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Seems we always want what we don’t have. If we have straight hair, we wish it was more wavy or curly. If we have curly hair, we spend all kinds of time straightening it.
The same seems to apply to skin—those of us with dry skin wish only for more hydration, while those of us with oily skin get so fed up with the endless shininess!
“I have super oily skin with large pores,” says one of our blog readers, “we are talking shiny after an hour of my morning cleanse.”
Oily skin is a common concern that affects people of all ages and backgrounds. Understanding what oily skin is and how to effectively manage it is crucial for maintaining healthy and radiant skin.
In this guide, we will dive into the science behind oily skin, how to identify it, its impact on skin health, and the best skin care practices and products to keep your skin looking its best.
What is Oily Skin?
Oily skin refers to a skin type characterized by an excess production of sebum, a natural oil produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin. Overproduction of this oil can lead to the following:
• Looks shiny or greasy everywhere
• Appears thick and coarse
• Has enlarged pores
• Occasional breakouts
It can be influenced by factors such as genetics, hormonal changes, environmental conditions, as well as skin care choices. Managing oily skin typically involves a skin care routine that includes products designed to help balance the skin’s natural oils to prevent overproduction, as well as tame the visual effect of excess shine.
One way to test your skin to see if it is truly oily is to wash it in the morning with a gentle cleanser, pat it dry, avoid applying any make-up or lotion, and wait an hour or two. When you look in the mirror, if your face is shiny and covered in oil, you have oily skin. If your cheeks are dry but your forehead and nose are shiny then you have combination skin.
What is the Cause of Oily Skin?
Oily skin is primarily caused by the overproduction of sebum, a natural oil produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin. Several factors can contribute to this excess sebum production:
- Genetics: Your genetics plays a significant role in determining your skin type, including whether you have oily skin. If oily skin runs in your family, you are more likely to have it as well.
- Hormonal fluctuations, especially during puberty, pregnancy, and menstruation, can stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce more oil. Hormonal imbalances can also contribute to ongoing issues with oily skin.
- Environmental conditions, such as humidity and heat, can lead to increased oil production. High humidity levels can make oily skin appear even oilier.
- Diet: While the relationship between diet and oily skin isn’t entirely clear, some studies suggest that a diet high in sugary and processed foods may exacerbate oiliness.
- Skin care products: Using the wrong skin care products or harsh cleansers can strip the skin of its natural oils. In response, the skin may produce even more oil to compensate, leading to increased oiliness.
- Stress: High-stress levels can trigger hormonal changes that may lead to an uptick in oil production, exacerbating oily skin.
- Certain medications, often those that disrupt the body’s hormones can also impact oil production in the skin.
Understanding the specific causes of your oily skin can help you tailor your skin care routine and lifestyle choices to better manage it.
What are the Problems Associated With Oily Skin?
Oily skin can be associated with several skin problems and challenges, including:
Acne
One of the most common issues with oily skin is the increased likelihood of developing acne. Excess sebum can clog pores, leading to the formation of blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, and cysts.
Enlarged Pores
Oily skin often features visibly enlarged pores, which can make the skin’s texture appear rough and uneven.
Clogged pores
Too much oil and dirt, when left unaddressed, can clog pores and trap impurities in the skin. You can check out our face mapping skin analysis to find out what your skin is trying to tell you.
Blackheads and Whiteheads
Oily skin is susceptible to the accumulation of blackheads (open comedones) and whiteheads (closed comedones) due to sebum and buildup in the pores.
Shine and Greasiness
Oily skin can tend to appear shiny and greasy, especially in the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin), which may be undesired.
Skin Sensitivity
Oily skin can sometimes also be sensitive, making it challenging to find suitable skin care products that do not further cause irritation.
Runny Cosmetics
You have a hard time keeping makeup in place, and often have to blot and reapply.
The good news is that oily skin ages more slowly than dry skin, so when you move into your 40s and beyond, you may actually be thankful for your oiliness!
“I’ve learned to love and embrace my oily skin,” says another one of our readers. “Look at all those poor women out there with dry skin who constantly have to replace what we already have in abundance!”
Skin Infections
The excess oil on the skin’s surface, when left unaddressed, can create an environment where harmful bacteria thrive, potentially leading to skin infections or inflammation.
It’s important to note that while oily skin can present these challenges, it also has its advantages. Oily skin tends to age more slowly than dry skin, and the natural oils can provide some level of moisturization and protection.
Many of the common hardships that come with unaddressed oily skin may come from simply not knowing how to approach one’s skin. Alongside looking over your health, diet, lifestyle, and environment, becoming more familiar with your skin and understanding what it needs can help your skin tremendously—simply by working with it instead of against it, like using gentle skin care products that don’t strip the skin and aggravate the skin’s natural oil production process.
Daily Routine for Combatting Excess Oil
Even though your skin may age more slowly than other types, that’s little consolation when you’re looking at large pores and shine. When looking for ways to help control your oil production, start with some basic steps.
1. Wash Only Twice a Day
Even though the oil crops back up within a couple hours, resist the urge to wash again. If you strip the oils too much, your skin will react by producing even more, which is definitely what you don’t want. If you wash off that excess oil more than that, use water alone.
2. Use a Dissolving Cleanser
You want your cleanser to gently dissolve the oils and deeply clean at the same time. Try our Citrus Mint Facial Cleanser, which is formulated specifically for oiliness. It will remove dirt, excess oil, and impurities without harsh chemicals, and will help unclog pores. Use warm water, and massage the cleanser into your skin for at least one minute before rinsing off.
3. Tone Carefully
Again, the danger here is over-stripping your natural oils and causing a backfire in oil production. You want a toner that is gentle but effective. Try our Rosemary Toning Mist, which helps clean and give the skin a balanced appearance, plus it is a leave-on toner, which provides lasting benefits.
4. Balance The Oils in Your Skin
This is critical in oily skin types, and the step that most people struggle with. You know the problem is too much oil, so you try to get rid of that oil, but oftentimes that means harsh products that just strip the skin, damage the outer layer, and lead to increased oil production in the long run, as well as accelerated aging.
Natural oils have an amazing ability to work with the body to balance the way your skin looks, which is why we’re so sold on them and know you can find the best oil for your skin, too. You may think, “apply oils to oily skin?” But just try it—you’ll be amazed at the results, we’re sure. Use the Herbal Facial Oil for Oily Skin, made especially for oily skin types. Apply it every day after cleansing and you’ll notice a more balanced look.
Eight Tips for Oily Types
Once you’ve got your daily routine down, it’s time to add in a few extra steps that will improve the appearance and behavior of your skin.
1. Use a Mask 2-3 Times a Week
Masks help reduce the oily appearance on the face for days at a time. Plus they can help pores appear smaller. Try our Purifying Mud Mask, which uses mineral-rich clays to give a toner and tighter appearance to the skin.
2. Exfoliate 2-3 Times a Week
Try the Kaolin Micro Exfoliant, which leaves your skin looking smooth and clean. Just be careful not to over-exfoliate, because that can cause skin damage and may encourage your skin you produce more oil.
3. Consider Your Diet
Foods high in fats, sugars, and unhealthy oils can cause a negative reaction in your skin. Choose healthy fruits and vegetables and lean proteins, and cut down on sugar-sweetened beverages.
4. Try Witch Hazel Before Applying Makeup
It’s a natural salicylic acid toner. Wiping your face before applying makeup will help soak up excess oil without stripping your skin.
5. Use a Light Moisturizer
It can be a little counter-intuitive, but using a light moisturizer with infused ingredients that cleanse can help your skin balance out its own oils overtime so that you don’t stay so oily.
6. Use Oil-Free Cosmetics
When choosing makeup products, always find oil-free or “non-comedogenic” products that won’t clog pores.
7. Don’t Overdo Powder
You may think that more powder would help soak up excess oil, but it can actually get cakey and may encourage your skin to pump out more oil. Apply powder sparingly only on shiny areas, and use a matte translucent formula.
8. Remember Sun Protection
No matter what kind of skin you have, you need to protect it from the sun, which is enemy #1 when it comes to aging! Look for zinc oxide formulas, like our Sun Love Natural Sunscreen.
Do you have oily skin? How do you cope? Share your wisdom in the comments below.
You can also check out our skin care line formulated especially for oily skin. If you’re looking to try a smaller size or simply looking for travel-friendly products, check out our trial size collection.
I think exfoliation is one thing which i restrain from practicing. I didn’t knew it have this profound impact on our skin. Thanks for the info 🙂
It depends on what you use to exfoliate. Baking soda is inexpensive and Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor used baking soda to exfoliate daily and they had beautiful skin. Baking soda also immediately puts your skin into perfect PH balance. Try it : ) I’ve been using this for years and my skin is beautiful.
All My Face re oily,if i wash in between 2 to 3 minutes my face will be oil again.
what can i do?
I have VERY bad acne and I have tried everything but nothing seems to help. What should I do???
Hi Alana! Please check out the following article on our FAQ page for some tips on how to care for blemish prone skin 🙂 Best of luck!
https://support.annmariegianni.com/hc/en-us/articles/202119724-I-have-oily-skin-and-or-acne-which-products-should-I-use-
xo- Michon
ASC Customer Happiness Team
So I have very oily and acne-prone skin and I’ve heard, from this article and different people, that adding certain oils to your skin can help calm my greasy face. I like the idea I just don’t know what type of oils to use?
HI Isabel,
I would recommend our Herbal facial Oil for Oily skin.
I’ll be 40 this year and I have been struggling with oily skin and hair since I was a young teenager. I’ve tried just about everything you can think of, milk,honey,oat meal,alo vera,skin cleaners and the list goes on and on. It was embarrassing getting acne, black heads. I would shower in the morning and by noon my hair was oily. I would run my fingers through my hair and my hand would shine, and it had a funky smell.
The one thing I had never tried was changing my diet. With in 1 week of changing my diet, I noticed my skin and hair were not as oily. With in 2 weeks I was oil free, skin and hair.
What kind of diet did I use? I went on a all plant based diet. I cut out eating all meat, eggs, milk, all dairy.
This is by far the best thing I have ever done. I’m not saying it was easy, by no means. Before I went on this diet, I would have to shower 2 a day. My wife would complain that my pillow stunk, and my over all body order was pretty strong.
Since I’ve been on this plant based diet, I’ve gone through a complete body transformation. Try an all plant base diet and see for yourself, and plus its good for you.
Omg definitely gonna try that thanks
Its sounds very help full. I will try those 7 tips.
Thank you…………..
I pretty much have oily skin because my entire face will get oily. Not only is my face oily, but I also have acne, my biggest concern is the cystic acne. I’m thinking it’s more hormonal because when it’s that time of the month my face FREAKS out especially around my jawline and under my chin. My dermatologist has recommended Accutane but I really do not want to get on Accutane because of the side effects. This has dramatically brought my self esteem down, but don’t know what else to try. I’ve done coconut oil as a cleanser since I was told to do the oil approach. It did make my face feel amazing, but I was starting to wonder if that clogged my pores because my breakouts started to get worse. Oh, I also forgot ro mention I have extremely sensitive skin with Rosacea. I’m extremely allergic to benzoyl peroxide. I’ve changed my diet started to include green smoothies every morning. I cut out dairy last week to see if that’ll help. As a face wash I use CeraVe in the morning and “Say Yes to tomatoes” facial cleanser for acne at night with a spin brush (I’ve seen a difference from my cheeks up with this approach). I also use a sea salt with water toner day and night along with witch hazel after I wash off the sea salt, in the morning I also use Aczone that my dermatologist gave me (I’ve only been using that for a week). For moisturizer I use the Cetaphil for acne prone skin with SPF. I know this is a long post, but maybe someone out there can relate and can give me some recommendations. I just really do not want to get on Accutane. I HATE acne by the way! Thanks in advance!
Hey Jessica,
We’re sorry to hear that you’re experiencing something with you’re skin that you’re not happy with. We would suggest visiting with an esthetician to get an idea of exactly what’s going on with your skin and what your skin is really needing. If this is an internal issue, the skin care you use isn’t 100% the answer, but it’s good to check out the ingredients of what you are using. Those products do have chemical ingredients that may not be helping. We also suggest a visit with a holistic healer to get an idea of how the intersection of your internal body chemistry may be affecting your skin. Good luck!
oh wow! i feel your frustration! since this is a year old post I am responding to . I sincerely hope you were able to figure out what was going on?
Hey Jessica,
I know the feeling. As a teenager, I had very bad acne. The one thing that really worked for me was taking oral contraception. At the time, my gynecologist prescribed me DIANE 35. After a month my acne got better and after 3, it was gone! So maybe this could work for you. Ask your gynecologist about this option and decide if it’d work for you. I know it is a late reply but I hope it helps you.
hi im 14 and i have an oily skin..first, i had a scar on my face 3 years ago and its still there what could i do to remove it…and second, my eyes gets so puffy sometimes what can i do….third, my face skin has some dead cells what can i do..lastly, i have a big pimple what can i do to heal it fast?
I tried using coconut oil for my oily (or rather, combination skin (I get a very oily t-zone but my cheeks are quite dry)), to no avail, then I discovered 100% aloe Vera gel, OMG my skin LOVES this stuff! I still use coconut oil maybe 2-3 times a week, as a coconut oil and baking soda scrub, but once a day is too much for me.. but aloe is my new god send! I use it on my hair too. It’s amazing stuff!
Do you use organic aloe vera? Or just the stuff you can get at like walmart?
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Hi , im suffering from acne for about 3years now . I have really oily skin and everyday after i wash my face, about 2 hours later ,there will be alot of oil on my face. i feel really insecure about it.i will start using a blotting paper to wipe of all the oil. i will use about 2 or 3 blotting papers a day. does using a moisturizer really work? I read that it helps to control the oil production on the face .please recommend some moisturizers for oily and acne prone skin ;(
For clogged pores, we recommend taking a holistic approach. It’s important to consider your environment, genes, hormones, stress, emotional wellness, hydration, and nutrition. Skin Care products can only do so much!
Washing your face with a mild cleanser, like our Citrus Mint Cleanser, two times a day will be very beneficial. This product will help to unclog pores. It has great cleansing properties from the rosemary, witch hazel, and peppermint that help purify and balance skin.
Using our Rosemary Toning Mist can also help to balance natural skin oils. Rosemary cleans impurities for a brightened appearance.
Our Herbal Facial Oils are fantastic moisturizers, especially for those with clogged pores. Oils are more readily absorbed into the skin than lotions because our skin produces oils for moisturization naturally. It seems contrary to put a facial oil on skin with clogged pores, but by using an oil your skin will sense that moisture levels are more normalized which helps balance vital skin oils. Our best recommendation would be our Herbal Facial Oil for Oily Skin, but if you have sensitive, dry, or combination skin you may want to try either the Unscented Facial Oil, or the Herbal Facial Oil for Normal & Combination Skin.
Once or twice a week, or even as a spot treatment, we recommend using the Purifying Mud Mask which deeply purifies and promotes skin’s natural mineral balance.
Thanks for sharing amazing tips.
I have oily skin and for that I am using a clarifying toner named as Maxatone. It keeps my face hydrated and lusciously soft without becoming oily or greasy looking. I am very much happy with the results. One can try this product.
Thanks for sharing amazing tips for oily skin. My sister has very oily skin. She keeps trying new products everyday to remove oily from her skin but all of them works for some time only. I will share your tips to her. I hope she will get permanent solution to get rid of oily skin.
Hi there,
For oily skin, you might want to work with the Citrus Mint Cleanser and the Herbal Facial Oil for Oily Skin. Every Couple of days the Purifying Mud Mask can be great!
I would also suggest seeing a holistic practitioner.
Plz give me some solutions for my face.what should I do Plz very poor position my face
I have suffered with a very oily T zone for years but the other areas of my face are very dry and because I use powder make up this has become a problem for me as I get older because these patches are becoming more noticeable.
I have tried numerous moisturisers which claim to be for all skin types but the ONLY one that worked for me was the pH Equilibrium Moisturizer from Made from Earth. It balances out my face and does not irritate my sensitive skin. I bought mine online at the Made from Earth website.
Hi, Monsia makes the best in my opinion.
I have a combination skin, its also itching while m trying to wash
hey . is this product available at Malaysia ? i means like in watsons or gurdiance maybe ?
Hi Hanna,
We ship internationally!
So is that mean you can shipped the product to Malaysia ?? How ??
I mean you can shipp to Malaysia,right ??
Yes, you can choose that option during checkout. For help checking out, please email us at [email protected]
Monsia is my preference
Haha I thought mosquitoes never bit me because I wasn’t sweet enough, but it’s actually to do with genetics, too. They have preferential blood types lol.
LOLZIES