What Moisturiser is Best for Oily Skin?

Contrary to popular belief, oily skin can easily become dehydrated.

As a Skin Therapist throughout the years, I found most of my clients experiencing oily skin-related problems were use a foaming cleanser (to get that squeaky clean feeling) and no moisturiser at all.

They thought that by not adding oil to the skin, it would make their oily skin less oily and less shiny... When in fact, the opposite can actually occur.

Firstly, when your skin is cleansed with a cleanser that is not correct for your skin type, it's natural oils can be stripped.

The correct moisturiser put back just the right amount of oil and moisture (water) into the skin.

However, here's the tricky part: if no moisturiser is applied, your skin will overcompensate by producing even more oil.

Also read: Why Do I Still Have Acne?

1. Choose a moisturiser that is suitable for oily skin. You have two main options, water based or oil-based.

If your skin is oily, you should be looking for a moisturiser which is water-based, as these are much less rich compared to their oil-based counterparts. Many moisturisers also contain ingredients that control shine and create a matte finish.

A light moisturiser formulation is the way to go. Heavy creams and lotions will be too rich for your skin; when a cream is too heavy your pores cannot absorb it, resulting in the product sitting on top of your skin.

2. Use a non-comedogenic moisturiser, meaning it does not clog pores or cause pimples. Products with a high percentage of natural ingredients in their formulation tend to be the best as they have smaller molecules and therefore are able to penetrate the skin better and less likely to cause blocked pores.

In order to find out if whether or not a product contains non-comedogenic ingredients, the best way is to familiarise yourself with your ingredients. Coconut butter, avocado oil and olive oil are common skincare ingredients in moisturisers which may be comedogenic, for instance.

Please bear in mind, however, a comedogenic ingredient may only represent 2% of the formulation of a product, and therefore the formulation as a whole is considered non-comedogenic.

3. Don’t disrupt your skin’s barrier, rather aid it in its process. Chemical and synthetic products can dry out and irritate your skin, so as disrupt its natural state; try a natural alternative which works in unison with your skin.

Extra Tips

A twice a day skincare regime is a must (cleanse, tone, moisturise). This is important if you have oily skin, as it provides hydration and moisture during the morning and evening, therefore saving your skin from needing to produce more oil.

Regularly clean your make up brushes, makeup sponges and pillow cases, as these can be breeding grounds for bacteria and accumulate dead skin cells that contribute to clogged pores. To clean your makeup brushes and sponges, begin by running your brushes under lukewarm water, use your favourite natural shampoo or cleanser and gently massage and swirl your brush tip in the product. Rinse the brush tip under running water once again; continue to do so until there is no makeup residue coming from your brushes or sponge.

Include a hydrating mask in your weekly skin care regime. Your skin will love the extra boost! Apply the face mask once or twice a week at night, after gently cleansing and pat drying, smooth the product onto your face and neck, avoiding the eye area. Leave for at least 20 minutes and rinse with warm water, or work into skin with fingertips and wipe away residue.

Hormonal imbalance, stress and environmental factors can also lead to excess oil production. Surround yourself in a clean environment both physically and mentally. Unfortunately, sometimes we cannot avoid this, but having a positive mindset is the best place to start!

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An oil-free moisturiser for oily and acne-prone skin. Shineless not only works to reduce the look of shine for a more matte complexion – its key ingredients also work to help firm, smooth and brighten the appearance of skin over time.

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