Oh, oil.
You can be a dry skin type’s best friend by creating an ethereal glow and an oily skin type’s worst enemy causing us to look like one hot mess. While oil is a natural substance found in our skin that helps keep skin supple, too much of it can cause problems such as acne and blackheads.
Aside from genetics, there are other factors that can contribute to less than a desirable amount of oil production.
Causes
Genetics, of course
Yup, you can thank your ancestry for this one as skin types are determined by your genes. There is a chance however, that your skin type may change with age.
Hormones/Stress
There is a reason why the majority of breakouts occur when you are a teenager. Your sebaceous glands (glands that are charge of producing oil) are typically dormant before puberty, and spring into life after puberty. Hormones at this time are also raging out of control. The adrenal glands produce testosterone in women, thereby increasing sebum production.
Continual chronic stress also increases hormone levels and also increased sebum levels.
Environment
Heat and humidity increase oil levels. Individuals who work in kitchens or laundry mats or who live in hot and humid places can often find an increase in oil.
Harsh products/Not using a moisturizer
Excessive drying of skin or not moisturizing the skin may cause the sebaceous glands to overcompensate by producing an excessive amount of sebum to replace the moisture lost.
Solutions
Although you can’t really reason with genetics, figure out what your triggers are and read these options available to help keep sebum at bay.
Relax and slow down if stress seems to be the issue. Take a small amount of time out of your day/night (even if it’s only one minute!) for yourself and do something you enjoy. Exercising, reading, meditating, and aromatherapy can work wonders.
Hydrate! Humectants, which include glycerin, sorbitol, hyaluronic acid and sodium PCA, attract water (not oil) to the skin and cinnamon bark, borage seed oil, wheat germ oil, niacinamide, zinc glucanate, caffeine, enantia bark, yeast extract, horse chestnut and biotin can regulate oil production with regular use.
Stay balanced! Using a pH balanced cleanser, something that is NOT soap, can help keep you from over drying the skin. Cleansing your skin about twice a say should suffice, or you run the risk of over drying the skin as well. Those who have acne may want to be careful about over using ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide, which although can be great for acne, can also be very drying.
Nutrition Zinc can help regulate oil glands. Zinc rich foods include oysters, crab, liver, mushrooms and spinach.
Other Blotting tissues, using oil-free makeup, and certain primers can also keep shine to a minimum.
If you have oily skin, what product do you swear by?
Hard for me to find balance. The products that help my acne dry my skin out. I’ve tried using gentler products but they aren’t as effective.
Hi V, thanks for stopping by! From your blog, you seem to have really good skin but I also know it can start acting up at random times. Judging from the comment you made, I would say your skin type is either oily or combination with a few breakouts. What are you currently using and how do you perceive your skin type to be? You can always send me a direct email to stephaniemora23@gmail.com if you don’t want to post it on this forum 🙂
Your right BP is not the best since it is drying but most SA products break me out in a rash so I avoid it unless it is in very low percentage. Great post! The package is here! I will take a pic & post it to Instagram this weekend! Thank you! 🙂 It was so kind of you to think of me! Thank you!
Oh no! I like BP to spot treat but prefer SA because it also works as an anti-inflammatory. Sucks that you break out in a rash though. I was going to suggest Renee Rouleau BHA Clarifying Serum- it has lactic, salicylic and glycolic acid along with. I use it off and on and it really makes a difference with the texture of my skin. Not sure of the concentrations though. If all goes well, I will help her out in two weeks so I can ask what products she would recommend for controlling shine. Dermalogica also has an Oil Mattifying lotion. One of my friends is a hair stylist and she is always breaking out but the Dermalogica kit has really helped her out. Just another option. 🙂 Yay! I was getting kind of worried there. 🙂 You’re welcome, I hope it works out for you and I hope you enjoy the L’Occitane oil sample! It’s a great product and smells heavenly. 🙂
I totally look forward to trying out the Oil sample!!! Thank you! Luckily my breakouts are small when I get them now. Usually the culprit is stress, a keratin hair product, or the cat! Unfortunately all I can do about the cat is not pet him too much & keep him outta the bedrm. Like you said hydrate & keep stress in check! 🙂 Thanks again!
Ugh, I get that from stress too! It’s hard sometimes to manage stress but I find yoga really helps. 🙂
Your right BP is not the best since it is drying but most SA products break me out in a rash so I avoid it unless it is in very low percentage. Great post! The package is here! I will take a pic & post it to Instagram this weekend! Thank you! 🙂 It was so kind of you to think of me! Thank you!