Let’s be honest. If you rubbed a lamp and a genie showed up, you probably wouldn’t wish for oily skin. In fact, you might even wish for him or her to ‘fix’ your oily skin. But the good news is, you can balance and control your skin all by yourself with the right products and skin care routine. The not so good news is genies aren’t well known for showing up when you need them, no matter how hard you rub that lamp. Sorry.
What is oily skin?
Oily skin is the result of overzealous sebaceous glands in your skin making too much sebum (the waxy, oily stuff that protects and hydrates your skin). To be fair to the sebaceous glands, they’re only trying to help – sebum helps keep skin hydrated and healthy. However, skin with too much sebum can develop clogged pores, pimples and a seriously shiny complexion. If you have oily skin, you know it. Your face gets greasy, your makeup slides off, and you’re most likely prone to the odd breakout, too. You’ve probably tried a multitude of products to stop your skin from becoming an oil slick by 1pm, and you may gravitate towards oil-free skin care.
Oily skin has many causes including some you can’t control, such as genetics, age, and environment. If your mom or dad have oily skin, chances are you inherited it from them.
Why do I have oily skin?
Hormones and oily skin tend to go hand in hand. Period-related hormonal breakouts are very common and increased hormone levels during puberty and pregnancy can result in an especially greasy sheen. But look on the bright side: oily skin is better at holding in moisture than dry skin, so you may appear to age slower than your dry-skinned friends.
What can I do about it?
Managing oily skin is all about getting those hyperactive sebaceous glands to calm the heck down and stop producing so much oil. While you can’t change your skin type, there are many things you can do to get your oily skin under control. The number one mistake oily-skinned people tend to make is actually neglecting to moisturize enough. It may sound counterintuitive, but oily skin is often very dehydrated. If you’re giving your skin too little oil, it may start overproducing sebum to compensate.
The truth is, your skin needs the right amount of moisture and oil to function properly. Oils act as the skin’s lipid barrier, like Plastic Wrap, sealing in moisture and protecting against dryness.
For radiant, healthy skin, you need a skin care routine that will keep your skin clean and dirt-free without over-drying it.
So what’s the best skin care routine for oily skin?
When it comes to cleansing, being gentle is key. You want your skin to feel soft and fresh, not dry and tight, when you’re done. Likewise, resist the temptation to wash your face more than twice a day, or you’ll strip away its protective layer and fall into a dry skin-oily skin cycle.
To combat acne or blackheads, try a skin-specific exfoliator that scrubs away dead skin cells and hydrates skin at the same time like It’s The Buzz. This energizing face polish is loaded with natural exfoliants to soothe and smooth your skin. Use it maximum two or three times a week as over-exfoliation can increase dryness for oily skin – for all skin types, actually!
Managing oily skin means finding a good multitasking moisturizer too. Seriously Shine Free is a great base for makeup. It combines aloe vera and bamboo extract to soften your skin and maintain hydration and it will keep your face free from shine throughout the day.
How can I manage oily skin all year round?
Managing oily skin isn’t something you only do once and check off your to-do list – it means making a good skin care routine a habit. We all know there’s a big difference between a strategically placed highlight and a rampant slickness coating every inch of your T-zone, so invest in smart, effective skin care that works.
At Formula 10.0.6, our family has been making clean, uncomplicated, botanical-packed skin care since 1933 – which means we know a thing or two about helping your skin look and feel its best. If you need help crafting a skin care routine to keep your oily skin in check, shoot us an email or get in touch on Instagram. We’re always happy to put our thinking caps on and work out a skin care formula that’s just right for you!
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