When it comes to figuring out your skin type, people with oily skin can usually figure it out pretty easily! If you feel oily, greasy, or shiny often at the end of the day, you likely have more oily skin. All skin has sebaceous glands that create oil/sebum, but oily skin naturally produces extra sebum. Oily skin types tend to have larger pores and have a nice “natural glow” to the skin due to the excess sebum. Here are some of my top skincare tips for oily skin.
Skincare Tips For Oily Skin:
These are some quick tips you can try to help balance oily skin. While you can’t truly change how much oil/sebum your skin creates, these tips can help manage shininess at the end of the day. It’s completely normal and okay to have oily skin!
1. Add ingredients to balance your skin
Using ingredients that have mild astringent properties can help with balancing oily skin. Some examples are green tea and witch hazel. Green tea and witch hazel both have natural tannins which help to mildly remove excess oil and sebum. While witch hazel has gotten a bad rep in the past (looking at you, Thayers), it shouldn’t be feared! Look for a well-formulated, hydrating toner with witch hazel that will give you the mild astringent properties without overly stripping your skin. If your skin is more sensitive, green tea is also a great ingredient that can help balance sebum production in the skin.
Another popular ingredient you can try is niacinamide! Niacinamide can help improve excess sebum production while keeping the skin barrier strong and balanced. It’s a great multi-purpose ingredient that is generally well-tolerated by the skin. Look for niacinamide in a 2-5% concentration – some popular products have 10% or more, which can cause irritation for some. Higher percentages aren’t necessary because niacinamide can help balance oil production in as low as 2% concentration.
Product Recommendations:
- Isntree Green Tea Toner
- Hero Cosmetics Clear Collective Toner
- Purito Centella Unscented Serum
- Drmtlgy Sunscreen (full review here)
2. Use skincare products based on your skin type
Looking for skincare products that are suitable for oily skin is a good place to start. A lot of gentle foaming or gel cleansers are great fits for oily skin because they tend to be a bit more deep cleaning. Giving a deeper clean can help with removing excess oil while cleansing. It’s important to note that your skin should not feel tight or dry while cleansing, regardless of your skin type. Another thing to look out for is astringent toners. A lot of toners that are formulated for oily skin tend to have a high alcohol content, which can be stripping for the skin.
Also… oily skin needs moisture too! I know some people with very oily skin feel like they don’t need to moisturize because of their natural oils, but it’s important. Moisturizer protects your skin from the outside world, and keeping your skin moisturized is crucial to keeping your skin barrier strong. I recommend looking for a lightweight moisturizer! Water-based or gel moisturizers work very well for oily skin. You can even find moisturizers with niacinamide, which kills two birds with one stone (see tip 1).
Product Recommendations:
3. Incorporate gentle exfoliation
Being consistent with gentle exfoliation can help with balancing oil production in the skin. Salicylic acid (BHA) is a great option for oily skin because it goes deeper into the pore to remove excess oil/sebum. While regular exfoliation can help, it’s important not to overdo it! I recommend incorporating a salicylic acid exfoliator no more than 2 or 3 times a week. However, if you’re already using a retinoid, you likely won’t need to incorporate and exfoliating acid because retinoids already help to resurface the skin.
You could also try using a salicylic acid cleanser a few times a week as your exfoliator. It’s all about finding what works for you!
Product Recommendations
- The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser
- CosRx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid (great for sensitive skin)
4. Switch to a more “mattifying” sunscreen
While I don’t think skin should really look “matte”, using products with a more matte finish can help with excess shininess at the end of the day. A lot of sunscreens have a powdery finish that work well for oily skin! You could also consider lightly setting your skincare routine or makeup with a translucent powder to help with oiliness. I want to note that looking shiny and oily is totally okay! But if you want to help control excess shininess, going with more mattifying/powdery products can help.
Product Recommendations:
- Cetaphil Sheer Liquid Mineral SPF 50
- Derma E Powder SPF (You can reapply & help with oiliness all in one go!)
5. Keep your routine simple
Lastly, if you’re noticing that your skin is extra oily or shiny at the end of the day, it may be beneficial to simplify your routine! Focusing on a few lightweight products can help with keeping oiliness at bay. If you want to layer different products in your routine, I’d recommend focusing on lightweight layers! For example, you can choose toners or lightweight serums vs. layering heavier creams or oils.
Those are my top skincare tips for oily skin! While you can’t “change” your skin type, incorporating certain ingredients and making changes to your routine can help with balancing oiliness. I know that feeling like your skin is constantly shiny or greasy can be frustrating, but it’s completely normal! And bonus – oily skin tends to age better than dry skin (which naturally lacks sebum), making wrinkles more pronounced. You’ll be aging gracefully (as long as you’re diligent with your SPF 😉).
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