The Ultimate Guide To Controlling Oily Skin

Are you tired of your skin looking icky and greasy around the clock? If yes, this blog is for you. 

 We understand the perpetual struggle of managing oily skin and its adjacent challenges. And as good Samaritans, we are bringing you an exhaustive guide to control that shine. Before we get to this cheatsheet, let’s understand the basics of this skin type. 

What Is Oily Skin?

Oiliness occurs when your skin produces copious amounts of sebum. While an adequate quantity of these natural oils is important for skin’s moisturization, barrier health, and overall protection – an excess brings forth a barrage of problems. We list the most common ones ahead   

What Are The Reasons For Oily Skin? 

Ahead, we list the most common triggers for oily skin -

1. Diet: Indulging in high-glycemic food, trans fats, and sugary items can make your skin inexplicably oily.

2. Genetics: If your parents struggled with oily skin and open pores, chances are that you’ll too. That’s right. Your skin can be genetically predisposed to getting oily.

3. Dehydration: Dehydration and greasy, oily skin go hand-in-hand. When your skin’s moisture reservoir is running low, the sebaceous glands get triggered into overproduction. Results? Greasier skin than you started with.

4. Overwashing: One of the biggest culprits of oily skin is overwashing. While cleansing twice a day is crucial for a healthy microbiome, overdoing it can lead to dehydration and eventually oilier skin.  

Key Steps To Control Oily Skin 

Adhering to a result-oriented skincare routine is the most effective way to control oily skin. For everyone looking to build a regimen from scratch, here’s how you can do it-

1. Choose the right cleanser: Picking the perfect cleanser is indispensable to a healthy microbiome.

To control shine, you need a formula with actives like Salicylic Acid or Niacinamide that blot sebum and prevent clogged pores – without making the skin dry. Moreover, people with this skin type should forgo harsh cleansers with SLS, as these ingredients further dehydrate the skin, cueing the sebaceous glands into overdrive mode. Try Foxtale's face wash for oil control this summer and see the results for yourself.

Specific Skincare Ingredients That Help Control Oily Skin  

Some actives are better than others to control that unwanted shine on the face. If you grapple with oily skin, enlarged pores, and active acne, these ingredients should be on your radar -

1. Niacinamide: A type of Vitamin B3, Niacinamide bodes well for oily skin by -

- Blotting excess sebum

- Preventing clogged pores

- Soothing inflammation 

 2. Salicylic Acid: This oil-soluble BHA should find a place in your vanity. Salicylic Acid works on oily skin by

- Regulating oil production 

Lifestyle Changes To Help Control Oily Skin 

Apart from an infallible skincare routine, here are some lifestyle changes that help control oily skin - 

1. Foods to avoid: Experts suggest that folks with oily skin should avoid dairy products, sugary foods and drinks, and refined carbohydrates for a balanced microbiome.

2. Foods to embrace: To banish greasiness and detoxify the pores, turn to leafy veggies like kale and spinach in your diet. Moreover, omega-3 fatty acids found in walnuts, flaxseeds, and salmon help alleviate inflammation caused due to eruptions on oily skin. 

Common Mistakes To Avoid While Managing Oily Skin 

Is your skin spilling sebum uncontrollably despite employing the best oily skin products? If yes, it's time to retrace your steps and identify if you’re making any of the following mistakes-

1. Over cleansing: If you’re repeatedly cleansing your skin in a bid to control oiliness, stop now. Over-cleansing zaps natural oils from the skin, leading to dehydration. To compensate for this loss, your skin signals the sebaceous glands into overdrive mode, leading to more oil!

2. Harsh products: You needn’t summon harsh products to deal with shine and grease. To regulate sebum while upholding overall skin health, pick mild yet effective products that forgo SLS and alcohol.

3. Forgetting to moisturize: Since hydration prevents oiliness, it's important to slather a generous layer of moisturizer during your morning and nighttime routine. This emollient-fused formula creates a barrier to evade TEWL or transepidermal water loss. 

Conclusion 

Managing oily skin can be tricky, no doubt. But with the right products in a 5-step routine, you can control that unwarranted shine on your face. 

FAQs

1. Can oily skin cause acne? 

Yes. Oily skin easily binds dead cells, debris, and impurities to itself, leading to clogged pores. When bacteria start thriving in these plugged pores, acne occurs.

2. Is ice good for oily skin? 

Yes, mostly. Applying ice minimizes the appearance of pores and is therefore a good choice for oily skin.

3. How often should I wash my face if I have oily skin? 

People with oily skin should wash their face twice everday, to prevent dehydration due to over-cleansing. If your skin is still icky, use a treatment like a potent Niacinamide Serum for oily skin.