How to take care of oily skin

Do you feel like, no matter what you do, your face is always shiny and greasy?

Don’t worry, you’re far from alone, men and women of all ages deal with oily skin and breakouts. You’ll be happy to hear that I’ve spent the last few hours discovering the best tips on how to take care of oily skin so you can feel confident and glowing in your own skin.

You’ll know what I mean when I say oily skin, more than other skin types, needs to have oil control and at the same time stay hydrated. That’s not easy to do when every day can leave your skin feeling greasy. You could start by finding the best facial cleanser for oily skin. 

There’s more you can do.

I’ve compiled this list of tips that will help control your oil production as well as finding oil-free products that help to mattify your skin whilst providing the moisture it needs. You’ll be able to put these into practice into a skincare routine for oily skin. 

A word of advice– if you have breakouts and oily skin, it could be that your pores are getting clogged. Avoid using oils such as coconut oil on your face, as these can cause breakouts. Better yet, try making a diy facial cleanser for oily skin.

Glowing skin is just around the corner!

What does oily skin look like?

If you’re not sure whether you have oily skin, have a look at some of the main symptoms:

• Shiny or greasy skin
• Acne or breakouts
• Clogged pores
• Blackheads
• Rough skin
• Large pores

When you have this skin type, you might notice some products make you break out, or even your makeup might melt quickly during the day.

Causes of oily skin

Let’s get scientific for a bit, to stay hydrated, your skin produces oil, or sebum. Oily skin is when the skin produces too much sebum, also known as overproduction of sebum from the sebaceous glands. This disbalance means your skin has too much oil, making it look greasy, shiny, and sometimes cause breakouts too. Here’s what may be causing it:

Genetics- Sometimes people are born with oily skin, and there’s nothing you can do about it. The same way people are born with dry or sensitive skin, it’s in the genes!

Hormonal/Puberty- Many people get oily skin during puberty when hormones are unbalanced and sebum production can be unbalanced too. The good news is this can go away with time, but it may be the cause of breakouts in the meantime.

Using the wrong products/makeup– Sometimes using oil-based products that clog pores can make your skin produce more oil or be unable to absorb it well.

Overwashing your face- When your strip your skin of sebum, it tries to rectify it by producing more, and that’s how you find yourself with constantly greasy skin even after washing it.

Your environment– Hot, humid weather can make you sweat all day, including having a shiny, oily face.

There can be different things causing your skin to get oily, but if oily skin is just your skin type, then there are a few things you can do to properly take care of oily skin. Here are my tips to care for this skin type no matter what’s causing it!

Tips for dealing with oily skin

Have a skincare routine

For every skin type, it is crucial to have a skincare routine specifically adapted to your skin type. When it comes to oily skin, this can make the difference between a shiny, greasy face and a glowing complexion.

Use a cleanser

Every skin care routine starts with a cleanser. Even though you may be tempted to wash your face multiple times a day, doing this can make your skin produce even more oil. Besides, your skin needs some oil for protection and hydration, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Use a gentle cleanser and warm water for your skin in the morning and at night, wash your face twice a day to remove bacteria and pollutants and help with oily skin and acne. If you want to treat breakouts, go for a cleanser with salicylic acid, this will fight acne.

Use a toner

This step is not always necessary, but it helps to balance oil and ph levels on the skin. One of my favorite toners is glycolic acid, which helps to clean in a gentle way and treat your skin. It’s a great way of reducing shine. you only need to use it once a day, but be careful if you have sensitive skin.

Exfoliate and clay masks

To reach deeper levels of the skin, and remove dead skin cells, you need to exfoliate your skin at least 2-3 times a week. The best time to do this is in the evening, you can use a clay face mask that will draw out the toxins and bacteria, or use a chemical peel to exfoliate safely. Some people like to use face scrubs, but in truth, these can be harmful if you have sensitive skin and aggravate the skin but causing tiny cuts to your face.

Clay masks are a great way of nourishing your skin. Using a face mask to get rid of this top layer of skin is a great way to rejuvenate the skin, brighten your complexion, and unclog pores and oil buildup. Find a fruit enzyme exfoliator or a salicylic acid serum.

Moisturize

Every skin type needs to be moisturized, and oily skin included. The best thing you can do after cleansing your face is to get an oil-free moisturizer. This will keep your skin moisturized throughout the day, without clogging your pores or adding to the buildup. You need to ensure it is a water based moisturizer that is non comedogenic.

When you don’t moisturize, your skin ends up overcompensating and produces more oil. So, if you want to keep that shine in check, make sure you use a moisturizer every morning and night, twice a day.

Apart from this skincare routine, there are a few things you can do that will help oily skin.

Use Blotting Paper

Blotting papers are indispensable for people with oily skin. It’s great for controlling shine and oil production throughout the day, by absorbing excess oil from your face. You can pack it with you in your handbag and use it whenever you feel your face getting greasy or your skin is oily.

Use a mattifying primer

Get rid of shine and keep your face matte throughout the day by using a mattifying face primer under your makeup. This is going to help minimize pores and fine lines, creating a smooth complexion.

Oil free makeup

Makeup can sometimes contribute to skin problems, especially if you don’t use the right products. Here’s how to take care of oily skin in humid weather; Oil free foundation is key to preventing clogged pores and more oil on your face. A good way to also mattify your face is to use a mattifying powder, and you can touch up your makeup throughout the day as well. Be careful with putting too much on however can make you look cakey so be careful.

You can also use a setting spray to keep your makeup in place all day and it’s a good way to care for oily skin in the summer. It will also do the job of keeping your makeup in place all day.

Treat acne

When you have oily skin, it often comes with acne and breakouts. Skincare is not always enough to keep breakouts at bay and so a stronger treatment is necessary. These include ingredients such as salicylic acid, glycolic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or beta-hydroxy acid. As they treat acne, they can be quite aggressive and aggravate oily sensitive skin and can dry out your skin. Ensure you use only a small amount, only on the pimples, and follow up with a moisturizer.

How to deal with oily skin at night

At night it is vital that you do your skincare routine before going to bed. This is going to help get rid of bacteria from the day, treat your skin problems, and also seal hydration with your moisturizer. When doing this consistently, you will see results at night.

Hygiene is very important, especially if you have acne. I recommend changing your pillow case regularly to ensure it is always clean germs don’t transfer onto your face. Never sleep with makeup on, this is going to clog your pores and can cause more build-up on your face.

How to deal with oily skin in winter

In winter you might find your skin is still oily in winter. The best thing you can do is to continue with your skincare routine, for example swapping your gentle cleanser with a creamy face wash that could help moisturize your face. Don’t over-moisturize, but you can use a richer moisturizer at night if you feel your skin is dry.

 

Final Thoughts

When you have oily skin, dealing with it can bring many challenges, from the changing environment to treating breakouts. The best thing you can do is make your own simple skincare routine that includes a gentle cleanser, toner, and moisturizer.

Which tip do you have?