You may have oily skin if your face is shiny, you often have breakouts, and you have more visible and large looking pores.
Oily skin needs moisturizing oils high in linoleic acid to balance without overstimulating sebum production, soothing irritation and decreasing redness.
We use: hemp, rosehip, watermelon, red raspberry, pumpkin, pomegranate, and meadowfoam in our oily blends. Carrier Oils for Custom Blends describes the properties of each oil.
Oily Characteristics
Oily skin is a result of an over-secretion of sebum, an oily substance our skin needs to function properly. Too much sebum can cause acne and too little can cause dry, cracked skin. It tends to attract more dirt and dust than dry skin and may be prone to blackheads and acne.
- Shiny and often has breakouts.
- Characterized by a thicker feeling texture and large pores
- People struggle with keeping shine down during the day and often feel a need to wash their face (shiny complexion).
- Blackheads, pimples, or other blemishes.
- Less visible wrinkles.
- More visible and large looking pores.
- Makeup may wear off easily.
- Can be seen at any age.
- Oiliness can depend on:
- The time of year.
- The weather.
- Your hormones.
Do I Have Oily Skin?
- You will know you have oily skin if you press a tissue to your face first thing in the morning and it captures quite a lot of oil.
- Because the pores become blocked with excessive sebum, oily skin is coarsely textured, with visible large pores.
- It has a tendency toward blackheads and blemishes.
The upside of having oily skin is that it is less prone to wrinkles than dry or eudermic skin and it will become less oily as you get older. If you have oily skin, it is a mistake to use harsh soaps and strong, alcohol-heavy astringents to try to control excessive oiliness. These products tend to stimulate the skin to produce more sebum, so over the long term, they will likely make matters worse. Oily skin benefits from regular exfoliating and masks to unblock pores and prevent blackheads from forming.
Check out our post Treating Oily and Acne-Prone Skin for more information on how to treat your oily skin and Natural Face Oils for oil application instructions and ways to incorporate oils into your skincare routine.