Oily Skin

This one is for my gals that are struggling with oily skin!

What are the characteristics?

On average, the pores on your face will secrete two grams of sebum (which is the oily and slightly waxy substance found on the skin) a year. The thin layer of oil this creates on the skin leads to a shiny surface, open pores, blackheads, and whiteheads. Your pores become more and more visible because the more the oil on the surface of your skin, the more it accumulates in your pores, and therefore stretching them out. Black heads appear when that oil on your skin is exposed to air and oxidizes. Whiteheads appear when dead skin cells get stuck in the oil and then degrade. I know this is pretty gross 😷, but it is the science behind your oily skin and breakouts, and I think it is important for you to know if you are going to properly treat it!

Sometimes following oily skin, is acne. But not always! There are various reasons for oily skin. Usually it is hormonal, which is why teens are prone to oily skin or why your face might become more oily when you're right around your time of the month. Oily skin can also be triggered by humidity. And lastly, oily skin can be caused by poor skincare. If you strip your face of too much moisture from not properly washing or by using products that aren't good for your skin type, the lower levels of your skin produce more oil to try and counteract this. Hydration is a MUST even if you do have oily skin. I promise it does not make your skin more oily if you use the right products. Just like your body needs water to function properly, so does your skin!

How to care for oily skin:

Treating oily skin is a matter of trying to reduce oil production and keeping the pores clean to prevent stretching and oxidation. Too many people automatically go to harsh cleansers and facial scrubs to try and get rid of their excess oil. This is counteractive, you are just harming your skin! Look for "non-comedogenic" or products that are specifically made not to clog up your pores. 

You can just use normal, light foaming cleansers (like this one). It will give you a deep clean that removes pore-clogging dirt without causing irritation. It also will reduce the oil on your skin by 97%. Simply wet your face with a washcloth, take your index finger and rub it in small circles onto your face and then wipe off with a warm washcloth. This process will remove most all dead skin cells that might block your pores and lead to whiteheads.

 

Follow with a toner. I recommend this one. Some people would say don't use a toner, but I disagree. Especially if you are someone who struggles with acne. This toner is actually called the "pore refresher" because it clarifies, purifies, and unclogs pores for clearer looking skin. By unclogging your pores, it reduces the appearance of your pores. It will also reduce the number of breakouts, reduce the severity of breakouts, and help your already existing breakouts heal. One last point on toners.. if you are using a treatment or serum on your face, using a toner to clean out your pores is key. Otherwise, your pores stay clogged and your treatment/serum can't get into your pores to do their job. 

So, now we'll talk about treatment/serums. For oily skin/acne prone skin, I recommend this gel treatment. It's job is to get into your pores and clarify and reduce most acne blemishes. It has witch hazel as a main ingredient which purpose is to soak up the sebum on the skin's surface and to keep you shine-free for as long as possible. It is dermatologist and allergy tested to ensure it doesn't irritate your skin. It also helps exfoliate your skin and improve your cellular turnover. Just put a pea size drop in your palm and apply to an already existing breakout or where you feel a breakout coming on and watch your skin heal and thrive! Only use your treatment in your night-time skincare routine, so it has time to work before covering it up with pore-clogging makeup. If you are doing your morning skincare routine, just skip the treatment step and go right to your moisturizer.

Lastly, moisturizer. And, as I said earlier, this is so, SO important, even if you have oily skin. Many people think if they have oily skin, a moisturizer will only make it worse, but a good moisturizer will balance the oil and water on/in your skin, making your skin look healthier/plumper. If you already struggle with excess oil, make sure you find a moisturizer that is oil free. This moisturizer is OIL FREE and contains antioxidants like vitamin C, acerola cherry, cucumber, chamomile, and vitamin E. Oxidation wants to kill healthy skin cells. These ingredients help prevent it from doing that. It is what they call a "light lotion" so it absorbs into your skin quickly. It hydrates while reducing oil and therefore reducing shine. 

One last thing, once a week, try a clay mask. This will help draw out any more impurities and deep-cleanse the skin and also shrink your pores.

If you're 25 and above and are still struggling with oily skin, try this line!

Top 5 Tips for Oily Skin:

• cleanse only twice daily. If you clean it more than that, it will produce a panic response 
• Make sure all your products are oil-free. even your makeup
• cut down on fast food. The iodine in fast food can contribute to blemishes on your face
• if you get painful pimples, dab a little lavender oil on that spot and it will help reduce inflammation 
• in emergencies, whiteheads can be dried out with toothpaste😉

Your 5 Key Products

Foaming Cleanser

Pore Refreshing Toner

Oil-free moisturizer

Anti-acne treatment

Clay Mask