Silvia Are you interested in skincare for your oily skin? Let's first understand our skin. Sebaceous glands in our skin normally produce “sebum”, which has the purpose of protecting ourselves from external factors and keeping it moisturized. The amount of oiliness that our glands produce is related to several complex factors such as genetics, hormones, age, environment, lifestyle, and skincare routine. As you might be guessing, it changes when any of these is modified.
Oiliness has allowed the beauty industry to classify our skin as Dry, Normal, Oily, or Combination. Oily skin is very common when our hormones work fast like in teenagers, but it is not exclusive to this stage. Here are some signals of Oily Skin.
- Without makeup, your face shines, not only your forehead and nose but also your cheeks.
- Your pores look large
- You have occasional or persistent breakouts
- You feel like you need to clean your face often
If you identify with most of these characteristics, then your skin is very likely to be oily. Follow the next skincare tips for oily skin.
10 tips for Oily Skin
1. Clean your face two times a day and after sweating.
It is important to remove oil from the skin to prevent breakouts. Don't overclean! This is very often a mistake when starting skincare. Washing your face more than needed will accelerate oil production since your skin will disturb the skin's barrier function. Choose a gentle soap without harsh chemicals and avoid much friction when washing or drying your skin.
Check out Salicylic Acid Cleanser from the Inkey list. Salicylic Acid and Zinc work together in this cleanser to help with oil-control and promote a more even-looking complexion.
2. Use a toner for Oily Skin
Astringent ingredients found in toners will help to dry out the skin like alcohol or witch hazel. Also, BHAs like glycolic acid in a toning solution will help to detox your skin and brighten it. Toners also help to remove products that could clog your pores and prepare your skin to absorb the next products.
This gentle toner by Derma E, Essentials Radiance Toner only costs $15 and contains glycolic acid, hyaluronic acid, panthenol, aloe vera, rosehip extract and cucumber extract, which all together create a very soft and non-irritating formula.
3. Does oily skin need moisturizer?
Yes, even if you have oily skin you need to moisturize with use proper ingredients for your skin such as aloe vera, honey, panthenol, niacinamide, or hyaluronic acid, to mention some. We don’t want oily dehydrated skin.
Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 fights skin shine, evens skin tone, and keeps your skin hydrated. It will also protect you from the sun which makes it a great 2 in 1 product.
4. Add targeted serums to make your routine for powerful
Specific serums for oily skin will address your oiliness as well as other related or unrelated concerns. Remember that the best routine can address all that you need.
We are impressed by the cost-benefit of this Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% serum by The Ordinary which for less than $6 reduces signs of congestion while balancing visible sebum activity.
5. Exfoliate at least 1X per week
As we have mentioned, avoid friction as much as possible. Your best option would be a chemical exfoliator, which will help you remove dead cells from your skin, avoid pore-clogging and enhance your natural healthy glow.
The Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% by The Ordinary brightens the skin tone while visibly improving uneven skin texture and reducing signs of congestion
6. Use sunscreen every day
Sun exposure is responsible for many skincare concerns such as aging, uneven tone, roughness, etc. Don’t forget to use your sunscreen every day and reapply every 4 hours.
This lightweight Matte Screen Sunscreen by Supergoop will help you achieve a mattified look.
7. Should I use makeup?
Be careful with makeup. When we have oily skin we often want to cover it up with lots of foundation. Wearing no makeup will work best for your skin but if you have decided to use it, use water-based makeup.
8. Eat clean and stay hydrated!
Maintain a balanced diet. Avoid trans-fats and big amounts of sugar. Be mindful of zinc consumption since it helps to regulate oil-producing glands.
9. When to visit the dermatologist
When oiliness and acne are severe, one important factor to consider is your hormones cycle. Androgens overdrive has been related to sebum production. If your oiliness doesn’t decrease after following an appropriate skincare routine, visit your dermatologist for deep health tests.
10. Patience is key
Be consistent, every day effort will pay off! Remember that skincare is for everybody and it can be affordable, transparent, and achievable.
Interested in a customized skincare routine for your specific concerns and characteristics? Find it here
