The big bad wolf of skin concerns - oily skin. But, never fear, we've created a guide to help you get your oily skin under control for a glowy, balanced complexion.
What is oily skin?
Oily skin happens when your skin produces excess amounts of sebum. Everybody’s body produces sebum as it acts as a natural shield and moisturiser for our skin. Oily skin is not something to be afraid of, in fact, having oil on your skin is actually good for it! As long as the oil is not excessive, blocking pores resulting in acne breakouts, congestion, blemishes and that oily shine we all get from time to time!
Why does skin get oily?
Let’s get something straight: oil is not bad for your skin. The oil in your skin is invaluable to the look and feel of your skin. Provided it is well looked after it can be a blessing as it can mean your skin ages slower, meaning you’ll look younger longer.
Oily skin is simply skin that is out of balance, producing more sebum than can be used naturally by the skin. Skin imbalance can occur for a few reasons:
- When the skin’s natural oils are stripped away, encouraging sebum production. This can be a result of overdoing it with cleansers and exfoliants.
- It can be dietary, such as a response to dairy (cheese, chocolate, lattes... all of the things that keep us sane)
- Even the weather or genetics can make your skin thirsty.
The general school of thought has been that oil is the enemy and we should ward it off with astringent cleansers and harsh scrubs. But that thinking is changing, we need to embrace our oil and work with our skin to give it what it is screaming out for, moisture!
What does oily skin need?
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Oily skin needs to be balanced. A twice daily skincare regime is your best bet at giving your skin everything it needs. A four-step skincare routine consisting of cleansing, toning, moisturising, and applying a face oil (yes more oil) provides your skin with hydration and moisture during morning and evening. This stops your skin from needing to produce more oil to combat dryness.
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Moisture. Your skin is producing sebum to counteract dryness and irritation. By using a moisturiser that is suitable for oily skin ensures your skin will absorb the moisture it needs and slow sebum production. If you have oily skin, you should opt for a water-based moisturiser, as they are far less rich than their oil-based equivalents. Even better is a water-based moisturiser with natural humectants like Manuka Honey (just like all of moisturisers here). Manuka Honey absorbs moisture from the air and binds it into your skin, resulting in a double whammy of hydration.
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Go au natural. Chemical and synthetic ingredients can interrupt your skin’s natural productions and processes. This can lead to dry or irritated skin. Whereas natural ingredients and products work in harmony with your skin and are better absorbed and utilised by the skin’s cells.
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Eat well and stay hydrated. An oldy but a goody, there’s a reason we still say it. Drinking plenty of water will help flush away toxins in your body and keep you hydrated, as well as your skin! A balanced diet will also help to reduce the amount of toxins in the body, resulting in clearer skin.
How does face oil help oily skin?
Hear us out, adding oil to already oily skin may seem counterproductive but if we’ve learnt anything, it is that oily skin is screaming out for natural moisture. What were once clogging and thick oils, have now been advanced to refined cosmetic-grade oils that are emollient, leaving no residue on the skin or clogging our pores.
Face oil is the last step in your skincare routine because it drives vital antioxidants and calming moisture into the skin to leave you with a healthy glow and balanced complexion. When choosing the right face oil, you need to consider the types of oils that are in the formula. Oils with large fatty acid molecules will sit on top of the skin and not be absorbed and used by the skin. Smaller fatty acid molecules from oils like jojoba, manuka and hemp penetrate deeper into the layers of the skin and deliver essential moisture.
How to introduce oil into your skincare routine.
As with any new skincare you introduce into your routine, it does take time to see results. Giving a new product 4-6 weeks ensures that you can see any differences in your skin after giving it a chance to work its magic.
You can read our blog here about how to introduce new skincare into your routine.
We recommend ending your routine with a few drops of face oil, massaged into your face and décolletage will take the place of sebum, meaning your skin will no longer feel the need to produce excess. While doing this it also provides the benefits of hydration and protection without the greasy feel or shine that comes from sebum, leaving your skin beautifully hydrated and balanced.
Okay, so what do I use?
In our humble opinion, we think that Manuka Glow is a great place to start. It is chock full of beautiful, natural oils, each carefully chosen for their skincare superpowers.
Mānuka Oil – Long valued by Māori, Mānuka oil is renowned for its ability to heal, combat irritation and infections and restore damaged skin.
Hemp Oil – Known for it's calming properties, Hemp Oil calms, soothes and reduces irritation while delivering essential moisture.
Jojoba Oil – A lightweight yet rich source of fatty acids and antioxidants, which boost hydration, repair damage and soothes skin irritation.
Evening Primrose Oil – Rich in omega-6 fatty acids, that may be responsible for the oil’s healing benefits. Also has significant skin-soothing and emollient benefits.
Sunflower Seed Oil – Full of vitamin E, Sunflower seed oil will hydrate skin, fade scarring, and has excellent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and skin healing properties.