Are you struggling with oily skin? Does your make-up "slide" off after you just applied it? Are you constantly blotting your face every hour? Do you find used blue blotting sheets everywhere? If you answered yes to these questions...you may be suffering from oily skin. But what exactly is oily skin?
Oily skin aka lipidic skin is characterized by an excessive amount of oil production (duh). If you happen to have oily skin, you'll notice that you have much larger pores than someone who has dry skin. The visible and large pores can easily lead to blemishes like pimples and black/whiteheads, due to excessive oil and dead skin cells clogging the pores. The buildup of dead skin cells can make the skin appear thick, oily, congested, and unhealthy. Having a good skincare regimen, diet, and regular facials can help balance the skin, keeping blemishes at bay and your skin happy!
Here are 10 oily beauty sins!
1. Genetics
If oily skin runs in your family, than chances are you'll also inherent oily skin (but keep calm and know that you're less likely to wrinkle and sag than your dry-skin friends).
2. Whack out hormones
Whether it's medication or stress; hormone changes can cause an increase of oil production. Meaning an oily and shiny face. Them crazy hormones! Hormones can also lead to dehydration which can cause even more oil to secrete.
3. Too much washing
If you think that cleansing your face 3+ a day is going to help control your oily skin...you're wrong! Stripping the skin too much of its natural oil and drying out the skin causes the skin to freak out; unbalancing the skin and acid mantle can send your oil production in over drive. Resulting to more and more oils to be produced and a very very shiny face.
4. Overusing products
This is not an easy one. I think a lot of us ladies are so used to bad beauty myths. We think that the more we cleanse or so, than we'll rid ourselves from our skin's problem. But that's not the case! Especially with oily skin, however overusing or overdoing can irritate and even dry out your skin which makes it worse, because it actually triggers the oils glands to produce more oils.
5. Not moisturizing your skin
For some reason, a lot of ladies (and especially the gents) think that oily skin doesn't need moisture, because they're already "oily". But did you know that neglecting to provide your skin with the moisture it needs can result to an increase of oil. Why? Welp, because the skin notices the lack of oil and in result tries to lubricate the skin by producing more oil! Hey--your skin is just trying to help you out!
6. Using the wrong products
Sharing in this case is not caring. Just because your friend is using a certain product or because so-and-so is using it, doesn't mean that it's for you! Everybody's skin is different and not all products work the same for everyone. Using the wrong skincare products for your skin can once again freak the skin out, causing it to react. Such reactions like an increase of oil production, blemishes, or even hives! Ekkk!
Even products that claim to control oil or eliminate oil can be wrong for oily skin, because it may contain ingredients that irritate the skin or too strong.
7. Doing too much
Having oily skin doesn't excuse you to try on every treatment or products all at once. Doing too much to your skin may irritate your skin, triggering more oil. Yup, just like over-cleansing or using the wrong products!
8. Not having enough water
Not drinking enough water means dehydrated cells and dehydrated skin means shiner appear and more oil production. The reason why there's more oil being produced is the body's way of making up for the lost or lack of much needed water *mind blown*.
9. Excessive exfoliating
Although it's important and beneficial to slough off dead skin cells. Excessive exfoliation can not only make you appear shiny in photos due to light reflecting off the skin but it can actually make you oilier too. If you're not sure if you're over exfoliating, listen to your skin. Shineness, oiliness, tightness, and even redness is your skin telling you that you're over doing it. Try to limit your scrub days to 3 days a week.
10. Greasy food, greasy skin
It's simple, you are what you eat. This is linked to hormones where certain food can trigger excess oil to secrete. Too much processed and unhealthy food not only harms your insides, but the harmfulness can also reflect on the outside from oiliness to blemishes. Introducing a balanced and healthy diet can not only improve your skin, but also your body.
