How to get rid of oily skin
Ah, the dreaded shine. Whilst some people seem to get away with a healthy glow, some of us experience oily skin that looks more greasy than glowy.
One of the most annoying skin types, that often coincides with having acne prone skin, oily skin can be difficult to manage. But not impossible. If you want to know how to reduce oiliness and achieve a youthful, healthy glow instead, we're here to help.
Removing excessive oil and keeping your skin free from grease takes commitment. You may already be frustrated after trying multiple products to dry out your skin and avoid that oh-so familiar shiny look. But managing oil production without completely stripping the skin of its natural oils is possible, and it involves the right skincare, as well as understanding the causes of your oily skin.
So read on for our top tips on how to get rid of excess oil on your skin...
The Best Skincare Routine for Oily Skin
As a pioneering skincare brand, we're at the forefront of understanding how our skin works, and in the case of oily skin, what causes excess oil production. We're also at the mercy of our own stressed out, acne prone skin, so we understand first hand what it is to have contrary skin.
That's why we developed our range of alkalising skincare products, to soothe, nourish and manage skin like ours, and yours. So if you want to get your oily skin under control with a daily skin care routine, then look no further than our range of products.
If you want to understand more about how your complexion works and why it might produce more oil than other skin types, then read on. We'll help you find ways to get rid of oily skin either way, we promise!
What is Oily Skin?
Just beneath the surface of the skin, we have thousands of glands that produce a wax like oil, called sebum. The skin naturally produces sebum to help keep it moisturised and protected. The amount produced varies from person to person - if you produce more sebum that your skin needs, you'll experience oily skin.
Many of us feel like our skin is a little shiny by the end of the day, especially if we've been hot. But true oily skin is skin that feels greasy most of the time, even a short time after using a face wash or cleanser.
You may notice excess oil on the skin all over your face, or down the T-Zone, the area covering your forehead, nose and chin.
What Causes Oily Skin?
Oily skin is caused by overproduction of sebum by the sebaceous glands. Excess sebum not only makes the skin greasy but can also cause the appearance of pimples and spots.
But why does this happen? One reason is our genetics - we may have oily, acne prone skin running through our family. Our hormones may also be involved - if we have a higher level of androgens (male sex hormones) in our bodies, even as a female, our sebaceous glands tend to be larger and therefore produce more sebum.
An oily face may also be triggered by your diet, stress and even what you put on your face.
How to Control Oily Skin with Skincare Products
Developing the right skincare routine for your skin texture, tone and type is important - whether you have dry skin, sensitive, combination or oily skin.
In terms of products that help get rid of oil, some products help absorb excess oil, whilst others help to tackle the level of sebum your skin produces.
Wash Your Face Using a Cleanser and Toner to Get Rid of Oily Skin
When you have oily skin, it's important to keep the production of sebum under control as this will also help to manage other skin problems, from blackheads to spots and acne breakouts.
Therefore, use products designed to help oily skin to cleanse your face twice every day, ideally in the morning and evening. Deep cleansing is essential to effectively remove makeup and unclog pores by removing excess oil, dirt, bacteria, pollution and dead skin cells at night.
In the morning, using a gentle cleanser to remove dirt and stale sweat from skin that's potentially been hot overnight will help to keep your skin feeling fresh.
A gentle cleanser such as our Rebalance and Reset Cream Cleanser is ideal. With natural plant oils that won't irritate your skin, it will help to nourish deep down to help balance sebum production. Pat your face dry after cleansing and then it's time to use a toner if you use one.
The Right Moisturizer to Reduce Oily Skin
Many people with oily skin shy away from using a moisturiser, as they believe this could make their skin even more shiny. However, if the skin lacks moisture, the oil glands are actually stimulated to produce even more oil than ever before. By avoiding use of a moisturiser you could actually be making your skin more oily.
Even those with an oily complexion can benefit from the use of a moisturiser - provided it’s the best moisturiser for their skin type. The best moisturiser for oily skin is one that's soothing, hydrating and won’t lead to breakouts on the skin.
Our Calming Hydration Day Cream and Overnight Replenishment Night Cream are ideally suited to reducing the amount of oil the sebaceous glands produce.
A serum, used before you moisturize can also be helpful if you want to get rid of greasiness during the day. Look for serums that contain ingredients such as retinoids and niacinamide that help reduce sebum and keep excess oil in check. They may also have the benefit of minimising fine lines and other signs of ageing!
Exfoliate with Salicylic Acid
Gently scrubbing your face with citrus fruits such as lemon and kiwi fruit helps to neutralise oils, making the skin clearer and more radiant. In addition, a green clay facial mask is recommended for its powerful detoxifying effects. It also makes the skin supple.
Another great ingredient for facial scrubs is oatmeal. It eliminates dead skin cells and moisturises. By combining it with lemon, you will get a perfect treatment for oily skin. Indeed, this citrus remedy is an excellent astringent that helps control the excess production of sebum and prevent breakouts.
Using an exfoliating product that contains salicylic acid or glycolic acid will also work well as these fruit acids exfoliate without drying the skin.
Using natural cleansers such as pulped tomatoes, oranges, apples, papaya and cucumber, and then applying to your face and leaving on for ten minutes every day can help to reduce oily skin. This should be done ideally before bedtime and after cleansing your face.
Their mineral content, natural antioxidant effects and anti-microbial properties will help alleviate the oiliness.
Oily Skincare Tips to Hydrate and Minimise Excess Oil
The idea behind managing oily skin isn't to strip it of it's natural oils. This will cause the sebaceous glands to go into overdrive and over produce oil, leading to more greasiness. The idea is to use products designed for oily skin that gently hydrate and support the needs of your skin.
Here's some other tips on reducing shine.
Avoid Products that Contain Alcohol
Watch out for products that contain alcohol meant to dry up oily skin. These aren't always the best products for oily skin. You may relax thinking that these products will dry up the oil, but may end up making it worse.
Alcohol dries your skin causing the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum as a defence. Acne moisturiser should not contain alcohol because this will inevitably tip the natural balance of your skin. Aim to use an acne moisturiser that doesn’t contain alcohol.
Don't Over Cleanse or Exfoliate
You might think that washing your face several times a day is the solution, but this is far from the truth. It dries out your skin and results in more production of oil, making the face appear even shinier. The same goes for exfoliating, which can irritate the skin. Look for lightweight products that support the unique needs of your skin.
Avoid Oil Blockers
To maintain matte skin, excess oil must be absorbed but some mattifying products available on the market block the pores. Although these products prevent the skin from becoming shiny, they do not moisturise the skin which can exacerbate skin problems. So use blotting papers sparingly.
Use Mattifying Makeup
When it comes to the best makeup for oily skin, it’s important to choose the right products. Do not try to hide imperfections under layers of foundation as this has a mask effect that prevents the skin from breathing, which triggers inflammation and other oily skin conditions.
Instead, go for lightweight skincare products for oily skin that are water-based and mineral-based, including an oil-free, non-comedogenic foundation. This is one of the best ways to prevent clogged pores and acne breakouts.
Use a Sunscreen for Oily Skin
Protecting your skin from the damaging UV rays of the sun is super important, whatever your skin type. If you use sunscreen (as opposed to wearing a wide brimmed hat and avoiding direct sunlight between 11am and 3pm), choose an oil-free one.
Look at Your Diet
Diet plays a major role in how health your skin appears, and to minimise oil production you should always follow a balanced diet. Avoid eating foods that contain sugar or are deep fried, because they have an adverse effect on your skin. Changing your diet isn't always easy, but ty to do it, for the health of your skin.
To keep your skin nourished, increase your intake of green vegetables and fresh fruit. This will prevent the overreaction of oil glands and ensure that they work at a normal rate to reduce overproduction of oil.
Take Steps to Keep Your Stress Levels in Check
When we're stressed, we release the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol indirectly triggers the release of sebum by affecting the balance of androgens in the body. So look for ways you can minimise your stress levels.
Home Remedies for Oily Skin vs Medicated
If your oily skin isn't responding to any of our tips here, then it might be time to visit your GP or a dermatologist for an expert opinion on how to achieve clear skin.
Treating Your Skin to the Best Skincare
If you’re looking to transform oily skin into a silky, smooth complexion, try out the Sönd day and night creams. Our Calming Hydration Day Cream keeps your skin hydrated all day and our Overnight Replenishment Night Cream soothes and nourishes overnight. Your oily skin will thank you for it!