Caring for oily skin

How to get rid of oily skin: A skincare routine for oily skin

Getting into the right habits is crucial for reducing oily skin naturally. You could use all the oil free moisturisers in the world, but if you’re caring for your skin in the wrong way, then they won’t be very effective.

Best face wash for oily skin

First up, washing your face. None of us should wash our skin more than twice a day, but especially so if we have oily skin. Having oily skin, you may feel like you need to keep washing or cleansing to get rid of the oil.

But doing so will indicate to your skin that it needs to keep replenishing the oil that you keep stripping away. The skin is clever, and if you’re predisposed to having oily skin, the more you clean away the natural oils, the more your skin will produce more oil to compensate for what it thinks is a deficiency.

So wash in the morning to remove sweat and dirt from overnight and at the end of the day to remove makeup and grime that’s accumulated during the day.

When it comes to the best products for oily skin, wash your skin using a mild facewash that’s free from harsh artificial chemicals and fragrances and is designed for oily skin.

Never rub your skin dry too vigorously either. Instead, pat dry with a towel (see the section on exfoliating below to understand why).

Best toner for oily skin

Using a toner can feel a little like a step too far, but we really do recommend one. Toners are designed to be used after cleansing and before moisturising. They help to remove any oil left over after cleansing.

Avoid using alcohol based toners or anything that feels too harsh, as they’ll strip the oil and trigger the oil producing response in the skin that we’ve mentioned. Rose water or a gentle astringent such as witch hazel is ideal.

Best exfoliator for oily skin

Don’t be tempted to use harsh mechanical exfoliants such as loofahs and skin brushes with hard bristles. These will aggravate the skin and could lead to more sebum production leading to even oilier skin.

Instead, use a gentle exfoliating product such as salicylic acid. It will help to remove excess oil from your pores, along with skin dulling dead skin cells and dirt. In turn, this helps to reduce the size of the pores, making them less visible and less likely to produce excess oils.

However, beware. Using salicylic acid too frequently will have the opposite effect. Stick to once a week as any more frequently and your skin will become dry, triggering the release of extra oil.

Does moisturiser help oily skin?

You might be tempted to completely avoid moisturising your skin if it’s prone to excess oil. But this is a big no no!

Even oily skin needs to be kept well moisturised. The best moisturiser for oily skin is a lightweight one, preferably ones that are water based to avoid adding to your oil problem.

Not using a moisturiser could even make your skin oilier. If you leave your skin dry and unmoisturised, it will trigger the sebaceous glands within the pores to release more sebum to deal with the dryness. Using a light moisturiser will help to avoid this trigger.

Moisturising oily skin is essential if you also have acne prone skin and you’re using acne products such as benzoyl peroxide. These kinds of products can lead to drying and flaking, so you need to combat this.

Best moisturiser for oily skin

Always use a moisturiser that says it’s oil free, or non-comedogenic (this means non pore blocking) as it will help to keep your pores free from blockages which can cause oil build-up.

Night cream for oily skin

Overnight, our skin tends to sweat more, especially so if we sleep in a warm room with our duvet covering our head! Which is why it’s so important to wash our face in the morning to clear away dried on sweat that can block the pores and cause an increase in oiliness.

But it’s also vital to moisturise at night, normally with a slightly heavier cream than we’d use during the day, but still a non-comedogenic, oil free moisturiser. This will nourish the skin whilst you’re asleep, whilst not overloading it with heavy duty oils.

Best serum for oily skin

A serum is an optional extra for oily skin, but you may find using one significantly helps your shine, and allows your makeup to stay fresher for longer.

Serums are designed to be worn under moisturiser or mixed with your moisturiser. Look for one that contains an ingredient called niacinamide, which is a vitamin B derivative. Niacinamide helps to tighten enlarged pores, reduce sebum production and prevent pore blockages.

Unlike many serums, which can be oily and heavy on the sin, niacinamide serums tend to be lighter, water based varieties.

Face masks for oily skin

If you’d like to use a face mask, do so no more than once a week, and try one that has clay as a main ingredient. Clay is excellent at gently drawing excess oil from the skin but must be followed up with a gentle moisturiser afterwards.

Oily skincare natural tips for moisturising in the changing seasons

The moisturiser you use may also need to change throughout the year. Yor skincare tips for summer may well need to be different to what you use in the winter.

Winter skincare routine for oily skin

If your skin, whilst still being oily, feels more irritated or dehydrated during the colder months, you’ll need a heavier moisturiser. (But still suitable for oily skin.) Harsh winds, central heating and being inside for days on end can make even oily skin feel rough.

Summer skincare routine for oily skin

But in the warmer months, your heavier winter skincare will make your oily skin even more oily, especially as you’ll naturally sweat more. So switch to a lighter weight moisturiser, perhaps one that’s gel based or contains the lightweight hydrating agent, hyaluronic acid.

How to reduce oily skin: Sönd skincare for oily skin

Whilst we can’t promise you the earth (since the causes of oily skin vary from person to person) we can promise you some skincare options that so many of our customers have written about to tell us how much they’ve transformed their lives and helped to get rid of oily skin.

From the best face wash for oily skin to the best moisturiser, we have the answer to problem skin. And we know that, because we have problem skin, and we use these products. We developed them ourselves and we wouldn’t sell them if we didn’t believe in them 100%.

So give us a try. We could be just the thing you’re looking for!

Sources

https://www.healthline.com/health/non-comedogenic-oils#skin-effects

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321090.php

https://www.healthline.com/health/oily-skin-causes#products

This article is not meant to treat or diagnose. Please visit your doctor for advice about any health concerns you may have.

Dr Anna Brilli

About Anna

With more than 35 years of experience as a Medical Consultant and Holistic Nutritionist, Anna has developed her own alkaline-based approach for natural well-being. Annas holistic methodology helps slow down the ageing processes, cures problematic skin types and helps increase physical strength and mental clarity.

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