We know that oily skin can make you feel like an eternal teenager - no sooner have you washed your face than it feels dirty and greasy again and by the time you've got to work your make-up is sliding down your face. Not only that, oily skin is more prone tospots and blackheads making for a double whammy of problems.
Find out what's best for oily skin, including how to treat oily skin and the best products for oily skin.
What is Oily Skin?
Oily skin occurs when the sebaceous glands are over-active and produce excessive oil. It can potentially clog pores and attract bacteria causing frequent breakouts. Don't believe your mum when she says chocolate makes it worse - diet plays much less of a role in oily skin than your genes and hormones. Try avitamin B2 supplement if you want to make sure you're getting enough nutrients.
Overstimulation of the skin, such as too much product or harsh treatments that upset the balance of the skin's acid mantle, can lead to excess sebum production. Stimulants such as heat and steam rooms, coffee and red wine may also aggravate oily skin.
Do I Have Oily Skin?
You'll know if you've got oily skin because it has a shiny, greasy appearance which can reappear quite quickly after washing or using make-up. Large pores or 'orange peel skin' can also indicate oily skin as can a predisposition to blackheads andspots. The good news is that oily skin is slower to show wrinkles and fine lines - so you'll look younger for longer. Woohoo!
The bad news is that if it is left on the skin, oil can be susceptible to oxidation (triggered by environmental factors such as UV rays and car exhausts) and when oil is oxidised it is damaging to skin. (The black part of a blackhead is sebum oxidising on the surface of the skin.) Bacteria thrives in a sebum-rich environment and infection is more likely - leading to blemishes.
Cleanser for Oily Skin
You don't need to buy a specific or expensive face wash for oily skin but stay away from very cheap washes and cleansers (sorry, you are a high maintenance woman!) as they tend to contain harsher ingredients, such as the foaming agent sodium lauryl sulphate, which will strip your skin of too much oil (and encourage your body to produce more oil).
Alternatively, why not try a good quality light cleansing lotion,something very gentle that won't clog pores. This will balance the skin and manage oil production. Look out for ingredients like rose geranium and benzoin to balance and chamomile to calm. Feel free to use a toner to remove traces of cleanser but stay away from astringent and aggressive toners that will strip the acid mantle - and lead to more oil.
Moisturiser for Oily Skin
Oily skin can also be dehydrated so you still need moisturiser. Look for an oil-free moisturiser - a product that is light and doesn't sit on the surface of the skin and isn't too rich or heavy.
Look out for antiseptic and gentle ingredients such as tea tree, lavender, peppermint, lemon and rosemary and, again, those balancing ingredients like rose geranium, benzoin and chamomile. You should still use an eye cream, even with oily skin, as eyes are prone to dehydration and wrinkles.
T-Zone
Often oily skin can be found in the T-zone area (forehead, nose and chin) and this is often referred to as combination skin. If this sounds like you, use two different moisturisers - one that balances sebum for the T-zone itself, perhaps something with tea tree oil in it to fight blemishes, and another richer formulation for dehydrated areas, such as the cheeks or neck.
