Oily Skin · Aug 11, 2016

Special Treatment for Your Oily Skin

Finding balance for your oily skin/reduce oil.

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.

The most important part of finding a solution for your problem is to ask the question:

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.
Do you experience oil and excess shine within an hour after cleansing, or does your oil tend to accumulate slowly throughout the day? This is another method to help determine if your skin is really oily or dehydrated.
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.

The amount of oil production you experience will determine the right balance of skin care products you need 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 desquamation, or skin shedding, problems. As skin cells regenerate and push dead skin cells to the surface, excess oil holds on to the dead skin cells. This enhances the look of pores, blocks follicles and contributes to breakouts, and increases the occurrence of dehydration. Fortunately, all of these side effects of oily skin can be dramatically reduced with a balanced and beneficial skin care regimen at home.

OILY SKIN CLEANSING

Opt for a cleanser with salicylic acid. 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.

Try Clearifying Wash with a 1% salicylic acid for oil control.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT TONER

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.

HYDRATION HELPS 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. Look for oil-free moisturizers with hyaluronic acid and/or glycerin. These two ingredients are excellent hydration sources for oily skin concerns.

Try Rest-N-Restore 10% hylauronic acid treatment in the morning to give your skin a daily hydration quench year-round.

In the fall and winter seasons, add Ultra Hemp Lotion or Clarifying Lotion to your ritual. If your concern is oily skin with acne, opt for Clarifying Lotion. For anti-aging concerns, use Ultra Hemp Lotion. Both products contain glycerin to hydrate and improve desquamation of your skin.

EXFOLIATION - THE RIGHT WAY

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). The not-so-secret secret behind retinol and hydroxy acids… they’re tried and true ingredients that are great for most all skin concerns, not just oily skin. A+ Exfoliating Gel is formulated with the benefits of both ingredients and can be used at night to help reduce oil and minimize pore appearance.

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. Moderate to t-zone oil production can benefit from Dermabuff Microcrystal Exfoliating Scrub 1-2 times per week.

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 PROBLEMS / DISORDERS

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. Maintain your healthy skin regimen with quality skin care products and a regimen that best suits your skin type.