What Is Oily Skin?

To set your mind at ease, we put together some insights about what creates oils in your skin, so that as you educate yourself more, you may be able to handle it better.

What causes oily skin?

Before you get too frustrated, everyone's skin produces a natural oil called sebum, which keeps your skin hydrated. Unfortunately, excessive sebum production can result in oily skin due to hormonal changes or genetics. Yeah, that seems like a bummer, doesn't it? https://www.foreo.com/mysa/revamp-your-skincare-routine-for-summer-6-essential-tips-by-chris-luckham/ To discover the science behind it, let’s dive into some of the most common reasons for oily skin. 

Genetics

This isn't exactly rocket science. If you have oily skin, you are more likely to inherit overactive sebaceous glands. But don't worry, we'll also go through multiple ways to reduce sebum production and some treatments that can help.

Stress

Isn't stress the easiest thing to blame for everything? When you experience stress, your cortisol level rises, leading your glands to go into overdrive and produce more oils than usual. Worse, oily skin is more prone to acne and outbreaks as a result. As if we weren't already stressed! 

Skin care routine

Don't miss out on the fun of taking care of your oily skin! One major mistake people often make is forgetting to include moisturizers in their routine. But hey, no need to fear the shine! Many believe that applying any cream to their face will make them look like a shiny disco ball, so they skip moisturizers after washing up. But guess what? By ditching this habit, you're actually doing your skin a huge favor. Your skin craves moisture to stay hydrated and healthy. Using moisturizer helps prevent your skin from overproducing oils in an attempt to compensate for the lack of water. So go ahead, give your skin the hydration it craves, and say goodbye to the oil overload!

Oily skin and acne

Acne is most commonly associated with oily skin, which is caused by a combination of hormones, oils, and bacteria. When oils, dead skin, and bacteria are unable to escape the skin follicles, pores get clogged, and pimples pop out like crazy. Acne can be caused by follicles producing too much oil or by bacteria and dead skin accumulating in the pores. Never ending cycle, right? https://www.foreo.com/mysa/clear-skin-at-your-fingertips-foreo-just-launched-espada-2-the-ultimate-solution-for-acne-prone-skin/

Ways to reduce oily skin

Put an end to the worry of constantly fighting with oils and getting acne and breakouts. Here are some suggestions to help you relax and manage your sebum production. Keep in mind that this will not cause your skin to stop producing oils and become drier; it will just help you with the balance of oil production. Wash your face regularly, and don’t skip moisturizer. You don’t want to dry your face out, and make it produce more oils Use products with niacinamide and hyaluronic acid -niacinamide makes sure that the appearance of oily skin is minimized, while the hyaluronic acid keeps the hydration going Exfoliate - using a good exfoliator weekly, like salicylic acid or glycolic acid, helps to remove dead skin and excess oils  Use products with retinoids - retinoids thicken the outer layers of skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, but also slowing down the oil production Use a sonic cleanser - The FOREO LUNA™ 4 is a great companion because it uses T-sonic™ pulsations to thoroughly clean the pores and exfoliate dead skin. It uses thicker touchpoints to target the oilier t-zone area and thinner touchpoints to gently cleanse the rest of the face. As a consequence, you will have clean, deeply cleansed, and radiant skin that you will be unable to resist. https://www.foreo.com/mysa/revolutionizing-skincare-award-winning-luna-4-by-foreo/ Hopefully, some of these tips put you a bit at ease and educated you on how to deal with oily skin. Although genetics and stress have an influence, you can take control by following a thorough skincare routine. Remember to hydrate to keep your skin balanced, and look for products containing niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and retinoids. Exfoliating on a regular basis and using a sonic cleanser, such as the LUNA™ 4, can also help regulate oil production and achieve beautiful, blemish-free skin. Welcome to the journey to beautiful, healthy skin!