Skincare Routine for Oily Skin

What causes oily skin?

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), oily skin is one of the five main skin types (with the others being dry, combination, sensitive, and normal skin). This skin type produces an excess of sebum (oil) that can leave skin looking greasy and shiny. Oily faces may also be more prone to experiencing comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) and other types of blemishes.

 

We need sebum to keep our skin and hair hydrated, but sometimes our bodies can create excess amounts leading to congestion and spots. However, because the increased oils can help keep skin lubricated, an oily face may have fewer visible fine lines and wrinkles as you age.

 

There are different causes of oily skin, but sometimes it’s down to simple genetics, or a change in hormones such as during puberty or pregnancy when the body creates more androgen. Your skin might also become oiler in hot, humid climates.

 

"Oily skin type is characterised by an overproduction of sebum, which is the natural oil produced by the skin's sebaceous glands. Sebum plays a crucial role by lubricating and protecting the skin, but over production can lead to a shiny or greasy appearance, clogged pores, and blemishes.”

– Dr Derrick Phillips, Consultant Dermatologist

 

How to tell if you have oily skin

You can usually identify whether or not you have oily skin through simple observation. Oily skin types generally have a few common symptoms such as grease and shine, visible open pores, blackheads, and a rough skin texture. You may also experience regular blemishes and breakouts.

 

An oily face will generally have a slick, shiny appearance—especially around the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin). Oily skin can sometimes be mistaken for other skin types like combination skin, which tends to be oily in some areas and dry in others (such as the cheeks).

 

To help find your skin type, you can try observing how your skin behaves approximately 30 minutes after cleansing. If your skin looks and feels oily all over, you likely have oily skin. When in doubt, a certified dermatologist can also assess your skin and help you accurately identify your skin type.

 

“If your skin appears shiny all over and feels greasy, especially on the forehead, nose, and chin (T-zone), you have oily skin. The texture may feel thicker and you may also be prone to developing whiteheads, blackheads and blemishes.”

– Dr Derrick Phillips, Consultant Dermatologist

 

Choosing skincare for oily skin

Oily skin is probably one of the most misunderstood of skin types. Prone to excess sebum production, blackheads, open pores and breakouts, many try to tackle an oily face by drying out the skin with harsh skincare and exfoliants. But subjecting an oily skin type to this kind of regime can actually make it a whole lot worse.

 

While you may think drying or astringent products are best to control oily skin, all skin types need adequate amounts of oil to function properly. In fact, your skin’s natural barrier function relies on it to keep bacteria out and hydration in.

 

When we strip the skin of moisture by using unsuitable products for oily skin, the skin barrier becomes impaired and unable to carry out its functions properly. This leads the dermis to struggle to retain water in the way it did before. It then quickly tries to rectify the problem by creating even more oil, thus continuing the cycle.

 

“If you have oily skin, your sebaceous glands overproduce oils, which can lead to shiny skin and blemishes. You may think that not using a moisturiser will reduce oil production but the exact opposite is actually true. Without proper hydration, the skin barrier is weakened, which can stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce even more oil.

 

When choosing a moisturiser for oily, blemish-prone skin, you should look for lightweight formulations, which are non-comedogenic, meaning they are unlikely to block the pores and trigger blemishes.”

– Dr Derrick Phillips, Consultant Dermatologist

 

So, how can you reduce excess sebum and control oily skin while ensuring it remains looking healthy? We’ve put together a short guide to finding our best skincare for your oily skin needs and how to build a suitable skincare routine with CeraVe.

 

Our recommended skincare routine for oily skin

Step 1: Cleanse

The first step in an oily skin routine should always be a gentle cleanser to remove makeup, impurities, and dirt from the skin. Look for gentle, non-drying cleansers that are formulated specifically for oily skin. CeraVe’s Foaming Cleanser cleanses and purifies the skin while strengthening the natural barrier with three essential ceramides. As it’s gentle and fragrance-free, it also won’t dry out your complexion.

 

“For oily skin, I recommend the CeraVe Foaming Cleanser. It cleanses the skin without causing dryness and irritation, and the CeraVe Foaming Cleanser contains Niacinamide so it helps decreases sebum production.”

– Dr Derrick Phillips, Consultant Dermatologist

 

Step 2: Apply serum

Your next step should be a hydrating treatment that will help to lock in the moisture that we now know is essential in keeping excess oil at bay. CeraVe’s Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum provides up to 24-hour hydration with a formula rich in three essential ceramides, vitamin B5 and the super humectant hyaluronic acid. Apply to the face as part of your oily skincare routine to lock in moisture for 24-hour hydration.

 

Step 3: Moisturise

Once your serum has had time to soak in, follow with a lightweight moisturiser that will hydrate your oily skin without overloading it. We recommend applying a non-comedogenic (non-pore-blocking), oil-free moisturiser. Contrary to popular belief, people with oily skin should not skip this important skincare step. CeraVe’s Oil Control Moisturising Gel Cream helps maintain a healthy skin barrier for all-day hydration without the shine. 

 

Step 4: Apply sun protection

 The last step in an effective skincare routine for oily skin is sun protection. All skin types should wear sunscreen every morning, even when it’s cloudy or when staying indoors. CeraVe’s AM Facial Moisturising Cream with SPF is a great option as it helps to protect the skin’s barrier with three naturally occurring ceramides and hyaluronic acid. It also helps to defend the skin from UVA and UVB damage with SPF 50, whilst its non-comedogenic formula prevents adding any additional congestion to the pores.

 

Ingredients to avoid with oily skin

When building a skincare routine for oily skin, it’s important to know what to look for in your skincare products and to understand what causes oily skin and blemishes. However, if you want to find skincare products that help oily skin, there are also a few things you might want to avoid.

 

Heavy, oil-based moisturisers that contain ingredients like cocoa butter, lanolin, and corn oil, can sometimes be “comedogenic,” which means they have the potential to clog your pores (depending on the concentration of the ingredient and overall formulation).

 

Fragrance is often added to oily skin products to give them a pleasant scent, but it can also be irritating and may cause allergic reactions in some people’s skin, especially for those with oily, sensitive skin.

 

Alcohol-based toners or astringents can have drying or irritating side effects that hinder rather than help oily skin. Over-drying your oily skin can trigger an increase in sebum production, which can potentially leave your skin feeling oilier than before.

 

Discover CeraVe skincare for oily skin

In summary, when building a skincare routine for oily skin, you want to manage your skin’s sebum production without over-drying or irritating it. Good quality oily skincare products will not harshly strip your skin of natural oils, and can gently control oil whilst helping to maintain a healthy skin barrier.

 

As with all skincare routines, the best results are seen with consistency. By making these simple steps part of your everyday beauty routine, you should start to see a reduction in the look of shine and congestion and a marked improvement in your overall skin health.

 

Build your own skincare routine for oily skin with the Routine Finder and look after your skin with CeraVe.