6 Simple Steps: Skincare Routine for Oily Acne-Prone Skin
We understand it is not easy to manage and maintain the health of oily acne-prone skin. But it shouldn't be as difficult as it may sound. You know the basics of any skincare routine, but for oily acne-prone skin, you just have to tweak the routine with the right ingredients and habits. Here we will tell you in detail about the skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin, how to manage it, and habits to avoid.
Before building your skincare routine for oily-acne-prone skin, make sure that the products:
- have anti-bacterial properties
- are sulfate and paraben-free
- are non-comedogenic
- have hydrating properties,
- can regulate excessive oil
Skincare routine for Oily acne-prone skin
Cleansing: Cleanse your face twice a day with a mild face wash. Choose a cleanser that can remove dirt and excess oil from your face without leaving your skin dry and irritated.
Exfoliation: Exfoliating/scrubbing twice a week helps decongest the pores, reduces oiliness, and clears acne. For oily and acne-prone skin types, exfoliating agents like AHAs, BHAs, and Salicylic Acids can help.
Toner: Toner pulls excess oil, dirt, and grease from the skin, to make it fresh, clean, and away from breakouts. It maintains the skin's pH, provides a quick splash of hydration, and minimizes the appearance of large pores. Use toners with witch hazel, aloe vera, glycolic acid, and lactic acid in them.
Treatment or serum: To treat regular breakouts introduce a treatment serum into your routine. Benzyl peroxide helps regulate oil production and reduces redness and inflammation. Retinol keeps skin clear and helps in skin rejuvenation at night. Niacinamide reduces the appearance of enlarged pores, provides anti-aging benefits, and calms the inflamed skin. BHAs (Salicylic acid) and AHAs (Glycolic acid) have antimicrobial properties that stop the growth of acne-causing bacteria.
Moisturizer: Apply a light-weight, oil-free, and water-based moisturizer twice a day. Applying a mild moisturizer will hydrate your skin without clogging your pores or leaving a heavy or greasy feeling to it.
Sunblock: Sunscreen is a must, no matter the skin type. Apply sunscreen every day as the final step of the routine or before putting on makeup. A good sunblock with SPF 30+ will protect your skin from the harmful UV rays that can prematurely age your skin. Remember to apply sunscreen for a least 20 minutes before stepping out in the sun. Don't forget to apply sunscreen even while indoors, as light from smartphones, Tv, etc can add to photoaging of the skin.
Habits that cause your oily skin to be even oilier
Overwashing your face: Every time you run your fingers through your face and feel that oiliness, you are tempted to wash your face. On hotter days, this goes on and on. It may seem like you are getting rid of the oil by washing it frequently, however it is quite the opposite. Overwashing triggers the oil glands to produce more oil thinking that all the oil is being swept away. So it is advised to wash your face only twice a day: morning and night.
Skipping moisturizer: Moisturizer adds moisture to the skin and doesn't let the skin perceive that it is too dry (triggering the oil glands to produce more oil). Thus, applying a mild moisturizer can reduce the production of sebum.
Using products that clog the pores: Having an oily skin type means that your skin is already producing too much oil, so you must avoid the products that could block the oil glands, pores, or hair follicles, as these can lead to breakouts. Use products that are non-comedogenic in nature as they won't clog your pores or trap oil. dead skin cells, and dirt underneath.
Overusing Salicylic Acid: Salicylic acid helps exfoliate the dead skin cells that clog up the pores. However using it more than the recommended frequency can cause dryness of the skin, making the skin produce more oil in defense. So instead of having salicylic acid in most of your skincare products, add just one.
Scrubbing too hard: Exfoliating too often or too hard can irritate your skin and cause further damage. It can make acne get more irritated and inflamed. Treat your skin with kindness and avoid scrubbing it too hard too often.
Using alcohol-based Toner: It is a common mistake to think that an alcohol-based toner or astringent will help in controlling the oiliness of the skin, however, alcohol-based toner can strip off extra oil from you. When this happens, it makes it taut, dry, and itchy. Your skin then produces more oil to compensate for the extra oil being stripped off. So, always use a toner without any alcohol content in it.
Applying oily makeup: Having oily skin means that your skin is already producing natural moisturizing factors to keep the skin barrier intact. Using oil-based products means adding another layer of oiliness. So avoid using oil-based foundations, concealers, and primers and opt for water-based products instead.
Stress: Stress can take a toll on your skin. Early signs of aging, breakage, damage, dull skin and under-eye dark circles are to name a few. Oily and stressed-out skin is likely to have acne breakouts. It is critically important to keep your mental health a priority as it can affect your body and skin in so many ways.
Here is the easy skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin types. Make sure to follow these and avoid the habits that contribute more complications to your oily skin.