“I have super oily skin” is a common concern for many. Luckily, with the right products and oily skin care routine, you can definitely keep oily skin under wraps. So, why does oily skin occur? Oily skin is often caused by overactive sebaceous glands producing an excessive amount of sebum. This increased oil production is typically it is hereditary. In addition to exposing the skin to too many products, oily skin can upset your skin’s natural balance and also trigger the overproduction of sebum.

While this skin type ages slower than others, it’s a little consolation when you’re suffering from excess shine and blackheads. Controlling your oil production requires the necessary basic steps to develop the best routine for oily skin.

Wash every morning & night: Resist the urge to wash more than two times a day. The more you strip the oils away from your skin, the more you produce.f

Use a dissolving cleanser: Find a cleanser that dissolves the oils and deep cleans at the same time.

Tone carefully: Find a skin toner that is gentle and effective for your oily skin, a toner that is not suitable can make oily skin worse.

Balance the oils of your skin: This is a step that most people struggle with. Natural oils that promote accelerated cell turnover rate can work wonders in keeping your skin the way you want it to. Excessive oil production can cause clogged pores and uneven skin texture.

Oily skin: The features

True oily skin (not combination), is usually classified with the following characteristics:

• Appears shiny and greasy everywhere
• Appears thick, coarse and uneven surface
• Occasional breakouts
  

A great way to test whether you have an oily skin is to do a regular wash in the morning with a gentle cleanser, pat it dry and avoid applying any face creams and makeup. Wait for an hour or so. Look in the mirror and if you see your face holds a ‘shiny’ appearance, and is covered in oil, you probably have an oily skin type. This might be a good time to invest in some products that are suited to oily skin.

If only your forehead and nose are shiny, but your cheeks are dry, then you possess combination skin and not an oily skin type.

Tips on shopping for oily skin products

Deep cleansing, skin-balancing skin care solutions like gentle scrubs to fast-acting cleansers are your friend. They are excellent ways to get ahead of the acne prone skin and keep the oily sheen on the down-low.

Compared to browsing skin care products for normal skin and mature skin, you need to be particularly careful in your choice of products to prevent flare ups. We want to regulate your over-active sebaceous glands, not increase it!

Keep on the lookout for oily skin care products that specially remove the build-up of dead skin cells, and balancing between maintaining your skin’s natural moisture and excessive oil.

Daily facial treatments, lightweight cleansers and toners, cleansing foams, and serums that promote “skin balancing”, “calming”, “impurity removing” and “pore cleansing” are the most effective products to control oily skin. Salicylic acid does wonders from breaking down those oils and removing dead skin cells to prevent impurities that can become trapped by the excess sebum.

These specific oily skin products can tighten pores, excess sebum and other impurities deep within the pores and wash away shine without aggravating the skin surface. Your should be selective with the products you choose in your routine for oily skin.

The big four ingredients to control oily skin:

• Retinol: Removes deep-set impurities and promotes high cell turnover rate
• Salicylic acid: Anti-inflammatory to keep your acne at bay and break down dead skin cells
• Hyaluronic acid: natural, hydrating ingredient designed to lock-in skin’s natural moisture and prevent overproduction of sebum
• Niacinamide (Vitamin B3): calming properties designed to soothe and moisturise the skin
  

Can I Use Sunscreen?

There is a misconception that those with oily skin should not use sunscreen or products with SPF as it can increase oil production and further clog your pores. The truth is, sunscreen is always important no matter the skin type as preventing skin cancer should be your top priority.

If you are concerned about the shine some sunscreens can have, it is best to choose a water or gel based sunscreen that has a matte finish.

Unsure if you have combination skin, acne prone skin or true, oily skin? Find out your specific skin type before you embark on your journey for healthy, acne-free skin!