Overview

Almost everyone has oily skin from time to time. Your skin naturally produces oil to hydrate and protect your skin, so some oil is good! The problem arises when you have excess oil on your skin. Excess oil can lead to clogged pores, blackheads, and other blemishes. The key to preventing oily skin is to find a skincare routine that removes excess oil without drying out your skin.

Oily skin is not just something teenagers combat. This type of skin can present some unique challenges but can easily be cared for with the right skincare routine and products. 

What is oily skin? What causes it?

Oily skin occurs when your skin produces an excess amount of sebum (an oily, waxy substance produced by your sebaceous glands). Sebum is meant to hydrate and protect your skin, but when your body produces too much sebum, this oil gets mixed with dead skin cells and bacteria, which then gets trapped in pores causing breakouts.

Oily skin can be the result of genetics, hormones, age, stress, diet choices, using the wrong skincare products, or even the climate in which you live. The result, no matter the cause, remains the same: oily skin.

What are the symptoms of oily skin?

Everyone’s skin produces oil, but to understand if you fall into the category of oily skin type, there are a few things to be on the lookout for.

• Shiny skin
• Skin feels greasy
• Uneven texture 
• Large pores
• Breakouts

What is the best skincare routine for oily skin?

The best plan of attack when it comes to oily skin is to make sure to execute a skincare routine both in the morning and at night.

Morning routine

1. Cleanser

As you sleep, residue from your pillowcase and products in your hair can transfer excess oil and pore-clogging material to your face. Right after you wake up, use warm water to open your pores and a daily cleanser to thoroughly cleanse.

A cleanser or gel is a great choice because it helps unclog pores and remove excess oil without exposing the skin or dehydrating it. Gel formulas are best when it comes to oily and acne-prone skin because they are designed for the deep cleansing it needs.... Oily skin will not peel off the skin, which means that you will get the feeling of cleanliness to the peak without tension.

2. Tone your skin

Toning your skin is a great way to help ensure that every last trace of debris is removed as it will pick up anything your cleanser leaves behind. Toners can also help normalize your skin’s pH level, as well as smooth skin’s texture.

3. Exfoliate

Oily skin is especially prone to dead skin cell build up, blackheads, and clogged pores. Above that, environmental damage can cause the surface of skin to become dull, rough, uneven, and can worsen the appearance of fine lines. To prevent clogged pores and rough skin, it’s important that you exfoliate your skin regularly with a gentle exfoliant.  to boost cell turnover to help lighten dark spots and add radiance to dull skin, while physical exfoliants help to refine skin texture.

4. Moisturize

In addition to exfoliating acids, Dr. Maiman says he uses moisturizing hyaluronic acid (which will help balance sebum production without clogging pores ), oil-reducing niacinamide and oil-absorbing clay. Dr. Maiman also says it's a good idea to eliminate alcohol from your daily routine because while it is marketed to remove excess oil, it actually dries out the skin and triggers even more oil production. 

Evening routine

1. Cleanser

After you’ve been running around all day sweating, and exposing your skin to environmental stressors, it’s so important to wash your face. And if you wear makeup, it’s doubly important to make sure you take your makeup off before you go to bed. Leaving it on can clog your pores and make your skin issues worse.

2. Toner

In the evening, a more potent toner than what you used in the morning is a good idea. This will help to remove excess oil that has accumulated throughout the day and tighten your pores.

3. Moisturizer and eye cream

Yes, again! You should moisturize your face after you cleanse, every time. You want to have balanced skin, so you should replenish your skin’s nutrients that may be stripped after cleansing. But, you probably can skip out on a designated night cream. Night creams tend to be heavy, and likely won’t compliment your oily skin.

It’s especially important to moisturize your eye area after you’ve removed your makeup. Even if you use a gentle cleanser, the rubbing can irritate the thin skin around your eye, so be sure to give it some yummy nutrients before you go to sleep.

Takeaway

A daily skin care regimen that works for you is the first step to tackling oily skin. Morning skin care - especially for oily skin - is a great way to eliminate any oil that may have accumulated on the surface of your skin while you sleep. Oily skin requires regular skin care that moisturizes without disturbing the sebum balance.

There are products and ingredients you can use to balance the natural oils in your skin and keep it healthy and hydrated but not shiny. With the right skin care products, you can preserve the oil and improve the overall condition of your skin. There is excess sweat and oil on your face, which can clog your pores if you don't immediately cleanse your skin.