Top Tips for Managing Oily Skin Year-Round

When you’re living with oily skin, it can be tough to know how to care for it properly as the seasons change. If you’re curious about how best to take care of your oily skin year round, you’ve come to the right place. Here are a few cosmetic dermatology tips to help you take better care of your oily skin this year.

How to Manage Oily Skin

Understand What’s in Your Moisturizer

If you’re dealing with oily skin, it’s important to understand how you’re moisturizing it. Fortunately, most moisturizers have a few key components in them that help them do their job. Before you select a moisturizer for your skin, it’s a good idea to have a basic understanding of what these ingredients are and what they do.

Occlusives – This type of ingredient works to lock moisture into the skin, and there are plenty of substances that serve this purpose in moisturizers. A few of the most common include shea butter, coconut oil, and lanolin.

Emollients – These ingredients help soften and smooth out the surface of your skin by filling in crevices and fine wrinkles. Grape seed oil is commonly used as an emollient.

Humectants – These substances help draw moisture into the skin so that occlusives can lock it in. Humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycol are typically used in smaller amounts than occlusives and emollients.

Choose the Right Moisturizer

Now that you have a good understanding of what’s in the typical moisturizer, it’s time to choose one for your oily skin. In this instance, you’re going to want a moisturizer that’s a little bit lighter on the skin. Oily skin tends to need less moisture than dry skin, so you probably don’t need something with a lot of humectants or emollients in it. In addition, make sure you’re choosing an oil-free and non-comedogenic moisturizer for your skin. This will help ensure your pores stay clear and that you’re not adding excess oil to already oily skin.

Choose the Right Cleanser

If you’re not using the right cleanser, your oily skin may get irritated and cause problems. Oil buildup can not only clog pores, but it can also contribute to acne flare ups and other skin rashes if you’re not careful. When you’re looking at cleansers to use, look for ingredients like salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and benzoyl peroxide. These ingredients can help cut through the oiliness of your skin and help you get an even cleanse. In addition, it’s a good idea to look for oil-free and fragrance-free cleansers and moisturizers for your skin.

Use a Toner

While toners that contain alcohol run the risk of drying out your skin a little too much, picking up an alcohol-free toner isn’t a bad idea for oily skin. Witch hazel is an excellent option if you’re looking for a toner that’s gentle on skin and helpful when taking care of oily skin. Regardless of which toner you’re thinking about using, it’s a good idea to speak with your dermatologist before using a new product.

Dealing with oily skin can be a struggle at times. If you have questions or you’re just not sure how to take care of your oily skin, don’t hesitate to set up a consultation with our team at North Pacific Dermatology today.