Establishing the best skincare routine for oily skin may seem like a daunting task. But the reality is, it isn’t! Consumers and businesses have come together to create several amazing skincare brands and products that help meet the growing needs while keeping the skin away from harsh chemicals and harmful synthetic ingredients.
To begin, we must first understand the value of a skincare routine, i.e., what does a skincare routine do? A choice of powerful and consistent skincare products helps to:
- address concerns such as discoloration and uneven texture
- soothe problem areas including dry patches or breakouts
- build a stronger skin barrier to prevent impact from environmental impurities
- act as a preventative measure for concerns like fine lines, wrinkles and sunspots
- create a strong sense of confidence around radiant and healthy skin.
The best skincare routine for oily skin helps minimize excess oil production without completely stripping the skin of organic humectants. As consumers have gotten more conscious of formulation and ingredient sources, a number of companies have taken the clean beauty route. This means ingredients are often vegan, ethically sourced, cruelty-free, and at times, organic, creating a wide range of products for eco-warriors and environmentally conscious consumers.
Steps To Craft The Best Skincare Routine For Oily Skin
1. Cleanser To Wash Your Skin
The first step in any face care routine begins with washing the impurities out of the skin. Instead of reaching for a harsh cleanser that strips the skin of natural oils, look for a two-part solution: the double cleanse.
a. Find A Good Cleansing Oil
Companies like Kiehls and The Body Shop make amazing sustainable cleansing oils and can be found with ease. The oil works to break down oil-based impurities hidden within the pores. This could be the dirt and debris accumulated over the day, makeup, or anything clogging the pores. First, 2-3 pumps to massage across the face will allow the impurities to cling to the oil. Then, add a couple of drops to emulsify the oil and rinse off. Cleansing oils do not contain harsh ingredients allowing your skin to feel clean without feeling stripped; instead, your skin will feel soft and nourished.
b. Find A Water-Based Cleanser
Water-based cleansers are your generic face wash and face wash variants. They come in foaming and non-foaming versions to help wash off water-based impurities, including sweat and dirt.
It is not uncommon to find kitchen ingredients as household alternatives here. E.g., A mixture of chickpea powder and turmeric can act as a gentle exfoliant. Though it is recommended to look for more stable and gentle formulations to help create a skincare routine for oily skin.
This two-step method helps remove both oil and water-based impurities as oil and water don’t. When the face is not cleansed thoroughly of makeup, sunscreen, and dirt, it creates bacterial infections and discoloration. This, in turn, creates excess sebum production that traps pollutants in the pores creating enlarged pores, slow skin turnover, and excess oil production. So, cleansing the skin thoroughly is vital to any skincare routine.
2. Toner To Keep Your Skin Clean, Tight, And Hydrated
Gently pat your face dry, but not all the way, and then use a toner. Toners help balance the surface pH level of your skin, keeping them clean, tight, and hydrated. Finding sustainable toner options is all about ingredients. We recommend you stay away from anything with a high alcohol content as it will simply dry out and irritate the skin encouraging oil production.
Instead, look for toners with high water content and soothing ingredients, including;
- Lavender (for less sensitive skin)
- Witch Hazel
- Tea Tree
- Rose Water
- Hyaluronic Acid
- Green Tea
Purchasing from high-end brands means contributing to worldwide sales and, in turn to environmental protection organizations.
3. Serum/ Essence/ Emulsion To Treat Your Skin Right
In order to build the best step-by-step skincare routine for oily skin, it is essential to differentiate between oily and acne-prone skin, though they might go hand in hand. Ingredients for acne-prone skin may aggravate the oily status. So it would be best to stick with gentle and soothing ingredients consistently, instead.
Serums, essences, and emulsions contain active skincare ingredients that can be used to treat problem areas and prevent concerns from developing. Introduce a lightweight formula that can easily be layered as opposed to dense consistencies that are more likely to clog your pores.
Look for formulas that contain zinc and niacinamide, both excellent for brightening and introducing anti-inflammatory properties. Balancing your skin here is vital; the skin tends to reduce oil production with the right ingredients. It instead balances to help pores appear smaller, minimizes skin irritation, and helps boost elastin and collagen fiber production to keep the skin bouncy and fresh.
4. Sunscreen To Protect Your Skin From The Sun’s UV Rays
A critical component of any skincare routine is protecting the skin from harsh UV rays that cause premature aging and sunspots. As sunscreen is most commonly worn on the beach, companies have mixed together formulas that work to avoid hurting reef life like coral, making them gentle enough to wear every day.
Companies like REN, SuperGoop! and SunBum are physical sunscreens that sit comfortably under your makeup or can be worn on their own without a white cast.
Korean companies offer many cruelty-free, ethically sourced chemical sunscreen options that are pocket-friendly and are good at keeping the skin protected.
Sunscreen must cement the best skincare routines for oily skin during the day and can be substituted for overnight masks or night cream in the evenings.
5. Exfoliants To Wash Off The Dirt From Your Skin
The age of harsh physical exfoliants has come to a close. The jagged edges of the particles within scrubs often cause microtears within the skin, creating irritation, redness, and sensitive skin. However, introducing a chemical exfoliant into your face care routine for oily skin could help minimize long-term oil production.
There are two types of chemical exfoliants widely available on the market –
- AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids)
- BHAs (beta hydroxy acids)
Both formulas work to gently release dull skin on the surface of the face along with any impurities that may not disappear with a cleanse. Alpha hydroxy acids are water-soluble and work on the skin’s surface. While they are better suited to dry skin, AHA’s can be helpful to combat wrinkles.
The best skincare routine for oily skin includes BHA’s. They work both on the skin’s surface and deep within pores as an oil-soluble exfoliant. This means the product is able to assist with bumps, clogged pores, and blemishes. BHA’s offer a naturally calming property that makes them perfect for sensitive skin.
A popular BHA-based product is offered by sustainable and environmentally friendly brand Paula’s choice. The company offers the Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid exfoliant. The solution does not need to be washed out and instead provides a gentle dose of salicylic acid that works to help with skin cell turnover.
6. Moisturizer To Lock The Moisture In Your Skin
As your body repairs itself while you sleep, augmenting your skincare routine for oily skin with the right night-time moisturizer/oil/lotion could be a game-changer. It is common to find people with oily skin skip on moisturizing at night, for fear of creating stronger oil build-up. But, not moisturizing your face encourages stronger oil production, creating an adverse reaction on your skin.
Instead of using rich, thick creams, opt for a lightweight gel moisturizer that can be used to keep your skin delicately moisturized as you sleep. Alternatively, introducing a lightweight organic oil such as jojoba, tea tree, squalane, and marula could offer the right balance of moisture.
The objective is to strongly avoid comedogenic ingredients like coconut oil that add to the build-up within the pores encouraging excessive oil production. Other commonly used oils include argan, buckthorn, kukui, and rosehip.
These six steps form the foundation of the best skincare routine for oily skin to combat excessive oil production, while still maintaining moisture and elasticity within the skin. A plus point of having oily skin is that your skin is less likely to wrinkle prematurely or develop fine lines, due to the consistent moisture content.
It is also important to note that skincare is not an overnight journey. Consistency is key here, especially with the management of oil production. Your skin has to gradually learn that it is overproducing oil, and this process can only happen over time and dedication to an effective skincare routine.
Two companies that work aggressively within the sustainability space – Youth To The People and Herbivore Botanicals offer some of the most consumer-friendly products within this space. Not only are the ingredients ethically sourced, but the formulas are built to fit the clean beauty bill with some truly stunning packaging.
Creating a sustainable skincare routine is not as complicated as it once was. However, it is essential to conduct adequate research and patch testing before applying anything to the face. Then, if something feels uncomfortable, itchy, or reacts, it’s time to substitute that skincare product with an alternative.
