Oily Skin and Oil Based Skincare Products, Episode 204
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Often those of us with oily or blemished complexions avoid face oils out of fear added oil will further block pores or result in a greasy complexion.
Well, it’s time to throw this fear away! Well formulated oil based skin care products can actually help balance natural oil production for a more glowing, luminous complexion.
In this 7 Day Glow podcast I am talking to those of us with oily skin and we are examining how oil based skincare products can actually support and balance oily skin.
If you have naturally oily skin, I’m guessing you have been avoiding oil based products thinking they will only make things worse.
This could not be farther from the truth.
I often hear from customers with oily skin that their oil production is kind of like a run-away train. The more the customer tries to stop it the more oil their body produces.
When you have oily skin it is instinctive to reach for products that dry the skin or stop natural oil production. While these products may provide a short-term fix, in the long run they actually strip natural oils from your skin, causing your body to ramp up oil production.
By depriving your body of moisture from outside sources, it sends the message to the body that more oil is needed. This puts your body into oil producing overdrive. By drying out your skin you actually cause your body to produce more oil.
Oil based skincare products can give your body a break from naturally producing oils, giving it a chance to reset and balance natural oil production.
While you may bemoan your oily skin, there are benefits to having this skin type.
Oily skin tends to naturally be thicker and smoother than other skin types. An abundance of oil producing sebaceous glands contributes to a thicker inner skin layer. This makes skin more resistant to the formation of deep lines in areas where deep wrinkles tend to form, such as the forehead and smile lines.
The natural vitamin E produced by the body is amplified in oily skin, giving a boost to your sun protection.
Lastly, oily skin requires less skin care products. Just the basics and a light touch are usually all that is required for oily skin types.
Problems arise when we use products that dry the skin, which sends the message to your body to produce more oil to replace what was removed by the drying product.
The goal for oily skin types should be to balance the body’s natural oil production.
I know it's counterintuitive, but by applying just a touch of oil to your skin you send the message to your body that your skin has ample oil and the body can calm down and stop making so much natural oil.
Well formulated oil based skin care products also help dissolve debris and unwanted oils and they also support a healthy pH.
The key for oily skin is to choose products made with oil that are non-comedogenic.
Non-comedogenic oils are oils that moisturize and nourish but are less likely to cause clogged pores and breakouts. Sunflower seed oil, high-linoleic safflower oil, grapeseed oil, and rosehip seed oil are all popular non-comedogenic oils.
Start with an oil based cleanser.
The benefit of using an oil based cleanser is that the oil in the product acts like a magnet, attracting the natural oil and debris sitting on your skin. As a result, an oil based cleanser is an effective way to dissolve and sweep away excess oil, makeup and debris from excess sunscreen. Because it's made with oil, you are not stripping your skin’s natural oil and in turn, not sending the message to your body that it needs to produce more oil. In fact, it sends the message to relax - your body has enough oil.
Because your skin may have a large natural build up of oil, topped with makeup - you may find you need to double cleanse to get it all off. This just means cleansing the first time to remove makeup, debris, and excess oil. Then cleansing a second time to really purify and deeply cleanse pores.
So if cleansing once just is not cutting it, cleanse a second time. Oily skin types should wipe their cleanser away with a clean washcloth to help remove excess oil instead of simply rinsing and patting dry.
Not all oil based cleansers are created equally - oily skin types need to choose the right type of cleansing oil.
Look for products made with non comedogenic oils.
Oils are ranked on a scale of 0 to 5 for their tendency to clog pores. The lower the rating the less likely the oil is to cause clogged pores or breakouts.
If researching all the ingredients in an oil based cleanser seems overwhelming I invite you to head over to 7 Day Glow and check out our CLARIFY BHA Hydrating Cleanser. I formulated this product so that the oils in CLARIFY BHA Hydrating Cleanser all have a 0 to 1 comedogenic rating. That means they are less likely to clog pores.
When it comes to rating oils please keep in mind that not everybody responds the same to all ingredients. What might cause issues for one person may be perfectly fine for another. The best way to find the right oil based cleanser for you is to try them. If you purchase one and it is just not working for you, don’t give up - try a different blend from another company until you find the perfect cleanser for your skin needs. Avoid the temptation to fall back on cleansers that strip your skin of its natural oils, because we now know that is only going to make your condition worse in the long run.
The list of lowest rated oils include the following. You can also find oil ratings by researching an oil online:
- Almond Oil (2)
- Apricot Kernel Oil (2)
- Argan Oil (0)
- Avocado Oil (0)
- Borage Oil (2)
- Castor Oil (1)
- Emu Oil (1)
- Evening Primrose Oil (2)
- Grape Seed Oil (2)
- Hazel Nut Oil (2)
- Hemp Seed Oil (0)
- Neem Oil (1)
- Olive Oil (2)
- Rosehip Oil (1)
- Safflower Oil (0)
- Sea Buckthorn Oil (1)
- Shea Butter (0)
- Sunflower Oil (0)
- Tamanu Oil (2)
Now that we’ve solved the cleansing question - the next top question I hear is “Should oily skin types use a moisturizer?”
While your oily skin may not need more moisture, you should not immediately refuse a moisturizer. Your oily skin is still aging and it is still exposed to environmental factors that can cause aging. For this reason, you will want to include a product that helps support aging skin.
The challenge arises in that most of the ingredients for targeting aging skin are found in products that are also meant to increase moisture or oil in your skin.
The key for oily skin types is to find a face oil that is made primarily with non comedogenic oils and includes ingredients specifically for battling the effects of aging and environmental damage.
For this - research the ingredients to ensure they are non comedogenic and that the product is made with natural ingredients to avoid bringing further issues to your skin.
Now I know this all may seem daunting - who has time to research all these ingredients?
If you feel overwhelmed at the idea of researching for the right oil based products for your oily skin then head over to www.7dayglow.com and check out our easy to use three piece system.
7 Day Glow products come with a 60 day money back guarantee, and we have an awesome sampler set option that comes with free access to the 7 Day Glow Skincare course to ensure you have all the information you need to know to find success with our products.
Once again, thank you for joining me at the 7 Day Glow Podcast. I know how busy you are and that taking time out for self care of any type is a challenge. I am so honored you decided to use some of your self care minutes today at the 7 Day Glow Podcast.
Next week we’ll be diving deeper into the topic of washing your face and ask the big question - “Do you wash your face?” We’ll be uncovering everything you need to know about washing your face including how-to, more about products, and if you actually need to wash your face in our next podcast!
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I'm Alyssa Van Doorn.
I am the natural skincare formulator, biologist, certified clinical aromatherapist, and obsessed self-care advocate who founded 7 Day Glow's holistic, simple skincare approach. I'm on a mission to empower women with the tools they need to find and maintain their Glow simply and with confidence.
Notice: These statements and blog content have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information in our articles and podcasts are not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and are not intended as medical advice. The content of these blogs, podcasts and associated products is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using products or following blog/podcast advice.