The fruit contains vitamins A, B, E, and potassium.

Mixed with some lemon and honey, bananas can also prevent acne by controlling natural oil secretion of your skin.

Things you’ll need:

• Ripe banana (reduce blemishes) – 1
• Honey (antibacterial) – 1 tablespoon
• Lemon juice (control oil secretion) – 1 tablespoon

Step 1. Mix honey and lemon juice in a mashed banana

• Take a ripe banana and mash it thoroughly using a fork.
• Add 1 each of lemon juice and honey.
• Using a hand blender, mix the three to form a consistent paste.

Step 2. Apply the banana mask

• Apply the banana face pack all over your face and neck.
• Leave it for 15 minutes, before rinsing it off with cool water.
• Follow it with a moisturizer.

Use the DIY face mask for oily skin 2 times a week to get blemish-free skin.

Method 2: Cucumber

Cucumbers are the most inexpensive way of treating oily skin and its related troubles. Its astringent properties help tighten skin pores and remove sebum, dirt, and dead skin cells from the skin surface.

Cucumbers also contain Vitamin C that helps maintain the oil balance of your skin. Adding some lemon juice increases the oil-controlling properties of the mask.

This face pack contains Fuller’s earth clay, which works as an oil-absorbing agent. Additionally, it helps tighten the skin pores and improve the overall appearance of your face.

Things you’ll need:

• Fuller’s earth (oil absorbing) – 2 tablespoons
• Lemon juice (control oil secretion) – 1 tablespoon
• Cucumber juice (works as astringent) – 2 tablespoons

Step 1. Mix fuller’s earth, lemon juice, and cucumber juice

• Take 2 tablespoons of Fuller’s earth in a bowl.
• Add 2 tablespoons of fresh cucumber juice to it.
• Also add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and mix everything together.

Step 2. Apply the cucumber face pack once weekly

• Use a cosmetic brush to apply an even layer of the pack on your face.
• Let the mask stay for 15 minutes or until it dries completely.
• Wash it off with cold or warm water, as per your liking.
• Do remember to apply a moisturizer afterwards as the clay can dry out your skin.

Apply the DIY face mask weekly to maintain oil-free skin.

Method 3: Tomato

Tomatoes have natural astringent properties. Hence, a tomato mask can prove effective at dissolving extra oil from your skin’s surface while also shrinking the size of large-looking pores.

You can either apply tomato juice/pulp directly or add in some honey to keep the skin hydrated.

Things you’ll need:

• Tomato pulp (dissolves excess oil) – 1 tablespoon
• Honey (hydrates skin) – 1 tablespoon

Step 1. Combine tomato pulp and honey

• Combine equal quantities (1 tablespoon) of tomato pulp and honey.

Step 2. Mix and apply the tomato face mask 2 to 3 times per week

• Mix the two well to form an even paste. You can also use fresh tomato juice instead of the pulp.
• Apply the mix on your face, especially the T-zone. Do avoid the eye area.
• Let it sit for 15 minutes, and then rinse off with water.

Use the mask 2 to 3 times a week to get rid of oily skin.

Egg Face Mask

Method 1: Egg White and Yogurt

Egg white serves as an excellent pore cleanser. It also helps shrink the size of pores and, thus, reduce sebum production.

Mix it with some plain yogurt, another facial cleanser and use the mask to get flawless skin.

Things you’ll need:

• Egg white of 1 egg (shrinks pores)
• Yogurt (cleanser) – 1 tablespoon

Step 1. Mix egg white and plain yogurt

• Break an egg and extract the egg white in a container. You can use the yolk to make a DIY hair mask for greasy hair.
• Add 1 tablespoon of plain yogurt.
• Whisk the two into a paste with a hand blender.

Step 2. Apply the egg face mask once a week

• Apply a layer (should be thick) of the egg white face mask.
• Keep it on for 15 minutes or until has turned hard and dry.
• Rinse it off with warm water and apply a non-comedogenic moisturizer.

Apply this DIY face mask for oily skin once a week for firm-looking skin.

Oats Face Mask

Method 1: Oats and Avocado

Oats are another everyday ingredient that can work wonders on your skin. As they are highly absorbent, they help draw out excess sebum from the pores and thus reduce oiliness of the skin.

The pack uses avocado, which is rich in essential fats and antioxidants that help maintain skin healthy without making it oily. You can also use avocado to make a nourishing hair mask at home.

Things you’ll need:

• Oatmeal (exfoliates skin) – ½ cup
• Ripe avocado (nourishes skin) – ½

Step 1.  Soak oats in water and mash the avocado

• Pour ½ cup of oats in a bowl.
• Add enough water to wet the oats sufficiently. This will help soften the oats.
• Let them soak in the water for 5 minutes.
• Scoop out half of a ripe avocado in a separate bowl.
• Mash it thoroughly with a fork.

Step 2. Mix the oats and mashed avocado

• Add the mashed avocado to the soaked oats.
• Mix the two well.
• Apply the paste on your face for 15 minutes.
• Wash it off with cool water.
• Apply an oil-free moisturizer.

Use the mask once a week to exfoliate your skin and prevent excess oil build-up.

Method 2: Oats–Lemon–Honey

If you find the avocado oats mask too thick to apply, simply mix oats with honey and lemon juice to form an effective anti-oil exfoliating face mask.

Things you’ll need:

• Oats (exfoliates skin) – ½ cup
• Honey (hydrates and heals skin) – 1 tablespoon
• Lemon juice (controls oil secretion) – 1 tablespoon

Step 1. Mix oats, honey, and lemon juice

• Put ½ cup of oats in a bowl.
• Add 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.
• Mix all the ingredients thoroughly.

Step 2. Apply the face mask

• Use a spoon to apply the mask on your face and neck.
• Keep it on for 10 to 15 minutes, and then rinse with tepid water.
• Follow it with a mild moisturizer.

Use it 1 or 2 times every week to exfoliate your oily skin.

Clay Face Mask

Method 1: Bentonite Clay

Bentonite clay, commonly referred to as green clay, is another effective mask for oily skin. The clay is highly absorbent and can soak up excess sebum from the skin.

It also works as an astringent to shrink and tighten irritated and enlarged pores. You can use it as it is or add yogurt to improve the cleansing properties of the mask.

Things you’ll need:

• Bentonite clay (absorbs oil) – 2 tablespoons
• Yogurt (cleanser) – 2 tablespoons

Step 1.  Add plain yogurt to Bentonite clay

• Take 2 tablespoons of Bentonite clay in a bowl.
• Add to it 2 tablespoons of unflavored yogurt.

Step 2. Mix the ingredients and apply the paste on your face

• Mix the clay and yogurt to form a smooth paste.
• Use a face mask applicator brush to apply a thin and even layer of the paste on your face and neck.
• Let the mask dry for 10 minutes, and then rinse it off with cool water.
• Apply a moisturizer suitable for oily skin.

Use it once a week to control excessive oily skin.

Method 2: Fuller’s Earth

DIY face mask made using Fuller’s earth is quiet popular for soaking oil and dirt from oily skin surface. It is also very effective for treating acne and pimples, which more often than not are a result of excessive sebum production by your skin.

The mask also uses rose water that helps cool down irritated skin and also maintain its pH level, preventing further breakouts. The lemon juice helps control oil production and also improves skin tone.

Things you’ll need:

• Fuller’s earth (absorbs oil) – 2 tablespoons
• Rose water (cools off skin) – 1 tablespoon
• Lemon juice (control oil secretion) – ½ tablespoon

Step 1. Combine fuller’s earth, lemon juice, and rose water

• Pour 2 tablespoons of Fuller’s earth in a bowl.
• Add ½ tablespoon of fresh lemon juice.
• Add around 1 tablespoon of rose water.
• Mix all the ingredients to form a spreadable paste. You can add in more rose water, if needed.

Step 2. Apply the clay face pack once weekly for oil-free skin

• Apply a thick layer of the face mask, leaving the area surrounding the eyes.
• Keep the mask on for 10 minutes or until it dries completely.
• Wash it off with warm water.
• Follow it with a light moisturizer.

Use this mask once a week to get rid of oily skin.

Aloe Vera Face Mask

Method 1: Aloe Vera and Honey

Aloe vera too works as an astringent, drawing out excess oil from the skin pores. As it contains 90% water, it also hydrates the skin.

You can also mix it with honey, which acts as a humectant, drawing moisture to the skin, without turning it oily.

Things you’ll need:

• Aloe vera gel (astringent) – 2 tablespoons
• Honey (humectant) – 1 tablespoon

Step 1. Blend together aloe vera gel and honey

• Take 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel in a bowl. It is better to use fresh aloe vera gel for this purpose.
• Add 1 tablespoon of honey.
• Mix the two with a hand blender.

Step 2. Apply the aloe–honey mix on your face

• Using a cosmetic brush, apply the mix all over your face, except the eye area.
• Leave it for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Wash it off with lukewarm water and pat dry.

Reapply this DIY face mask for oily skin 3 to 4 times a week to get supple skin.

Additional Tips

• Use a gel-based or foaming cleanser to clean your face 2 to 3 times in a day to remove accumulated oil and dirt.
• Use an alcohol-free facial toner every day for regulating sebum production.
• Always apply a moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated. Lack of moisture will encourage the sebaceous glands to produce even more oil.
• Always wear a sunscreen when stepping out. Learn how to make your own homemade sunscreen here.
• Avoid eating sugary foods and drink lots of water throughout the day to flush out toxins.
• Eat lots of green vegetables and fruits as they naturally help regulate oil production.

Summary of DIY Face Masks for Oily Skin

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