A smart skincare routine that includes gentle care, targeted treatments, and consistent habits can prevent shiny skin by balancing sebum production. Start with a lotion designed for oily skin, such as Skincare Junkie Gentle Jelly Wash, or a micellar water, such as Neutrogena or Bioderma Micellar Water. Then finish with toner.
1. Cleanse
Cleaning your face is an important part of caring for oily skin. Use gentle or emollient products to cleanse your face without stripping it and ensure that your skin’s natural moisture levels remain safe.
If you have oily skin, Renewing SA Cleanser or Sebium Gel Moussant are great products because they cleanse the skin well, respect the hydrolipidic film, maintain normal pH, and prevent excessive dryness. In addition, these cleansers help stop oil production, prevent the appearance of blackheads, and reduce unnecessary shine levels.
Use warm water instead of hot water, as this can strip your skin of its natural oils and weaken its resistance. For oily skin, using a light mist or toner after washing with a moisturizer such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or lactic acid can help keep your skin more hydrated.
2. Tone
When your sebaceous glands are overworked, they produce too much sebum, making your skin oily. Some sebum is needed to keep your skin soft and hydrated, but too much can lead to breakouts, acne, clogged pores, and enlarged pores.
To prevent this, use gentle cleansers and toners that remove oil without drying out your skin. Ole Henriksen Balancing Oil Control Toner contains lactic acid and salicylic acid to remove excess oil. It also contains green tea, eucalyptus oil, and Irish moss to soothe red or itchy skin.
Remember to use a noncomedogenic lotion after your toner. This prevents the skin from producing too much sebum to compensate for dryness. Use CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 30 during the day and CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizer with hyaluronic acid and three essential ceramides at night for maximum protection and hydration.
3. Exfoliate
People with oily skin often have overworked sebaceous glands that produce too much oil. This makes the skin look shiny and greasy and can lead to blackheads, whiteheads and acne. For these people, the best way to care for your skin is to use cleansers that do not damage your skin and avoid ingredients that can sting your skin, such as menthol, peppermint or eucalyptus oil. Products that contain these ingredients, or that make your skin tingle when you touch them, are not good for them.
People with this skin type are often told to use a gentle gel lotion, as it removes oil without drying out the skin. Regular use of a facial scrub, dry brushing, or chemical exfoliants like salicylic acid, niacinamide, or azelaic acid should also help. If you have sensitive skin, exfoliating too often can cause redness and flakiness, so exfoliating less often is better.
4. Serum
A facial serum is an important part of your skincare routine, especially for those with oily skin. It contains moisturizing ingredients to help protect your skin and maintain its radiance.
If you want to prevent acne and clogged pores, use an oil-free or noncomedogenic serum. Look for a product that contains niacinamide, zinc PCA, or anti-inflammatory ingredients to help your skin control sebum production.
As a key component of the formula, retinol helps your skin turn over faster, opens your pores, and smooths out fine lines and wrinkles. It does all of these things while unclogging your pores and helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Additionally, lactic acid, licorice extract, and antioxidants work together to improve skin tone and texture over time. For best results, apply a thin layer to clean, exposed skin every day before bed.
5. Apply Lotion
Moisturizing your skin twice a day (morning and night) keeps your skin soft, balanced, and elastic and helps prevent breakouts by strengthening your skin’s barrier function.
Sebum is a waxy substance that our bodies produce to protect the surface of our skin, and too much sebum can be problematic for people with oily skin. This overproduction can enlarge pores, causing blackheads and whiteheads to appear.
To prevent your skin from producing too much sebum, use products that are formulated with ingredients specifically designed to address this problem. This can include a gentle cleanser, a serum that contains retinol or pro-retinol, and a light moisturizer that won’t clog pores. Use water-based gels, lotions, or creams instead of heavy creams and ointments that can make your skin feel oilier.
6. Stay Safe
It’s important to protect oily skin from UV rays, so choose a sunscreen that contains titanium dioxide or zinc oxide.
Remember to follow the instructions on the bottle of sunscreen and stay out of the sun. Also, avoid wearing hats, scarves, and other clothing that can aggravate your shine problem.
One of the biggest mistakes people with oily skin make when choosing skincare and cosmetics is using products that are harsh or drying. These can dry out your skin and cause it to produce more sebum, which in turn causes more sebum. Instead, choose skincare and makeup products that are noncomedogenic, meaning they won’t clog pores or damage your skin’s barrier.
7. Sleep
Skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema are made worse when you don’t get enough sleep because it disrupts your skin’s natural pH balance, making it dry and sensitive. To prevent this, make sure you go to bed at the right time and take care of your skin at night. Start by gently removing your makeup, then wash your face to remove the oil, dirt, and grime that has built up during the day.
Then, exfoliate two to three times a week to prevent dead skin cells from clogging your pores and preventing your body from producing sebum. To keep your skin hydrated, use a toner that contains hyaluronic acid and glycerin. Finally, fight the signs of aging and sun damage with an anti-aging serum or sleeping mask with skin-restoring ingredients.
