While natural oil production is healthy for your skin, the saying “you can never have too much of a good thing” doesn’t quite ring true for those of us in the oily skin club.
When our sebum is stuck in hyperdrive, we’re more prone to skin congestion, breakouts, and dullness. How oily your skin gets depends on many factors, such as your genes, the weather, your diet, your stress levels, your hormones and how much water you drink.
And keep in mind; oily skin is not a medical issue. It’s just a cosmetic concern. Some people are born with oilier skin than others, and that’s OK. But the good news is there are things we can do to nurture oily skin, so here’s a round-up of our best sebum balancing advice for those who need it.
1. Moisturise your skin
You may think that moisturising your skin is like adding fuel to the fire, but that’s not true. Your skin needs moisture to stay healthy and happy, and if you deprive it of moisture, it will produce more oil to make up for it. So don’t skip the moisturiser or moisture-rich products, such as our Clarify Serum, which is chock full of botanical oils that actually work to inhibit excessive oil production and rebalance your complexion.
2. Stay hydrated
Hydrating your skin is important; and so is hydrating yourself from within. That means drinking plenty of water every day. Water helps flush out toxins from your body and keeps your skin plump and supple. When you’re well-hydrated, your sebaceous glands don’t have to work overtime to produce oil, and you’ll feel better in general.
3. Don’t touch your face!
This may be the hardest thing to do, but trust us: it’s worth it. Touching your face – besides being a bad habit in general – can spread dirt, bacteria and oil all over your skin. And that’s a recipe for disaster. For the same reason, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly before you start your skin care routine. You don’t want to undo all the good work you’ve done by using dirty hands on your clean face.
4. Wash your face twice a day and after exercise
Unless you’re a vampire who never sees the light of day, you should wash your face twice a day with a gentle cleanser if you have oily skin. And if you work up a sweat, don’t wait until bedtime to rinse it off. Trust us, your pores will thank you.
To get your skin looking truly revitalised and new after cleansing, opt for a mask treatment a few times a week. In particular, Cannabella’s Green Detox Face Mask is like an at-home facial for oily and acne prone skin.
5. Choose your skin and makeup products wisely
Be wary of any products that make your skin feel super squeaky clean. Products that strip your skin of its natural oils will only make it produce more oil to compensate. So ditch the chemical exfoliants and alcohol based cleansers and go for a mild face wash instead. Look for skincare that is natural and non-comedogenic — which means non-pore clogging. This is one of the many reasons why we’re so hooked on using Hemp Seed Oil in our skincare products – it has a comedogenic rating of 0! Plus, great skincare means you have to wear less makeup overall, giving your pores a chance to breathe.
6. Don’t scrub too hard
Scrubbing too hard will only irritate your skin and make it produce more oil. So be gentle with your face and avoid using anything that feels like sandpaper; think rough washcloths and loofahs. Don’t yank your skin downwards, just dab it gently with a soft towel.
Did you know…
Some trends, like double-cleansing — which involves using an oil-based cleanser followed by a water-based one — may work wonders for some people with oily skin, but they could also cause others to break out like crazy. Find out what works for you and stick to it.
The bottom line
Be patient, and don’t expect miracles overnight. It takes time for your skin to adjust to any changes you make to your skin care routine. But if you’ve tried everything and your skin is still as oily as a deep-fried Mars bar, you may want to see a dermatologist. They can prescribe you some medication to tame your oil glands and set you on the path to finding effective techniques that suit your skin.
