5 Oil-Fighting Tips That Stop Your Face from Getting Shiny

The natural oil that coats our skin is known as sebum. It’s produced by the sebaceous gland in the hair follicle and the skin on our face has more hair follicles than on the rest of our body, which is the reason why we experience oiliness mainly on the face.’

The primary function of sebum is to lubricate our skin as well as limit bacterial growth and preventing dryness and dehydration. There are cases when sebaceous glands produce too much sebum, that overabundance of oil in all the wrong can occur due to change in hormones, externally applied ingredients, and underlying conditions (such as acne. Environmental conditions (i.e. the summer sun) can play a major role in how oily your skin gets. Fortunately, there are a few things one can do to alleviate greasy skin

1. Master Your Daily Cleansing Routine

Due to oily skin, there is a strong urge to wash your face at every available opportunity and make sure you only use the best face wash for oily skin, but frequent face-washing will make things worse, over-cleansing activates further oil production because when you cleanse too much, you remove the skin’s natural sebum reserves, the result is the skin is going to rectify things by producing more.

Instead of washing your face often, using a cream or milky cleanser is advisable, these will dissolve dirt and debris without disturbing the barrier function and natural moisture levels of the skin. When looking for a cleanser be Wary of products formulated for oily skin, products specially formulated for minimizing oiliness often exacerbate the condition, this is the case because many contain harsh ingredients that strip away every last drop of sebum from the skin. The offending culprits are products containing alcohol, astringents, and sulfates, so please check the label on the bottle before making a purchase. These products are satisfying in the short-term as they are good at removing the excess oil on the surface of the skin, but over time the lack of oil in your skin will trigger excess oil production to try and restore the oil that’s stripped away.’

2. Moisturise religiously

Using a moisturizer religiously is key to keeping oil production under control. Don’t skip it. People tend to confuse oil with hydration, so they don’t properly hydrate the skin. There is a common misconception that skin can either be oily or dehydrated, the truth is skin can be both oily and dehydrated! This means there’s no sense in ditching hydrating products which are, in fact, essential in every skin routine regardless of skin type. Moisturizers are necessary to help maintain moisture levels, and if your skin is lacking in hydration, oil production can go into overdrive to compensate.

Before choosing a moisturizer, make sure it suits your skin type, for instance, if you’re battling blackheads and blemishes as well as that dreaded shine, it’s best to avoid thick creamy, heavy and occlusive. These will lead to congestion resulting in breakouts

3. Lighten Up on Night Cream

Nighttime skin preparation is important, this is the time when the cells renew themselves. You can help this by using products with key ingredients just like retinol and anti-inflammatory agents like botanicals. Cleansing before bed is also essential for keeping your skin healthy and clean, as during the day the oils on our skin react with dirt and pollutants. Take your bedtime beauty routine down a notch. If you use a cream try to switch to a lotion; if you use a lotion, try switch to a hydrating serum. The use of retinol during a night cream or can help limit sebum production, exfoliate dead skin cells, and minimize the looks of pores. This is important because there’s an immediate relationship between large pores and much of boring. So it is definitely worth using a retinoid for at least three months to see if it can help reduce oily skin.

4. Address Your Diet

The root cause of some peoples’ oily skin issues could be due to diet. It is advisable for those who have oily skin to avoid sugar and dairy, as they increase oil production. It is recommended to eat more zinc-rich foods. Zinc helps to manage the oil-producing glands of which great sources include shellfish, legumes, and nuts. Eating a diet high in antioxidants, plenty of vegetables; fewer refined sugar products, and lower in animal products has been shown to reduce inflammation and sebum production. By reducing the intake of simple sugars and eating higher levels of plant-based products, you will reduce the oiliness of the skin.

5. Exfoliate your skin

Oily skin reacts positively to exfoliation or removal of dead cells from the top layer of the skin. This is because dead skin leads to clogged pores, using an Ustraa’s gel-based Face scrub for oily skin twice a week; leaves your skin smooth and clean. This also acts as a face cleanser which helps in removing blackheads. However, one must not get carried away and avoid over-exfoliation which can lead to over-drying and hence excessive oil production.

So if you have oily skin, following a daily skincare regimen is the best way to reduce breakouts and control shininess. Cleansing, exfoliating, watching your diet, light night cream usage, and moisturizing both morning and night are key steps in a daily skincare routine. Make sure you choosing the right products, wearing sunscreen, and washing your face after exercising can also reduce oiliness and help keep your skin clear and healthy. Use a gentle cleanser to clean your face using warm water to open up the pores. Eat a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins and most importantly cut back on fried and processed foods as well as sweetened sugar beverages.