How to Reduce Oily Skin
Frustrated by greasy, shiny skin and breakouts? Here’s how you can combat and reduce visibly oily skin.
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UNDERSTANDING OILY SKIN AND SEBUM OVERPRODUCTION
The role of sebaceous glands
Located within the middle layers of the skin, alongside hair follicles, sebaceous glands secrete sebum to create a moisture barrier that protects the skin from environmental aggressors and irritants.
What is sebum?
Sebum’s purpose is to protect and moisturise the skin, comprising essential lipids including:
- Cholesterol
- Fatty acids
- Glycerides
- Squalene
- Wax
Sebum is a natural lubricant, protecting skin damage from friction, moisture loss and aggressors. In essence, sebum production is a necessary part of balanced skin. The problem is when the sebaceous glands produce too much sebum.
What causes oily skin?
Oily skin is the result of this excess sebum production. Sebum reaches the surface of the skin to create a moisture barrier to protect itself. When there is an imbalance, for whatever reason, the skin may produce excess sebum, which can clog and enlarge pores and leave oil to sit at the surface of the skin. The surface oil is what creates that visibly shiny or “greasy" skin, and what can lead to breakouts and blemishes.
So what can trigger this excess sebaceous gland activity?
The impact of hormones on oily skin
Hormones play a major role in the production of sebum, particularly during adolescence and puberty. The surge in hormones, especially androgens such as testosterone, that occur during adolescence, can kickstart your sebaceous glands into producing more oil than usual. This is also why we're more prone to breakouts and blemishes as teenagers!
In addition to puberty, dramatic hormonal shifts that occur during the menstrual cycle, menopause and pregnancy can also influence sebum production. Spikes in oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone can trigger sebaceous glands, translating to oily skin.
LIFESTYLE FACTORS THAT INCREASE SEBUM PRODUCTION
●Climate and humidity: Climates with high humidity can lead to increased activity in the sebaceous glands that worsens oily skin. Hot weather also increases sweat production which adds even more oil to the skin.
●Pollution: Environmental aggressors and pollutants can irritate the skin, leading to activity in the sebaceous glands. If you live in a metropolitan area where pollution is high you might automatically be increasing your chances of overly oily skin.
●Dietary choices: Diets high in complex carbohydrates and sugary, processed foods can lead to increased sebum production and oily skin.
●Not washing off makeup at night: Your nightly skincare routine is essential to maintaining a balanced skin moisture barrier. If you skip out on skincare steps, such as cleansing, you risk clogged pores that worsen oily skin.
●Stress: One of the major players of oily skin. Stress triggers the production of the hormone cortisol, which triggers sebum production. In high stress situations you’re more likely to produce excess sebum. When you’re regularly stressed, you produce an excessive amount of cortisol that contributes to oily skin and breakouts.
LIFESTYLE CHANGES YOU CAN MAKE TO CONTROL OILY SKIN
Making small lifestyle changes can help combat oily skin. If you’re looking to find the source of your oily skin, it’s useful to make changes one-by-one so you can monitor your skin’s reaction.
Diet
Consuming a diet laden with carbohydrates and sugars might lead to spikes and drops in blood sugar levels, which can disturb hormonal balance, possibly causing increased oil production. Greasy, processed foods and too much sugar can worsen oily skin, so keep these foods to a minimum.Maintain a balanced diet that includes foods such as:
Drink plenty of water!
Hydration plays an important role in regulating excess oil production. If your body is dehydrated, your skin will react by producing more oil. In addition to your skincare routine, make sure you’re also hydrating your body with plenty of water.Maintain a nighttime routine
As we mentioned earlier, if you go to bed without washing your face, you risk clogging your pores which can cause sebum to build up and exacerbate oily skin. Ensuring a regular morning and nighttime skincare routine will help to control oily skin.On that note, let’s look at how your skincare routine can reduce oily skin.
DAILY SKINCARE ROUTINE FOR MANAGING OILY SKIN
How can you adjust your skincare routine to manage oily skin? What we're looking for are products that can clear excess oil on the skin's surface and minimise triggers that stimulate oil production.
Oil-free and non-comedogenic products
Some products, including skincare and cosmetics, are made of comedogenic ingredients and oils, which can cause clogged pores which only adds to oily skin concerns. When shopping for skincare and cosmetics, opt for water-based formulas that are labelled as non-comedogenic.
GENTLE CLEANSER
Cleanser is an essential step in managing oily skin. Cleansing your skin will clear away any dead skin cells that can lead to clogged pores, as well as removing any excess oil on the face. It’s important to use a regular, gentle cleanser without over-cleansing — cleansing too much can strip the skin of its natural oils and trigger even more sebum production. The Effaclar + M Foaming Gel Cleanser is recommended for oily skin.
ALWAYS REMOVE MAKEUP
If you wear makeup during the day, it’s essential that you remove all makeup with a cleanser/makeup remover or a micellar water. This will prevent clogged pores that can exacerbate oily acne-prone skin.
HYDRATION WITHOUT THE HEAVINESS
Although adding extra moisture might seem counterintuitive to combating oily skin, moisturiser is essential in communicating to the skin that it’s well hydrated, in turn telling the skin to reduce sebum production. If you skip moisturiser, your skin may produce even more oil to compensate for the lack of hydration. The Effaclar Matte Anti Shine Moisturiser keeps the skin hydrated without being too heavy on oily skin.
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SUN PROTECTION
Sun protection is essential. While some sunscreens add shine to the skin, a mattifying, lightweight sunscreen like the Anthelios XL Anti-Shine Dry Touch Facial Sunscreen is a great sunscreen for oily skin.
ALWAYS READ THE LABEL AND FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE.
Apply 20 minutes before sun exposure. Sunscreen is only one part of sun protection so wear protective clothing and seek shade. Avoid prolonged sun exposure. Reapply every 2 hours and after swimming, towelling and perspiring in accordance with directions.
CLAY FACIAL MASKS
Masks formulated with kaolin clay gently purify the skin while reducing shine. Exfoliating facial masks help to remove the dead skin cells clogging up pores, which can make a huge difference to overly oily skin. Try out the Efflaclar Clay Anti-Acne Face Mask to combat excess oil production and breakouts.
OIL-FREE COSMETICS
Cosmetics with oil formulations will add more oil to the skin's surface and even cause makeup to simply slide off the face. To combat this, opt for an oil-free foundation that delivers a smooth matte finish to extend the longevity of your makeup application. Setting powder and matte setting sprays can also combat visibly oily skin that can be exacerbated with makeup.
BLOTTING PAPERS
For managing oily skin throughout the day, blotting papers are your go-to. Use blotting papers to remove excess oil without having to wash your face.
SERUMS FOR OILY SKIN
SALICYLIC ACID
Salicylic acid helps to purify skin and unblock pores for clearer, more balanced skin. It’s often used to help with blemish-prone skin that can be a result of sebum buildup that clogs pores.RETINOL
Retinol helps to keep sebum production balanced and promotes the cell renewal process to clear away dead skin cells on the skin's surface. This helps to unclog pores that can cause oily skin.NIACINAMIDE
Niacinamide reduces the production of oil on the skin, making it great for oily and blemish-prone skin. It also has the added benefit of brightening and livening up dull skin for a radiant, clear skin tone.HYALURONIC ACID
Hyaluronic acid works to absorb and lock in moisture to protect the skin, which in turn helps reduce sebum production. It's especially important to incorporate hyaluronic acid—whether in serum form or in your moisturiser—if you're using serums like retinol or salicylic acid that are prone to drying the skin out.MANAGE OILY SKIN WITH LA ROCHE-POSAY
Looking for skincare formulated for oily and blemish-prone skin? La Roche-Posay has you covered. Shop for moisturisers, cleansers and serums that help to manage your oily skin concerns and keep your skin moisture barrier balanced.Shop skincare for oily skin
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