If your face looks shiny or feels greasy, there’s a good chance you have oily skin.
Oily skin can actually be a plus — your skin naturally produces oil to keep itself hydrated, so people with oily skin tend to have fewer wrinkles. On the other hand, oily skin can also be the source of stubborn breakouts.
Oily skin has a lot of causes, but with the right skin care routine, you can help your skin find balance so it looks and feels fresh all day. We’ll show you how to create the perfect skin care routine for oily skin.
How do I know if I have oily skin?
Think about how your face looks and feels at the end of the day. Does your skin look shiny or greasy? Do the pores around your t-zone look enlarged? Does makeup seem to “melt” off your face by the end of the day?
If so, you probably have oily skin. Another possible sign: frequent breakouts. Overproduction of oil means it can get trapped in your pores and breed bacteria.
Why is my face oily?
Oily skin can come from a multitude of factors: hormonal fluctuations, medications, environmental factors like humidity and even certain skin care products. And sometimes it just comes down to genetics.
In some cases, however, you might be accidentally causing your oily skin by over-washing. The same can happen if you’ve tried to avoid using moisturizers in an attempt to decrease shine.
“People with oily skin sometimes think they don’t need a moisturizer, but that’s not true,” .“In fact, dehydrated skin may end up producing even more oil.”
It sounds counterintuitive, but if you over dry your skin with frequent washing or drying toners, you strip it of the natural oils it needs to stay moisturized and supple. As a result, your body overproduces oil to make up for the loss.
If that sounds like you, try giving your harsh routine a break and see if things calm down. Then, try introducing a more gentle skin care routine that focuses on decreasing oil and shine without over drying.
Skin care routine for oily skin
Unlike a routine for dry skin, a routine for oily skin should focus on lightweight products that mattify skin and provide balanced hydration, including a moisturizer. Avoid heavier cream moisturizers and opt for lightweight gel formulas instead, many of which have an added mattifying effect.
A good starting place for any routine is as follows: cleanse, tone, moisturize. Like we mentioned earlier, your routine for an oily complexion should focus on balancing skin without over drying.
Cleansing oily skin
You may feel like washing your face more often when it’s oily, but remember, stripping your skin can actually make it produce more oil. Stick to cleansing twice a day – morning and night – and resist the urge to use harsh, drying cleansers.
Use a cleanser (Plant based) that removes oil and impurities without drying out skin and is gentle enough to use morning and night.
Toning oily skin
Like your cleanser, the goal of toner isn’t to dry out your skin. Harsh astringents packed with alcohol can sting and make skin angry, dry, and inflamed — ouch!
Instead of a drying toner that strips skin, try a toner that relies on oil-absorbing powders to whisk away oil without over drying.
Moisturizers for oily skin
Lightweight moisturizers are the key to all-day hydration that doesn’t leave your face with a telltale oily shine. Use lotions that provide 24 hours of weightless matte hydration and leaves skin with a fresh, cool feeling.
For daytime use, a lotion with SPF30 will provide protection from UV rays without adding shine.