Oily skin is just really the skin doing the job it was meant to  – but producing more oil than your skin needs and more oil than you want. The result of this over production of oil is a greasy, shiny oily skin that can be difficult to deal with. Oily skin can be both difficult to manage and embarrassing. Oil reducing skin care needs to be able to gently but effectively clean away surface oil, skin cells that have been shed and daily grime and moisturise where the skin needs it without blocking  the pores.

What should I look for in oily skin products?

Gentle but effective is the key here to avoid stimulating the oil glands. Alcohols and astringents may cut through the oil temporarily but it is better for the skin and causes less drying out than if you can use a cleanser that effectively lifts the oil and grime and rinses cleanly away. This leaves the skin clean but not dried out.

If you strip away too much oil the skin will try to correct this and produce more – that it’s job…

Look for…

• Moisturisers that block the pores of the skin – look instead for a moisturiser that is non comodegenic.
• Cleansers that have harsh soaps, detergents and exfoliators.
• Avoid those with silicone that fill the pores.
• Avoid those that have heavy fragrances – some of these you might enjoy but your skin wont.
• Skincare products that have colourings in them.
• A moisturiser with Vitamin A that will help with the oiliness without drying and being as hard on the skin as the prescription Retin A.
• Use a gentle skin care regime and products to avoid stimulating the oil glands further.