Oily Skin
Under each pore is a gland that produces natural oils called sebum. This helps keep you skin healthy and hydrated. Although in some people, the gland can produce to much oil. You know if you have oily skin if you feel greasy within a couple of hours of cleansing and skin constantly looks shiny. Breakouts are more common with oily skin because the oil mixes with dead skin and clogs pores.
Symptoms
- shiny or greasy look
- large pores
- skin that looks thick or rough
- occasional or persistent spots
- clogged pores and blackheads
The most common reason for oily skin is genetics. If one of your parents have oily skin then there is a big chance that this is why you have oily skin. Genetic oily skin often means you produce too much of the hormone DHT. Also, could be one of the above underlying causes and the family member is exposed to it as well therefore have similar problems.
There are also elements that will make the oily skin worse like;
Environment – if you are working in an office with aircon or with heat that makes the air dry then your skin can become dry. The sebum glands go into emergency mode and over produce oils to help protect the skin.
Products – choosing skincare with too many chemicals or using the wrong skincare that actual strips away protecting oils will also put the sebum glands into emergency mode to produce more oil. Or maybe you are avoiding skincare and not hydrating/protecting the skin enough.
Having oily skin is not all bad. The oil is a protective barrier to keep moisture in which means you will never look dry and scaly. Oil also protects your skin from signs of aging. Learn to love your complexion by choosing the correct ingredients in your skincare to control excess oil and breakouts. Nobody wants dull skin so having a natural dewy look is lucky.
Ingredients best for oily skin.
Kaolin is a white clay that absorbs oil a mattifies skin. It is also amazing for blocked pores.
We recommend:
Lixir Skin - Soft Clay Rubber
Some skins are fine and blessed with tiny pores. Others are thick and blessed with strength but they have open pores that accumulate sebum and dead skin that can turn into blackheads. Yet formulae with “bits” can be irritating and abrasive as they merely scratch the surface of the skin without clearing the pores. Soft Clay Rubber is a rub-off formula that combines enzymatic and mechanical exfoliation to leave your skin impeccable. It is developed in the true tradition of the French facial that always includes extraction - finally, a product that allows a gentle squeeze, safely without any stress to the skin.
Naturience Roll- on Instant Mat
Rather than using powder mid-day to get rid of shine, use something that does not add to the skin in a negative way but instead use a natural volcanic stone roller. It is rolled in shiny areas to remove excess oil without removing any makeup. The perfect handbag must have.
If your skin is actually dry deep down from the environment factors and the glands have gone into emergency mode to help protect the body but actually overproduced to much oil, then using an oil moisturiser could work. Something that is light and quick to absorb as to not leave any oil or shine look on the skin. Also, one that will hydrate making the glands feel like they do not need to over produce oil anymore.
We recommend
Plant Apothecary - Superfacial organic, superlight moisturiser for oily and acne prone skin.
Healing sea buckthorn and restorative juniper and geranium oil mix is the perfect food for oily and acne prone skin. White tea seed oil, hazelnut oil, and pomegranate oil give deep hydration while discouraging your skin from overproducing oil.
Many products for oily skin leave your skin dry, so it is important to not miss out on hydrating ingredients. Hyaluronic Acid is intensively hydrating but very lightweight. Can use it as a serum or in a lightweight moisturiser.
Dr Barbara Sturm – Hyaluronic Acid Serum
You may feel like because you have oily skin that you should avoid moisturiser, but actually moisturiser protects the skin and should not be missed. Look for a very light weight moisturiser that carry oils high in linoleic. People with oily skin often lack linoleic acid. Ingredients like this are;
- Rosehip
- Evening primrose
- Hemp seed
- Grapeseed
The ingredients to avoid are oils high in oleic acid as they are for dehydrated skin
- Coconut oil
- Hazelnut oil
- Camellia oil
- Sunflower oil
We recommend
Lixir Skin – Universal Emulsion.
Double cleansing can be a game changer. First getting off all the gunk and then let the second cleanse do the work. First surface cleanse with the gentle face cleanser and then oil cleanse tonic.
When It comes to sunscreen oily skin can find it hard to get a product that is lightweight and not going to cause breakouts. Protecting you face from the sun is so important for your skins health to prevent any pigmentation, signs of aging and loss of natural radiance.
We recommend;
Dr Barbara Sturm – Sun Drops
This is a light weight SPF50 sunscreen that is Sulphate-free; phthalate-free; mineral oil-free; silicone-free; perfume-free. Cassia extract, vitamin E and beta-glucan protect the skin and bring life to damaged cells.
Skin & Tonic - Detox Mask
This detoxifying mask is made from Matcha Green Tea and Green Clay. It’s rich in antioxidants and helps to fight free radicals and unclog pores. Lemon and Basil Essential Oils to help soothe blemishes and rejuvenate dull and tired skin.
Skin & Tonic - Detox Beauty Oil
This purifying face oil is made using watermelon, black cumin and bergamot oils to help reduce bacterial growth, balance sebum levels and control breakouts.