How to Treat Oily Skin

Oily skin is one of the most common skin concerns. While a very common skin type, it comes with its own set of challenges – like a shiny complexion, acne breakouts and pigmentation. But with a few right products and a consistent skincare routine, you can learn to love your oily skin type! 

What causes oily skin? 

Oily skin can be caused by many factors: 

• Overactive sebaceous glands 
• Genetics
• Humid weather 
• Enlarged pores 
• Using the wrong skincare products 
• Over-cleansing your skin 
• Skipping your moisturizer 
• Junk food 
• Certain comedogenic cosmetics 

So, how can K-beauty help you overcome oily skin woes? Korean skincare is about respecting your skin and learning to work with what you’re given. Instead of using harsh ingredients that strip your skin of its natural barrier, Korean skincare is about cultivating a routine that helps your skin flourish, by working with your skin’s inherent ecosystem to cleanse, hydrate, nourish and protect, making your skin healthier than ever. 

Here’s how to treat oily skin and give it what it needs 

1) Embrace the double cleanse 

If you wake up with an oil slick on your face every morning, double cleansing will be your saviour. Start with an oil-based cleanser like the Mon Cherry Dirt Dissolving Balm. Remember, oil dissolves oil! Follow it with a gentle gel-based cleanser made for oily skin, like the Chialeader Shine Control Gel Face Wash. If during the day, your face gets oily and slick, dab it with a soft tissue to absorb excess oil, instead of washing your face again and again. All this would do, is increase your oil production, making your skin oilier and oilier. 

2) Exfoliate gently 

Exfoliation helps rid your skin of dead skin cells, cleans the pores and helps keep blackheads and whiteheads in check. If you suffer from deep, cystic acne, look for products with BHAs like salicylic acid which penetrates deep into the skin, while keeping your pores clean. Avoid using harsh, physical cleansers as they can cause tiny scratches on the skin’s barrier, overstimulating sebum production and adding to your acne woes. Exfoliate using a chemical exfoliant once or twice a week to avoid irritating your skin. 

3) Tone your skin  

Using a toner balances your skin’s pH levels, returning it to its natural slightly acidic state. This balance enables your sebum production to balance out as well, making it produce less oil. You can use a simple homemade toner as well. Mix 1:3 water and apple cider vinegar and apply it to your skin. You can also use rosewater or witch hazel. 

4) Prep it 

Essences are native to Korean skincare and are formulated using gentle, nourishing ingredients that soothe the skin while giving it back its lost moisture. A good essence also helps prep your skin to better receive the products that will follow. An essence is thicker than a toner but lighter than an essence. Pat a hydrating essence into your skin. We recommend the Mon Cherry Intense Brightening Essence for daily use. 

5) Treat your skin with a serum 

A serum is a potent liquid that contains supercharged ingredients for problems specific to your skin. For example, if you want to tackle acne along with oiliness, opt for Chialeader Zit Fix Serum which is lightweight, non-greasy and contains skin-healing ingredients like bamboo, cactus extract and tea tree leaf water. It also reduces oiliness, to give you a shine-free glow. 

6) Mask up 

If you want to apply a soothing, oil-control sheet mask, now is the time. You need not use a sheet mask every day, once a week should be enough. To control oiliness, try the innovative Mama Cica Mud Dipping Sheet Mask which gives you the benefits of a clay mask and a sheet mask. It contains kaolin clay which draws out excess oil and impurities. It also has skin-soothing ingredients like lotus root, Korean ginseng and cica. After 15 minutes, discard the mask and gently wipe your face using a damp washcloth to get rid of the clay residue. 

7) Apply an eye cream 

The thin, delicate area around the eyes has very few active sebaceous glands, meaning this area ages faster and shows more signs of ageing than the rest of the face. This means that the area around your eyes requires a lot more care than your daily moisturizer can provide. Opt for a nourishing, fast-absorbing eye cream like the Mama Cica Dark Circle Fading Under Eye Cream. It contains skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid and orange peel that hydrate and revitalize the under-eye area. 

8) Moisturize 

Don’t think you can get away with not using a moisturizer just because you have oily skin. Hydrated skin is healthy skin. Look for gel formulas that are lightweight and leave no residue. Try the Chialeader Oil Control Moisturizer that comes with an in-built roller ball applicator that makes the application mess-free and effective. It contains soothing ingredients like calendula and rose myrtle fruit which regulates sebum production. Don’t forget to moisturize every time you wash your face. 

9) Protect 

During the day, protecting your skin from sun damage is extremely important. The UVA and UVB rays of the sun can cause some serious damage to the skin barrier. Look for an oil-free, non-comedogenic broad-spectrum sunscreen and apply it 20 minutes before stepping out. 

And that’s it! Take pointers from this skincare routine and build one that suits your skin and schedule the best!