A certain amount of natural oil is important to keep your skin moisturized and supple, but some skin types can produce an excess amount of oil on your face, which can lead to a host of problems. Oily skin is caused when your sebaceous glands, which are located just under the skin, secret too much sebum. This sebum lubricates your skin so it can be protected from drying out or becoming irritated, and when produced naturally can remove dead skin cells and other irritants from your pores. However, too much can give you that unfortunate “shiny” look, clogged pores, blackheads, pimples, and other types of acne. A skin care routine for oily skin may seem out of reach, but the answer is simpler than you might think.
Facial Exfoliators and You
Before we get too deep into this, you should know that you are allowed to embrace your oily skin. Science has shown that oily skin tends to have more moisture than other skin types, which means you are also less likely to develop premature wrinkles. The key, though, is keeping the oiliness of your skin type at bay so you can also reduce your likelihood of acne and other breakout irritation. Facial exfoliators are exemplary products for oily skin, but if you are going to put your best face forward, there are a few things you need to know when it comes to properly exfoliating your skin.
Nitty Gritty on Exfoliating
Exfoliating is like a face scrub that helps remove dead skin cells and other impurities from the surface of your skin. These impurities may be clogging pores or causing breakouts. Exfoliators also help minimize the appearance of fine lines and uneven skin texture. Despite this satisfying deep clean, exfoliators still preserve your skin’s protective barrier.
Limit Your Exfoliation
Your skin still needs that oily to protect and nourish itself. If you exfoliate in excess, you run the risk of drying out your skin, which will react by producing even more oil to make up for that dryness. So, you will want to exfoliate one to two times a week at max to keep your skin shining and clear.
To Cleanse or Not to Cleanse
Before you reach for skin exfoliators or toners, you will always want to cleanse your skin first. Keep your facial cleanser on the mild side. Wash with warm water, rinse, and then exfoliate. When you put your cleansing first, you are essentially setting up a clean workstation for your exfoliator to operate.
The ABCs of AHA and BHA
Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) are some of the most common ingredients you will find in chemical exfoliants. The reason these active ingredients are so common lies in their cleansing yet non-abrasive benefits. They break down bonds holding dull skin to the surface, so the skin can naturally shed these dead cells.
In fact, when shopping for BHA or AHA exfoliants, look no further than the combined AHA/BHA solution. This unique blend also incorporates red clover flower extract, licorice root, and niacinamide--a derivative of vitamin B3 that can help manage acne, pigmentation, and wrinkles. These all combine to create a gentle exfoliant that also encourages cell rejuvenation, pore refinement, skin brightening, and even anti-microbial benefits.
Remember!
Be gentle with your skin and kind to yourself. Oily skin may come with some less than savory symptoms, but completely eliminating that protective barrier means making room for other irritants and breakouts. Treat your skin type right and soon you will see your best face can and will come shining through!