How to Get Rid of Oily Skin

Though each skin type comes with its own challenges, oily skin can be particularly frustrating. Oily skin is hard to control as it is affected by hormone fluctuations, the weather, and your level of activity each day. As a result of your oily skin, you may end up with shiny skin, makeup that slides off, and enlarged or clogged pores. Despite many “mattifying” products’ claims to control and reduce oil, the best way to treat oily skin is proper skincare.

When it comes to caring for oily skin, the right skincare is vital. Although it may seem counterintuitive, you’ll want to be careful not to over-dry your skin. Even though it might seem like drying up the oil on your skin is a good idea, you need a certain amount of healthy oils in your skin to maintain skin health and moisture. Over-drying and irritating products rob your skin of beneficial oils and moisture and can cause dryness, itchiness, redness, and spur more chronic skin conditions like rosacea or chronic acne. Moreover, skin that has been stripped of necessary moisture can begin to overproduce oil, causing further oiliness and clogged pores.

It’s helpful to know what causes oily skin so that you can begin to treat it properly. Oily skin is, in part, hereditary, but it can be exacerbated by irritation that stimulates the nerve endings within the base of your pores, causing your skin to produce excess oil. This irritation can be caused by any number of factors, including stress, hormone variations, harsh cleansers or soaps, and free radicals in the environment.

So how can you begin to manage your oily skin without the negative side effects of over-drying or irritation? First, make sure you know how to polish your skin without overdoing it. Exfoliants that are overly abrasive can damage your skin, resulting in redness, irritation, more breakouts, and even hyperpigmentation. Instead, you want to polish your skin gently in order to resurface skin and clear away the dead skin cells, sebum, and bacteria that can clog your pores. Ideally, your polish will utilize both salicylic acid—a Beta Hydroxy Acid that reaches deep into pores—and a gentle, natural exfoliating ingredient to naturally polish your skin and clear away pore-clogging buildup. The Method: Polish Blemish Control uses both salicylic acid and uniform mineral crystal and sodium bicarbonate to gently polish skin and help clear your pores. The unique formulation of this exfoliator ensures that your skin is gently resurfaced for a radiant glow.

Once you’ve chosen the ideal product to polish your skin, choose a cleanser that gently removes all dirt, residual makeup, exfoliation debris, and excess oil without stripping the skin of essential hydration. No residue should be left behind as that can contribute to clogged pores and blemish-causing irritation. Your skin should not feel tight or dry after washing, nor should it necessarily be squeaky clean, as that can indicate a loss of moisture. Avoid any cleanser using alcohol, as alcohol can dehydrate the skin, leading to irritation or excessive oil production. A cleanser containing salicylic acid, however, will help manage excess surface oil and help keep pores clear and clean without removing hydration. The Method: Cleanse Blemish Control contains salicylic acid and tea tree oil to keep pores clear and assist in removing dead skin cells and pore-clogging sebum. After cleansing, skin should feel refreshed and look healthy and clean. Use your ideal cleanser twice daily—in the morning and at night—to help manage and normalize your oil levels. Use warm water, rather than hot, to minimize irritation while still opening pores and rinsing the cleanser away completely.

Though many skincare lines suggest toner to minimize pores and remove final traces of makeup, toners often contain drying and irritating alcohol. Overusing toner can lead to skin that is parched and more easily irritated. The drying properties of toner can also lead your skin to produce too much oil, making your skin even oilier and compounding the problem. Dr. Lancer specifically developed The Lancer Method to be effective and not require a toner – allowing the Cleanse, when following Polish to be highly effective.

Next, it’s important to choose a moisturizer that provides essential hydration and nourishment to your skin, without clogging your pores. Remember that dehydrated skin will only produce more oil, so despite the fact that it may seem contradictory, you need to moisturize your skin daily. If necessary, you can vary the amount of moisturizer you apply to each area of your face, depending on the oiliness in that area. Choose a moisturizer that is lightweight, rather than a highly emollient cream that may be too heavy for oily skin. The right moisturizer should sink into your skin and provide moisture without leaving your skin greasy. The Method: Nourish Blemish Control is an ultra-light moisturizer that provides vital hydration and still fights acne. This product contains salicylic acid and lilac stem cells to help manage oil production for clear pores , while nasturtium flower extract provides a healthy glow for radiant-looking skin. Additionally, a powerful antioxidant—rare grape polyphenol, õ-viniferin—helps protect your skin from the aging effects of the environment.

Even oily skin needs sunscreen, but many sunscreens are heavy, thick, and can clog pores. Still, you need to protect your skin, and it is recommended that a sunscreen with a broad spectrum SPF of 30 be used. In order to avoid aggravating oily skin, look for lightweight sunscreens that absorb completely and do not leave a greasy film on the skin. Sheer Fluid Sun Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen is a weightless and fresh feeling sunscreen that also works as a makeup primer. The broad spectrum SPF protects your skin from damaging UV rays, while sunflower sprout and chamomile extracts soothe your skin and help provide radiance without oiliness.

After you’ve identified your ideal skincare regimen and you begin to manage your skin, you may find that your skin still has a bit of a sheen at the end of the day. If so, you can use additional products to help manage that excess oil. Oil-blotting papers are an ideal way to manage oiliness without adding any additional products to your routine and risking further drying or irritation. Oil-blotting papers simply absorb the oil on the surface of your skin, so you can toss it in the trash. Just press the paper lightly onto oily areas for 10 to 20 seconds, then remove and discard.

You’ll also want to make sure you wear makeup that is non-comedogenic and isn’t too heavy. Anything heavy, oily, greasy, or waxy runs the risk of clogging your pores and adding to the oil on your skin. If possible, skip heavier foundations that may have emollient ingredients and, instead, opt for powder mineral makeup or light mousse formulas. Regardless of whichever makeup you decide on using, check to make sure the formula won’t clog pores and be diligent about removing your makeup at night. If you wear waterproof or long-wear formulas, try using gentle Makeup Removing Wipes before The Lancer Method to remove as much makeup as possible and allow your skincare to work properly on your oily skin.

In addition to skincare, keep in mind that your lifestyle can have an impact on your skin as well. Eating as clean as you can—plenty of organic fruits and vegetables and other healthy, whole foods—can also help ensure healthy skin. Avoid fast food, white bread, and non-organic animal products that may include additional hormones, antibiotics, pesticides and other additives that can adversely affect your skin. Drinking plenty of water will keep your skin hydrated and help your body flush toxins, too.

Exercise is another way to rid your body of toxins and impurities, as well as encouraging increased circulation in your skin. Be aware, however, that exercising can temporarily increase oil production. Be sure to remove your makeup before exercising to ensure that oil and sweat don’t get trapped beneath your makeup, clogging pores and causing blemishes. Shower promptly after exercise as well to ensure that you wash away all the excess oil and impurities in your sweat that can clog pores once reabsorbed into the skin.

Keep an eye on when your skin seems oiliest and vary your skincare routine accordingly. Many people find that their skin is much oilier in the summer than in the winter. This may mean that you’ll need more moisture and less oil-managing salicylic acid in the winter months. Hormones can also affect your skin’s oil production, as can your workout routine. Be aware of when your skin is oiliest, and when it’s not, so that you can adjust your skincare regimen as needed and avoid over-drying or irritating your skin.

If you’ve followed our advice and still can’t find relief for your oily skin, seek help from an experienced dermatologist like Dr. Harold Lancer. Laser treatments and chemical peels can be used to treat oily skin, but only a dermatologist can determine what will help your skin without irritating it more and aggravating further oil production.

Ultimately, oily skin can be a blessing as long as you maintain it properly and keep the oil under control. With proper care, the extra moisture in your skin can result in skin that looks younger longer. Be attentive to your oily skin with the right skincare, treatments, and proper maintenance, and you’ll be able to fend off breakouts and enjoy skin that is supple, soft, and balanced.

SOURCES:

Lancer, Harold MD. Younger: The Breakthrough Anti-Aging Method for Radiant Skin. 147-8

“Witch Hazel.” WebMD. <http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-227-witch%20hazel.aspx?activeingredientid=227>.

Jaret, Peter. “How to Manage Oily Skin.” WebMD. <http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/features/oily-skin?page=2>.

Lancer, Harold MD. “Best Anti-Aging Products for Oily Skin.” World of Lancer Blog. <https://www.lancerskincare.com/blog/best-anti-aging-products-for-oily-skin/>