Being oily ain’t easy (can I get an amen?). But for every piece of blotting paper we oily girls soak through, that’s almost like one less wrinkle we have to worry about when we get older. OK, that wasn’t exactly science but we of the overreactive sebaceous glands do tend to look younger than our drier skin counterparts as we age so there is some solace in looking like we fried eggs on our faces by noon.
In talking about what I use on my own oily face I’ve come to hear about some practices some ladies are doing to combat oil that are pretty counterproductive. Like things that actually dry out the skin causing it to produce even more oil to compensate. (womp womp)
So to set a few records straight, I sat down with Miami-based dermatologist Dr. Oscar Hevia who was gracious enough to allow me to ask him to confirm six seemingly random questions about oily skin. Because you know it’s one thing for me to ramble on about it on this blog since its inception, but it’s another to have a derm qualify some of the things I’ve been saying for years.
Is it true that oily skin still needs a moisturizer?
The answer is yes and no. As a general rule, oily-skin types need less moisturizer since their skin doesn’t dry out as much. However, many people are oily only in certain facial zones (the combination skin type) and their dry zones need much more care than the oily areas. Also, some oily skin types are only so under certain environmental conditions, and could use moisturizer during certain times. Lastly, some oily types dry their skin out easily with certain regimens, which changes their skin care needs.
Does oily skin need a toner?
Toner provides a quick fix by dissolving the oil on the skin surface. This will do nothing to stop future production, however.
Can oil cleanse oily skin?
Yes. If you wipe off an oil cleanser you can wipe off your facial oil too. Oils (not just “cleansing” oils) attract other oils, so when you apply these to the skin they combine with any oily debris we have on our skin. Then, when you wipe the cleansing oil off the skin, you’re also wiping away any oily debris with it.
As a “cleanser,” they would likely be more effective for an oily skin type, since that type of skin would have more dead skin cells and other debris trapped in “sebum,” which is the natural oil produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin. An oily skin person would have to make sure they wipe off the oily cleanser thoroughly, however, since it would make their skin feel oily afterwards.
Does oily skin need a nighttime moisturizer?
Depends how oily that person is and what type of regimen. For example, if they’re using a harsh soap, and don’t produce large amounts of oil rapidly, that person would benefit from a light nighttime moisturizer.
What are some products / procedures those with oily skin should avoid?
Avoid products with petroleum based oils, such as mineral oil, and thicker natural oils such as lanolin. Oily skin types are generally more resistant to irritation and over-drying, so they can handle most procedures, however, most over-hydrating or oil-incorporating facial procedures may make their skin feel oilier in the short run.
Is there anything else readers should know about properly addressing oily skin?
Don’t overcompensate! Too many oily types end up with dry and irritated skin because they’re too aggressive with oil-stripping regimens. Remember: it’s not if you produce oil, but how fast your skin produces it. You want to match your regimen to that.
