Get Rid of Your Oily Skin: A Skincare Guide
When it comes to skin and oil, things can become a bit problematic. Oily skin can be frustrating, especially when your makeup constantly slides off, or when your forehead decides it’s time to shine. At the same time, our skin oils do some great things for us. They keep us looking healthy, hydrated, and youthful. So, what’s the best way to get rid of oily skin - without eliminating all the good stuff that comes with it?
Do You Have Oily Skin?
Does your skin have a bit of extra shine? Perhaps you use a handful of blotting sheets over the course of a day? Or, does your face tend to feel greasy even though you just washed it a few hours ago? If you read any of those and thought ‘that’s me!’ then you likely have oily skin.
According to Health Line, everyone has oil in their skin. Under our pores is a gland that produces sebum, which are natural oils. These work to ensure our skin stays both healthy and hydrated. People with oily skin have glands that produce excess oil, resulting in shinier looking skin.
What Causes Oily Skin?
There can be several different underlying causes associated with oily skin. The main players are genetics and hormones, as they often determine the level of your skin’s oil production. But there are also many outside contributors that also cause oily skin. From stressing out to makeup habits, find out which lifestyle factors you should pay attention to.
1. Genetics.
If your parents have oily skin, it’s likely that you’ll have oily skin as well. This is because overactive sebaceous glands, the glands that produce oil, run in families. However, just because oily skin is genetic doesn’t mean it can’t be fixed!
2. Diet.
Having a poor diet can affect your body in many ways, and oily skin is just one of them. Consuming too much dairy may play a role in your skin’s oil production. Especially if you have acne-prone skin, eating dairy products like cheese and butter can leave you more susceptible to breakouts. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, hormones found in dairy products can trigger inflammation and cause other adverse skin effects.
3. Hormones.
As per thehealthy.com, hormonal imbalances can lead to oil overproduction in your skin. Changes such as menstruation, birth control use, pregnancy, and exercise affect your hormones, and in turn may impact your skin. Pay attention to the introduction of these factors to understand how they affect your body.
4. Makeup + Skincare.
In order to cover up oily skin, many people opt for heavy makeup coverage. Although this might be a quick fix for extra oily skin, it actually has negative effects in the long run. Full coverage makeup blocks pores and escalates your skin’s oil production. Try focusing on skincare so that you can tackle the problem, rather than trying to cover it up. Your skin will thank you!
5. Stress.
Did you know that stressing about your skin can actually make it worse? Our bodies have a stress hormone, which when triggered, can actually lead to an increased level of oil production. When we’re unhappy with our skin, it’s hard not to stress out. But it’s important that we shift our attention to focusing on the improvements we’re making as we treat our skin. There’s no use stressing over oily skin if it only results in more oil production!
6. Age.
Younger people are more likely to have oily skin. This is because your skin produces less sebum as you get older. This also means that there is an added benefit to having oily skin! Based on Health Line’s findings, those with oily skin may not show signs of aging as soon as people who have dry skin. So, oily skin isn’t as bad as it’s made out to be.
How to Get Rid of Oily Skin
From lifestyle changes to understanding which skincare products you need, there are a variety of different ways to treat oily skin.
1. Wash Your Face Often (But Not Too Much).
Every morning after you wake up, and every night before bed, it’s important to cleanse your face. If you decide to exercise, it’s also a good idea to wash your face afterwards. Makeup and dead skin cells are strong players when it comes to oil production, so eliminating those will leave you seeing results. However, washing more than 2-3 times per day can actually hurt your skin and lead to more oil production. So, wash your face often, but in moderation.
2. Use a Gentle, Foaming Cleanser.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, using a strong face wash to try and dry out your skin will have negative effects. Strong cleaners may actually “irritate your skin and trigger increased oil production.” So, it’s important to choose a face wash meant for oily skin, with gentle ingredients.
3. Remove Makeup Before Bed.
Going hand in hand with washing your face, you should always remove makeup at the end of the day. Sleeping in a full face (or even just small amounts) of makeup is like asking for clogged pores and excess oil. Getting into a nighttime routine of removing your makeup and washing your face will result in dramatic results!
4. Use Blotting Papers or a Mattifier.
When you’re on-the-go, there’s no time to stop and wash your face! Use portable blotting paper to soak up excess oil and shine from your skin. Or, to avoid the need for blotting papers, consider Penny & Pine’s T-Zone Mattifier. Apply this product as a primer to reduce existing blemishes, tighten pores, and visibly reduce shine. This matte, pore-less finish will keep you shine-free throughout the day!
T-Zone Mattifier
5. Use the Best Ingredients for Oily Skin.
Although you can't change your genetics, you can change your skincare routine. Make sure you seek out oily skin products with the correct ingredients! According to Good + Well, some of the best ingredients for oily skin are hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, retinol, and niacinamide.
6. Wash Your Sheets Regularly.
You don’t even want to know what’s on your pillowcase. Every time you hop into bed, you contribute more bacteria, makeup, mites, and more to your sheets. Gross! Laying your head down onto this bacteria party only increases your chances of clogged pores and excess oil accumulation. So, combat this by washing your sheets (or at least your pillowcase) once a week. Plus, you’ll sleep better at night knowing your bed is bacteria-free!
Best Oily Skin Products
When it comes to treating oily skin, it’s imperative to have the best skincare products! Three important steps in a skincare routine for oily skin include face wash, moisturizer, and toner. Here’s what we recommend, and why. Also, we threw in our favorite face mask for oily skin for those who love pampering!
1. Best Face Wash for Oily Skin.
As mentioned earlier, having a gentle, foaming cleanser is ideal for treating oily skin. Penny & Pine’s Rose Hip Seed Cleanser gently removes impurities, while promoting cell regeneration. This product allows oily skin to be thoroughly cleansed of dirt, oil, and makeup, while still remaining light and airy to the touch.
2. Best Moisturizer for Oily Skin.
Contrary to popular belief, oily skin still needs to be moisturized. When oily skin becomes dry, your glands will begin to overproduce sebum. So, without moisturizing, your skin tries to rehydrate itself with oil, making it even oilier than before! When it comes to oily skin, there are certain ingredients that you should seek in a product. Take, for example, hyaluronic acid. This ingredient restores the skin’s moisture levels and suppleness, while continuously drawing in moisture from the air. Penny & Pine’s lightweight Moisture Boost Cream includes this ingredient, making it a perfect moisturizer for oily skin!
3. Best Toner For Oily Skin.
Before we discuss the toner, let’s talk about salicylic acid. According to Well + Good, salicylic acid is able to break down skin cells and clear out debris deep in your pores. Because of this, it’s an essential ingredient when it comes to treating oily skin! Penny & Pine’s Exfoliating Toner is composed of salicylic acid, making it an amazing option for an oily skin toner. Perfect for oily and blemish-prone skin, this toner will result in a clearer, brighter, and tighter complexion!
4. Face Mask for Oily Skin.
The 20-Minute Rescue Mask uses zinc and sulfur to draw out impurities and remove excess oil. Perfect for oily or blemish-prone skin, this mask works to unplug pores and brighten your complexion! We love that it does all of the dirty work for you.
Oily Skin Product Bundle
Let's Chat!
We hope that this info provided you with ideas on how to overcome your oily skin! If you try any of these products or techniques for getting rid of oily skin, we would love to hear your results. Whether you implement lifestyle changes, try out one of our oily skin products, or have other recommendations, reach out to us in the comments. We’d love to hear from you!
I have oily skin and these tips are awesome! I tried some of it and I will definitely try the others. Great article!
It’s interesting how hormones play into this!
I really want to try this. My face gets so oily I hate it.
Leave a comment