Environment. Humidity and hot weather tend to stimulate the secretion of sebum, leading to more oil on the skin. Conversely, in arid or cold climates, skin can dry out, causing oil glands to go into overdrive to compensate.
DO use a gentle, foaming face wash. Many people believe that they need to use a strong face wash for oily skin in order to dry out their skin. However, using a face wash that is too harsh can irritate your skin and trigger increased oil production. Instead, look for a mild, gentle face wash.
She also says that diets that are high in sugar, carbohydrates, saturated fats, and dairy products can trigger our oil glands and cause an imbalance in oil production. In fact, even your skin care routine can make your face oily, especially if you're not using the right products.
If you have oily skin and struggle with acne, Zamani says you should forgo the use of facial wipes altogether. "If you have oily skin or are prone to acne breakouts, I recommend never using a wipe because you just transfer bacteria around the face. But if you must, find one with salicylic acid," she says.
Avoid using creams and lotions because these are too thick. They will only sit on top of your skin, causing oiliness and clogged pores because they won't be absorbed. Use a non-comedogenis moisturizer, that won't clog your pores, lowering the risk of blackheads and whiteheads.
Sebum keeps your skin moisturized, so you don't crack or blister easily. That moisture is healthy, but some people produce more natural oil than their body needs, and that's when it starts to be a problem. Besides shininess, you might notice that you feel greasy only an hour or two after showering or washing your face.
Drinking ample water balances the oil and water content on the skin of your face. This helps to prevent excess oil and sebum secretion, which means fewer clogged pores and acne. Adult acne is getting more common these days due to busy lifestyles and lack of hydration.
Drinking coconut water helps reduce oiliness and prevent acne. Coconut water contains many electrolytes, vitamins and minerals, which help reduce oil and prevent acne very effectively.
Effects on Oily Skin
Drink between 64 and 80 ounces of water every day, which will effectively moisten and hydrate the entire body, inside and out.
Having oily skin means the sebaceous glands under your hair follicles are overactive and produce more sebum than usual. The last thing you want is to add more oil to your skin with skin care products. You may assume this means that you shouldn't wear sunscreen if you have oily skin, but every skin type needs sunscreen.
Increased Sebum Production
If you have naturally oily skin, you may experience even oilier skin when you over-moisturize. Excess moisture may throw your sebum production even further off balance, resulting in insanely oily skin. Unfortunately, excess oil on your face can cause unwanted clogged pores and breakouts.
Hyaluronic acid is great for all skin types, including oily skin. It helps to regulate sebum production and keep the skin hydrated. When oily skin is deprived of moisture, it responds by producing even more oil in order to hydrate the skin.
Editor's tip: If your skin gets oily quickly, you may be tempted to wash your face multiple times a day. However, this will do more harm than good. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, you should only wash your face twice a day (and after sweating heavily).
The type of skin you have can provide a good guideline for how often you should generally wash your face: Oily Skin twice a day, morning and night. Regular washing helps keep oil from getting trapped in your pores and causing blemishes. Dry Skin – usually once a day, preferably at night when it's at its dirtiest.
“The issue with excess oil is that it causes the top layer of the skin cells to stick together,” Dr. Mehr says, adding that this can clog pores and lead to cystic acne and acne scarring. So, by exfoliating daily, you'd help reduce the oil production and clumping of dead skin cells, preventing breakouts.