This week's theme is all about oily skin
If the skin forms large amounts of sebum, which is the skin's own natural moisturizer, it is classified as an oily skin type. Oily skin is naturally protected against premature signs of aging, as sebum acts as protection against external factors such as wind and weather. Sebum also acts as a protective film that prevents moisture from evaporating from the surface of the skin and thereby delays signs such as lines and wrinkles.
Oily skin is characterised by visible and open pores and a shiny appearance.
If the pores are clogged with sebum, there is a risk that the so-called acne bacteria can occur. This bacteria lives on sebum, which it breaks down leaving the skin irritated and inflamed. Once the acne bacteria first appears the condition is difficult to get rid of and it may be necessary to seek treatment.
Characteristics of oily skin:
- Visible pores
- Shiny T-zone
- Comedones - both open and closed
- Enlarged pores
- Dense and plump skin
- Impurities
- Acne
Treatment focus for oily skin:
- Cleanse and exfoliate the epidermis gently without stripping the protective layer
- Cleanse the skin through stimulating the lymph through lymphatic drainage
- Balance sebum production
- Moisture
EXTERNAL SKINCARE FOR OILY SKIN
Oily skin should be thoroughly cleansed every evening so that the sebum doesn’t get too cosy hanging out and expanding the pores, which leaves the pores enlarged and open.
If the pore structure is to be kept fine, the pores must always be kept clean and free of sebum, and therefore it requires a little extra work. At the same time, oily skin must not be dried out either, as the skin will otherwise compensate by forming even more sebum.
For oily skin, use an oil cleanser or balm containing castor oil that helps unclog pores.
Vegetable oils for oily skin:
- Hemp
- Sea buckthorn
- Watermelon
- Rosehip
- Inca inchi
- Nigella
- Ricinus (max 10% in total)
- Jojoba
Essential oils for oily skin
(mix 1% of essential oil with 99% vegetable oil or facebalm):
- Cedarwood oil
- Green myrtle oil
- Blue tansy oil
- Helichrysum oil (italicum)
- Bergamotte oil
- Rose otto oil
- Tea tree oil
- Eucalyptus oil
- Ylang ylang oil
- Moroccan camomile oil
Many citrus oils are photoxic. Therefore, use them only at night and in less than 0.1% concentration. And better yet choose distilled citrus essential oil as these are largely free of the light-reactive substances.
Skincare for oily skin
Use a soft wash cloth with lukewarm water (clean one, don’t reuse the next day), to gently exfoliate and wash off the balm. Find a complete guide HERE how to use our Facebalm 01.
Mild, astringent and soothing herbal teas or mists complete the cleansing by disinfecting and contracting the pores. Green tea is great as a mist for oily skin as it helps to calm inflamed skin.
As a moisturizer use a light oil with anti-inflammatory ingredients such as sea buckthorn and omega 3. We like to combine squalane with inca inchi and sea buckthorn for a light and absorbable serum for oily skin. In autumn and winter, exchange the oil blend for half a pea sized amount of our Seabuckthorn facebalm. Massage into clean, damp skin, misted with green tea.
Exfoliate twice a week with a honey mask (link til honning maske bloggen) to remove dead skin cells, prevent impurities and refine pores. In addition, use clay masks that cleanse and shrink the pores by absorbing excess sebum from the pores. Massage and gentle lymphatic drainage will also help remove accumulations, stagnation as well as inflammation and cleanse the skin from within.
Products to avoid on oily skin:
- Over-treating the skin with dehydrating products ex. SLS also called sodium lauryl sulphate (cleanser which degreases, dries and damages the skin barrier
- Mineral oils, paraffin, silicone and Vaseline (clogs the pores)
- Cocoa butter & coconut oil (can clog the pores of some)
- Harsh exfoliators which damage the skin and cause irritation, damage and inflammation.
- Oleic acid-rich oils such as almond, apricot, acai, argan and avocado (if there are problems with acne as these can disse aggravate the condition)
INTERNAL SKINCARE FOR OILY SKIN
Take a spoonful of omega 3 rich oil daily. Choose algae oil or fish oil extracted from liver, which also contains vitamin A. Make sure your choice of oil has been tested free of heavy metals and with a low TOTOX value (rancidity value).
Drink at least one and a half liters of water, vegetable juice or herbal tea a day to maintain a stable fluid balance. Especially herbal teas such as stinging nettle, red clover, viola tricolor, peppermint, licorice root and fenugreek are great for oily skin.
