5 Quick Tips on Moisturising Oily Skin

Should you moisturise oily skin? Below are our 5 quick tips about moisturising oily skin the right way.

The oil in your skin is one of your most valuable assets, provided it is well looked after it can be a blessing as often it will help your skin to age more slowly and look younger for longer. The key with oily skin is to make sure you’re hydrating it without adding extra oil from other products. With no moisture at all your skin would become dehydrated and begin to over-compensate by producing more oil.

Oily skin is caused by the over-production of sebum from your sebaceous (oil) glands. This excess sebum can be due to many factors such as stress, poor diet, hormonal shifts, pollution, and improper skin care. By applying the right moisturiser to your skin, your sebum levels will begin to decrease and your skin will become less oily.

 

Here are our 5 quick tips on moisturising oily skin: 

1. Choose a moisturiser that is suitable for oily skin. You have two main options, water based or oil-based. If your skin is oily you should be looking for a moisturiser which is water-based, as these are much less rich compared to their oil-based counterparts. A water-based moisturiser with natural humectants such as Mānuka Honey is even better. Mānuka Honey draws in moisture from the air and locks the extra hydration in your skin, this creating a double whammy of hydration.

2.  A light moisturiser formulation is the way to go. Heavy creams and lotions will be too rich for your skin; when a cream is too heavy your pores cannot absorb it, resulting in the product sitting on top of your skin.

3. Use a non-comedogenic moisturiser, meaning it does not clog pores or cause pimples. Products with a high percentage of natural ingredients in their formulation, tend to be the best as they have smaller molecules and therefore able to penetrate the skin better and less likely to cause blocked pores. In order to find out if whether or not a product contains non-comedogneic ingredients, the best way is to familiarise yourself with your ingredients. Coconut butter, avocado oil and olive oil are common skincare ingredients present in moisturisers which may be comedogenic, for instance. Please bear in mind, however, a comedogenic ingredient may only comprise of 2% of the formulation and therefore the formulation as a whole is non-comedogenic.  For further information refer to online sources, or even download an app; Acne Mantra has an online ingredient checker and has developed an app called “Skingredients” which is specifically designed to inform you of whether or not the ingredients in your products are pore-clogging.

4. Don’t disrupt your skin’s function, rather aid it in its process. Chemical and synthetic products can dry out your skin and irritate and disrupt its natural state; try a natural alternative which works in unison with your skin.

5. Drink plenty of water and eat a balanced diet. It’s an old rule but it has stuck around for a good reason! Water is very important for your skin’s health and hydration as it helps to flush away toxins in your body and keeps you hydrated. Having a bad diet accumulates excess amounts of toxins in your body. The combination of this and not drinking enough water create the perfect environment for acne to grow. Drinking water to helps to flush your system and clear out your skin! The combination of a poor diet, dehydration, and excess oil production means that it’s highly likely you will have oily, acne-prone skin.

Extra Tips for oily skin

A twice a day skincare regime is a must (cleanse, tone, moisture). This is important if you have oily skin as it provides hydration and moisture during the morning and evening, therefore saving your skin from needing to produce more oil.

Regularly clean your makeup brushes, makeup sponges and pillow cases, as these can be breeding grounds for bacteria and accumulate dead skin cells that contribute to clogged pores. To clean your makeup brushes and sponges begin by running your brushes under lukewarm water, use your favourite natural shampoo or cleanser and gently massage and swirl your brush tip in the product. Rinse the brush tip under running water once again; continue to do so until there is no makeup residue coming from your brushes or sponge.

Include a natural hydrating gel mask in your weekly skin care regime, your skin will love the extra boost! Apply the face mask once or twice a week at night, after gently cleansing and pat drying, smooth the product onto your face and neck, avoiding the eye area. Leave for at least 20 minutes and rinse with warm water, or work into skin with fingertips and wipe away residue.

Hormonal imbalance, stress and environmental factors can also lead to excess oil production. Surround yourself in a clean environment both physically and mentally. Unfortunately, sometimes we cannot avoid this but having a positive mindset is the best place to start.

Let us know if you have any other tips and tricks to make oily skin more manageable!

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For oily skin we recommend:

Purifying Cleanser 
A lightly foaming gel, Living Nature’s certified natural Purifying Cleanser gently removes impurities, excess oil and makeup while rebalancing natural moisture levels.

Hydrating Toning Gel
A lightweight gel formula which works to naturally restore skins pH levels. Crafted with soothing Harakeke Flax Gel, Jojoba Oil, Mānuka Extract and nourishing Active Mānuka Honey, it helps balance oil production while firming, toning, and nurturing skin.

This lightweight, fast absorbing formula is crafted with native New Zealand botanicals including antimicrobial Mānuka Extract and antioxidant rich Totarol. The additions of natural Squalane, Active Mānuka Honey and Avocado Oil work to soothe and nourish without weighing skin down.

Balancing Night Gel
A soothing, rejuvenating gel to balance the skin's natural oils and moisture content. The nourishing and purifying properties of the formulation with leave your skin deeply hydrated and smooth. 

Mānuka Honey Gel
An effective, soothing gel recommended for blemish-prone skin and trouble spots including scratches, insect bites and cold sores. This potent blend combines active Mānuka Honey for skin healing with Mānuka Oil to help protect, cleanse and soothe the skin.