The 4 Ingredients to Beat Out Oily Skin
Everything from pollution to stress could be responsible for your shiny t-zone.
According to the experts, oily skin occurs due to an overproduction of sebum in your pores, which can often lead to breakouts.
On the plus side, research shows that people with oily skin get fewer wrinkles as they get older. And because sebum is loaded with vitamin e, it can also help fend off environmental damage thanks to its free-radical fighting properties.
Fortunately, you don’t have to deal with shiny forehead selfies forever. Dermatologists say certain skincare ingredients can eliminate excess oils on the skin if you’re wishful for a smooth, mattified complexion.
Let’s take a look at the top four ingredients that can banish oily skin. And recommended products that contain each of them!
Retinol
It’s called a skincare superhero for a reason. Besides ironing out creases and evening the skin tone, retinol can override oiliness too.
“In acne-prone skin, cell-turnover can help unclog pores since a lot of what’s clogging pores is that old, dead skin, and if you make that happen faster it will unclog those pores,” explains board-certified dermatologist Jason Miller, MD.
And that’s why dermatologists prescribe topical retinol products.
“You’re getting so much of this extra gunk collecting in those pores, and you need to clear it out by getting rid of the dead skin cells,” which, he points out, retinol does.
And if you need any more proof of retinol’s magic, studies show that some prescription retinoids like tretinoin and tazarotene can minimize pore size when applied topically.
Try Truly’s Purple Rain Facial Oil, formulated with retinol and glycolic acid to plump out wrinkles and wipe out oil.
Salicylic acid
The anti-acne antidote, salicylic acid, is one of the best ingredients for preventing oily skin. You’ll often find it in acne cleansers and serums.
“Salicylic acid is lipophilic, meaning it likes oil. It gets into the pore, which is a sebaceous follicle filled with oil, and sucks the oil out,” says skincare expert Dr. Diane Berson. This, in turn, helps unclog and shrink the pore.
Of all the acids, SA is by far the best for keeping oily skin at bay. That’s because it breaks down dead cells and penetrates deep down into your pores to clean out oil, dirt, and grime. And in doing so, salicylic acid degrades the blackheads and whiteheads seen as a result of oily skin.
Just be careful overdoing it with the SA. More doesn’t mean better. So stick to using a salicylic acid cleanser twice a day to prevent your skin from drying out and compensating with an overproduction of oil, which leads to more oiliness.
Clean out your pores and conquer oiliness with Truly’s CBD Jelly Anti-Blemish Facial Cleanser made with CBD, salicylic acid, and vitamin A.
Hyaluronic acid
According to plastic surgeon Dr. Chaneve Jeanniton, “Hyaluronic acid is an easy choice for oily skin because it won’t clog pores or leave a heavy residue but it still provides an impactful amount of moisture.”
One of the biggest misconceptions about oily skin is that it doesn’t need moisture. It does! In fact, not moisturizing your skin can lead to an overproduction of oil, causing more oiliness and more breakouts. Obviously, some hydrating ingredients are too heavy for oily skin like mineral oil and petroleum, which can clog the pores. Hyaluronic acid, however, is a skin-friendly choice for tackling an oily complexion.
“HA is suitable for most skin types, as we can all get dehydrated by heat, sun, cold, central heating, air conditioning, aging and so on,” says Rebecca Bennett, Johnson & Johnson skincare expert. “Even oily skin types can get dehydrated, and light products containing hyaluronic acid are perfect for this type of skin. Key signs of dehydration include rough, dull skin that creases and wrinkles easily.”
To keep your skin oil-free, apply a lightweight serum or moisturizer morning and night. You don’t need to over-apply a product, but just enough to cover your face.
Opt for Truly’s Cream Skin Face Moisturizer for your daily dose of hyaluronic acid.
Niacinamide
Another oil-banishing ingredient to add to your oily skin routine: niacinamide. This ingredient, otherwise known as vitamin B3, is effective for all skin types – including oily ones. That’s because niacinamide bolsters the skin barrier, calms inflammation, and supports healthy collagen production.
“Evidence shows that niacinamide absorbs sebum,” says Berson. And there’s even evidence to prove it.
According to a small study, two percent topical niacinamide applied over the course of four weeks significantly lowered excretion rates. So in addition to hydrating your skin, this ingredient can also prevent the skin from overcompensating with its own natural oils.
Cosmetic doctor Dr. Ewoma Ukeleghe also points out that niacinamide is a great skincare ingredient to use before your period to manage oiliness and prevent breakouts.
“I personally love to use niacinamide 1-2 weeks before,” she says. “It helps prevent any breakouts and to manage the increased sebum production many women tend to experience at this time during their cycle.”
And just to add to its long list of benefits, niacinamide has also been shown to act as an anti-inflammatory agent, reducing redness caused by sunlight. There’s so much to love about this superstar ingredient!
TRY TRULY’S PORE SHRINKING KIT
Oil-clogged faces, listen up. There’s a new pore shrinking kit on the block with some powerful oil-extracting properties to clear out your pores so that they’re virtually undetectable.
It features: Matcha Face Scrub, Anti-Blemish Toning Solution, Anti-Blemish Facial Serum, Purple Rain Facial Serum, and Super Star Patches. Everything you need to keep your skin breakout-free.
If you have oily skin, you’ll know how tough it is to keep that shiny t-zone under control. Luckily, as we’ve demonstrated within this article, there are some amazing ingredients out there that specifically target excess sebum on the skin. From now on, go for products with one of these ingredients in them to start taking charge of your oils and stop letting them spoil your selfies.
