It's quite difficult, not to mention a handful, to deal and live with oily skin, whether you're trying to get rid of it because your face is always shiny; or because the oil is clogging your pores and causing pimples. This is due to the fact that oily skin is frequently a family issue that is passed down from person to person, or the result of hormonal imbalances. You have no control over your genes, and you usually have little to no control over changes in your body’s hormones.
You can, however, make responsible changes to your skin care routine. Simple alterations may reduce the amount of oil on your skin and provide you with a more youthful, fresh-faced appearance. This article explains how to treat oily skin by efficiently cleansing your face, purchasing the right products, and paying attention to factors that may affect your skin and how oily it may become.
At Remedy, we’re committed to eliminating all of the unnecessary clout and noise that’s commonly associated with all things skin-care—and we want to give you direct, straightforward answers and solutions to all of your skin’s worries and woes. We do this through a personalized, carefully crafted step-by-step process. With the expert advice of our circle of board-certified dermatologists, we’ll address any skincare concerns you may have; whether it's pimples, breakouts, stubborn scars, or dark spots—or in this case, oily skin.
Through working intimately with you, we’ll take the skin you’re in on your first day with us; and do everything we can to help you become your best, healthiest, and happiest self. We share the process undertaken, the treatments, the same advice we give to our patients, and our products that will help you address your issues with oily skin towards the end of this article.
The key in your situation (dealing with oily skin and acne) is to maintain a proper skin-care regimen and daily routine. Washing your face on a regular basis and using the correct skincare products will not cure your oily skin altogether, but it will help reduce the amount of oil on your face little by little.
Let’s begin with the fundamentals, and answer: what factors contribute to causing oily skin?
- Hormones. Under the influence of androgens, sebaceous glands enlarge and produce more oil during puberty.
- Stress. Stress causes our bodies to produce cortisol, a hormone that stimulates oil production.
- Diet. Sugary or dairy-rich foods can contribute to oily skin.
- Weather. Oil glands tend to become more active as the temperature rises.
While some of the items on these lists are quite difficult to control (hormones and weather) you can regulate your stress levels and make sure you intake healthy food to maintain your oily skin. In addition to that, here are a handful of tips that might help you with regards to your skincare routine.
Tip #1: Cleanse your skin twice a day—wash your face.
It is critical to wash your face twice a day, in the morning and at night. After a workout or on a hot day, it would also help you a lot to add another wash. The goal is to remove accumulated dirt, sweat, excess oil while still maintaining a healthy skin barrier.
Important note: Avoid scrubbing and overcleansing. Doing so can irritate your skin and lead to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
For oily skin that is prone to acne and breakouts, look for a cleanser that is:
- Non-comedogenic: This means that your pores will not be clogged as a result of using this product.
- Non-acnegenic: This means that the product will not aggravate existing pimples or trigger the growth of new ones.
- Not irritating: This means that itching, rashes, or redness will not arise as a result of using this product.
- Non-allergenic: This entails that the product should not irritate the skin. Please know that this differs from hypoallergenic, which means that the risk of an allergic reaction is reduced but not eliminated entirely.
Make sure to select gentle, non-abrasive facial cleansers instead of harsh, alkaline soaps to avoid irritating the skin and triggering more oil production. Remember, your skin should feel clean and hydrated after cleansing, instead of tight and squeaky clean. If you have breakouts on other parts of your body (more than just your face), use an appropriate cleanser on affected areas.
Finally, make sure you purchase an appropriate skin cleanser for the specific affected parts of your body—as this is an important factor in the process of keeping your acne under control. If a full-on bath is not possible after each of your workouts, attempt to take a shower or a quick rinse, which are still helpful in protecting your skin.
Tip #2: Moisturize.
After you've washed and cleansed, moisturize your skin. Oily skin may appear to be sufficiently lubricated, but oil is not the equivalent of moisture required to keep your skin healthy. In fact, you can have a lot of oil and still have dehydrated, dry skin.
Water is not absorbed into the layers of the skin when the skin is dehydrated. As a result, your skin will become brittle and lack the elasticity it needs. Furthermore, your skin becomes red, inflamed, and wrinkled if these are not present.
Oily skin moisturizers should accomplish three goals:
- Keep the moisture in. Find a moisturizer that may form a protective layer on your skin, preventing it from drying out. A proper moisturizer can improve skin hydration, elasticity and smoothen skin appearance.
- Bring water from the lower layers to the surface. Lotions that do this are known as humectants. They have a distinct chemical structure that allows them to form bonds with water molecules. Thus, this allows them to attract water molecules to the skin's surface like a magnet.
- Skin should be smoothed and softened as a result of the application of this product. Emollients, which are chemicals that keep your skin from becoming scaly or wrinkled, should be present in oily skin moisturizers.
- Take note of Philippine weather. The climate in Metro Manila is generally humid; and this should be taken into consideration when shopping for a moisturizer. We recommend getting in touch with a board-certified dermatologist or a skincare expert who could recommend the best products for our particular weather conditions.
Tip #3: Exfoliate.
Exfoliation is a process that involves the removal of dead skin cells from your skin's outer layer. This can help your skin look smoother and healthier. It can also aid in the treatment of two common oily skin issues: clogged pores and enlarged pores.
The process of exfoliating has two types: physical and chemical. But due to the dangers shown by the former method, we’d recommend adhering to chemical exfoliation; which actually works better with oily skin in particular. Be sure to follow advice given by your dermatologist and licensed experts before you even consider exploring exfoliation. For now, here are some tips to hold you over:
- Consider the skin care products you already use.
- Select an exfoliation technique that suits your skin type.
- Be gentle to your skin.
- Follow with moisturizer.
- Find the right schedule for you.
You can select from a wide range of over-the-counter exfoliation products when you shop for this part of your skincare routine. Scrubs and gritty facial creams are popular types, but they are not suitable for oily skin. Instead, look for a chemical exfoliant formulated for oily skin.
Tip #4: Use products that are oil-free and water-based.
You don't want any more oil on your skin to complicate matters even further. Look for skincare products that are labeled "oil-free." This is especially true for skin care products such as moisturizers, sunscreen, and makeup.
Water-based products are also excellent for oily skin. These are gel-based, feel almost weightless on the skin, and leave no heavy residue after you apply them. Water-resistant sunscreen, in particular, is quite accessible online and in-store. But when you shop, make sure to study the packaging thoroughly first. Many of these products are already aimed or marketed for people who have oily or acne-prone skin.
TLDR:
Managing oily skin may appear to be a daily battle until you are consistent with your skincare routine—so have and stick to the right one. Wash your face twice a day and use oil-controlling products. Look for gentle cleansers, exfoliants, and avoid excessive scrubbing and washing.
Keep in mind that seeing results takes time. You can't expect perfect results overnight, whether you want to clear up breakouts or simply reduce the amount of oily shine on your skin. Be kind to yourself and stay patient with your routine.
If your efforts aren't yielding results, talk to a dermatologist about getting help.
Apothecary and Remedy products and treatments that can help you:
African Black Soap (also known as African soap or black soap) is a quite recent skin care product to be designated as a "holy grail," and for good reason. Black soap is the ultimate beauty buy for those on a budget, claiming to be a cure for breakouts, hyperpigmentation, stretch marks, and everything in between. Authentic black soap is handcrafted in Africa from plant-based ingredients, as opposed to the synthetic soaps found in drugstores.
As African Black Soap is predominantly used for our bodies only, we’d also like to direct you to our best-sellers and top recommendations from our Remedy Face collection. This includes our Avène Soapless Foaming Gel, Frezyderm Matte Effect Cream, and Innoaesthetics Sensitive Cream.
Oily or combination skin types are also in the clear to use this product! Black soap can help balance your skin's natural oil production without stripping it of essential oils or adding excess oil to it. If you have combination skin, black soap simplifies the process of selecting the right soap. Shea butter may add moisture, but coconut oil may aid in the prevention of overactive oil glands.
You can shop for Alaffia’s Authentic African Black Soap Triple Milled in Unscented exclusively on our Apothecary online store and at our physical shop! On the Remedy side, we also recommend our Hollywood Laser Facial; which we cater specifically to patients with oily and acne-prone skin. In every single session, our signature 3-step laser treatment targets all skin layers by combining the power of YAG, Carbon, and Genesis. This no-downtime treatment effectively treats acne, acne marks, pores, and pigmentation to improve your overall complexion.
Finally, you can get a clinically proven treatment plan customized just for you by availing our Doctor’s Consultation services (held online and in-clinic) exclusively with board-certified dermatologists!
Book an appointment today! Contact us at +63 917 873 6339 / +63 2 7975 7984, Instagram (@remedy.ph), Facebook (@remedyph), and www.remedy.ph.