Normally, the sebum production of the skin is supposed to protect against environmental influences and ensure a supple complexion. For various reasons, however, the glands can produce too much sebum, resulting in oily skin. Do you also sometimes experience difficulties due to overzealous sebaceous glands supplying your skin with too much oil? Find out which ingredients reduce the signs of oily skin.
If your face looks shiny or oily, it may be due to your body releasing large amounts of the male sex hormone androgen. Both men and women can experience strong androgen production. Adolescents in puberty and women shortly before menstruation, due to pregnancy, or after discontinuation of the contraceptive pill are particularly affected. Other reasons for oily skin can be hereditary predispositions, various medical conditions, stress, an unhealthy diet, heavy alcohol consumption, and taking certain medications.
Oily skin can clog pores due to excessive sebum production, causing them to expand, which promotes skin blemishes. Since sebum cannot drain away, the body's own bacteria colonize more quickly and break down the sebum. This produces free fatty acids, which cause irritation. Characteristics of oily skin are consequently large pores, an oily and shiny film, blackheads and pimples or even acne-prone and uneven skin.
Which Ingredients Help To Counteract Oily Skin?
Proper cleansing and skin care regimens are especially important to help you counteract oily skin. These five ingredients in cosmetic products have proven to be particularly helpful:
Niacinamide
This anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial vitamin B3 is present in many skincare products. It reduces impurities and helps restore enlarged pores to their original shape, as well as smoothing out imperfections. A niacinamide serum or cream pairs well with a salicylic acid (see below!) face wash - it's a popular combination for oily skin.
Salicylic Acid
You can also use fat-soluble salicylic acid as an exfoliant for oily skin, as it helps clear clogged pores and soothes irritated skin. After only a short time, the skin will look smoother.
Activated charcoal
This fine-grained carbon is extracted from wood, peat, coconut shells or hard coal. Used primarily in scrubs and face masks, the black powder effectively removes bacteria, dirt and sebum deposits from pores thanks to its binding properties.
Clay
This natural mineral clay has been used for skincare for several centuries. The gentle care product has a cleansing, moisturizing and regenerative effect. There are various forms of clay, with green clay being particularly suitable for oily skin, as it has an anti-inflammatory effect, stimulates skin renewal to a greater extent, and binds excess substances.
Hemp
It's important not to over dry oily skin. This just causes it to panic and start producing more oil again! Hemp seed oil is proven to balance the skin, returning it to a state of homeostasis. Choose an oil cleanser with hemp seed oil for a gentle cleanse that won't over dry or irritate oily skin.
In addition to these five ingredients, there are others that can help you with oily skin. Sulfur is one of them, and taking high-quality probiotics can also be promising for treating oily skin. Probiotics are benign bacteria or fungi that help with many important processes in the body and can improve intestinal problems in particular. Since a beautiful skin appearance also depends on a healthy intestine, you should pay attention to this organ.
The well-known ingredient thermal water is extracted from natural sources and is used in numerous cosmetic products. Some skin types benefit from cleansers that contain thermal water, which makes it moisturizing, removes excess sebum, regulates its new production and reduce skin impurities. Kaolin clay comes from a compound of aluminum and silicon and is also used in skincare cosmetics, as it can bind fats and remove dead skin cells and sebum.
Are There Differences in Ingredients for Oily and Impure Skin?
It is important to remember that you should use different cosmetic products for oily skin than for blemished skin. For example, if you have blemished skin, it may be a good idea to use products that dry out the inflamed areas of the skin. Products with a drying effect, on the other hand, can lead to further stimulation of sebum production in oily skin. So treat your skin with oil-regulating products regularly and carefully to get a positive effect. While products with an alkaline pH or high lipid content are often used for impure skin, cleansing products with a neutral or weak pH and light creams with a low lipid content are more suitable for the care of oily skin. You should also opt for antimicrobial ingredients.