There are some pros and cons to having an oily face. There are ways to make the best of it though. Oily faces tend to look more youthful for longer which is a desirable side effect but you might not be fond of the excess oil because it can make you look shinny. This article will help you figure out how to reduce oil production on the face.
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How to reduce oil production on the face
There are certainly a variety of things you can do to combat oil production on your face from drinking enough water to using the right products for your face and changing your make up. If you follow these instructions you can minimize the oil production on your skin.
Using oil-free products
These products are specially formulated for people who have oily skin. The products won’t leave your skin looking greasy and oily, they contain mattifying ingredients.
Honey in masks
The reason so many DIY face masks require honey is because it’s a deeply nourishing, antibacterial and antiseptic ingredient. It works great on oily skin as well as acne-prone skin. It keeps the skin soft and hydrated because it’s a humectant so it draws moisture from the outside and brings it into the skin.
Sun protection:
It’s a misconception that oily skin will become worse if you use a moisturizer or a sunscreen. This is far from the truth, your skin needs these two products in order to stay hydrated and be protected from the sun.
Moisturizers are necessary to hydrate and moisturise the skin and if not used your skin will be triggered to produce more sebum which will, in turn, gives you oilier skin and causes acne.
Sunscreen will protect all types of skin from the harshness of the sun. Click this link for advice on the best sunscreens for oily skin you can use in summer.
Blot your face
This is great if you’re on the go and realize that your skin is looking very shiny. Simply use these thin sheets of paper to get rid of excess oil and greasy skin. You can use then all throughout the day. They can be found at makeup counters or online. Here are some great ones to use
Exfoliate
Using the right exfoliator will slough off your dead skin cells and leave your skin feeling fresh and clean after use. Be sure to use an exfoliator that is not too harsh on your skin. Exfoliators that are too harsh will cause micro-tearing. This exfoliator is gentle yet effective
Click this link for some advice on the best drugstore/affordable chemical exfoliators. Follow this link for some advice on the best Korean chemical exfoliators. Click this link for some advice on the best products to exfoliate the body.
Use a face mask:
Face masks will combat oil on a regular basis. It is recommended that you use a mask 2/3 times a week but this depends on your skin type. The right type of mask will help you control any excess oil you might have on your skin without stripping or drying it. They can also help reduce pore size. Click this link for advice on the best face masks for oily/ acne-prone skin
Take it easy on the powder
Powder has been advertised as a product that will absorb any excess oil, it can and it does do this but don’t apply too much. When applied too thick power will look cakey on the skin. If it’s too thickly applied it can clog your pores creating acne.
Jojoba oil:
It might seem counter-intuitive for people with oily skin to be using oils but your skin would greatly benefit from using this oil. It can be used to treat acne and oily skin.
Jojoba oil is pretty similar to sebum, which is naturally found on our skin. If used on the face the pores will not produce any more oil as the jojoba oil does the job of sebum by moisturising the skin.
Wash your face
It’s important to wash your face daily, even going as far as washing your face twice a day. When washing your face make sure you’re using products that are designed for your skin type and products that aren’t abrasive or harsh. Gentle products with glycerine and hyaluronic acid are recommended. Click this link to find out how hyaluronic acid benefits oily skin.
Choose your makeup wisely:
Some makeup products contain comedogenic ingredients, these ingredients will clog your pores and cause breakouts. This is a problem especially if you already have oily skin because your pores get clogged much easier. If you do decide to wear makeup apply light layers on your face.
Work out:
Getting enough exercise is not only good for your health, exercise has a whole range of benefits, one other benefit is that it can minimise oil production on your skin. Note: you need to wash your face after you exercise to prevent bacteria from building up and causing breakouts on your skin.
Try to manage stress
Your mental health affects your physical health, stress can trigger more oil production on the skin. Your skin produces more androgens when stressed, this triggers the sebaceous glands to increase oil production. Yoga and deep breathing are good ways to relieve stress.
Drink water:
Having adequate levels of water in your body has a whole range of benefits including good skin. When you have a good amount of water in your system your body regulates the water and oil ratio in your skin, this way it prevents breakouts. Not having enough water will show on your skin, dehydration triggers oil glands in the skin to produce more oil.
If you don’t like the taste of water alone you can add fruit, this will increase your vitamin intake. You can also add lemon as this contains vitamin C which is rich in antioxidants
What causes excess oil on the face?
If you have oily skin you either have it because of genetics or the environment, the environment includes what you use on your face and what foods you eat.
Genetics: If you have oily skin chances are that either your mother or your father has oily skin as well. Your skin type comes down to how much oil your sebaceous glands produce and this trait comes from your parents.
Age: Younger skin produces much more oil than older skin does. This is why babies have such soft and supple skin. As we get older the sebum production in our skin decreases and we produce less oil making our skin drier
Your location: If you live in a much hotter climate then the chances of you having oily skin is much higher than a person who lives in a colder climate. This is because in hot climates the oil in your sebaceous glands exit the glands much easier.
Using the incorrect skincare products: If you already have oily skin and you use heavy creams and lotions that don’t absorb into your skin but rather sit on top of your skin then you can develop even oilier skin. In addition, if you use products that contain oil then your skin will become even oilier.
Over-washing over over-exfoliating: If you over wash or over-exfoliate your skin the skin will become dried out. When the skin is dry the oil glands are triggered to produce more oil in an effort to moisturise itself. The skin can overproduce oil and you can wind up being oilier than before.
Not using a moisturiser: Moisturisers are there to provide hydration and moisturisation to your skin. If you don’t use a moisturiser after you’ve washed your face the skin will become dry thus becoming triggered to overproduce oil.
Fried foods: The saying “you are what you eat” is definitely true. If you’re eating foods that are full of omega 6 fatty acids then you’ll wind up with an oily face. This fatty acid is found in foods deep friend in heavy oils, these foods will include chips and french fries.
Salt and alcohol: Both of these are well-loved foods items in our diets but they definitely aren’t good for our health and skin. Both salt and alcohol cause dehydration in the skin, when the skin is dry and dehydrated it tries to hydrate and moisturise itself by overproducing oil, this, in turn, makes your skin excessively oily.
Does oily skin age slower?
Oily skin doesn’t necessarily age slower than other skin types, it ages differently than other skin types. Yes, you won’t get wrinkles as early as people with dry skin but there are other changes that affect how aged your skin looks.
These changes include pigmentation, thinner skin, less firmness, more enlarged pores as well as broken blood vessels. Oily skin can develop these signs of ageing just as easily as other skin types.
When it comes to wrinkles, if you have oily skin all over your face then your skin will be thicker. This thinker skin acts as padding for wrinkles so your wrinkles won’t look so deep.
If you don’t have oily skin all over your face and you have oily skin around your forehead for example and drier skin on the bottom of your face then you will develop wrinkles quicker in the bottom of your face.
Other factors that determine how deep your wrinkles become are your lifestyle, gravity, sun damage as well as repetitive facial expressions.
What are good face products for oily skin?
Cleanser:
If you have oily skin you’ll need something that can cut through the excess sebum on your skin but not dry out your face. A good cleanser to use is the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser.
This facial cleanser has been specifically designed for oily skin. It cleans without drying the skin and hydrates without making your skin even oiler. The cleanser contains hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid is a humectant, it is able to hold 6 parts water to one part hyaluronic acid. It penetrates deep into the skin to give you amazing hydration. In addition the cleanser is also non-comedogenic so it won’t clog your pores.
Exfoliator:
Throughout the day your skin will be exposed to dirt, debris and pollution from the air. All these external pollutants will attach themselves to the excess sebum on your skin, your dead skin cells will also accumulate on your skin.
To get all this off you need to exfoliate, the best exfoliator for oily skin is the Aria Starr Dead Sea Mud Mask. This mask removes toxins from your skin as well any dead skin cells, excess oil and dirt on your skin. It also prevents blackheads and acne from developing on your skin
Serum:
Serums are lightweight products with potent formulations. These potent formulations target your skin issues and because they are so potent they can help deal with your skin issues much faster. They are lightweight so they enter deep into your skin to target the problem.
If you have oily skin a good serum to use is the Baebody Tea Tree Oil Super Serum. This serum contains tea tree oil and hyaluronic acid. The tea tree oil will regulate oil production on your skin and the hyaluronic acid will keep your skin hydrated
Moisturiser:
Your oily skin will need a moisturiser that hydrates and moisturises well but does not leave your skin oily, you need a moisturiser that rather balances the oil on your skin.
The tea tree oil face cream by era organics will do just that. Tea tree is a natural astringent, it regulates oil production one skin but does not leave your skin dry. The moisturiser is non-comedogenic so it won’t clog your pores, is cruelty-free, paraben-free, gentle and vegan.
How many times should I exfoliate oily skin?
If you have oily skin your skin can take being exfoliated more often, in fact it needs to be exfoliated more often. You can exfoliate your skin 2-3 times a week.
Oily skin isn’t too sensitive to the effects of exfoliation because it’s thicker than drier skin types. In addition, exfoliation will help get rid of any clogged pores that you may have because of excess sebum.
Is facial oil good for oily skin?
Yes, facial oil is good for oily skin, it may seem counter-intuitive to use an oil on your oily skin but there are many benefits to using facial oil on your oily skin, assuming you use the correct one. Facial oils will penetrate your skin and deliver nutrients but won’t clog up your pore’s. As long as you’re using an oil that has a small molecule size you’ll be ok.
Which is the best oil for oily skin?
The best oil for your oily skin is jojoba oil, this is a favourite. This oil is the closest oil we have to the natural sebum we produce on our skin. It’s similar to sebum so when applied to the skin the skin becomes moisturised as if it was moisturised by sebum and the skin won’t produce sebum. This is how oil regulates oil production.
In addition, the oil is also great at helping to heal acne as well as skin blemishes. You need to use the oil consistently for a couple of weeks before you’ll see a noticeable difference. Use 2-4 drops on your whole face.
Is coconut oil bad for oily skin?
Yes, coconut oil is bad for oily skin. It can be used on other skin types but it should be avoided if you have oily skin. Some benefits of coconut oil are that it is antimicrobial so it can protect our skin against harmful microorganisms, it reduces inflammation, it moisturises dry skin and it can help to heal your wounds faster.
That being said this oil is highly comedogenic, it will clog your pores if you have oily or combination skin. This can result in you developing acne or other skin lesions.
If you really want to use coconut oil to get the benefits then you can try using fractionated coconut oil. Fractionated coconut oil is not as comedogenic as the regular coconut oil we use which is unfractionated.
That’s it for my tips on how to reduce oil production on the face. I hope you use these tips and found them useful. If you did please share this article.
