What causes oily skin? Reasons for oily skin?
Having oily skin is a very common case. Almost everyone has some amount of oily skin from time to time. Oily skin generally happens when the starts producing excess amounts of sebum ( a waxy, oily substance that is produced by the sebaceous glands present in the skin). The main objective of sebum is to hydrate and provide protection to your skin, but when your body starts producing excessive amounts of sebum, this oil after getting mixed with the dead skin cells and bacteria starts accumulating and gets trapped in pores causing breakouts. The oily skin mostly occurs in common in your T-Zone. The T-Zone is considered the part of the face made up of your nose, forehead and chin. For people with oily skin, the T-Zone of these people will look a lot shinier than normal.
There are various reasons for oily skin some of them are:
- Genetics: There are several reasons for having oily skin, but genetics is one of the most primary and common. Just like hair colour, skin colour, eye colour and other traits as well as diseases, you can get oily skin from your parents. Family members having oily skin, the chance of their kids developing the same type of oily skin.
- Large Pores: If you have relatively larger poles, you have to deal with more oil than normal people with smaller pores.
- Age: As you can guess, your age does have a great impact on your internal as well as the external body. The skin with time loses collagen and several other proteins. This can cause your skin pores to function inefficiently.
- Changing climate – The climatic conditions can impact the amount of oil your skin produces. One of the major factors of your oily skin is where you live. If the climatic conditions of your area are hot and humid, your skin will naturally produce more oil than usual. Your skin will produce more during the summer seasons.
Your Current Skincare Routine
Having an efficient skincare routine will help you decrease oil production. If you think just washing and exfoliating your face again and again in a day can reduce the excessive oil then you may be wrong. Over-washing can have the opposite impact on your skin, as fighting the natural production of oil can allow your skin to go into overdrive and produce even more sebum or oil to compensate for it. So you have to take your time and do your research to get the best skincare routine for your oily skin and then stick to it for better results.
Some of the common signs of oily skin are
- Shiny skin
- Skin feels greasy
- The uneven texture of your skin
- Skin breakouts
- Large Pores
To tackle oily skin, several effective products and ingredients can be used. These can help you keep the natural oil balance, healthy skin, hydrate your skin, decrease shiny looking skin.
Best ingredients to look for oily skin
When searching for effective products for oily skin, you must pay attention to the main ingredients used in the product. To treat oily skin you have to look for products with the ingredients such as
- Aloe Vera: Aloe vera is one of the best natural hydrating ingredients, it helps in adding much-needed moisture to your skin at the same time it removes the accumulated dirt and dead skin from your skin surface.
- Rosemary Extract – Rosemary acts as a natural skin cleanser, it cleans the pores and doesn’t let the oil accumulate.
- Squalane – It helps in maintaining the skin’s natural oil balance by mimicking the sebum.
- Rose oil – Rose oil is a traditional way of improving the glow of the skin, it cleanses the skin, reduces the impact of pores and is a natural hydrator.
- Tea tree oil – You may think, how oil can help in treating oily skin but tea tree is an essential oil and can cleanse dirt and oil from the pores of your skin.
- Clary sage – Clary sage is a natural toner and can be useful in eliminating excessive dry or excessively oily skin.
- Bentonite and Kaolin Clay – The clays are highly beneficial as they help in smoothing the skin, maintaining the natural oil balance of the skin and improve the overall texture of the skin.
- Activated Coconut Charcoal – It is a very effective natural cleanser and provides deep cleaning to the pores without impacting the skin nutrients.
- Retinol – Retinol is also known as vitamin A and it helps in cleaning the skin by removing the accumulated dead skin from the pores.
- Hydraulic Acid – Hydraulic acid is very effective in maintaining the moisture balance of your skin.
Ingredients to avoid if you have an oily skin
- Vaseline – Vaseline is petroleum jelly, being a mineral oil it makes a barrier on your skin that can clog your pores. It is also considered a carcinogen.
- Coconut oil – If you have oily skin then you should avoid coconut oil. Coconut oil is good for dry skin but it is comedogenic, which means it can clog your pores and result in the accumulation of oil and dirt.
- Lanolin – Lanolin oil is made out of sheep’s skin and should be avoided as it can lead to overproduction of oil in your skin. It can create more problems if you already have oily skin.
- Beeswax – It is helpful in hydrating and protecting your skin but it can create a barrier that can lead to clogging your pores.
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate – It is used extensively in many soaps and cleaners but is highly harmful to your skin. It can absorb too much moisture from the skin that can lead to excessive production of oil from the glands. This extra oil can get accumulated and create skin problems.
Speaking of skincare routine, know the Top 15 Benefits of Turmeric and Honey.
Best Skin Care Routine for Oily Skin
Let’s get down to the best skincare routine for oily skin
Using the products that can help in reducing your oily is a good idea but you need to have an effective skincare routine, sticking to the routine for some considerable amount of time can give great results to your problem. We have created step by step, morning and evening skincare routines for oily skin. The morning routine ensures that your skin will not get affected by the harmful rays of the sun, pollution etc. Along with that, the evening routine allows you to heal your skin from all the possible damage that may have been caused during the day. There are also the best recommendations of products that you can use to treat your oily skin.
Morning Routine for Oily Skin
1 . Using a cleanser
First thing in the morning you can start your skincare routine with a gentle cleanser. A cleanser helps remove all the excessive oil, dirt and other impurities from your face and it prevents the pores from clogging. There are various variants of cleansers so you have to pick one that is best for your skin type. It is recommended to choose a cleanser that can tackle the excessive oil produced from your skin as well as maintain the balance of your skin so that you don’t strip the natural oils from your face. You can use a mild water-based cleanser with fruit extracts such as grapefruit and papaya. These fruit-based cleansers are good for unclogging your pores. They focus on the T-zone where most of the exclusive oil accumulates.
Best Cleaners for oily skin:
This cleanser is one of the most popular products in the market and addresses skin-related issues such as oiliness, wrinkles, dullness, fine lines etc. It is a gel-based product with no harmful chemicals like Paraben and Sulfate.
If you don’t want to apply any chemicals on your face then this cleanser is right for you. It is purely made from natural products and helps in removing dirt, makeup and excess sebum from your face. It is Paraben and Sulfate free also.
2. Toner
The second step is to use a toner in your morning skincare routine. Regular use of toner can help in unclogging your pores, maintain the pH levels of your skin and create evenly toned skin. Some toners are also beneficial in protecting your skin from UV rays. All these benefits make it a great addition to your skincare routine. While choosing your toner you should look for a gentle toner made from ingredients such as lychee seed extract, elderflower, rose, rose Aloe Vera, chamomile, honey, almond oil, eucalyptus etc.
Best Toners for your skin
Urban Botanics rose water toner is a versatile toner that provides hydration and treats your full and tired skin. It is made from 100% rose water and has a nice fragrance. It is a natural product with no added chemicals.
The toner’s ayurvedic formula purifies your skin, rejuvenates your skin, tightens the pores etc. It is a cooling toner made from cucumber extracts, coriander, berberry and peppermint. It is a natural chemical and alcohol-free toner for your oily skin.
3. Moisturizer
Moisturizers can help in reducing sebum production along with improving its texture. Adding a non-greasy moisturizer can be highly beneficial for oily skin. There are oil-free moisturizers that can provide hydration without clogging up your pores. You should choose a gel-based moisturizer that is oil-free and made up of natural extracts.
Best Moisturizers for oily skin
This is a super mild moisturizer that contains antioxidants and hyaluronic acid that allows your skin to breathe properly and make you feel hydrated.
If you are looking for a moisturizer that is good for oily skin then this one is right for you. The Neutrogena Hydro Boost is a non-comedogenic and oil-free moisturizer that contains hyaluronic acid that can hydrate your skin effectively.
4. Sunscreen
Sunscreens are very vital as they protect your face from the harmful UV rays of the sun that can destroy your skin. Especially in the morning when you generally go out and have direct contact with the sun rays. There are non-greasy sunscreen formulas that act perfectly in the case of oily skin. You should avoid purchasing sunscreen with heavy, oily ingredients as it can harm your skin. Choose a light formula that has antioxidants and is made from natural extracts. The ideal sunscreen should protect from harmful rays of the sun throughout the day without making your skin sticky. Go for vitamin C, Zinc, fruit extracts and caffeine-based sunscreens if you have oily skin. Some sunscreens have a matte finish and act as a good base for your makeup.
Best sunscreens for oily skin
It is an oil-free, lightweight and broad-spectrum sunscreen with extra protection and has an SPF of 46. It’s mainly made from ingredients including zinc oxide and octinoxate. It is expensive but effective.
Neutrogena is one of the most popular brands when it comes to tackling oily skin. The SPF 15 sunscreen is an oil-free, non-comedogenic and affordable product that gives excellent results.
Evening Skin Care Routine
1 . Cleanser
Cleaners are a great product for removing the makeup that you have used in your base all day. You should cleanse your face with a light water-based cleanser to prevent excessive oil, impurities and make-up from accumulating on your face. For oily and acne-prone skin you should choose a cleanser that has those particular specialities. Do not use alcohol-based cleaners because they can irritate your face.
2. Toner
In the evening after cleansing your face try to add some toner that gives you an adequate amount of hydration. For oily skin, you should go for a non-greasy light toner that can act gently and maintain your skin’s pH and moisture.
3. Moisturizer
It is very necessary to moisturize your skin in the morning as well as in the evening. For oily skin choose an oil-free lightweight formula that can efficiently absorb into the skin.
4. Eye cream
Eye cream is necessary to add to your skincare routine as the skin around your eyes are very sensitive and can lead to dark circles and puffy eyes. In the case of oily skin, the skin around the eyes have oily glands and they need moisture to stay healthy. It is important to choose an eye cream that is suitable for your skin.
Best eye cream for oily skin
It is a great eye cream that instantly brightens and corrects the dark circles. It has vitamin C and collagen that supports skin’s clarity and elasticity.
It is a very good product and uses lavender peptides for moisture and buckwheat extracts for reducing puffiness of the eyes.
Weekly Skincare Routine
1. Use an Exfoliator
Using an exfoliator once a week is very beneficial as it can help in eliminating impurities and accumulated dead skin cells and making the skin smooth. Scrubs that have menthol and eucalyptus are best known for generating a cool sensation and work great in oily skin. Make sure to choose an oil-free and alcohol-free exfoliator as these can lead to excessive secretion of oil and breakouts. Make sure to use a gentle scrubber if you have oily skin.
Best exfoliator for oily skin
It is a gentle cleanser, exfoliator and clarifier that helps in maintaining the skin tone, smoothens the skin’s texture and provides overall nourishment to the skin. The exfoliator helps in stimulating the natural production of natural hyaluronic acid in your skin. It is an oil-free, soap-free and non-comedogenic product.
- Unique Leave-On Exfoliant
The Paula’s Choice skin brightening facial exfoliator contains 2% BHA that helps in providing a natural glow to the skin. It had no artificial fragrance and a paraben-free Exfoliator that unclogs the pores and reduces blackheads.
2. Use a face mask
You should use a face mask once a week, it helps in decreasing the damage caused to your skin throughout the week by exposure to sun rays, pollutants and other impurities. It has several benefits like it replenishes your skin, makes it soft and bright, gets rid of dead skin cells etc.
Best face masks for oily skin
- Plum Green Tea Clear Face Mask
It is considered one of the best face masks for oily skin. It has a rich creamy texture and is highly beneficial if you have oily and acne-prone skin. The natural clay tackles excessive oil and grease, it makes the skin look more clear.
- Biotique Bio Clove Purifying Anti Blemish Face Pack For Oily And Acne-Prone Skin
The clove face mask has several benefits on acne and oily skin. It is a soft product made from natural ingredients. It decreases the amount of dirt, oil and impurities from your face and helps in skin brightening.
Oily skin is a very common condition and is caused by natural ascensions such as hormonal changes, genetics, exposure to pollution etc. By eating a good and healthy diet and having a great skincare routine with the right products you can reduce your oily skin.
