How to Gain Control of Oily Skin
Dealing with oily skin can be challenging. You might feel overwhelmed trying to manage your oily skin. You might wonder if you will ever find a solution. There is a lot of misinformation about how to care for and control oily skin, but your skin produces oil for a reason, and the glands that produce the oil (sebaceous glands) are not the enemy. Instead, they play an important role in protecting your skin and keeping it smooth and supple! By understanding how oil glands work on the different points of your face, you can balance oil and calm your skin.
What is sebum?
Sebum is an oily substance secreted by the sebaceous glands, composed of a combination of lipids or fats. Sebum is secreted through sebaceous glands, which are found all over your body except for on the palms or soles of your feet.
Sebaceous glands are integral in keeping skin smooth, soft, and protected. The skin on your body has fewer sebaceous glands than your face, which is why you probably find the skin on your body drier than the skin on your face.
On your face, you have probably noticed that your t-zone is more oily than your cheeks. This is because there are even more sebaceous glands in your t-zone.
Oily skin myths
The first step to balancing oily skin is to understand some of the most common myths about caring for oily skin.
Myth #1: The only way to get rid of oil is to wash it until it feels “squeaky clean.”
In the past, you may have tried to scrub away oil until your skin feels “squeaky clean,” but the truth is that this does more harm than good. Sebum keeps the hair and skin moisturized and serves as a barrier against bacteria, helping maintain the health of your skin’s microbiome. Plus, sebum moisturizes your skin and brings antioxidants to its surface. Instead try to use a more gentle cleansing method- we talk about proper cleansing in this blog.
Myth #2: Oily skin doesn’t need moisturizer.
Have you ever stopped using moisturizer because you think your skin is too oily? Moisturizer does not lead to more oil production. In fact, to effectively control oil, it is essential to moisturize your skin! Dehydrated skin may trigger your glands to produce even more oil, interrupting the balance of your skin. Replenishing hydration by moisturizing ensures your skin stays balanced and does not produce more oil. The key is to moisturize with ingredients that support the natural integrity of your skin and do not clog pores.
Myth #3: Using drying toners helps control oil.
Many toners will strip away oil, making you feel like you’ve solved the problem, but in the long-term, these products can actually damage your skin. Your skin will become dry, and it will cause your skin to produce even more oil in an attempt to protect itself. If you want to use a toner in your skin care flow, make sure that its ingredients are moisturizing and not drying.
So, what is the topical solution to oily skin?
An effective topical solution to oily skin is to use properly balanced and moisturizing skincare products that don’t trigger oil overproduction, don’t clog pores, and are suitable for the oilier t-zone and not-as-oily cheeks.
T-Zone + Cheeks is a solution formulated for acne prone, oily, sensitive, and combination skin. This is a universal moisturizer that will not dry out your skin but instead promote a calm, radiant, and plump complexion. T-Zone is oil free and utilizes moisturizing ingredients such as marine collagen, sea kelp and hyaluronic acid to help the skin retain moisture. Cheeks has the same moisturizing ingredients plus a touch of plum kernel oil to make up for the lower sebum production and help protect the skin.
These unique formulas are well absorbed by the skin and stimulate cell growth to encourage cell turnover and renewal, keeping your skin looking smooth and supple.
By properly caring for oily skin with effective products in your skin care flow, you can heal skin, balance oil, and nurture a healthy complexion.