Caring for Oily Skin
If your skin is oily, you may be bothered by the shine, greasy texture, and breakouts. But you cannot blame the foods you're eating. The fact is that people who have oily skin were most likely probably born that way.
How not to treat your oily skin is as important as the right way to care for it.
If your skin is oily, you may be bothered by the shine, greasy texture, and breakouts. But you cannot blame the foods you're eating. There is no clear evidence to show that you will produce more oil if you consume foods that are more oil-based. The fact is that people who have oily skin were most likely probably born that way. There is not much they did to get it and there is not much they can do to prevent it.
How to take care of oily skin
The good news is there are several ways to manage oily skin:
· Choose an appropriate cleanser. Cleansers that contain salicylic acid penetrate into the pores and help remove fats that can clog the pores and lead to blackheads.
· Use a retinoid at night. Retinoid products decrease oil production in the skin, reduce backheads and may lower sebum production, be careful to choose a product that meets your goals, some high street branded products will carry the right active ingredients but the concentrations of these ingredients is so small as to be pointless. Professional products generally have higher concentrations of active ingredients and give a more intense treatment with less product per treatment.
· Use oil-free foundations. To avoid creating more of a shine and potentially clogging pores, make sure your foundation is oil-free. Use a powder blush instead of a cream formula for the same reasons.
· Use blotting paper. Washing your face during the day can be difficult, especially for women who wear makeup. Instead, dermatologists recommend blotting paper, you can substitute for tissue but this does not contain the powder which will even out the skin tone.
Things to avoid if you have oil skin
Knowing what not to do can be just as important as knowing how to properly care for your oily skin:
· Don't use creamy or milk cleansers. These cleansers deposit unnecessary lipids (oils) on the skin, which can increase the oily feeling. Better to stick with salicylic acid or glycolic cleansers, or gentle liquid cleansers.
· Don't moisturize. Even better than searching for the perfect oil-free moisturizer is ditching this step altogether. Instead, use a gel or serum with anti-aging ingredients. We have links to some recommended products below.
· Don't rely on SPF powders. Most sunscreens are formulated in oil preparations that feel and look greasy, so for people with oily skin, SPF (skin protection factor) powders are tempting but they have very limited sun protection, have a browse through our products below.
· Don't overwash. Oily skin isn't a hygiene problem, so extra cleansing isn't the answer. Overwashing can strip your face of the essential oils that serve as a barrier to a lot of irritants and can cause your face to become red and raw. It's better to wash twice a day and use blotting paper when you feel shiny throughout the day.
Knowing how to care for oily skin is important. Follow these tips to keep your skin in the best health possible.