Finding Balance for Oily Skin
Having oily skin can be a blessing and a curse all at once. The downside, oily skin is not a condition you can “eliminate” or “get rid of” with a standalone product, makeup gets cakey or flakey, blemishes happen, and pores look larger. On the upside of oily skin, your skin tends to be softer, more supple and doesn’t age as quickly as dry skin.
Balancing your regimen with oil-control skin care, hydration, and protection is the key to keep your skin radiant and healthy. Adjust your regimen from summer to fall, and when androgen hormone levels change in your body to keep your skin balanced.
Before trying every oily-skin product under the sun, ask yourself: Is your skin really oily?
In many cases, your skin may not be oily at all, just dehydrated, which gives the appearance of oily skin and breakouts with fine lines. To determine the difference between oil and dehydration consider this:
Do you experience oil and excess shine within an hour after cleansing, or does your oil tend to accumulate slowly throughout the day?
If the shine never goes away, you're likely experiencing dehydrated skin and using an oil-control regimen may likely make your problems worse. Skip the salicylic products and opt for ingredients like lactic acid, hyaluronic acid, and a light scrub.
Is your oily skin restricted to your t-zone?
If so, you don't need a full-on oil control product range. A combination skin regimen is perfect to help keep your skin balanced.
OILY SKIN PROBLEMS
Oil (also called sebum) helps keep our skin supple, hydrated and elastic. Too much oil, on the other hand, can have many potential adverse effects, including:
- Enlarged pore appearance
- Blackheads and whiteheads
- Dry, flaky skin and dehydration
- Sebaceous skin disorders
Many of these problems occur with oily skin because of poor cell turnover. As skin cells regenerate and renew, excess oil holds on to the superficial layer of dead skin cells. When the cells don't shed properly, pores look larger, follicles are blocked, and breakouts get worse. Fortunately, a balanced and beneficial skin care regimen at home can remedy these superficial problems.
OILY SKIN CLEANSING
Opt for a cleanser with salicylic acid, like Clearifying Wash. There are many different ingredients available that help reduce oil, but salicylic acid is a preferred ingredient because it’s a keratolytic and comedolytic agent. It encourages exfoliation, releases blocked pores, and constricts the pores to help reduce breakouts. Salicylic acid is also effective against keratosis pillars (also called chicken skin), psoriasis and discolorations.
Oil is produced constantly, therefore washing your oily face and/or body morning and night is key to improving the concern. If you have t-zone oil production and find that a salicylic cleanser is too drying for your skin, switch to a more hydrating cleanser and manage your t-zone oiliness with a toner.
TONERS FOR OILY SKIN
Toners and conditioners do more than remove residue, they’re a skin-balancing treatment that helps prep for the remainder of your skin care ritual. Excessive oil production needs an oil-control toner. Clearifying Toner contains a mild 3% hydroxy acid complex with citrus oils to exfoliate, reduce oil, and refine pores, and is best for excessive oil production. If you have moderate to t-zone oiliness, or experience increased sensitivity with an oil-control toner, opt for a balancing toner, like Fruitzyme Conditioner.
HYDRATE TO MANAGE OIL
As mentioned previously, poor desquamation is the leading culprit of many oily skin problems. Pair this problem with salicylic acid and other drying ingredients, top it off with sun damage, and the result is generally dehydration. This lack of water in the skin creates a barrier that traps in skin oil, causes unwanted flakiness, and prematurely ages the look of your skin. Hydrating oily skin helps prevent and correct the visible signs of dehydration, including rough texture, breakouts, and fine lines.
Try Rest-N-Restore Intense Hydration Gel in the morning to give your skin a daily hydration boost.
In the morning, apply Ultralite Moisturizer after your serum to help balance skin oils and provide anti-aging benefits.
EXFOLIATION - THE RIGHT WAY
Our all-in-one clarifying treatment for oily skin, comedonal acne, and blackheads is Clearing Complex. This balancing prebiotic formula manages excess oil production and keeps pores clear to reduce and prevent breakouts.
Balancing exfoliation with skin regeneration helps remedy all the poor desquamation problems associated with oily skin. We achieve this by pairing the power of hydroxy acids (exfoliation) with retinol (regeneration). These tried-and-true ingredients are great for most all skin concerns. A+ Serum is formulated with the benefits of both ingredients and can be used at night to help reduce oil and minimize pore appearance. It also softens the look of superficial scars and texture concerns.
If you’re using a prescription retinol, consult with your skin care provider on the best options for your skin’s unique needs. Over-use of these ingredients could trigger more oil production or increased sensitivity.
Scrubs have great exfoliation appeal. However, if your skin suffers from extreme oil production and is active, avoid using scrubs to exfoliate. The friction on the skin surface has been known to stimulate oil production.
SENSITIVITY AND OILY SKIN
There are many different causes of sensitivity. Becoming aware of your unique sensitivity triggers is an important variable in attaining optimal skin health and a consultation with your skin care provider should be in order. If your sensitivity has increased with product use, it may be time to downsize or change-up your regimen.
OILY SKIN PROBLEM: SEBACEOUS HYPERPLASIA/DERMATITIS
Oil is stimulated by androgen hormones in the body and is secreted from sebaceous glands located in our hair follicles. Sebaceous hyperplasia and seborrheic dermatitis are two examples of skin disorders that may be associated with oily skin over the age of 40. If you experience redness, inflammation, or unusual growths on your skin, it’s always best to seek a consultation with a Dermatologist to help rule out any conditions that may be prevented quickly with medical care.