A hydrosol, also known as a floral water or distillate, is a byproduct of the steam distillation process used to extract essential oils from plants. Unlike essential oils, which are highly concentrated and potent, hydrosols are much milder and can be used directly on the skin without dilution.

Hydrosols are created when steam is passed through plant material, causing the essential oils to vaporize and become suspended in the steam. The steam is then cooled, causing the essential oils and water to separate. The water, now infused with the essential oils and other water-soluble plant compounds, is collected and referred to as a hydrosol.

Disclosure: This post is Sponsored by Trophy Skin. Oily skin is my own with a lifetime of experience to provide the advice.

I've had oily skin my whole life. When I was in my teens and 20's I thought the best I could do was to always have blotting papers handy or to keep reapplying mattifying power. Sometimes keeping your skin routine simple is the best way to start improving your skin. Follow these tips, and you're on your way to diminishing the oil, keeping your pores clear and cutting down on the break-outs.

1. Take Your Makeup Off Each Night

This is a no-brainer, but also the lazy girl in me doesn't always abide by this very obvious skin care rule. Sometimes we're out late with friends and just want to crash in bed once home regardless of the full face of makeup and other times the wing on your cat eye is so on point that you want to try to keep it intact for a refresh the next day. (Trust me, I've been there.) Layers of makeup being rubbed into your skin while tossing and turning is just putting yourself in the fast lane to a breakout. Take the time to remove the makeup, it'll pay off.

2. Wash Your Face Daily

Washing your face, even if you weren't wearing makeup, is important for clearing away all of the environmental elements that can wreak havoc on our skin. Use a cell phone? You're rubbing dirt on the side of your face. Touch your face during the day? You're putting bacteria on your skin. Only washed your sheets last week? You're rolling around in dead skin. (Gross.) You get the point. A foaming face wash is best for oily skin as it'll cleanse away the excess sebum without stripping your face of the oils it needs to stay hydrated.

3. Exfoliate Twice Per Week

Oily skin is more than just a greasy face. It means clogged pores, being prone to breakouts and blackheads in what seems like an endless cycle. While cleansing your face is key to preventing breakouts, exfoliation is the best friend you never knew you needed. Unclogging your pores helps prevent larger pores in the future (and no, you cannot turn back time on your pores - once they're large, there is no magic method to shrink them.) If you're looking for a simple but effective way to do this, check out my review of Trophy Skin's LaBelle Ultrasonic Skin Spatula (and the promo code for 15% off.)

4. Wear a Gel-Based Moisturizer

Creams tend to be too heavy for oily skin and gels seem to provide the perfect amount of moisture. I love the light texture of a gel moisturizer and how quickly it absorbs into skin. Gels also give skin a bit of a mattifying effect instead of contributing to that highly coveted oil slick look. (Complete, and utter sarcasm.)

5. Wash Your Pillowcase Twice Per Week

Sure, we all know we should be washing our sheets at least once per week, but that pillowcase becomes a petri dish pretty quickly if not washed more frequently. Oils, not only from your face but your hair, blend in with shedding skin, bacteria and makeup (if you forgo tip #1) to create an environment ripe for pore clogging. While most skin experts say it's best to sleep on your back and avoid your face touching the pillow altogether, let's be real - those of us who sleep on our sides and bellies cannot change our ways (nor do we really want to.) Prevention is key and unfortunately having oily skin means we have to put in a little more effort to keep our skin clear and blemish free - something our future selves will be grateful for. Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram.

I love mud masks for my combination skin. Seriously, having an oily t-zone makes your skin feel so dirty already, so why not get messy and clean it up with a little mud? I've had the chance to try out ClarityRx Rehab Mediterranean Detoxifying Mud Mask for about a month now and my skin is feeling amazing. I'll be honest, when I received this 2oz jar, I really thought it was sample or travel size. To my surprise, this is full size. For $27 that's a little on the pricey side, but I'm hesitant to baulk at the pricetag because this mud mask really is fabulous. This mud mask jiggles like jelly in the jar and has a sponge-like feeling when you touch it. When you scoop it with your finger, it's gel-like. It's easy to apply it in a thick layer, and I highly recommend that you do, as it dries relatively quickly. Despite all the adjectives - it is indeed mud, and feels like that once applied. Upon opening the jar, your senses will be transported to the spa. ClarityRx Rehab Mediterranean Detoxifying Mud Mask has all of the ingredients that oily and combination skin types desire: Mediterranean Mud, Dead Sea Mud, Kaolin, Bentonite, and Dead Sea Salt. The very first ingredient is aloe vera gel, which explains the jelly-like texture. I slathered on this mask after cleansing my face. It says to wait about 10-15 minutes before rinsing, but the max I could do was 10 minutes. This mud mask dries incredibly quickly, and as it does, it gets very tight on your skin. I used luke warm water on a wash cloth to wipe it off and it did take a little elbow grease to do so. After rinsing my face, my skin felt baby soft and the oiliness was gone. Success! I then went on with my usual skin care routine, which seemed to amplify how great my skin felt. Instructions state that you can use this mask 1-2 times per week. I only do it once a week so as not to over-dry my skin, which would then send oil production into overdrive and it soon becomes a vicious cycle. I really like this detoxifying mud mask - I just wish it came in a bigger jar! Have you tried it? Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! Disclosure: Product sent by PR, affiliate links.