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TREATING A SKINCARE ROUTINE FOR OILY SKIN

TREATING A SKINCARE ROUTINE FOR OILY SKIN

Anyone who has oily skin knows it can be confusing and frustrating. It makes your skin acne-prone at worst and perpetually shiny at best. However, oily skin can be managed with specific products that target these skin concerns—all without drying out your face. You just need to know what products and ingredients will work best for you. To understand how to apply a targeted oily skin routine and ingredients to look out for, read on.

What is oily skin?

Skin produces sebum through the sebaceous glands, which is the main element to what people refer to as the oil on their skin. While everyone has sebum, it’s the overproduction of this substance that causes oily skin.

Some defining features of oily skin include:

Shiny face
Greasy feeling just a few hours after cleansing
Frequent breakouts
Enlarged pores

Causes of oily skin

When considering how to treat oily skin, it’s important to first understand the causes of this skin type. There are many factors that can contribute to the appearance of oily skin:

Sebum overproduction: On a scientific level, excess sebum is the reason why oily skin exists. Sebum is pivotal to your skin’s health because when produced in the right amount, it’s hydrating and cleansing. However, when there’s an overabundance of it, it can cause blackheads, clogged pores and that perpetual shine we’re always trying to combat.
Environmental triggers: The environment can play a significant role in how much sebum is produced. Hotter, humid climates can contribute to oily skin which is why you can expect a shinier face as opposed to those in cooler environments. It’s best to plan ahead and invest in a skincare routine that can work with environmental triggers to strengthen the skin barrier and mitigate the impact on your skin.

Stress: Stress is a big underlying cause of oily skin. When you feel stressed, your body releases cortisol, the stress hormone. Doing this causes your body to produce more oil, hence the extra sheen of oil on your face. A targeted oily skin routine with the proper ingredients can minimise disruptions to your body and skin and allow for consistency, even with all the stress around you.

Wrong skincare products: The right skincare products can do wonders for your skin and the wrong ones can actually exacerbate the problems. Choosing the wrong skincare products can dry out your skin, causing your body to produce more sebum instead, trapping you in a cycle.

Choosing the right oily skin products

Oily skin products, like the ones in our pore refining range, contain certain ingredients which makes them perfect to use if you’re trying to combat these skin concerns. These ingredients reduce enlarged pores, boost your skin’s barrier, and help you work with your oily skin and not against it.

Salicylic Acid

When you have oily skin, salicylic acid will be your ally. This ingredient works its way deep down into your pores to disintegrate any impurities. Not to mention, it’s an exfoliator and helps to remove excess sebum.

Products that contain salicylic acid, like the Rose Sorbet Cryo Mask, will minimise the appearance of pores and prevent dullness, even when only used twice weekly. For an everyday product, the Clarifique Cleansing Foam gently exfoliates the skin. It manages pore size and cleanses your skin, without overdrying it.

Retinol

On a surface level, retinol is an exfoliator that breaks down dirt, oils and dead skin cells from pores to help prevent acne. On a deeper level, it also penetrates the skin’s middle layer, to promote the production of collagen and skin cell turnover to reveal brighter, younger-looking skin. Retinol also balances and evens out the skin’s hydration levels and texture, which is what you want for oily skin.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C can do wonders for oily, acne-prone skin, more specifically the antioxidant properties that are present. It draws moisture to the surface of the skin which increases hydration. When your skin is adequately hydrated, the sebaceous glands don’t produce as much sebum because it doesn’t need to.

Vitamin C serums, like our Clarifique Watery Emulsion, evens skin tone and brightens complexion, made even more powerful with the addition of niacinamide. Add Clarifique Spot Erasure as a spot treatment on top of this to further target problem areas.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide regulates oil production, making it a must-have in your skincare routine for oily skin. It manages acne-prone skin through its antibacterial properties that reduce inflammation and improve hydration. It also reduces the size of pores, which prevents them from becoming clogged.

Many people think that you should avoid moisturiser with oily skin but in reality, it just means that a targeted oily skin moisturiser is needed. The Clarifique Milky Day Cream contains both vitamin C and niacinamide and when combined, these two ingredients smooth and brighten the skin.

Tips on how to manage oily skin

To help treat oily skin, there are a few actions you can take and integrate within your daily routine.

Drink water: Staying hydrated throughout the day will keep your skin hydrated as well. It’ll trigger the sebaceous glands to slow down oil production, reducing the amount of sebum present. Not to mention, drinking water flushes toxins out of the body to maintain clean and moisturised skin.

Healthy diet: There are certain foods that can trigger inflammation in the skin and cause breakouts. Dairy products and foods high in salt and/or sugar are the main culprits. Eliminating or reducing the amount of these foods in your diet, can clear the path for clearer and healthier skin.

Lifestyle changes: Making changes such as creating and adhering to a skin care routine for oily skin, will do wonders. Using products that manage sebum production and minimise acne and breakouts will treat and strengthen the skin barrier, resulting in a brighter and revitalised appearance.

Now you know how to create a targeted routine for oily skin, read our expert guide on the skin microbiome and how to balance it.