How to deal with oily skin

Oily skin isn’t rare. A whole lot of the population are dealing with the issues caused by extra sebum – but the good news is that it isn’t a big deal. Some of the ways we can help the problems caused by oily skin are outlined below – (thanks in part to Into The Gloss)…

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is researched and proven to improve almost any skin issue, and it works extremely well for oily skin. There’s one for every skin type, even sensitive—start out with a over-the-counter retinol, which is gentler then the RX versions and gradually build up to a higher strength if needed. If you’ve yet to dip your toe into the vitamin A pool, consider this workout plan: Use retinol twice a week at first, gradually working towards every other night, alternating with your chemical exfoliant.

Know your ingredients

Know them intimately, and don’t rely on marketing jargon to tell you if something will break you out. Because, those claims don’t really matter: Non-comedogenic is a term from the 1970s that unfortunately isn’t a regulatory standard. What you can do is look to make sure any of these common irritants don’t fall in the first few ingredients: SD Alcohol, denatured alcohol, witch hazel, menthols, peppermint, eucalyptus, or camphor.

The same is true with products labelled “oil-free,” because according to Jordana, oil isn’t the enemy. But it isn’t always your friend, either. Some people are really into the concept of ‘oil dissolves oil, but you might find better results using lightweight non-oil serums and essences instead, and you can always dab on a richer product where needed. Jojoba, rosehip, and grapeseed oils are the three oils recommend on oily skin. Coconut, olive, avocado, apricot kernel, and sweet almond oils are ones to potentially avoid.

Treat and exfoliate regularly

It’s a maximalist approach, but experts suggest regular clay masking paired with a gentle peel for maximum results. Masks with clays can reduce oil for a few days, and leave your skin soft, smooth, and shine-free. As for peels, glycolic and salicylic acid are my go-tos. These get into your pore lining to exfoliate so oil doesn’t get backed up and cause bumps. You can use each separately or together.

Use a good cream

Never shy away from a moisturiser when you have oily skin. It’s so beneficial for balancing things. We love Babor Skinovage PX Perfect Combination Intense Balancing Cream, which is formulated specifically for oily and combination skin that is dehydrated, deeply replenishing moisture, reducing excess oil production, and leaving skin with a comfortable matte finish. Babor Skinovage Px Perfect Combination Intense Balancing Cream combines the exclusive Osmo-Tec with the proven power of Alpine Stem Cells to maintain optimally healthy skin and prevent premature ageing.

Features/Benefits:

• Replenishes moisture and restores balanced hydration.
• Normalizes oil production.
• Leaves a velvety matte finish.
• Prevents signs of ageing.

Active ingredients:

• Osmo-Tec – Restores skin’s osmotic balance to improve cells’ ability to receive and process active ingredients.
• Alpine Stem Cells – Stimulate and accelerate production of optimally healthy cells.
• Lentil Extract – Reduce excess sebum protection.
• Witch Hazel – Minimizes appearance of pores.
• Rice Starch – Provides a matte finish.
• Jojoba Oil – Moisturizes to balance hydration and reduce excess oil production.
• Panthenol – Improves hydration.
• Allantoin – Calms and soothes.