Moisturizer For Oily Skin: Do or Don’t?

How typical is this? You wake up in the morning, do your skin care routine, and minutes later, just when you are about to go out, BOOM, your skin is already oily. 

Many oily skinners think that they do not need to moisturize at the end of their routine because their skin is already producing too much oil and adding more could clog pores and generate acne. But actually, even if your skin is on the oilier side, it's important to use a moisturizer! 

Why? Let us give you a quick overview:  

First of all, even though you have oily skin, that doesn't mean your skin isn't dry in certain areas. Your skin could be dry in patches and still be overall oily - it's not one or the other. 

Secondly, using a good-quality oil-free moisturizer can actually help to control oil production and help with skin hydration.

So, are you suffering from excess oil in your face and don’t know how to moisturize it? Fear not! In this blog, we'll tell you everything you need to know about the best moisturizer for oily skin. We'll also reveal our top tips for keeping your skin as oil-free as possible. So, whether you're a skincare newbie or a pro, read on for all the info you need!

But first: Why does my skin get so oily?

Oily skin is the result of overactive sebaceous glands, which produce too much sebum. Sebum is an oily-like substance that lubricates and waterproofs the skin. When there's too much sebum, it can build up on the surface of the skin, leading to a variety of issues like acne, blackheads, and whiteheads.

That definition is kind of confusing right? 

Okay, let us make it easier: let’s suppose you are cooking your favorite food. You add some oil to the pan, but you accidentally add way too much and the food, instead of absorbing the oil, ends up being greasy. It is the same thing if you have oily or acne-prone skin! When you have this skin type, your entire face overproduces natural oils, making them impossible to be absorbed by your skin.

But what are the top reasons why your skin gets oily? 

It's a question that I'm sure many of us have asked ourselves at one point or another. Whether it's during the summer when the humidity is high, or during those dreaded pre-menstrual days, why does our skin suddenly seem to produce way more oil than usual?

There are a number of factors that have been clinically tested and can contribute to extra oil production, including hormone imbalances, certain products, environmental stressors, and genetics: 

Hormone imbalances

For one, it could be due to hormones. Our hormones can play a big role in how much oil our skin produces. 

During puberty, for example, our bodies go through lots of changes and our hormone levels fluctuate quite dramatically. This can cause an increase in natural oil production, which leads to more oiliness.

If you think this might be the case for you, it's worth talking to your doctor or a board-certified dermatologist to see if there might be a hormonal imbalance at play.

Comedogenic products

Comedogenics are the skincare world's worst nightmare! These types of products can indeed cause oily skin. This is because these products are designed to clog pores and attack your skin’s barrier, resulting in acne, and surface oil. 

Nevertheless, this does not translate in comedogenics being perfect for other skin types. 

Products with non-comedogenic ingredients, like coconut oil, can also affect sensitive skin and dry skin too. 

So we can’t stress this enough: stay far away from non-comedogenic products, no matter if you have oily skin types or others!

Life getting in the way!

If you are going through a stressful period in your life *like college exams and work*, or if you have recently changed what you eat and included oil-rich products or fast food, these could be the culprits behind your oily skin. 

Genetics

Finally, it's also possible that you simply have oily skin. This is determined by your genetics and there's not much you can do about it except manage it the best you can. 

If this is the reason why you have this skin type, don't worry - there are plenty of great skincare oil-free products out there that can help reduce oil production without affecting your skin health.

What is moisturizer used for?: The real deal for oily skin 

Facial moisturizers are used to keep the skin hydrated by trapping water in the outer layer of the skin. It also aids in preserving and restoring the skin barrier function. 

There are many different types of moisturizers, but they all have one common goal: lock moisture to keep your skin healthy! 

One common question asked about moisturizers is why they can sometimes make the skin feel like it has excess oil. This usually happens when people use products that are not suitable for their skin type, or when they do not properly cleanse their face before applying the moisturizer.

If you have oily skin, it's important to find a lightweight moisturizer that is oil-free and won't make your face feel greasy. Choose products that are packed with hyaluronic acid or glycerin, which are two ingredients that can help lock in moisture without making your skin feel heavy. 

Bear this in mind: Just because your skin is producing oil doesn't mean it's properly hydrated. In fact, one of the main villains for oily skin is actually dehydration. 

Dehydration occurs when your skin can't retain enough moisture or when you use drying products like benzoyl peroxide. This results in your sebaceous glands overworking *just like when you do extra-hours in your work*, generating even more oil in an attempt to hydrate the skin. Of course, this just leads to more breakouts and a never-ending cycle of oiliness. 

So what can you do to break out of this cycle? USE AN OIL-FREE MOISTURIZER!

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What’s a good moisturizer for oily skin? 

The next time you're wondering why your skin is feeling extra greasy, ask yourself if you've been using the right moisturizer for your skin type. If not, it might be time to switch things up and find a product that won't leave your face feeling heavy or greasy. 

With so many oil-free options on the market, it's all about trial and error until you find the perfect fit! But what is the best lightweight moisturizer? 

Here are our best tips to find it: 

Gel moisturizers are the best

These lightweight moisturizers are perfect for people with oily skin because they contain ingredients that help control sebum production. Moreover, they are deliciously refreshing- making them ideal for sensitive skin too, and will not leave your skin feeling greasy or heavy. 

Pro-tip: choose a hydrating gel that contains hyaluronic acid, that boosts collagen production and has anti aging effects, and green tea, with an antioxidant rich formula that attacks free radicals and treats dark spots, and apply a thin layer at the end of your skin care routine. 

Mattifying moisturizers for a matte finish style

Just like blotting papers, a mattifying moisturizer can help absorb excess oil and give your skin a matte finish. These types of moisturizers often contain ingredients like clay or silica, which can help control oil production.

Go fragrance-free and paraben free

When talking about moisturizing your face, you might think that the more fragrant, the better. But we are not talking about perfume! That’s why a drugstore moisturizer for oily skin may not be fragrance free! 

For starters, fragrance-free moisturizers tend to be lighter in texture and they won't clog your pores like their counterparts that contain added fragrances. Clogged pores can lead to breakouts, so it's best to avoid them if you can.

In addition, a fragrance-free moisturizer won't irritate your skin, so, if you have sensitive skin, this is especially important. You don't want to damage your face even further by using a moisturizer that contains irritating fragrances.

Additionally, it is important to avoid products that contain parabens. Parabens are chemicals that are used as preservatives in cosmetics and skincare products and could damage the skin barrier. They have been associated with breast cancer and other health concerns, so it is best to avoid them whenever possible. There are many great paraben free moisturizers on the market, so it is easy to find one that will suit your needs.

Avoid using a heavy moisturizer at all costs!

The skin produces oil to protect itself from the environment. However, even though they have a tempting smooth texture, when you use a heavy-creamy moisturizer with harsh ingredients, instead of deeply hydrating your face, what you will be doing is making your skin produce more oil thanks to the heavy oils contained in the cream.

Moisturizers with oil-free ingredients are a big yes!

Keeping your oily skin oil-free while giving it all the hydration it needs to look amazing is possible when you include a moisturizer with mostly oil-free ingredients in your skin care routine!

A good moisturizer will help you keep all the nutrients in, without drying out your skin *especially when you apply salicylic acid to treat a breakout*. On the other hand, oil-free components will help to control excess oil on your skin. When choosing a moisturizer for oily skin, look for terms such as “oil-free” or “non comedogenic” on the label. 

Alcohol-free moisturizer is a must

Alcohol can extremely dry your skin, which will only make your oiliness worse. 

There are different types of alcohols used in skincare, including ethanol, propanol, butanol, isopropyl alcohol, and denatured alcohol. Some of these have drying properties while others can actually help to control oil production without dehydrating your skin. In this case, ethanol and propanol are both drying agents that can strip away oils from the skin surface. 

On the other hand, isopropyl alcohol and denatured alcohol are not as drying and can actually help to control oil production. These alcohols are often used in toners and astringents for oily skin. 

The key to finding a moisturizer with alcohol that's right for you is to look for one that contains other ingredients that will offset the drying effects of the alcohol. For example, if you have oily skin- or even combination skin- you could choose a daily hydrator rich in vitamin c and vitamin e for your morning routine to fight free radicals and avoid dehydration due to UV rays; and a nighttime moisturizer with hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, or glycerin, which are hydrating ingredients that can help to balance out the drying effects of the alcohol.

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Ingredients to look for in moisturizers for oily skin

Yes, we know that, if you have oily skin, the last thing you want to do is add more grease to your face. But moisturizing is an important step in any skincare routine, even for those with oily skin. The trick, as we have told you before, is finding the best moisturizer that includes the right active ingredients for your skin type.

Here are some of the best key ingredients to look for in a moisturizer for oily skin types:

Glycerin: 

Glycerin is a natural humectant, meaning it helps your skin retain moisture. It's also non-comedogenic, so it won't clog pores if you have acne prone skin, combination skin, or oily skin.

Hyaluronic acid: 

We have mentioned it a lot, but hyaluronic acid is the best and we can’t keep quiet about it. It absorbs quickly into the skin’s barrier, helps your skin hold on moisture, and it is an amazing anti-aging treatment. 

Moreover, it can attract up to 1000 times its weight in water, making it one of the key ingredients in the best nighttime moisturizer for oily skin.

Salicylic acid

Moisturizers for oily skin often include salicylic acid in their active ingredients because it can treat acne and big breakouts. This is a BHA that helps unclog pores and reduce the amount of sebum on your skin, helping you get an oil-free face. 

Related article: What Does Salicylic Acid Do? Everything You Need To Know

Vitamin c 

Vitamin c is a great ingredient to look for in moisturizers for oily skin because it treats the scars generated by acne. 

Its properties can brighten the skin, so, if you have oily skin, you might find that your complexion looks dull. Vitamin c can help to brighten up the skin so that you have a more radiant complexion. 

Vitamin e

Vitamin E is one of the best active ingredients! This is a powerful antioxidant that can help to protect you from free radical damage and moisturize the skin, keeping it hydrated.

Choose a moisturizer with a higher concentration of vitamin E if you have very oily skin, or choose one with a lower concentration if your skin type is dry or sensitive. 

Always test the moisturizer on a small patch of skin before using it all over your face, or consult with a board certified dermatologist.

Green tea

A moisturizer for oily skin with green tea is a powerhouse of antioxidants that you won’t want to miss! Green Tea is one of the key ingredients in many moisturizers formulated for this skin type, and for a good reason: 

The tannins and polyphenols in green tea are antioxidants that can help to protect skin from free radicals. They also have anti-inflammatory components, which can help to reduce the redness and inflammation associated with oily skin. 

Additionally, this ingredient is a natural astringent, meaning it helps to tighten pores and control oil production, making it a great ingredient for moisturizers targeting oily skin.

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How to moisturize your face if you have oily skin: Our 3 best-kept secrets

An oil-free face is not 100% possible, especially if your oily skin comes from genetics *yes, it sucks*, however, choosing the right moisturizer and knowing how to apply it correctly can really help. Here is how you should do it: 

1. Make sure to apply noncomedogenic moisturizers evenly across your face, and don't forget to moisturize your neck and chest as well. 
2. How many times should you moisturize your face? Twice, and please don’t forget about it! You can use a moisturizer with SPF protection during your daily skincare routine, and another moisturizer for oily skin during your nighttime routine that includes hyaluronic acid for its hydrating and anti aging effects. 
3. Don’t overdo it! The best moisturizers will give you all the hydrating nutrients you need without having to over-apply them. 

If you are over- moisturizing your skin, you may be suffocating your pores and causing breakouts. You can tell if you're over-moisturizing if your skin feels oily, heavy, or sticky, even if you are using a lightweight one. If this is you, cut back on how often you're using it.

Time to moisturize the heck out of your skin!

There you have it – oily skinned people need moisturizer just as much as the rest of us! 

It can be tempting to try and combat oily skin by skipping on the moisturizer, but this will only backfire in the future! 

In fact, it’s even more important to keep your skin hydrated if you have oily skin because the sebaceous glands will work overtime to compensate for the lack of moisture. 

Who knew? The bottom line is that if you dream about having healthy, happy skin, using a moisturizer should be a must-do in your skin care routine. In this sense, the key ingredients in the best moisturizers for this skin type, like hyaluronic acid or vitamin c, will deeply hydrate your skin without clogging your pores and overproducing sebum.

So, even if you are on the oilier side of the skin types, make sure to moisturize your skin! And don’t worry – we’ve got some great moisturizers that are jam-packed with light nutrients your skin will love! 

Ready to moisturize the heck out of your skin? Visit Asian Beauty Essentials and start getting all the moisture in with a moisturizer for oily skin!