An Essential Guide: The Best Skincare For Oily Skin

WHAT IS SKINCARE FOR OILY SKIN?

Skincare for oily skin simply means choosing targeted products that are designed and formulated to support the specialized needs of oily, acne and blemish prone skin. This means choosing ingredients that balance and stabilize oil production and still provide the right amount of cleansing, toning and hydration to help encourage soft, fresh, clear skin.

When trying to understand oily skin and its underlying causes, it’s important to note that oily skin tends to be caused by an overproduction of sebum by the sebaceous glands in the skin. Having a certain amount of sebum is integral to the overall health and well-being of the skin, though too much of it can lead to oily skin which is often accompanied by clogged pores and breakouts.

WHAT CAUSES OILY SKIN?

The causes of oily skin are varied and not always within our control. Some of the causes of oily skin include:

1. Genetics. If oily skin is prevalent within your family’s lineage, there is a chance that you have inherited it, too. Having the appearance of larger sebaceous glands is also hereditary and shows up for many people with oily skin.
2. Hormonal changes. These internal shifts are sometimes responsible for the development of oily skin and can be brought on at different times of life including puberty, pregnancy and even menopause.
3. Environmental factors. Continued exposure to humidity and hot weather tend to result in an over production of oil for many people.

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF OILY SKIN

The best way to take care of oily skin is to use gentle, non-harsh, non-stripping skincare products regularly and consistently. While there are certainly steps that can be taken to support the relief of oily skin, they are only likely to be effective if they’re adhered to as part of a skincare regimen each day.

People who identify as having oily or acne prone skin types should avoid washing their face with overly hot water, products that contain alcohol which can be drying and irritating to the skin, prompting over oil production.

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF OILY SKIN DAILY

The best advice we have when it comes to skincare for oily skin is to choose products that are not only formulated specifically to help ease excess oil, but those that are created free of known irritants for oily skin like mineral oils, beeswax, alcohol and paraffins, all of which can cause clogged pores and lead to breakouts.

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF OILY SKIN IN THE MORNING

To properly treat oily skin in the morning, consider a minimal but highly effective skincare routine that you know you can stick to each day. Regardless of your skin type, the single most important part of your skincare routine in the daytime is a high-quality SPF product. Using SPF regularly can help prevent and protect skin from discolorations, premature signs of aging and a whole host of other undesirable skin conditions. In the daytime you may also consider adding targeted serums, like vitamin C for brightening as an example.

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF OILY SKIN AT NIGHTTIME

In the evening time, you’re going to want to follow the same guidelines for a skincare routine for oily skin, with the exception being that it’s not necessary to use SPF products at night. Many times, people consider adding treatment products like detoxifying clay face masks or spot treatments to their nighttime skin care routine to support the skin in the repair that is does overnight while we sleep.

Taking good care of your skin’s barrier is one of the ways in which you can care for oily skin. Some people find that using hydrating serums and active ingredients like BHA or salicylic acid to treat blemishes and breakouts helps keep excess oil at bay, while also keeping your skin feeling supported and cared for. Ensuring you’re keeping your skin balanced is important in maintaining its overall health.

HOW TO CARE FOR OILY SKIN IN THE WINTER

The cooler weather that winter brings is often a welcome change for those who identify as having oily skin. Lowered levels of humidity and less exposure to hot weather can certainly mean less blotting and powdering of the skin during the day, though it doesn’t mean that your sebaceous glands are going to stop producing oil. All skin types, including oily skin, are more prone to dryness in the winter as the humidity levels drop and we are exposed to drier indoor heat and air. Making adjustments to your skincare products and routine may help, though we cannot stress enough the importance of staying consistent in your routine.

Below we’re going to discuss a simple, foundational oily skincare routine to help you achieve your skincare goals and feel great about the skin you’re in.

A SIMPLE DAILY SKINCARE ROUTINE FOR OILY SKIN

While there are countless treatment options and skincare accessories available, we’re going to share a basic daily skincare routine that you can follow to help you in managing excess oil while having skin that feels supported and balanced.

Many times, those with oily skin find that keeping their routine simplified and minimal is what best suits their skin type and goals. A minimal routine also makes it easier to identify products that might not be right for your skin or conversely, that feel great and work well.

STEP 1: A GENTLE BUT EFFECTIVE CLEANSER

It’s important to cleanse the skin twice per day. Even if you don’t feel like the skin has a buildup of excess oil, cleansing helps to remove makeup, SPF products, dirt, oil and impurities and for oily skin, helps to balance your natural oil production.

At Saje we offer a cleanser for oily and acne prone skin called Claritea, which is a gel cleanser made with ingredients that are designed to clarify the pores, reduce excess oil and ease irritation. We’ve blended refreshing and deeply cleansing tea tree, hydrating sugar cane-derived squalane and jojoba oil to help mirror the skin’s natural sebum production and provide a thorough, refreshing cleanse.

STEP 2: A CLARIFYING TONER

A toner can be an important step for oily skin as it helps to remove traces of dirt and oil left behind after cleansing and it also helps to balance and purify the skin. We recommend avoiding alcohol in toners and instead opting for something soothing yet powerful like a water-based toner with other active ingredients to support clean skin.

The Claritea line offers a toner made from liquid mineral salts called alum, which are effective at refining the pores and helping the face to feel fresh. We’ve blended essential oils that are both astringent and hydrating to help balance the skin, like tea tree, geranium, patchouli and juniper berry. A toner may also be used throughout the day to help absorb excess oil as needed.

STEP 3: A BALANCING MOISTURIZER

Yes, even oily skin requires daily hydration. It’s not moisturizing the skin that causes over oil production; this can actually happen when the skin becomes dehydrated which can trigger over oil production and keep your skin in a vicious cycle of dry and over oily. Choosing a water-based, non-oil containing moisturizer that is non-comedogenic and won’t clog your pores is a must.

The moisturizer we’ve formulated as part of our Claritea line is designed to smooth, soothe and ease the skin, helping to refresh, clarify and protect the skin against environmental stressors. Calming, balancing and deeply nourishing base ingredients of shea butter, apricot kernel oil and camelina seed are paired with essential oils of tea tree, myrtle and bergamot for a skin softening and oil balancing experience each day.

THREE SKIN CARE PRODUCTS FOR OILY SKIN TO ADD TO YOUR ROUTINE

Though oily skin does require specific care in certain circumstances, there are a number of complementary skin care products and accessories available to support you with your skincare goals. Some people find that adding these additional products, even a few times per week, helps set their skin up for success alongside their consistent, daily routines.

A PURIFYING CLAY FACE MASK

Detox Mode clay face mask: this oil-absorbing mask has been formulated to help deeply purify the skin and unclog the pores. Bamboo charcoal helps to draw dirt and impurities from the pores, kaolin clay is a purifying clay mineral that reduces excess oil and gently exfoliates the skin and frankincense essential oil supports vitality and suppleness of the skin. We suggest applying a thin layer to the face, waiting 10-15 minutes and removing the mask with warm water 1-2 times per week.

A SKIN SOFTENING NATURAL SPONGE

Konjac Sponge bamboo charcoal: designed to deep clean and gently exfoliate, this purifying vegetable fibre sponge helps you to buff and massage your way to smooth, clear skin that isn’t dried out or irritated. A traditional beauty treatment in Japan, the konjac sponge is 100% natural and compostable and is made without any artificial colorants or fillers.

A NUTRIENT-DENSE FACE OIL

Calm-O-Mile face oil: a treatment product formulated to lock in moisture, ease irritation and reduce the appearance of redness, this face oil is blended with soothing blue and roman chamomile, evening primrose oil which is high in omega-6 fatty acids to improve hydration and restore elasticity and camellia oil, rich in vitamins A&B to provide non-oily hydration and improve the skin’s texture. Gently press 3-5 drops of oil into the skin, preferably as part of a nighttime routine for softness and suppleness.

OUR TOP FIVE SKINCARE TIPS FOR OILY SKIN

With so much information available to you in terms of different skincare suggestions and recommendations, it’s tough sometimes to know where to start. We’re sharing these five practical tips for oily skincare and hope you find something that lands for you:

1. You absolutely need a facial moisturizer. Yes, even if you identify as being “super oily”. Yes, even in the summer. Ensuring your skin receives adequate water-based hydration regularly is a part of what helps to balance your skin’s natural oil production and is imperative to overall skin health.
2. Avoid harsh scrubs. Loofahs, wash cloths, physical exfoliants like walnut shells etc are to be avoided with oily skin. Added friction may stimulate the skin to produce more oil, which is the opposite of what’s needed.
3. Pat the face dry. Similar to using overly harsh abrasives and scrubs, pulling or aggressively rubbing the face with a towel may possibly cause an abundance of over oil production. Additionally, ensuring your facial towel is clean each time you use it is equally important is preventing the transfer of bacteria that can cause breakouts.
4. Try blotting papers. Though blotting paper will not reduce the amount of sebum the skin produces, they can help to keep oil at bay during the day. As tempting as it may be to continue to layer loose or pressed powder over the skin to absorb oil, this often results in a cakey look that is difficult to wash off at the end of the day. Blotting paper simply absorbs excess oil and is then discarded.
5. Prevention is the best medicine. Though genetics and hormonal changes may be largely out of your control, one of the best ways to prevent overactive oily skin that leads to breakouts is with a regular, consistent skincare routine. Once you’ve found a gentle cleanser, alcohol-free toner and water-based moisturizer your skin agrees with, make it a habit to use them morning and night. And don’t forget SPF! Every day! Even when it’s cloudy or raining.

OTHER RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SKINCARE

If you’re interested in in learning more about our skincare collection and each of our product lines, including those formulated for people with normal or combination skin, sensitive or reactive skin and dry or mature skin, please check out some of our resources here:

Our Favorite Skincare Accessory: The Konjac Sponge

Facial Toner And Other Skincare Products To Get You Glowing

Introducing Our Brand New Line Of 100% Natural Skincare Products

— Dr. Georgiana Donadio