Should I Moisturise My Oily Skin?
Yes, moisturising oily skin is essential to regulating oil production and keeping the skin barrier healthy.
When you have oily skin, your instinct is to try and strip the skin of oil altogether, but this can actually be more harmful for those with an oily skin type. Oily skin needs hydration as much as dry skin does and moisturiser is an essential part of keeping the skin barrier healthy and functioning.
The key to moisturising oily skin is to hydrate the skin without adding excess oils from products on to the skin. By skipping moisturiser altogether, it leaves the skin with no moisture which can lead to skin looking dehydrated. The skin then tries to overcompensate for the lack of moisture by producing further sebum which often leads to blocked pores, blackheads and acne. Dehydrated skin is a really common concern we find in those with oily skin because although the skin feels oily, people complain of skin feeling rough and this is generally down to lack of moisture in the skincare routine.
A common complaint we hear is “My skin is oily enough, why should I add more moisture?”
A common misconception for those with oily skin is that adding more moisturiser to the skin makes the skin oilier; this can be true, but only if you are using the wrong products for oily skin on the face. By using a moisturiser targeted towards oily skin types, you should find skin looks more hydrated and feels smoother. An oily skin type needs to find a product with just the right amount of hydration to keep skin balanced as too much oil in a product can leave skin greasier, which makes it more blemish-prone.
What Ingredients Should I Look For In A Moisturiser For Oily Skin?
When choosing a moisturiser for oily skin there are a few important things to tick off your checklist. Look for a lightweight formula that is water or gel based; anything formulated with oil or heavy emollients will only clog pores further, in turn producing more sebum and more likely to cause breakouts. Look for products with “Oil-free” or “Non-comedegenic” as these types of products are less likely to clog pores.
Below we take a look at some of the most important ingredients that oily skin types should look out for when choosing the correct product for them.
Zinc PCA
This is an oily skin type’s dream ingredient. Zinc PCA helps to control oil production by mattifying and absorbing excess oil on the skin. This ingredient is also known for its skin tightening properties, being able to treat and reduce breakouts and also is hugely effective at penetrating the skin to maintain hydration levels without adding excess oil to the skin.
> Find our favourite zinc products for oily skin
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a well known moisturising ingredient as it is an antioxidant that prevents free radical damage. It is also a superb ingredient at promoting skin healing. Perfect for oily skin as Vitamin E is an anti-inflammatory which helps strengthen and protects the skin’s barrier.
Humectants
An important ingredient to look out for when searching for an oily skin moisturiser are humectants. Humectants help to draw water into the upper layers of the skin which help to form a protective film, trapping water in the skin. Great ingredient names to look out for are Glycerin or Hyaluronic Acid as these ingredients are known for being lightweight on the skin, yet highly effective hydrators.
Product Recommendation For Moisturising Oily Skin
At SKINICIAN we spent years trying to formulate the perfect range for oily and acne-prone skin types and this led us to the development of our Purifying products. Our Purifying Day Moisturiser has been specifically designed to give oily skin the correct levels of hydration, balance sebum levels and reduce the occurrence of breakouts. Containing ingredients such as Zinc PCA, Vitamin E and Glycerin to protect, soothe and regulate the skin. We know that those with oily skin tend to shy away from using SPF in their routines as they are scared of the excess oil and breakout-prone ingredients that many SPF’s contain, which is why at SKINICIAN we have formulated our daily moisturiser with SPF30 (it's perfect for oily skin) so you can apply AM and PM knowing that skin is protected from UV rays whilst also getting the ingredients your skin needs to regulate oil production.
Tips For Moisturising Oily Skin
Choose the correct products
As mentioned above, it is crucial to choose the correct products to moisturise oily skin. Looking for products with ingredients such as Zinc PCA, Vitamin E and Glycerin will help to protect skin and regulate sebum production. Also looking for products which are lotions or gel based, as these are lightweight moisturisers which are non-comedegenic and won’t further clog pores.
Drink plenty of water and keep a balanced diet
As with anything, your diet and water intake play a huge role in skincare. Try to drink at least 2 litres of water a day as this helps flush away any toxins in the body that when accumulated with a bad diet create the perfect environment for acne to grow. Keeping water levels balanced keeps the body and skin hydrated meaning skin doesn't have to produce excess oil to make up for the dehydration occurring.
A good skincare routine
Creating a good skincare routine is also essential to keeping oily skin at bay. Ensuring skin is cleansed using a good cleanser for oily skin is ideal. Skin should be toned and moisturised, morning and night; this helps to keep skin clean and removes excess oil and dirt from the skin. Check out the SKINICIAN Oily skincare bundle for the perfect way to keep oil production at bay.
Other tips that can help
- Ensure make-up brushes are cleaned regularly to ensure excess oil and dirt aren’t being put back onto the skin.
- Change your pillowcase regularly as oil, dirt and products can build up on the pillowcase and transfer back onto clean skin whilst you sleep.
- The use of a clay mask once or twice a week can help to remove excess oil from the skin, check out the SKINICIAN Purifying Mask for oily skin.
Moisturising Acne-Prone, Oily Skin
For those who suffer from acne prone oily skin, it is important that you read the advice above, as these tips and tricks are also valid for acne-prone skin types. Acne breeds from blocked pores and excess sebum production, so ensuring acne-prone oily skin is kept hydrated is essential, especially as a lot of acne treatments tend to dry skin out. Keeping skin hydrated and moisturised will regulate sebum production but will also ensure scarring is kept to a minimum.
Read more articles on oily skin:
- How to Reduce Oily Skin
- Oily Skin Routine For Women In Their 40s
- Skincare Ingredients to Transform Oily Skin
- Morning and Evening Oily Skincare Routine
Or read real-life oily skin journeys: