Basil Lemon Facial Tonic For Oily Skin

Oily skin happens when the sebaceous glands are overactive and produce more oil than is necessary. The oil overflows and gives the skin a greasy shine.

Oily skin needs cleansing to prevent the pores from getting clogged. You want to avoid harsh products that will strip your skin of it's natural oil and cause flakiness. You also want to avoid products that will leave your skin feeling taut and dehydrated. They cause the upper layers of the skin to shrink and this restricts the oil flow through the pores, which leads to blockages and breakouts.

When washing your face you want to use hot water as it dissolves the oil better. You want to limit to washing your face two or three times a day. Too much washing will stimulate your skin and produce more oil. If your skin is extremely oily then you might need to wash it three or four times daily. The great advantage of oily skin is that it ages at a slower rate than other skin types.

For the decadent beauty with oily skin here's a quick, easy and budget friendly recipe for a homemade facial tonic/refresher that will help to cut down on the oiliness.

Basil is a natural refresher for the skin where as lemon is a natural astringent that aids in fighting skin blemishes.

Basil Lemon Facial Tonic
Ingredients:
3 tsp Basil leaves, dried
Juice of 1 Lemon
1 c boiling water (you can used distilled or any floral water of your choice)
1 tspGrapefruit Seed Extract (acts as preservative)

Tools:
Small saucepan/pot or glass measuring cup (if microwaving)
Measuring spoons
Mixing spoon
8 oz bottle

Over a medium-high heat bring water to a boil. Add the basil leaves, cover with top and let steep anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes. Add in lemon juice and grapefruit seed extract and mix thoroughly before transferring to desired container.