A PSA FOR OILY SKIN
So what is my stake in this conversation, considering I don't have oily skin? My stake is the purpose of my skincare influencer ways; to help you find your truth in your beauty story.
I have a soft spot for oily skin. I find the manner in which the skincare industry markets itself to oily skin fascinating and some of the closest people in my life have oily skin. Watching them ‘battle’ their skin has inspired this blog post and the video I made addressing this matter.
Know that I say this with love and not from a place of arrogance or even truly understanding what it must be like to have oily skin. Here are six points worth consideration!
Acceptance
The power of acceptance. It’s a game changer when you become very comfortable with all of you, especially with the parts of you that you have been led to believe that are wrong with you. The beauty standards of today have decided that oily skin is worth punishing, worth ‘battling’ and worth only actions that attempt to completely alter it. I am here to tell you, my dear friend, it does not have to be like that. You have oily skin. AND????? That is your skin and it is your responsibility to love it as it is. No one else’s but yours. See your skin and the way it behaves as a beautiful and unique part of you.
Take Note of How The Skincare Industry Markets Itself to You
Wash away everything. Everything has to be matte. No oil. Salicylic acid in everything. Okay, skincare industry , we have heard. BORING! And manipulative. Oily skin does have a desire to get rid of excess oil on the skin but the skincare industry really capitalises on this to an extreme. It makes it sound like oily skin IS a problem and not simply a state of skin that has its own unique desires. I personally find that aggressive marketing towards oily skin types has led to broken moisture barriers, an over use of actives and left those with oily skin with a distaste for their own skin!
Oily Skin Would Like Some Oil Too!
I know this can sound scary and even counter intuitive but the science supports this. Oily skin does thrive from facial oils. This is because one of the reasons that oily skin produces oil is because it believes that it does not have enough oil. So the application of oil has been shown to reduce oil production and many a oily skinned folks can attest to this. If you have oily skin do some research on linoleic acid rich oils. These are the types of oils that will serve you best.
You Can Be Dehydrated AND Oily! Having Oily Skin DOES NOT Mean Juicy Skin
Oil and water for the skin are two different things. Oily skin , due to misunderstanding of their skin type and the manner in which the skincare industry talks to them, can tend to ignore the hydration levels of their skin. Being dehydrated can even cause the skin to be even oiler and suffer superficial breakouts. Do yourself a favour and research on skin dehydration ( which is very different from skin dryness) and invest in products that will up your hydration. Hydration can be given through the skin through essences, toners, serums, ampoules , mists and gel moisturizers. You have lots of options out there!
If Using Actives, Have A Schedule and Be Mindful
In pursuit of ‘managing’ oily skin types, it is very easy to get carried away with actives. Afterall the skincare industry has told you that your skin type is a problem that must be solved with an assault of skincare. And the fact that oily skin can tend to be acne prone and this is not the type of skin that is used to advertise products in the skincare industry, it further solidifies the idea that you must be in constant pursuit of what the skincare industry deems as ‘perfect’ skin. There is absolutely nothing wrong with using actives such as chemical exfoliants and retinols BUT having a schedule to stick to and a healthy mindset is important to avoid the abuse of these products. Abusing these products will only lead to more problems. Be aware of your mindset when you are using these products and create a fluid schedule that respects your skin type and skin lifestyle.
Oil Cleansing is Probably The BFF You Never Knew You Had!
Last and certainly not least, I am a firm believer that it is high time that oily skin changes the way it cleanses its skin. No more harsh cleansers please. Let me introduce you to the magic of oil cleansing. The science makes sense. Oil attracts oil ( and dirt and sebum) so oil cleansing is a fantastic way not only to simply cleanse the skin but to do it in a gentle and nourishing way. Using my favourite way to oil cleanse, that is an oil cleanse with a non emulsifying oil cleanse and a warm damp cloth to remove it from the skin, in my humble opinion is the best for cleansing oily skin. The massage from the oil cleansing will break down oil, sebum and dirt from the skin and the cloth will give a mild exfoliation which is something oily skin seems to thrive from. I advise a good oil cleanse at least 3 times a week.
Here is loving your oily skin. It’s not a punishment. It is who you are
PS. I have a video on my channel about how I perform an oil cleanse.