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Practices to Avoid if You Have Oily Skin
Managing oily skin can feel like walking a fine line between finding ways to keep your shine under control, while ensuring your skin gets enough hydration and care to stay healthy. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know and practices you should avoid to keep your oily skin at bay.
TL;DR
- Cleanse twice a day with a gentle cleanser
- Opt for non-comedogenic makeup and skincare products
- Exfoliate gently
- Moisturise with lightweight, gel-based moisturisers
- Use mattifying primers and setting powders (but don’t overdo it!)
- Avoid touching your face
- Manage stress and get adequate sleep
- Drink at least 8 glasses of water everyday
- Use an oil-free, broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF30
- Go for professional anti-acne treatments for skin maintenance
Skipping Moisturiser
Contrary to popular belief, applying moisturiser day and night is crucial to skin health even if you have oily skin. Your oily skin still needs hydration, and skipping moisturiser might actually cause your skin to produce more oil as it overcompensates for the skin’s dryness.
Instead of skipping moisturiser, opt for non-comedogenic and lightweight formulations that won’t clog your pores and prevent acne breakouts. Gel-based moisturisers may also be better than cream-based ones.
Over-Washing
Washing your face often when you have oily skin may provide temporary relief, but it’s important to avoid over-washing. Cleaning your skin too often can strip the skin of its natural oils, causing the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum, which, in turn, leads to even oilier skin.
Using Harsh Cleansers
Avoid using harsh cleansers that can dry out the skin and strip it of its natural oils, which can cause the skin to overcompensate and produce more sebum. When cleansing your face, opt for a gentle, sulphate-free cleanser that can remove dirt and excess oil without drying out the skin.
Read: How to cleanse your face properly without getting breakouts
Neglecting Sunscreen
Sunscreen is essential especially for oily skin. It protects the skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays and prevents skin damage, which may even worsen oily skin.
If you experience excessively oily skin, use a non-comedogenic, broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF30. It’s also ideal to look for oil-free, gel-based or mineral sunscreen, as these are less likely to clog your pores.
Touching Your Face
It’s important to avoid touching your face as it can stimulate the skin to produce more sebum. Additionally, touching your face can transfer dirt, bacteria and oil from your hands to your skin. This can clog pores and lead to breakouts.
Ignoring Exfoliation
Oily skin can greatly benefit from exfoliation. Exfoliating can help get rid of dirt and dead skin cell build up and keep your pores clear, preventing potential acne breakouts. The trick is to avoid harsh exfoliators and to opt for a gentle exfoliator, such as salicylic acid or glycolic acid. Exfoliating 2 to 3 times a week should suffice.
Using Heavy Makeup
Avoid using heavy makeup, such as thick foundations or concealers. Using thick makeup can mix with natural oils and dirt on the skin, ultimately clogging the pores and increasing your chances of breakouts. Oily skin also breaks down makeup easier, creating a patchy/cakey appearance on the face through a process known as oxidising.
You don’t have to forgo makeup completely — it’s about making the right product choices and making sure you cleanse your face properly before bed. Opt for a lightweight foundation that is oil-free and non-comedogenic. It also helps to keep oil blot papers on hand to soak up the oil without messing up your makeup.
Overusing Oil-Absorbing Products
It may seem counterintuitive, but it’s important to avoid overusing oil-absorbing products, like clay masks and oil-absorbing powders. This is because overuse can strip your skin of its natural oils, causing it to overcompensate by producing more sebum. It can also dry you out and cause you to lose your skin’s natural glow.
Ignoring Diet and Hydration
Diet and adequate hydration are essential for good skin health, even if you have oily skin. Avoid greasy foods and processed foods high in sugar and dairy to prevent your skin from producing more sebum. Staying hydrated will also prevent your skin from drying out and keep your oil production under control.
Skipping Regular Skincare
Regular skincare, day and night, help ensure that you manage oil production and prevent clogged pores. Consistency with your skincare will also keep your skin healthy, clean, and ensure a long-term glow.
Avoiding Professional Treatments
Many people have a tendency to avoid professional treatments due to the misconception that these treatments may lead to skin irritation and more breakouts — but this isn’t true! When done right, professional treatments can help deeply cleanse the skin, exfoliate the skin without causing irritation, and address specific skin concerns like oily skin.
SkinLab’s Acne Express Defence Facial is a treatment specially designed for oily and acne-prone skin. It utilises natural papaya enzymes to promote skin renewal and targeted high-frequency ultrasound energy to regulate oil secretion and minimise inflammation in the skin.
Stress and Lack of Sleep
Stress and lack of sleep can trigger the release of cortisol,a hormone that can increase oil production in the sebaceous glands. This, in turn, can lead to an overproduction of sebum and acne breakouts. Make sure to get adequate rest and reduce your stress levels to protect your skin.
Ignoring Product Ingredients
If you suffer from oily skin, chances are you’re more prone to certain skin issues, such as clogged pores and acne. This is why it’s crucial not to ignore product ingredients in your skincare and make up.
- Avoid ingredients like petroleum, mineral oil, fatty alcohols, sulphates and additional fragrances trigger oily skin and cause breakouts.
- Look out for ingredients that can help regulate sebum production, such as salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide or niacinamide.
Are You Showing Symptoms of Oily Skin?
When it comes to keeping oil at bay, consistency is key! Hopefully this article helped shed some light on how to effectively manage oily and acne-prone skin. With the right practices, you can effectively manage oily skin and prevent acne breakouts.
If you’re showing symptoms of oily skin, book a consultation with us for a comprehensive skin analysis and personalised treatment plan.