Reduce the Extra Shine With Our Skincare Routine for Oily Skin
Reduce the Extra Shine With Our Skincare Routine for Oily Skin
Navigating the world of skincare can feel like a tricky task, especially when you're dealing with skin that seems to sport an eternal shine. Oily skin, characterized by excess sebum production and a glossy (not dewy!) complexion, can often lead to clogged pores and occasional breakouts—which isn’t ideal, especially if you’ve long since grown out of the excuse of puberty.
However, with the right skincare routine and products in your arsenal, managing oily skin can become a breeze. This article will introduce you to a tailored skincare routine that can help to reduce that extra shine, maintain the balance of your skin's natural oils, and keep your complexion looking its best.
What’s the Deal With Oily Skin?
If you've found yourself battling an ever-glossy complexion, frequent breakouts, or the presence of blackheads, you may fall into the oily skin-type category. Oily skin is often the result of overactive sebaceous glands, which are microscopic glands in the skin that secrete an oily substance called sebum.
Now, sebum isn’t inherently bad. On the contrary: Your skin’s natural oils help keep your skin hydrated and protected from bacteria and other impurities. Though it sounds counterintuitive, sebum even helps to keep your pores clear.
But an overproduction can leave your skin with a shiny appearance and do the exact opposite. It's like an enthusiastic party guest who overstays their welcome.
The production of oil often varies throughout one’s life and can be influenced by several factors, such as genetics, whether you’re male or female (men typically produce more sebum), hormonal changes, weather conditions, and even diet and stress. Your T-zone (which consists of your forehead, nose, and chin) might become your personal mirror, reflecting more light than you'd prefer—especially on hot, humid days.
But there’s an upside: People with this skin type often have skin that's naturally more hydrated and may show fewer signs of aging, like fine lines and wrinkles. This means you may look younger for longer than those with dry skin.
However, a well-thought-out regimen that includes a good face wash, exfoliator, toner, moisturizer, and sunscreen, all suited to your skin type, can help you get the shine under control and balance out your complexion.
Each of these skincare products plays a crucial role in supporting your skin and helping to manage oil production without causing it to swing to the other extreme—dryness. Yes, it's a balancing act, and yes, it may feel a little bit like walking a skincare tightrope, but don't worry—we’re here to help.
Why Does Your Skin Type Matter for Skincare?
Skin is a complex organ, and like any other part of our body, it thrives best with consistent, targeted care. But if you’re using a line-up of ultra-rich oil-saturated products and you have naturally oily skin, you could be doing more harm than good. So it’s crucial to take your skin type into account.
That said, it's also important to remember that the goal of your routine is to balance your skin out, not overcorrect. If you use a skincare routine full of harsh products and oil-stripping cleansers, it can actually exacerbate oil production.
Your skin might go into an overdrive mode to compensate for the oil loss, leading to even more shine. If you dry out your skin too much, you can also damage your skin barrier, which can lead to long-term issues and dehydration.
What Ingredients Should You Look For?
When it comes to skincare, understanding the key active ingredients in your products can be a game-changer. Let's explore some ingredients that can be particularly beneficial for oily skin.
Salicylic Acid
A superstar when it comes to oily skin, salicylic acid is known for its ability to unclog pores and reduce the appearance of breakouts. It is a BHA (beta hydroxy acid) that exfoliates the skin and can help balance oil production. You can enjoy the benefits of this BHA in the Resurfacing Body Compound and BARRIER Bioactive Treatment.
Niacinamide
A form of vitamin B3, niacinamide is celebrated for its multitude of skin benefits. From improving the appearance of enlarged pores to brightening dark spots and evening the look of the skin tone, niacinamide has become a skincare favorite. To see these effects for yourself, try out The SUPER Body Hydrator after your next shower.
Hyaluronic Acid
Hydrated skin is happy skin, even when it's oily. Hyaluronic acid, a powerful humectant, can help your skin hold onto water, providing hydration without the weight or greasiness of traditional moisturizers.
That’s why it’s the star ingredient in The SUPER Hydrator, a facial moisturizer that keeps skin hydrated for up to 48 hours, thanks to our unique formulation and cutting-edge skincare technology.
Retinol
Often touted as a powerhouse ingredient, retinol can help refine the texture of your skin, manage oil production, and reduce the appearance of blemishes. It’s one of the most powerful antioxidants and can even address skin concerns ranging from breakouts to skin texture all the way up to signs of aging.
If you want a more intensive option, speak to your dermatologist about prescription retinoids. While they may not be suited for sensitive skin, they can address many common skincare concerns.
If you choose to use retinol in your nightly skincare routine, make sure you also use an eye cream and a soothing moisturizer that feature ingredients like aloe, hyaluronic acid, and soothing oat extract These ingredients can help calm the skin, reducing the look of redness and potential irritation, which are common side effects of retinol.
You don’t have to just settle for using retinol on your face, though. You can also take advantage of these benefits for other areas of your body with The SCULPT Arm Compound. This nourishing blend of retinol, probiotics, and marine extracts helps tighten the look of the skin and minimize visible signs of aging to help you look as young as you feel.
Glycolic Acid
As an AHA (alpha hydroxy acid), glycolic acid helps to exfoliate the skin's surface, reducing the buildup of dead skin cells and oil that can lead to rough, dull-looking skin.
You can find this hero ingredient in our Resurfacing Compound, which also features other skin-smoothing ingredients like retinol and lactobionic acid. Plus, this formula also features soothing ingredients like aloe, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E.
Remember, every skin type is unique, and what works best for you might vary. It’s important to patch-test new ingredients before jumping into a full-face application. It’s also important to consider how different ingredients will work when used together in your routine.
What Is a Good Skincare Routine for Oily Skin?
Let’s help you along the road to balanced glowing skin by talking about the best skincare routine that’s tailor-made for your oily complexion. These skincare tips can help you go from oily, problematic skin to dewy radiance in no time:
1. Cleanse
Begin your day with a gentle face wash, like The MANTLE Skin Conditioning Wash, to remove impurities and excess oil. Your cleanser should remove makeup and anything else that might be clogging your pores and leading to imperfections.
At the same time, it shouldn’t strip away so much oil that your skin feels tight and uncomfortable afterward. Remember, we’re balancing your complexion—not trying to wring it out.
2. Exfoliate
Regular exfoliation can help get rid of dead surface skin cells and reduce the likelihood of clogged pores. Remember to keep it gentle, though—over-exfoliation can harm your skin more than help. Luckily, our Resurfacing Compound is gentle enough to use twice a day without worrying about irritating your skin.
3. Tone
Think of a toner as the mediator between your cleanser and your moisturizer. A good toner, such as our multifunctional Resurfacing Compound, can help detox pores and balance the skin, leaving your skin prepped for the next steps in your routine.
If you can, try to select hydrating toners with gentle astringent and calming ingredients, like witch hazel. You can also look for options that are designed for oily or breakout-prone skin, as they’ll be most likely to help you find a good balance. These products will also be labeled as oil-free or non-comedogenic.
4. Moisturize
It might seem like a paradox to add more moisture to already oily skin, but skipping this step can trick your skin into producing even more oil, as we mentioned earlier!
Our SUPER Hydrator is one of the best moisturizers out there if you want a next-level product. In fact, with five unique types of hyaluronic acid, it goes beyond typical moisture: this formula provides 48 hours of hydration to keep your skin barrier happy and your skin hydrated from morning to night.
How does it work? Thanks to our dual SIREN Capsule Technology, our dehydrated long-chain hyaluronic acid (LCHA) can penetrate multiple layers of skin, seeking out dryness and prioritizing the driest sections. Plus, our LCHA can hold more moisture than most other forms of hyaluronic acid, making it a truly super hydrator.
5. Sunscreen
Last but certainly not least is the must-have of any skincare routine—sunscreen. Protecting your skin from harmful UV rays and sun damage is essential, regardless of your skin type. And guess what? Sunscreen doesn't have to leave you looking like an oil slick. There are plenty of formulations that provide the protection you need without the extra shine.
Our Multimodal Defender SPF 30 provides next-generation sun protection designed to address a wide range of complexion concerns, all while providing broad spectrum protection against UVA, UVB, infrared, and blue light rays. Plus, it can help stop your skin from drying out in the sun, which is key to keeping your oily complexion balanced. Apply it daily with our luxury application brush at the end of your morning routine to protect your skin from the inside out.
The Bottom Line
Beauty is more than skin deep; it's an integral part of your overall wellness. Caring for your skin is about feeling as good as you look. And with the right skincare routine, you can confidently strut your stuff, regardless of your skin type.
Navigating the world of skincare can sometimes feel like deciphering a complex puzzle, especially when you have oily skin. If you're tired of the endless shine, breakouts, and trial-and-error of finding the right products, it’s time to redesign your skincare routine and prioritize science-back products that are actually made for you and your skin type.
We understand your skincare needs. That’s why we infuse all of our products with groundbreaking SIREN Technology, which draws our ingredients to the areas of your skin that need them most for skin that’s optimally balanced, not overtreated. To learn more about which products fit your skin type, visit our blog.
Sources:
Acne: Overview | National Library of Medicine
Oily Skin: A Review of Treatment Options | National Library of Medicine
