Skincare for oily or blemish-prone skin: Get the best tips here
The skin's natural fats help combat dryness and keep skin supple - but many people find that their skin produces more fat and oil than necessary.
This results in oily skin that can be noticed, seen and felt: An oily layer of excess oil on the skin, a shiny and glossy surface, and the annoyance of makeup not sitting nicely on the skin.
Most people experience oily skin from time to time, while others have an oily skin type. Here we give you the best tips for getting rid of oily and shiny skin and restoring its balance.
What is oily skin?
Oily skin is characterised by an overproduction of the skin's natural oil, sebum.
The oils are secreted through sebaceous glands and form an oily layer on the surface of the skin.
Because the skin overproduces sebum, oily skin is often characterised by a shiny surface, particularly in the skin's T-zone: on the forehead, around the nose and on the chin.
Read about your skin type:
Why is my skin oily?
You may be genetically predisposed to an oily skin type, or your skin may become oily at times due to external and internal influences. Here we have gathered a few of the most common causes:
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Hormonal fluctuations: Oily skin is often linked to androgens (e.g. testosterone), which stimulate the sebaceous glands and can increase sebum production. Many people therefore experience oilier skin during puberty, before menstruation or during stressful periods.
Read our advice on skincare during pregnancy here
- Diet and environment: Your skin may also become temporarily oilier if you have eaten a lot of fatty or sugary food. A humid, hot or polluted climate can also stimulate the sebaceous glands and make your skin oilier.
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Incorrect skincare: If your skin is cleansed with products that are too harsh and drying, it may compensate by producing more oil. In this way, oily skin can become even oilier if it is not allowed to establish its natural oil balance.
See products from the Skin Balance range here
- Remember to moisturise: Although it can be tempting to dry out your oily skin, this will only create a greater imbalance in oil production. Your skin needs moisture, nourishment and vitamins - even if it is oily. See our range of face creams.
- Cleanse every day: To prevent pores from becoming clogged with sebum, use a gentle cleanser every day. Skin benefits from consistency, so it can regain its oil and moisture balance.
- Leave blemishes alone: To avoid introducing more bacteria into your clogged pores, make sure not to touch your skin too much, and take particular care not to squeeze blackheads and spots.
- Choose the right skincare: When your skin is out of balance, it may need targeted help to regain its health. Choose skincare specially developed for oily and blemish-prone skin.
- Let your skin breathe: If you want to mattify your face with makeup, make sure to choose light and gentle products that do not form a layer that clogs your pores.
How to care for your oily skin
Although it may feel like oily skin is hard to get rid of, simple steps can improve your skin and promote more balanced sebum production. It is about using the right products, responding to your skin's signals and being consistent with your routine. Here is what to do:
Step 1: Cleanse
To remove the build-up of oil and bacteria from the top layer of your skin, cleanse your face morning and evening. Imagine that your skin breathes through its pores and can breathe again when you cleanse it. Use a mild facial cleanser that both improves and protects your skin.
Recommendation from ECOOKING: Use our Skin Balance cleansing mousse, which effectively cleanses away bacteria, oil and makeup residue. Follow with our skin tonic for extra fresh and healthy skin.
Step 2: Serum
A serum is developed to help your skin with a specific need through its active ingredients. The right serum can therefore be a powerful tool to help deeply moisturise your skin, reduce blemishes and address increased sebum production.
Recommendation from ECOOKING: Use serum 1-2 times a day, and choose between our Acne Serum, which reduces blemishes and the visibility of pores, and our Hyaluron Serum, which gives the skin a thorough and long-lasting boost of moisture and plumpness.
Step 3: Cream
One of the most important steps - especially when you have oily skin - is to add moisture with a nourishing cream after cleansing your skin. The cream's natural oils give your skin the moisture it needs to maintain its health and elasticity, helping to balance the skin's own sebum production.
Recommendation from ECOOKING: Our Day Cream is developed to give your skin the daily moisture boost it needs. It is organic and 99 % natural and therefore places no extra demands on your skin. It gives the skin moisture and glow.
Day Cream
Moisturiser that hydrates dry skin, adds glow, strengthens skin collagen and ...
Skin Balance cleansing mousse 150 ml
Our Skin Balance cleansing mousse 150 ml provides mild, nourishing and soft c...
Acne Serum
Fragrance-free serum for blemishes and large pores, which deeply cleanses por...
Hyaluronic Serum
Fragrance-free moisturising serum that provides intense moisture and plumpnes...
A tip from us
Want to give your skin a little extra? Try Daily Peel, a facial toner with glycolic acid that removes dead skin cells and gives you smoother skin with a fresh glow. Follow the instructions and adjust use to suit your skin. Or apply Clay Mask to the T-zone when it is shiny, so the clay can absorb excess oil. If you use an acid peel, remember to apply sunscreen every morning, including for the week after you stop, as the acid makes skin more sensitive to the sun.
How to get rid of blemishes and spots
You can get rid of blackheads and spots by treating and protecting your skin every day. When your pores are clogged, dead skin cells and bacteria can build up, making blackheads and spots appear more quickly. The pores must therefore first be cleansed and exfoliated and then protected with a protective cream.
Read more about how to avoid blemishes and spots here
An important tip is to use SPF every day - both to protect against UV rays and to prevent hyperpigmentation.
Apply beautiful makeup to oily skin
To create a beautiful base with a matte finish without removing the glow from your cheeks, choose the right makeup products. With oily skin, you may feel like applying large amounts of powder throughout the day, but sometimes the result can become ‘cakey’ and heavy.
To create a light and fresh makeup look despite an oily skin type, always start with a clean and moisturised base on which the makeup can spread evenly.
Next, it can be worthwhile using a primer to create an even base whose glow can shine through your foundation or concealer. Our foundation has medium coverage, a silky-soft texture and SPF, so your skin can breathe while achieving an even tone.
Finish with a powder to ‘set’ your face, and our Mineral Powder is a good choice. It blends in easily without feeling heavy on the skin - and makes your even finish last all day.
Also read: How to apply natural makeup
