Those of us with oily skin fight the constant battle of reducing the appearance of shine and oil. For this skin type, many shudder at the thought of putting anything emollient on their face for fear of increasing oil and the slick look they are trying to diminish. Is this way of thinking correct – should you avoid moisturizing if you have oily skin? Read below to learn the answer, and most importantly, why this is so.
What makes skin oily?
Oily skin is characterized by having an excess of oil or sebum. The purpose of sebum is to support skin’s acid mantle and to help create a barrier to prevent moisture loss from the skin. It doesn’t provide moisture to the cells – it just helps lock it in. Too much sebum can cause dead skin cells and debris to become blocked in the pores, which could lead to breakouts. However, if you over-cleanse the sebum while not restoring this essential barrier, skin can get dehydrated, which will just stimulate more oil-production and cause dead skin cells to stick together on the surface and block the oil from coming through causing sebaceous cysts underneath. In addition, dehydrated skin can manifest in fine lines and flakiness. So yes, oily skin DOES need to be moisturized!
How to care for oily skin?
The key is to achieve the right balance to help control the oils while still properly hydrating the skin.
The key to achieving a proper moisture balance is understanding the ingredients and products you are using. If you have an oily skin type you are likely using products with alkaline surfactants that are drying out your skin, such as sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate. These drying products can alter the acid mantle that protects your skin as well, making it more susceptible to dirt and bacteria.
To stop the over drying of your skin all together, you need a skincare collection for oily problem skin that has hydrophyllic ingredients – ingredients that have an affinity to draw in water, rather than repel it. Seaweed is a hydrophilic ingredient that is also a source of polysaccharides, phlorotannins, vitamins, and minerals. A moisturizer for oily problem skin made with Zinc Oxide and Porprhyridium Micro-alga, ingredients that help reduce the appearance of oil, will help find the right balance and leave skin soft matte. Astringents and clay masks can also be used to help control oil.
Most importantly, combating excessive oils comes down to one thing: investing in the right skin care to help keep your skin, healthy, hydrated, and balanced.
Have questions about oily skin? Leave them in the comments below!
*This blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, treatment or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your doctor or health provider with any questions or concerns you may have about a medical condition.
