Oily skin is not a curse. More importantly, an oily skincare routine doesn’t have to consist of just cleansing your skin and applying a moisturizer whenever you feel like it.
Treating oily skin requires some gentle, yet persistent attention. By following a strict skincare routine, you’ll be able to get the most out of that expensive moisturizer, as well as prevent serious breakouts.
Below, we will discuss some of the most significant things to include in your skincare routine for oily skin. Read on to get that clean, clear skin you’ve always wanted.
Morning Skin Care Routine for Oily Skin
The morning is the best time to start your skincare routine. You’ll be able to see results faster and have the entire day to work on your skin.
Follow these steps in the morning to keep your skin looking healthy and youthful:
Step 1: Wash your face with a gentle cleanser
It is best to cleanse your skin with a gentle cleanser that will remove makeup, dirt, and impurities without stripping or drying out your skin. Do not use any cleansers that contain harsh chemicals, fragrances, or artificial coloring agents.
Step 2: Treat your face with toner
Using a cotton pad, apply a few drops of toner to the face. The goal of doing this is to remove any dirt or leftover makeup from the night before.
Step 3: Apply a salicylic acid serum
A salicylic acid serum is very important in helping oily skin stay matte. Apply a few drops on your face and smooth them over your cheeks, forehead, chin, and nose.
The serum will help reduce excess oil production throughout the day, leaving your face feeling fresh and matte all day long.
Step 4: Use an oil-free moisturizer
Use an oil-free lotion that has SPF in it to protect your face from sun damage. Apply all over your face, including under the eyes, in an upward motion towards your brow bone so that it doesn’t settle into fine lines or wrinkles.
Step 5: Apply Sunscreen
Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays with an SPF of at least 15. Apply liberally every morning to all exposed areas of skin, even if you plan on staying indoors all day; reapply every two hours if you’ll be outside.
Evening Skin Care Routine for Oily Skin
You might believe that your daytime skincare routine is enough to take care of your oily skin, but that’s not the case. Your nighttime regimen is a chance to give your skin the TLC it needs to repair damage and keep it looking healthy.
Here are some ways to treat your skin at night, when it rests and restores itself:
Step 1: Wash your face with a mild cleanser
Start by applying a cleanser to thoroughly remove all traces of dirt and makeup from the day. Choose an oil-free face wash or an exfoliating cleanser that will not strip away your skin’s natural oils.
If you feel like you have a lot of excess oil on your face, use a more powerful exfoliating cleanser two times a week instead of daily. Rinse well and pat dry.
Step 2: Exfoliate with a grainy treatment once or twice weekly
Exfoliating removes dead skin cells, which can get trapped inside pores and cause pimples and blackheads. For oily skin, choose an exfoliant with mild grains such as apricot kernel or rice bran powder.
Step 3: Apply toner to tighten your pores
The third step in evening skincare is toning. Toners are great for tightening pores and evening skin because they remove any dead or damaged cells that may linger on your face after cleansing.
The best types for oily skin are alcohol-free because they won’t leave behind any extra moisture that can make pores clog more easily.
Step 4: Treat your skin
Be sure to use a mask or serum specifically formulated for oily skin and apply it on your face in even strokes. If you have acne-prone skin, avoid putting too much serum on your problem areas, as this could worsen your acne breakouts.
Step 5: Don’t forget to moisturize
Apply a light moisturizer and massage it gently until it is well absorbed by your skin. Moisturizers protect your skin from harsh elements and replenish the natural moisture lost with environmental exposure.
What Are the Causes of Oily Skin?
- Age – As you get older, your androgen levels will continue to rise, which will result in more oil production.
- Hormones – Hormonal changes such as puberty or pregnancy hormones can also cause a drastic change in the amount of oil produced on your face.
- Foods – Certain foods such as fatty foods, dairy products, chocolate, citrus fruits, nuts, or spicy foods can increase oil production
- Stress – Stress causes your body to produce excess cortisol, which triggers your sebaceous glands to produce more oil.
- Heavy products – Heavy products with ingredients like mineral oil, petroleum, and paraffin can clog your pores, resulting in excess oil production in your pores.
Skin Care Tips for Oily Skin
Oily skin can be a nightmare, but with a little effort, you can make it healthier and less oily. Here are some tips for caring for your oily skin:
Don’t wash your face too often
If you wash your face too much, your skin will dry out, making it produce even more oil to protect itself. Washing your face two or three times a day is enough to keep your skin clear and healthy.
Use a toner made specifically for oily skin
These toners will balance the pH levels of your skin to prevent the overproduction of oil and prevent future breakouts. Use it after cleansing to make sure you have gotten all the dirt, oil, and bacteria off your face.
Treat your skin
Always choose products with salicylic acid or glycolic acid. The combination of these ingredients will help dissolve dead cells on the surface of your skin, which will reduce excess oil caused by clogged pores.
Use natural products
The chemicals in most products aren’t good for oily skin, so it is best to avoid them as much as possible. Using natural products with ingredients such as aloe vera gel, green tea extract, and vitamin E will have great benefits for your skin.
Wear the right amount of makeup
Be sure to only put on the necessary amount of makeup each day and don’t leave makeup on overnight. You should also avoid wearing makeup in general if you have oily skin because the oil in your skin can mix with your makeup and cause it to look blotchy.
Use blotting papers
Blotting papers help to soak up excess oil on the face without adding more oil back onto your face. This is especially useful during hot summer months when temperatures rise and you sweat excessively.
Get enough sleep
Tired and sleep-deprived people tend to have skin that produces excess oil. To prevent this from happening, try to get at least 7-9 hours of sleep every night during the week.
Eat right
Junk food has a high impact on your health but also on how much oil your skin produces. Make sure you eat right and stay away from greasy foods such as french fries and burgers. They will make your face look like an oil spill.
Stay hydrated
Staying hydrated is essential for all skin types — but it’s especially important if you have oily skin. Experts recommend drinking six to eight glasses of water per day to keep your skin and overall health in good condition.
FAQs
Is vitamin C good for oily skin?
Yes, it is. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can help keep your skin nice and clear by fighting free radicals in the body. It also works well with vitamin E to help reduce the appearance of blemishes that are commonly associated with oily skin.
To treat oily skin with vitamin C, all you need to do is apply a few drops of vitamin C serum on your face and massage it into your skin; you should start seeing positive results after a few weeks of continuous use.
When should you apply a moisturizer?
The best time to apply moisturizer is right after you cleanse and tone your skin. Pat your skin dry with a towel, and then use the pea-sized amount of moisturizer to avoid over-moisturizing.
Be sure to massage the moisturizer into your skin; this will make it absorb quickly into your skin without leaving any residue. If you have oily skin, you don’t want to overdo it with the moisturizer, or else it will make your skin more oily.
Does oily skin need a moisturizer?
Yes, it does. Moisturizer is an absolute must for oily skin because it helps to seal in moisture deep within your skin. This is particularly important for oily skin because it tends to lack moisture because of the excess amount of oil produced.
In fact, dermatologists agree that taking care of your skin with a moisturizer is one of the most important steps in an oily skincare routine. Moisturizers with oil-free formulas are best suited for oily and acne-prone skin because they do not clog pores and cause breakouts.
Conclusion
A skincare routine for oily skin differs from normal, dry, and sensitive skin. The main objective is to reduce excess oil from the pores without drying out the skin.
You can achieve this by incorporating a healthy routine and using skincare products that are formulated with ingredients that are effective in removing dirt and excess oils without causing excessive dryness and peeling.
Thanks for reading.
To learn more about how to maintain healthy skin, be sure to visit Serum101 today.
