Almost everyone has oily skin from time to time. Your skin naturally produces oil to hydrate and protect your skin, so some oil is good! The problem arises when you have excess oil on your skin. Excess oil can lead to clogged pores, blackheads, and other blemishes. The key to preventing oily skin is to find a skincare routine that removes excess oil without drying out your skin.
Oily skin is most common in your T-Zone. The T-Zone is made up of the skin on your forehead, nose, and chin. For those with oily skin, your T-Zone and other parts of your face may be excessively shiny or oily throughout the day. If your oily skin leads to breakouts, look for products specially designed for your skin type, like oil-free and non-comedogenic products. This guide will help you learn about the top causes of oily skin and how to find the best skincare routine for oily skin.
There are four major skin types: normal, combination, oily, and dry skin. Normal skin means that your skin is neither too oily nor too dry. Combination skin means that your skin sometimes produces excess oil and you may have enlarged pores in your T-Zone. Oily skin means that your skin tends to overproduce sebum and you may also have enlarged pores. Lastly, dry skin means that your skin underproduces sebum, which can lead to dry, flaky skin.
“Oily skin means that your skin tends to overproduce sebum and you may also have enlarged pores.”
If you want to get the most out of your skincare routine, the first step is figuring out if you truly have oily skin. This means you'll need to do a skin type test. Don't worry, it's easier than it sounds! Here are the steps for doing a skin type test for oily skin:
The key to managing your oily skin, just as it is any time you want to take better care of your skin, is a consistent skincare routine.
Just because you have naturally-oily skin doesn’t mean you can’t take effective steps for clear, healthy skin. If you have oily skin, you’ll need to form a regular skincare routine that helps remove excess oil from your skin without overdrying it.
As you sleep, residue from your pillowcase and products in your hair can transfer excess oil and pore-clogging material to your face. Right after you wake up, use warm water to open your pores and a daily cleanser to thoroughly cleanse. Make sure to also cleanse your face at the end of the day to remove any buildup of dirt, debris, and oil from the rest of the day. Look for a cleanser with salicylic acid to deep clean your skin and keep your pores clear.
Gentle exfoliation is one of the most important skincare steps for oily skin. The combination of excess oil and large pores can cause buildup and dead skin cells to clog your pores. Use a face scrub with salicylic acid a few times a week to remove pore buildup and help prevent acne and breakouts.
Applying toner is an essential step for controlling oily skin. Toner is a lightweight skincare product that can help shrink the appearance of pores and control oil. Toners often have skin-friendly ingredients like Witch Hazel and Salicylic Acid to help reduce oil and prevent acne.
After cleansing, exfoliating, and toning your skin, apply a lightweight moisturizer and sunscreen to protect and moisturize your skin during the day. Look for non-comedogenic (or non-pore-clogging products) to avoid clogging your pores. While it may seem counterintuitive to add more moisture to oily skin, consistently moisturizing prevents your skin from going into overdrive when it becomes too dry and compensates with an over-production of oil.
“While it may seem counterintuitive to add more moisture to oily skin, consistently moisturizing prevents your skin from going into overdrive when your skin becomes too dry and compensating with an over-production of oil.”
Figuring out what is causing your oily skin is the first step to managing it. The top causes of oily skin are:
“In reality, overwashing or over-exfoliating can make oily skin worse. As you strip your skin's natural oils, it goes into overdrive to produce more sebum or oil to protect your skin.”
Your evening skincare routine is just as important as your morning one. If you have makeup on, you'll need to start your evening routine with a makeup remover.
It is important to deep clean and remove dirt, oil, and debris, but make sure you are gentle on your skin so that you don’t irritate it.
Facial masks draw out dirt and oil to help deep clean your pores. Using a face mask with ingredients like charcoal can help remove excess oil from your skin for a tingly-smooth pore detox.
Excess oil sometimes leads to clogged pores as well. If your oily skin is resulting in blackheads, use a pore strip to safely remove blackheads without having to pick or squeeze your skin.