Skin Care Routine for Oily Skin
Managing oily skin can be a tedious and frustrating process. If your skin constantly has an excessive shine, you are likely to regularly consider ways to prevent oil build-up. Oily skin can lead to dirt build-up on your face and even cause acne, making it even more frustrating to manage.
On the bright side, oily skin is often associated with fewer wrinkles and a more youthful appearance. After all, your body produces oil to act as a natural moisturizer. Because of the many pros and cons, you need to be mindful to strike the right balance between oily and dry skin. Fortunately, by following a careful skin routine that includes products that work without harming your skin's natural processes, you can have healthy, hydrated, and balanced skin.
What Causes Oily Skin?
A variety of factors can cause oily skin. For some, oily skin is simply a consequence of genetics, but many of us are more likely to experience oily skin under certain circumstances. The following conditions can increase your chances of seeing oil build-up on your skin:
Oily skin is not always avoidable, but many of the above conditions are. By taking steps to address each of the above ways your skin may be neglected, you can make your skin your best friend.
The Best Steps to Controlling Your Oily Skin
Again, oil production is a natural part of your bodily processes, so you do not want to eliminate it completely. When working to manage oily skin, it is vital to find a balance between too dry and too oily to keep your skin healthy. The following are some of the best ways to manage oily skin.
- Regularly Use a Gentle Face Wash
Washing your face with the right product will, directly and indirectly, contribute to your defense against oily skin. When you wash your face, you are able to directly remove excess oil build-up and clean out your pores. Washing your face also prevents your face from overproducing oil, as clogged pores will lead to heightened oil production.
Depending on your daily activities, it is usually recommended to wash your face twice a day, in the morning and at night. If you sweat more or spend time in environments that could lead to more dirt build-up, then you may want to wash your face more often. As you wash, you should use lukewarm water to open up and clean out the pores. Then, you should use cold water to rinse, which will constrict the pores so that they are less likely to attract more dirt.
Although washing your face is important for managing oil production, be sure not to overdo it. Washing your face too frequently can dry out and irritate your skin. If your skin becomes irritated or dry, your body's natural response is to produce more oil to fix it, so be careful not to overcorrect.
While looking for a gentle face wash for your skin, consider WOW's Activated Charcoal Foaming Face Wash. This all-natural face wash is kind to your skin, formulated with detoxifying charcoal, aloe vera extract, and vitamin E. Complete with a silicone exfoliating brush, this face wash will gently help you clear out your pores without applying harsh chemicals to your skin. For whole-body treatment, consider WOW's 2-in-1 Charcoal Shampoo and Body Wash.
Moisturize Frequently
Moisturizing is an essential step in the process of managing oily skin. Your skin naturally produces oil to prevent itself from drying out. This means that the drier your skin, the more oil it produces. By moisturizing regularly, you allow your skin to retain moisture and slow oil production as a result.
You should moisturize your skin at least twice a day: once in the morning and once in the evening. If you live in a dry climate or are in the peak of winter, you may find yourself needing to moisturize more often since your skin is likely to be drier in these instances. It is best to moisturize after you shower or wash your face since moisturizer works best when applied to hydrated skin.
WOW's Vitamin C Face Cream absorbs into the skin and seals in moisture, so you can focus on maintaining hydrated, oil-free skin. Vitamin C nourishes your skin, while the formula also includes cocoa butter and hyaluronic acid to hold in moisture. These natural ingredients inspire confidence that the product will work without irritating your skin and get the job done right.
Remove Your Makeup Nightly
Leaving your makeup on overnight offers no relief for oily skin. Falling asleep with makeup on your face will clog your pores and lead your skin to ramp up oil production.
Removing your makeup regularly will allow your skin to generate some of its natural oils without overproducing to compensate for clogged pores.
Make a habit of removing your makeup as part of your getting-ready-for-bed routine. Removing your makeup is a multi-step process. First, you will want to wash your face by using a gentle cleanser and remove all the makeup. Depending on your makeup, you may have to rinse and repeat a couple of times.
If you wear makeup regularly, then WOW's Coconut Clarifying Micellar Water is a great product to keep on your bathroom counter. Infused with coconut water, witch hazel, green tea, and cucumber water, this micellar water is perfect for removing makeup and performing a deep clean of your skin. Plus, it contains no parabens, silicones, or mineral oil, making it an even better choice for providing sustainable care for your oily skin without irritation. Once you have removed all of the makeup, you should use a product to balance the pH of your skin and prevent more oil production.
A toner is an excellent choice for keeping your face hydrated and recovering some of the natural moisture. The WOW 10-in-1 Apple Cider Vinegar Mist Tonic is perfect for hydrating and softening your skin. The moisturizing tonic is a gentle mist spray, so it is easy to apply and is not harsh on your skin. Lastly, you should use a moisturizer to seal in the moisture on your face so that you can go to bed feeling refreshed and your body will not start generating excessive amounts of oil.
- Use Sunscreen When Outside
As discussed, your body is all about balance. Your skin produces oil to try and maintain a healthy balance of moisture and cleanliness. Therefore, in attempting to manage oily skin, you should work to avoid doing anything that throws off this balance.
Sunburn is harmful in multiple ways, increasing the temperature of your skin, changing the pH, and drying it out excessively. Always consider how you will protect your skin from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) light.
You should use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 20, but higher levels of SPF are even better for protecting against harmful UV light. Apply sunscreen anytime you plan on spending time outside, especially in the summer when the sun is stronger. If you are outside for an extended period, you should reapply the sunscreen every two hours.However, if you do end up in the sun too long and develop a sunburn, then there are ways to soothe the area and provide some relief. If the sunburn is affecting your face, then you need a product that is gentle, hydrating, and soothing. Fortunately, WOW's Aloe Vera Foaming Face Wash provides all of this and more. Aloe vera is commonly used to manage and provide relief for burns, while other parts of this formula, like green tea and calendula, will provide antioxidants to help repair damaged skin.
- Avoid Oil-Based Cleaners and Skin Care Products
If you are working to prevent oily skin, one of the worst moves you can make is to add more oil to it. Heavy oil-based products and skin care creams can remain on your face and clog your pores. These types of products will not only make your skin feel greasier, but they will also encourage your skin to increase oil production. Foaming face washes and light moisturizers are great alternatives to heavy cream products as they are less likely to clog your pores and spark more oil production.
WOW Apple Cider Vinegar Foaming Face Wash is oil-free and light on your skin while still providing crucial vitamins, like B5 and E. This specially formulated face wash uses apple cider vinegar to restore the natural pH of your skin and aloe vera to moisturize your skin, providing you with a holistic treatment.
- Avoid Alcohol-Based Cleansers
Oil-based cleansers will oversaturate your skin with oil by generating too much moisture, while alcohol-based cleansers do the opposite. A good cleanser should moisturize your face and skin as it cleans, not strip them of your natural oils completely.
It is recommended to wash your face twice a day or sometimes even more. Applying alcohol to your skin has a large drying effect, but it could be manageable with an abundance of moisturizers and toners to compensate. Although, when you consider doing this to your skin multiple times a day, you can imagine how much you are drying it out. Ultimately, trying to maintain a healthy moisture balance when using an alcohol-based cleanser becomes too much of a hassle, and it is best to just avoid these types of cleansers in general.
A great example of an alcohol-free cleanser is WOW's Ubtan Foaming Face Wash. This powerhouse of a cleanser contains a long list of revitalizing ingredients, like chickpea flour, turmeric, saffron, and rose water. This formula is designed to soothe skin irritation, protect against the sun, alleviate skin impurities, and manage excess oil.
- Keep Your Hands from Touching Your Face
This is one of the most difficult parts to consider in a healthy routine because it is one of the things many of us do without realizing it but keep your hands away from your face! Touching your face throughout the day can spread oil from your hands to the skin on your face. When you are already trying to reduce oil build-up on your face, added oil does not help. By touching your face, you also introduce dirt and bacteria to the skin, increasing your risk for breakouts.
The only time that touching your face is a good idea is if you are applying a cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen, or makeup. Even under these circumstances, you should be sure to wash your hands thoroughly to avoid spreading bacteria to your face. Maintaining clean skin throughout the day will prevent the clogged pores and dirt build-up that leads your skin to produce more oil.
Your skin naturally produces oil, so you should not see it as the enemy. However, excessively oily skin can be frustrating and can give you a long list of issues as you fight to keep your face from being overly shiny. By creating a strict and consistent skincare routine, you can find a healthy balance of oil on your skin. At the same time, every good skincare routine needs the right products. WOW Skin Science offers an extensive inventory of skincare products made from naturally derived, plant-based ingredients. All our products are specially formulated to treat your skin without irritating or drying it out. Browse our full inventory today to find a product that works for you and your skin. We are confident that you will love the results.
Recommended Products to Treat Whiteheads
Aloe Vera Face Wash with Brush
Ubtan Foaming Face Wash with Brush
Apple Cider Vinegar Face Wash with Brush
10-in-1 Apple Cider Vinegar Mist Tonic
