5 Easy Skincare Tips for Oily Skin

If you have oily skin, you’ve likely been battling with it for some time now. Excess oil on the skin can be frustrating, uncomfortable, and embarrassing. 

Your face might be shiny all the time, or you might find that your makeup doesn’t stay on long during the day. No amount of blotting will even curb the oiliness on the worst days. 

Well, here are 5 tips to help curb the oil and perhaps find out what was causing it in the first place!

#1 Cleanse Regularly.

This might seem like obvious advice, especially if you’ve suffered from oily skin for a long time. But if you’re someone who frequently skips face-washing at night or in the morning, your skin might be holding onto oils and toxins it picks up throughout the night and day. 

The toxins from the air naturally clog your pores, and if your pores are congested, the oil will only continue to build up on your skin. So you have to be as vigilant as possible.

Keep in mind, though, even if you already cleanse regularly, you might be using the wrong products. Make sure to choose a cleanser without harsh chemicals, heavy moisturizing or skin-stripping elements. 

You should cleanse in the morning, at night, and after you exercise to keep the oil at bay. Also, make sure to remove all makeup before you sleep, as the excess makeup could mix with the oils from your face and clog your pores, thereby increasing your chances of a breakout.

#2 Use a Toner.

Toners can be especially helpful for people with oily skin because they balance your pH levels and also help balance your skin’s natural oil production.

Though alcohol-based astringent toners have a tendency to dry out the face and are not as helpful, even for those with oily skin, a natural toner like witch hazel can help to ease inflammation and make the pores appear smaller. 

Just make sure if you try a natural toner that you test it on a small patch of skin first. Sometimes the skin can get irritated even from these natural products, so if you experience a tingling sensation or notice any extra redness after using a natural toner, stop using it right away.

User a toner after cleansing, and before adding moisturizer and makeup. It should help even out your skin and keep your oil levels low. 

#3 Hydrate

Though hydrating skin that is already oily may seem counter-intuitive, a lack of hydration might actually be what’s causing you to have oily skin. When the skin is not properly hydrated, your pores produce more sebum, or oil, to make up for that dryness. 

So, a great way to help keep the oil at bay is to make sure your skin is fully hydrated, especially in the cold, dry winter months when your skin needs hydration the most.

Use a high-quality moisturizer from a company you trust. Make sure you read reviews and understand what ingredients the company is using in its products. 

You might even want to consult your dermatologist or medical aesthetician before choosing a moisturizer, as they will have a better idea of what product might be best for your skin’s unique needs.

For oily skin, a water-based moisturizer or serum with hyaluronic acid should maintain hydration. You should not use a cream moisturizer or any moisturizing product as heavy as people with dry skin would use. 

At the same time, if you are experiencing oily skin and have already followed all these tips, the next tip might be best for you to help you even out your skin and keep it from producing excess oil.

#4 Try Adding Oil to your Skincare Routine!

What?! But my skin is already oily! Right, but sometimes your skin is oily because it needs oil.

Though face cleansers have advertised being “oil-free” for years to attract customers with oily or acne-prone skin, many people who have been adding oil to their skin routines have been finding oil to actually help balance their skin’s oiliness better than any product that dries out the skin.

If you have been using products that strip your skin of oil for a long time, your skin might just be severely dehydrated and thus producing excess oil to make up for that dryness. 

In that case, you might actually want to use an oil cleanser or apply oil to your skin at night (counter-intuitive, yes!) to help keep your skin hydrated. Make sure to use a natural oil like jojoba or rosehip oil that will be gentle on your skin.

As with any new routine, give the introduction of oil some time to work before you write it off. Your skin might take a few days, or even a couple of weeks to adjust. However, once it does work, you will hopefully notice that your skin is much less oily during the day than it was before.

You can also try a hydrating treatment like HydraFacial or a personalized facial designed to hydrate your skin and replenish all of its natural oils.

#5 Seek Professional Treatments.

If you’ve been struggling with oily skin and can’t seem to get a handle on it, consider visiting a medical spa or a dermatologist to seek professional advice. 

You don’t always have to spend a fortune on a medical-grade facial, and certain treatments like microdermabrasion or chemical peels could help as very effective acne treatments for oily skin. 

Dermatologists and medical aestheticians are trained to notice the specific issues you are facing with your skin, especially based on the products you’ve been using and your skin’s natural quality. They will be able to give you specific advice to get your oily situation under control.

Professionals will be able to tell if you’ve been stripping your skin of its natural oils if you are using a product that’s too heavy for your skin type. They will also be able to help you ease into new products, rather than constantly trying new products without giving them time to work on your skin.

So, if you have oily skin, try following these tips. Remember that whatever new methods you try, you should give them some time to work before giving up. However, if you find that your skin reacts negatively to any new routines, stop right away and consult a dermatologist or a medical aesthetician.