How to create an effective skincare routine for oily skin

Let’s talk about skincare. One of the most common issues many people struggle with when it comes to their skin excess oil. It’s a pain, isn’t it? Routines vary from person to person and it may take a few tries to find the perfect routine. However, it’s always good to know where to start so following the steps below will certainly help you on your way to spotless skin.

It’s important to keep in mind that there are a variety of factors that cause the overproduction of sebum (the oil produced to lubricate your hair follicles). The most common of which being hormones. Hormones are natural and nothing to worry about and are a normal part of adolescence. However, it can be annoying for the majority of people who suffer from acne. Especially when you want to get that flawless Instagram picture.

As a disclaimer, never buy a product containing any type of fragrance. Although the scent may appeal to you, the ingredients they use are overly harsh on the skin. As a result they will often cause irritation and cost more than an effective product due to the added and unnecessary ingredients. You can check if fragrance is added to the product in the ingredients list on the back of the products or online.

Prior to starting your routine, you should always dampen your skin with lukewarm water. This is so that when you apply your facial cleanser, it’s able to glide over your skin easily. It also helps the facial cleanser to penetrate your pores as the water should open your pores. Never use boiling or freezing water as it can shock your skin and leave your pores exposed. This in turn will allow more dirt to enter your pores.

Before diving into a breakdown of the routine, here’s the list of topics I’m going to talk about:

· Facial cleanser

· Exfoliant

· Toner

· Serums

· Eye cream

· Moisturiser

· Sun screen

· Night routine

· Spot treatment

If you wear makeup, you should always remove it before you use a facial cleanser. This is to ensure that the facial cleanser is able to do its job and penetrate deep into your pores. I recommend using an oil based makeup remover instead of makeup wipes. This is because they tend to be harsh on your skin and leave your skin red and irritated. Oil based removers are gentler on your skin and do a better job of removing your makeup.

Steer clear from alcohol when it’s used in makeup removers because it often causes dryness and irritation. In fact, people often believe that the drying effect will help them with their oily skin. In reality, your body’s oil production goes into overdrive and your skin produces more oil to compensate for the dryness.

Facial cleanser:

So where should I start? It may be daunting,but don’t worry. Although there is no ‘perfect skincare routine’, most effective skin care routines usually contain five or six steps. The best place to start is with a facial cleanser. To keep things simple, the purpose of a facial cleanser is to unclog your pores. This is to prevent the build up of oils forming whiteheads and blackheads in your pores.

A good facial cleanser doesn’t have to be expensive by any means. However, one thing to look out for is that the facial cleanser doesn’t leave your face feeling tight and dry. It’s important to leave some of your body’s natural oils. Using a harsh cleanser will strip your face of these oils leaving your skin overly dry.

One thing to note when you are purchasing a facial cleanser is that it should clearly state on the product that it’s non-comedogenic. This is because the formula was created to not clog your pores. This is important for people who suffer from oily skin as your pores are filled with an excess of sebum. After applying the facial cleanser to your skin you should rinse your face with lukewarm water to remove the product.

Exfoliator:

The next thing you should apply is an exfoliator. The purpose of an exfoliator is to remove any dead skin cells on your skin which can build up and clog your pores. Exfoliators are easy to use and don’t take up a lot of time in your routine. I use an exfoliator one to two times per week depending on how my skin feels but make sure to not use an exfoliator more than twice a week because overusing them can damage your skin.

I recommend that for those suffering with oily skin and blackheads that you look out for a BHA exfoliator. BHA stands for beta hydroxy acid and similar to a simple exfoliator, they help remove dead skin cells that clog your pores but another benefit of BHA exfoliators is that they tend to help reduce the size of your pores. Although the results may not be visible immediately, further down the line you should be able to notice physically clearer and smoother skin. Most drugstore exfoliators are adequate at removing dead skin cells from your face.

You should avoid any exfoliator containing sharp beads. These will damage your skin causing micro tars which will be visible on your skin as you age. They also leave your skin exposed to pollutants. You can find some really good exfoliators online at boots or amazon.

Toner:

Following this step, you should apply a toner. It’s not essential that you incorporate a toner into your skincare routine. However it can benefit some people so it’s always worth giving it a go. The benefits of each toner varies depending on which brand you purchase.

Most tend to balance the PH of your skin and add moisture to your skin after cleansing. This allows you to prep your skin before adding your serums and moisturiser. Another supposed benefit of a toner being that it can balance your skin tone.

With that aside, it’s safe to say that toners do have many benefits and I would recommend trying one out. They can be used by anyone. Someone looking to start a skincare routine or even someone just wanting to change up their skin care routine.

Serums:

You should follow your toner with treatments which are also often known as serums. The purpose of serums isn’t to prevent oily skin, but to help add concentrated nutrients back into your skin after you cleanse it. Some very popular serums include vitamin C serums which tend to brighten and soften the skin and niacinamide which regulates oil production and treats hyperpigmentation. They are definitely my go-to serums as they leave my skin feeling soft and I often find that they leave my skin free from inflammation.

You can use more than one serum on your skin at one time but to ensure that your skin is able to benefit from the nutrients in the serum, I would recommend using only one at a time. There are many different serums for sale so to find the right one for your skin, I recommend trying out different serums until you find the one that works best for you because each will vary in their results they show from person to person.

Eye cream:

Following your serum, you can apply an eye cream. Similar to the toner, they aren’t always deemed necessary in a skin care routine. Often, the purpose of an eye cream is to prevent dryness and inflammation so only try one if you think you need one. Following this step, try to find the one that works for your skin.

Eye creams generally tend to be lighter and gentler on the skin. This means they’re perfect for the sensitive skin in the under eye area. Any eye cream should benefit your skin if it contains gentle ingredients such as green tea and caffeine. Both ingredients should stimulate the under eye area, reducing puffiness. You don’t have to splash the cash on an expensive eye cream as most will give the same results.

Moisturiser:

The next product and one of the most important products is your moisturiser. It helps to prevent both signs of ageing and adds oils back into your skin after your cleansing step. Similar to the facial cleanser, the moisturiser should be non-comedogenic. Most dermatologists recommend non-comedogenic products to people suffering with acne or sensitive skin. This is due to their gentle ingredients and light consistency.

Any gentle moisturiser can do the job as long as the ingredients aren’t harsh on the skin and over irritating. If I can’t find information about the ingredients used easily online, I will avoid buying the product. Just like with food, you should never purchase anything if you don’t know exactly what’s in it. This isn’t just because it’s healthier. You may not be aware how your skin will react and in some cases, people have painful reactions to products.

I recommend ensuring that the main ingredients in your moisturiser are glycerin, ceramides and hyaluronic acid. They retain moisture in your skin and also draw water into your skin. This helps with any redness, dryness and ensures that your skin remains supple all day long.

Sun screen:

Most importantly is your sunscreen. Sunscreen protects your skin from UVA and UVB exposure which can lead to many issues later on in life. Over exposure can cause signs of early ageing as well as cancer. It’s essential when being exposed to the sun that you apply an even layer of sunscreen over your moisturiser.

Most popular brands of sunscreen will provide nearly full coverage as long as you apply a high enough factor. I highly recommend that you apply a factor 50spf. However, I use mineral sunscreen as it’s just as effective as chemical sun screens but it contains less ingredients. This can benefit your skin if your skin is sensitive or prone to breakouts.

No matter which sunscreen you decide to buy, make sure you apply every time you go outside. Even if it doesn’t look sunny, the rays can penetrate through clouds and expose your skin to the harmful UVA and UVB rays. Don’t worry though, you can still get a golden glow whilst wearing sun lotion. Just protect your skin for the future.

Night routine:

In regards to the nighttime routine for oily skin, I would recommend that you apply all of the same products as your daytime routine without the exfoliator and sunscreen.

In place of the exfoliator you should apply a retinol cream. Retinol is a high concentration of vitamin A which not only helps with anti-ageing, but also helps fight acne, promote cell turnover and stimulate collagen. Retinol can be harsh on the skin when used in conjunction with a product containing hyaluronic acid. Instead I would recommend alternating your retinol with a serum that contains hyaluronic acid to help with cell turnover.

Be careful, as serums often contain ingredients that when used with other concentrated products may be harsh on the skin. I recommend using a different kind of moisturiser on a night as night time moisturisers tend to be thicker. However, if you are on a budget or just getting started with skin care, you will be okay using the same moisturiser both day and night. Moisturisers are created for the skin so you still see the benefits from using a moisturiser twice a day regardless of which one you use.

Spot treatment:

You can apply a spot treatment directly to your spots if you suffer from acne or other types of breakouts. The purpose of a spot treatment is to dry out the oils that clog your pores causing the comedo. Most spot creams will be effective in drying out the oils. Alternatively, if you suffer from acne causing discomfort or pain, you can contact a doctor for more effective alternatives. You can even contact a dermatologist for the most precise and catered advice.

If you’re interested in seeing my top recommended products or more about the ingredients I recommend looking out for in your skin care products, check out my other blog posts on skin care. Feel free to contact me on my social media for more specific advice. Stay healthy, stay happy and most importantly, stay safe.