Oily Skincare Struggles?
Are you noticing your skin is starting to shine, and not in a cute “you’re glowing” way but in a way where you find yourself blotting your face every few hours? Then, this is the blog post for you.
We’ve all battled oily skin before and we know how frustrating it can be! From your makeup sliding off your skin to the excess breakouts - it’s just one more thing we shouldn’t have to worry about but keeping it under control is so much easier said than done. Don’t stress though, we’ve compiled our top tips for helping you control your oil production to take you from greasy to glowy.
What causes oily skin?
Let’s get technical for a second. Underneath each of your pores is a sebaceous gland and which is responsible for producing a natural oil called sebum. While the production of sebum is an important part of keeping our skin healthy, too much leads to that extra sheen on your skin that can cause all sorts of problems, breakouts included. That’s because excess oil will either come through under the surface or stay trapped in your pores, and after befriending your dead skin cells and bacteria, pimples or blackheads will start to form.
Your oil production tends to kick up a notch during hormonal changes, but you may also be dealing with excess oil thanks to genetics, your environment or even lifestyle factors.
The way our skin responds to these factors varies; if you have larger pores you probably naturally produce more oil, when the weather heats up your skin tends to produce more oil as a defence mechanism and even stress can cause hormonal fluctuations which can change how your skin produces oil.
Tips and tricks to keep it under control
Now that we’ve covered the causes, let’s talk about how to manage excess oil and get your skin shining for all the right reasons!
1. Don’t over-do your cleansing
It can be tempting to want to scrub away at your skin to remove that excess oil – but don’t do it, it’s a trap! When you scrub or cleanse your skin too much it will dry it out. The result is those sebaceous glands will try to over-correct and produce even more oil, which is the last thing you want. Generally speaking, using a gentle gel-cleanser on your face twice a day is enough to keep your skin clean without drying it out.
2. Use a light moisturiser
]For some reason there’s a myth that moisturising can make your skin oily. This is only the case if you are using a moisturiser that isn’t right for your skin. Heavier creams can contribute to your oil production, so swapping out for a more lightweight moisturiser is a great place to start on your journey to healthier skin. Start off with a water-based or oil-free formula to help your skin stay hydrated but not overwhelmed.
3. Tone up
We don’t mean your muscles… we’re talking about a skin-loving facial toner. Toner is an important step in any skincare routine, however, is super important in your skincare routine if you are prone to oily skin. Toner is great at removing stubborn oil glued to your skin’s surface and it helps to restore your skin’s PH balance which means your skin doesn’t need to kick into overdrive and produce oil (often too much).
4. All-natural ingredients
There are some fantastic natural ingredients that are commonly found in skincare products and help to control your oil production. These ingredients include:
- Hempseed Oil: helps skin balance sebum production without clogging pores
- Kaolin Clay: reduces oil production that can lead to breakouts
- Hyaluronic acid: traps moisture into the skin helping to control oil production.
5. Think outside the bathroom
Although it’s super important to make sure your skincare routine is addressing your skins needs, when it comes to oil production little things in your everyday life can also make a difference. For starters, pat your skin dry with your towel instead of scrubbing it. Sounds weird, right? We know. But trust us, the patting motion is gentler on the skin and prevents overstimulation.
Likewise, make sure you wash your towels and bedding regularly to prevent any excess oil, bacteria or skin cells irritating your skin. Finally (speaking of bacteria), stop touching your face! We know it’s tempting, especially when you have a new blemish coming through, but this introduces a whole new host of irritants onto your face in a matter of seconds. We promise, the risk is not worth the reward on this one.
Simple ways to help control your oil production with natural skincare and more
Oily skin can be all kinds of complicated, but the good news is you now understand what’s happening and have some great tips under your belt to manage it!
Taking these relatively simple steps and paying close attention to your daily routine will all help make a positive difference for your skin. In no time you’ll be saying goodbye to blotting paper and hello to healthy, appropriately oiled skin.