Everyone has oil in their skin, but some people might find that their skin seems to constantly have a shiny layer of oil present. This occurs when the sebaceous glands under your pores overproduce the natural oils of the skin, known as sebum.
Oily skin can be caused by lifestyle, genetic, and environmental factors, among other things.
When you feel like your skin is always too oily, it might seem counterintuitive to apply moisturizer. After all, wouldn't that just make it worse?
Actually, moisturizing is an essential part of a routine for oily skin. Let's take a look at why that is and what you need to know to help you along in your quest for glowing, bright, beautiful skin.
Some of the causes of oily skin are more in your control than others. Either way, though, understanding the root cause of your oily skin can help you figure out the best skincare routine for you.
Many people have dry skin as they get older. This is because your skin starts to produce less sebum as the years go on. When skin is aging, the sebaceous glands slow down and the skin loses vital proteins such as collagen.
The lack of sebum and collagen also makes fine lines and wrinkles more noticeable. This means that people with oily skin actually might not show the signs of aging skin as early as people who have naturally drier skin.
Basically, it's worth understanding that your skin might evolve over time. If you are in your teens or 20s, your skin might be oily now but it might dry out as you get older. This means that your skincare routine might also have to evolve along with your skin.
Having oily skin also might simply run in your family. It is more likely that you will have oily skin if one or both of your parents does, too.
Things like weight fluctuations, previous breakouts, and age can lead your pores to stretch out. When pores are larger, they typically produce more oil. If you have enlarged pores, blotting your face when you feel it is too oily can help.
How oily your skin is might also be a result of where you live as well as the time of year.
If you live in a hot, humid climate, you might be more likely to have oilier skin. You also might find that your skin is much oilier during the hot months of the summer than it is in the autumn or fall.
Oily skin is likely not a good reason to move on its own, but understanding the impact that your location and climate can have on your skin can help you create a routine that works for you. For instance, you might find that you need a winter routine for oily skin and a summer routine rather than one you use all year long.
If you live in a place that is hot and humid, consider using blotting sheets to help you touch up as the day goes on.
If you are using skincare products that aren't right for your skin type, it can actually make your skin oilier. If you have oily skin, you'll want to use lightweight moisturizers and be mindful of the ingredients in your skincare products.
The all-pervasive myth that moisturizing makes your skin oily is an unfortunate one indeed. Moisturizing can be an important part of your skincare routine when your skin is oily, particularly if you use acne treatments such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid that tend to dry your skin.
It's both possible to not perform your skincare routines enough as well as overdo it. If you are washing your skin too often, it can strip too much of the oil away from your skin and actually cause your sebaceous glands to produce even more oil.
It is not uncommon for people to mistake oil on the skin with skin hydration. Skin oil is a substance known as sebum. It is released by the sebaceous glands in order to support your skin's barrier function.
Skin hydration, on the other hand, is when water is absorbed into the skin. The skin is made of layers known as the dermis and the epidermis. When your skin is hydrated, it is more resilient, elastic, and plump.
Acne and oily skin can result from the excessive buildup of sebum. However, this does not necessarily indicate that your skin is hydrated. In fact, when you perform skincare routines to help reduce acne and remove oils, you're actually promoting moisture loss in your skin.
When your skin is hydrated it is healthy. When there is not enough moisture in your skin, it can compromise the protective function as well as the appearance of the skin. Your skin is at greater risk for wrinkles, inspection, inflammation, and premature aging when it is dehydrated for a prolonged period of time.
It might actually even increase the risk of acne breakouts when your skin is dehydrated. This is because your body will produce more oil in order to help the barrier function of the skin if your skin is excessively dry. This can create an outcome where your pores are clogged and more pimples develop.
While having oily skin might be a drag, there are actually some benefits. It's said that people with oily skin, as opposed to dry skin, will keep younger-looking skin for longer, for instance. That being said, you'll still want to create a skin care routine that centers around the fact that your skin produces excess amounts of oil.
Cleaning your skin is the most important part of any skincare routine. If you are a person that has oily skin, your skin can likely tolerate being cleaned more often. It is important for most people to wash their face both in the morning and at night, people with oily skin should particularly prioritize cleansing their face in the morning.
While you sleep, your skin is busy producing oil and chatting skin cells. You might wake up feeling like your skin is still clean from when you washed it the night before. However, you will want to wash your face in the morning with a good exfoliating cleanser as well as in the evening.
When you are choosing a cleanser, make sure it does not have any alcohol. You will want to use a nonabrasive cleaner that is gentle on the skin.
It's also important that you lukewarm water rather than hot water when you are washing your face. It is typically best to use your fingers rather than a sponge or a cloth as you can cause irritation to the skin.
Now that you have removed any desserts, oil, or makeup that was on your skin, it is time to use toner. You'll likely want to experiment to find a product that works best for you. Many people find success with products that contain lactic acid, salicylic acid, or glycolic acid.
At Aprisa, we recommend using Drench Serum after you cleanse in the morning and evening before using Equip Day Cream or Enrich Night Cream.
This is a step you will take that depends on your particular skin issues. If you are prone to acne, then you might choose to use a product that can help to reduce oil production. This will in turn reduce breakouts.
Retinol products can be a good choice for your evening face routine for oily skin. If you are motivated to try and protect and enliven the skin around your eyes, check out our Replenish Retinol eye cream.
As mentioned above, people who have oily skin will definitely want to moisturize. The belief that people who have oily skin shouldn't use my stretcher is simply not true. Which either is necessary for most skin types, but people with oily skin need to be more careful about which type of moisturizer they are using.
When you have oily skin, you'll want to look for my friend. I did three of oil, lightweight, and water-based. You will find that most moisturizers that are formulated for acne-prone skin will fall into these categories.
Before you go to sleep at night, consider applying Enrich night cream to help you wake up to brighter, more radiant skin.
Everyone is different, and it will inevitably take some trial and error to find the perfect skin routine for oily skin for you. Once you have found a sequence of habits that help keep your skin clean, clear, and bright, you might consider using some of these other tactics.
There is an endless number of skincare products out there. Many of them will promise you that their product will solve all of your skin-related problems. Never just trust the marketing of a company and take the time to research the ingredients they are using.
When you pay attention to the ingredients in products, it can help you understand which ingredients seem to be helping your skin and which seem to be causing trouble.
People with oily skin might want to avoid any ingredients that are thick and greasy such as shea butter, cocoa butter, and Vaseline. Some experts also recommend that people with oily skin should avoid products with alcohol, as this can actually boost the amount of oil secretion.
We've mentioned above that it is a good idea to have a morning and evening routine when it comes to your daily skin routine for oily skin. It can also be a good idea to wash your face after you finish up with a workout. This is particularly important if you aren't going to be taking a shower after you exercise.
When you wash your face, it can help to remove oil, dirt, and sweat that built up when you were getting your workout in. However, washing your face after you exercise doesn't have to be a full routine like you do in the morning and the evening. You can give your face a quick wash using your cleanser and then lightly moisturize.
If you are constantly battling shiny, oily skin, blotting papers might help you out. These papers can be pressed lightly against your skin. You only have to hold them there for a few seconds before the blotting paper will have removed much of the oil.
You can use blotting papers throughout the day if it seems to benefit your skin health.
Having a routine for oily skin is essential if you want to look and feel your best every day. The process of finding the right products and habits can be frustrating, but once you find your perfect skincare routine you will be set for life.
Many skin care products on the market use harsh chemicals and do not support the holistic health of your skin. At Aprisa, we are dedicated to producing skincare products that work and help promote your overall health and wellbeing.
Consider incorporating Aprisa skincare products into your skincare routine this winter. You can take a look at all of our skincare products here.
