Oily skin sufferers everywhere share the same complaints against their complexion. Shiny, greasy slime that makes you feel like you've fallen into a vat of Crisco is not fun, nor is it attractive. There are so many products on the market that claim to fix the problem, but do they really? Do these wonder products actually remedy the problem, or do they do little more than just sop up the slime temporarily until a short while later you're back to the same uncomfortable situation.

There is a solution to the oil prone skin sufferers' dilemma. But first, you need to know a little more about the science of why your skin is oily in the first place. Simply put, your body produces too much sebum, the natural skin moisturizer. As more sebum builds up, you experience the uncomfortable oily condition that you desperately want to prevent. By not treating the build up properly, your complexion retaliates by producing more shine, pimples and blackheads, and eventually leaving enlarged pores and an unhealthy complexion overall.

Knowing this information, and realizing that the problems lies deep within your body rather than simply sitting on the surface of your skin, you can better design a plan of attack and proper treatment. Although you may never completely ‘fix' the issue, you can learn to maintain it. On the flip side and a bonus for oily skin types is that people with this type of skin tend to show fewer wrinkles and other signs of aging on their face since oily skin keeps its elasticity throughout the years. You may think your lucky stars when you're 65 years young!

Until then, what simple, effective steps can you take to control oily build-up and improve your skin's appearance? First of all, do not over wash your face. This will do little more than further aggravate the problem as the over washing will strip your skin's natural oils and send a red hot flare signal to your glands to ‘make more oil fast'! Just doesn't make sense does it?

Your goal in oily skin control is to create balance by washing your face daily with a mild, oil free cleanser. If you can find one containing alpha hydroxy acids, you'll be able to remove dead skin cells and make your face appear fresher and healthier. Follow with a mild toner and oil free moisturizer and you'll be good to go.

If you wear makeup, then by all means choose a product that is oil-free, ideally a product such as Marlo Minerals, a natural mineral makeup that comes in a powder form, and contains only natural ingredients that will not clog your pores or aggravate acne prone skin. Your skin, oils and all, will work with the product, and many people report an improvement in their complexion overall after using mineral makeup for a few weeks.

Along with proper cleansing and product choices such as cleansers and makeup, you can make a difference in the amount of oil your body produces by watching what you eat, and by choosing foods that are low in fat such as fruits and veggies, and of course by drinking the recommended amount of water daily. By making these simple changes, you can take strides toward controlling the oily shine on your face and improve your health and well-being at the same time.