Oily Skin Care Products

Although many skin care ranges claim to cater for different skin types – oily skin, dry skin and combination skin – it is unfortunately true that there is commonly little between these different solutions.

The hormonal changes that occur in our bodies as we reach puberty mean that it is very common to have an oily skin type at this age. Generally, for most of us, our skin tends to dry out as we get older as the production of sebum oil reaches a high during adolescence and slowly decreases with age, this may be an advantage for those of us who suffer with an oily skin type. Hormonal imbalances during the menopause and pregnancy means that some women may experience an increase in the level of sebum oil produced at this time.

Many people have skin that is oily in certain regions of the face, generally the facial area we refer to as the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin), and dry or normal in others. This skin type is generally referred to as combination skin.

Oily and combination skin types are mainly influenced by: Skin care products and cosmetics Hormone levels Pregnancy and brith control pills Heredity Humidity and hot weather

Cleansing Oily Skin Although it may seem like a counter-productive measure to clean oily skin with oil-based products, they do actually prove to be quite effective in ridding the skin of excess sebum. You should avoid cleansing creams since these tend to be too harsh, instead choose a pure soap with no artificial additives, or try a lightly medicated soap or antibacterial cleansing lotion.

Cleanse oily skin carefully with warm water and, mentioned above, avoid harsh products that strip your skin of oil since this can cause a reaction known as reactive seborrhoea, where the sebaceous glands produce more oil in response to the loss of natural oils. Avoid alcohol-based products since these again strip too much oil and limit the number of times you wash each day since this can cause reactive seborrhoea. Products that leave oily skin feeling dry can be detrimental to oily skin strangely enough, since it sometimes causes the upper layers of the skin to shrink, restricting oil flow through the pores which can exacerbate pore blockage.

Skin care for oily skin Take care not to rub soap into the skin during cleansing since this can cause clogging. Massage the facial area with your fingertips in an outward and upward motion. Use a clarifying mask one or two times a week and a light antiseptic night cream from time to time if you suffer with acne, but these should be used sparingly. Use an oil-free moisturizer for oily skin to help maintain a shine-free complexion.

Before applying makeup, use an antiseptic day cream with active ingredients that diminish sebaceous secretions. Look for benzyl peroxide in the list of active ingredients. Choose cosmetic and oily skin care products specifically designed for oily skin, such as foundation for oily skin.