I don’t know which one is worst, having an oily or dry skin. To those with oily skin like myself, at least there is fewer worries about wrinkles. Lucky huh, but then the pores are obviously large and clogged resulting to blackheads, whiteheads and acnes, and looking like a shiny mirror daytime! Not the best kind of skin type, but hey, there is always a way to manage these problems, which we are going to talk about on this article.

What Causes Oily Skin?

For your skin to stay supple, youthful and soft, it needs oil produced by your sebaceous gland. But due to genetical and hormonal imbalances, the production of this oil increases more than what your skin needs causing skin troubles.

Once excess oil is trapped on your pores and eventually mixes with your dead skin cells, sweat, dirt and bacteria, it end ends up in a  horror story: skin blemishes like blackheads and acne!

Note that hormonal fluctuations are one of the culprit for excess oil production. Puberty and pregnancy for example can lead to flair ups, but also depending on your genetical adaptation.  You probably noticed that sometime during your 28-day cycle, your skin suddenly becomes oily or dry, this is all due to hormonal changes happening into your body. So be smart to always observe your skin and be always ready to react accordingly.

What To Do?

1. Proper Cleansing

Like you already learned above: excess oil + dead cells + sweat + dirt + bacteria = skin blemishes. Knowing this equation, we know that one solution is proper cleansing.

Start with a cleansing oil. Yes, you heard it right, because excess oil is best drawn out using another oil. Water and oil don’t mix remember? These cleansing oils are formulated perfectly to emulsify. You know you are doing it right when it turns milky, by adding a little bit water when massaging. That’s how the excess face oil is “dissolved” through the cleansing oil.

Follow with a foaming cleanser to make sure everything sitting on your pores are washed away. All clean it should be, but gentle enough to avoid stripping your natural oils. Find one that is gentle for you.

Recommended Products: Banila Co Clean It Zero; Neogen Real Fresh Foam Green Tea

2. Clay Masks

Clay mask is a must for oily skin! This is your emergency kit you want to reach for, once or twice a week in the morning or at night when your skin feels like needing some oil and pore clogging extraction. It absorbs excess sebum and some even tightens the pores for a perfect daytime skin! They are also called wash off mask, because you leave the mask on the skin for several minutes then rinsed it away after 10-20 minutes depending on the mask.

Recommed Products: Missha Black Ghassoul Tightening Mask; Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask

3. Look for BHA

BHA is a friendly acid that is recommended for oily skin to regulate excessive sebum production and at the same penetrate deep into your pores to loosen up gunk. BHA is available in very mild forms like in Toners, Essences, Creams and also in higher percentages for a maximum result. COSRX is a brand that specializes in this stuff, but Mizon also has an AHA/BHA toner most recommended  under this category. If you want to go pro with acid, please read here in BoOonBlog

4. Go light in the morning and heavy in the evening

Being oily does not mean your skin is hydrated. Did you know that excessive oil could also be a sign of dehydration, compensating for the lack of moisture in your skin?

Layering is the key for oily skin. Use products that are light. The application of 6- 7 -8 products is very possible just for your daytime routine only.  You just need the right products and the right combination of products for your skin. You can have a toner, one to two essences, a serum/oil, an emulsion, a sunscreen, and finish it with a BB cream. Sounds a lot? Actually no.  To achieve this, you need to test and try different products, re match them if possible, switch products from your daytime to nighttime routine or vice versa and adjust the dosage.

Take a look at this AM routine:  Son & Park Beauty Water, Skinfood Premium Lettuce & Cucumber Watery Essence; LJH Vita Propolis Ampoule /Whamisa Organic Flowers Facial Oil (Oil??? Yes, we’ll talk about this the next blog) , Missha Time Revolution Immortal Youth Moisturizer; Missha All Around Safe Block Sun Milk, Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream  

Pamper your skin at night. It wont matter if you get too shiny, nobody cares. The only human beings who see you in the evening is your family! 😊 Use emulsion or gel in the morning and moisturizing cream in the evening. Sheetmask as well!

Recommended Products: LJH Vita Propolis Cream, Dr G Barrier Activator Cream Oily Sensitive

5. Exfoliate

Free your pores once a week. Help your skin get rid off dead skin cells by using exfoliating products. You can use physical scrubs or peeling gels or add acids like AHA or Mandelic Acid to your routine.

Toners that have mild exfoliating properties which you can use daily are also the best bet! When you go heavy in the evening, you make sure you free your pores in the morning. This is the best way to prevent clogged pores, which is very common to oily skin. Cleanse with a foaming cleanser  like the Missha Black Ghassoul Foam Cleansing Bar, which is  dedicated for oily and clogged skin, then follow with Son & Park Beauty Water. The secret here is, using a cotton pad soaked with the Beauty Water and wipe your face thoroughly. This is by far the best duo I personally use for AM routine before applying the rest of the skincare products.

Conclusion

There is no way to totally eradicate the oil on your face, because your skin needs it! Excessive is not normal, you know that, but as you see it is also manageable. Remember to always be consistent and most importantly listen to your skin! If these do not work, there is always a blotting paper :)