Milk of Magnesia for Oily Skin
From LoveToKnow Skincare
Buying some Milk of Magnesia for oily skin can help prevent blemishes and irritations before they start.
War Against Excess Oil
Countless people struggle with the inconvenience of oily skin on an everyday basis. Makeup is nearly impossible to apply and maintain for any desired length of time, expensive cleansers and exfoliators are often required to eliminate extra oil, and embarrassing pimples and other skin complications regularly crop up without warning.
With all this being said, there don't seem to be any benefits for those with this skin type. However, one little known advantage is the fact there are homemade remedies and economical solutions many people have not even thought to discover. While many oil-prone folks are blowing their bank account on infomercial products and prescription-required ointments, the best solution of all may be found at your local grocery store.
Milk of Magnesia for Oily Skin
Originally appointed by doctors to relieve constipation and other gastro-intestinal issues, many experts are now recommending Milk of Magnesia for oily skin care. Usually sold now in tablet form, the original white milky liquid version is still available, and this is perfect to apply to your skin the next time you find your oil glands overdoing it.
Since it is usually only sold in a large quantity, you can have a long term solution at a small cost, dividing up a portion of the milk into a smaller container and storing it somewhere convenient until you need more. Using just a thin layer, apply the milk of magnesia all over the face with a cotton ball. You will find the consistency greatly resembles calamine lotion, meaning that just a small amount goes an impressively long way.
Using this product on your skin is usually recommended immediately after washing the face. Cleanse your skin as usual and then pat dry with a towel. Using a product specially designed for oily skin will help reduce oily skin further. After your face is completely dried and you have applied the Milk of Magnesia to your skin, allow it to dry and then apply your regular makeup on top of it.
Pressed powder is not recommended for oily skin, as it does not give your face a chance to breathe. Try a loose powder on top of the Milk of Magnesia and foundation instead, as your skin will feel smoother and dryer than what is otherwise typical for your skin type.
In fact, many use the Milk of Magnesia as a primer for the sole purpose of having a smoother canvas to apply makeup on. Its oil-blotting properties regularly amaze those who have tried everything else, and those who experience slight increase in oil production during the summer months keep it on hand for those seasonal outbreaks and other skincare issues.
Milk of Magnesia reigns supreme in the makeup books of brides and others who are looking for a way to keep their makeup going strong all day. Causing products to “cling” to the skin, it has helped women look flawless in photos and ensured they never have to worry about touching up their otherwise oily and difficult skin.
Side Effects
Those who are not considered official members of the grease game have had issues with dryness and tightness when using Milk of Magnesia. This is truly meant for those who experience genuine problems with oily skin. If you have combination skin or oily skin only very occasionally, Milk of Magnesia can be too harsh, causing irritation and flakiness. If you want to use Milk of Magnesia on combination skin, apply only in areas truly affected by oil. Milk of Magnesia may also tighten your pores, which could end up being another issue for those who don't have any issues with them to begin with. You could easily clog up your skin if you are using something so powerful when you don't really need it.
Others have accused the product of giving them a “chalky” or whitish film on their face. This is usually a result of applying too much of the milk to the skin. Remember to use very sparingly, and if for whatever reason this still occurs, consider an alternative form of treatment for your oily skin..
Comments
Jeanette, thanks for your question! People tend to use MoM in different ways. Some women use it after applying their moisturizer. If you use it as a primer, you'd do the same thing. However, some people just don't like the way it feels and instead choose to use it as a treatment mask at night. If that's the case, just apply a thin layer, allow it to dry and rinse off.
-- Contributed by: TsharmaI find it interesting but would like to know if Milk of Magnesia should be applied before or after moisturizer. And what if it's in the case of a primer?
-- Contributed by: JeanetteThis page has been accessed 1,498 times. This page was last modified 18:45, 22 April 2008.
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