You just spent $50 on a foundation that was supposed to change your life. It looked beautiful in all the pictures and everyone you saw online swears by it. You take out your blending sponge and spend forever carefully dabbing it on, strategically placing your concealer, setting with powder, and highlighting and contouring your face.
Three hours later, you look like a Salvador Dali painting. Everything is broken down and running off. There are spots where it seems as though the makeup has simply disappeared. You see smudges of tan on your phone screen. It took longer to put on than it actually lasted. What happened?
You can use the greatest makeup in the world and apply it like an absolute pro, but it won’t matter if you have very oily skin. The oil in your skin will break down any makeup, acting like your own organic makeup remover. If this sounds like you, it might be time to switch up your skincare routine.
Why Does Skin Produce So Much Oil?
Your skin has a natural moisture barrier. That’s what keeps you from drying out. It produces something called sebum to, more or less, seal the moisture barrier. People with dry skin do not produce enough sebum, so their skin cannot properly maintain moisture. They have to constantly apply external moisture and drink a lot of water to keep up with their skin’s needs. People with oily skin will have the exact opposite problem.
When you produce too much sebum, the weight of the oil can cause problems like enlarged pores. It can trap bacteria and shedding skin cells, causing your body to hold onto them and manifest them in the form of breakouts. The skin may appear almost permanently shiny. Makeup won’t stick to it, and you may even feel oily to the touch.
How To Care For Oily Skin In Tucson
Most people with oily skin in Tucson will run to the store for the first oily skin wash they can find. With all that oil sitting on top of your skin, you might feel an urge to scrub it off. Many soaps will do a good job leaving the surface of your skin squeaky clean, and that’s a huge problem. When skin has been stripped of all of its oils, it’s response isn’t to stay that way. It responds by producing even more. Cleansers with harsh surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate may be making your skin worse.
Skin also increases oil production in response to heat. Keeping your skincare products in the refrigerator will make them easier for your skin to tolerate.
You should also consider the way the foods you eat may impact your skin. Things like alcohol are bad for your body in general, but they’re particularly bad for your skin. Limit your drinks to special nights out. Incorporating more vegetables rich in vitamin A, a natural antioxidant, may help your body balance sebum production. Try having a grapefruit with breakfast or using some kale in your salad for lunch.
Facials And Treatments for Oily Skin
Many people believe they should use oil free cleansing products because their face is already oily enough. This isn’t necessarily the case. Oil is great at trapping and removing impurities, including other oils. Using an oil-based makeup remover or cleanser can help to naturally balance the amounts of oil present on the surface of the skin. Start with an oil cleanser, and cleanse again with a sulfate free cleanser to remove any residue.
You should never skip your moisturizer. Your skin is frantically producing oil in an attempt to keep moisture from escaping. This means that it feels as though it isn’t getting enough moisture on its own. Over time, using a lightweight moisturizer might help to rebalance your skin. It will get used to receiving moisture from an external source, and may dial back the sebum production as a result.
It’s important to regularly exfoliate oily skin. That trapped debris that leads to breakouts often contains a significant amount of dead skin. It’s a good idea to remove that dead skin before it becomes problematic. Talk to your aesthetician about peels that can help to gently exfoliate the skin without causing unnecessary abrasive damage.
Clarifying facials can help to remove impurities in the skin that may be sticking around due to increased oil production. Breakouts are most common among people with oily skin. A facial designed to reduce breakouts and gently fight acne will combat some of the manifestations of acne on your skin. Regularly keeping up with your facials will help you maintain a clear complexion once all of your acne is gone.
Balanced Skincare Starts Now
Our expert aestheticians at Greentoes in Tucson know exactly how to help you balance your oily skin. We’ll work with you, evaluate your skin, and provide you with the facial treatments we believe will benefit you most. We can also recommend gentle and effective natural skincare products that you can use to maintain healthy skin at home.