Oily Skin 101: Managing Oily Skin

Hello, gorgeousness! So, I have oily skin. Pretty sure I already let everybody know that I have had oily skin since born. It's a struggle sometimes. I mean, wherever I go, in all the pictures I'm in, there's always this familiar, unwanted 'grease' that rests on my cheeks, nose, and forehead. While I'm whining about that, there's always someone that convinces me that having oily skin means I will get fewer wrinkles in the future. Well, it doesn't change the fact that having oily skin can be irking on a daily basis.

Fret not, my oily peeps. I've compiled a list of tried and true skincare tips to manage oily skin, all the ingredients to look for when it comes to oily complexion, and more!

How to manage oily skin:

• Don't over-cleanse your face

I used to cleanse my face more than twice a day using an overly stripping facial cleanser. I will get into more of this later. But please, if you think you have to cleanse your face every time it gets overly oily, you're stripping your skin, ma'am, and that's not cute for future you. Just properly cleanse your face twice a day using the #60SecondRule is already good enough. 

• Use a non-stripping facial cleanser

I had to learn this the hard way. There was a time where my skin is overproducing oil and I'm just a big, walking greasy mess. If you have oily skin, the key is to be gentle. Use a gentle, non-stripping facial cleanser. 

"Wouldn't we have to use a stronger facial cleanser to suck up all the oil and gunk away from our skin?"

Here's the thing, cleansing your skin is good but using a harsh, overly stripping cleanser is definitely not it. Avoid alcohol-heavy cleansers if you can, because it's one of the main causes of stripping or drying resulting in the skin overproducing oil which is gonna make you even oilier. 

I would recommend the Kayman Coalberry Cleanser, COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser, and Krave Beauty Matcha Heartleaf Hydrating Cleanser. These cleansers are filled with lots of hydrating properties, antioxidants, and humectants. It'll very much benefit oily skin.

• Opt for rich moisturizer at night

It sounds crazy, I know. I love my Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel moisturizer. Y'all probably rolling your eyes by now and tired of me mentioning the Neutrogena moisturizer. But this is different! I promise.

Have you ever used a rich, hydrating moisturizer at night? I have and I realized that my skin was significantly less oily throughout the day. The moisturizer I used was pretty decent and most importantly, it was able to lock in moisture at night as well as to make sure I wasn't losing as much water resulting in better, hydrated skin. It was the Some By Mi Miracle Cream!

It's not that rich for some people but it's pretty rich to me. It's rich but it doesn't feel heavy. It's like a somewhere-in-between kind of moisturizer. It has 70% Centella Asiatica extract, niacinamide, salicylic acid, tea tree oil, to name a few. The ingredients in this when I first look through it I'm just like "Yes, yes, yes, yes, give it to me." 

• Cleansing oil is not your enemy

How can I forget to mention the elephant in the room? I know. It's the exact opposite of what you would always hear, right? I wear makeup almost every day and for me not to properly dissolve my entire makeup at the end of the day is a nightmare. If you think having oily skin is to use water-based cleansers all the time, wake up! Your micellar cleansing water is not meant to remove makeup ENTIRELY, honey. 

My tried and true cleansing oil is definitely from Simple. Of course, me, and all of my drugstore recommendations. It's probably the most unproblematic oil cleanser I've ever used. 

I know it's going to give some people a 'freak out' moment but it will benefit your skin in the long run. The cleansing oil I'm using specifically for my double cleansing routine is so gentle, non-irritating, won't clog your pores, and yes, inexpensive but works so well! If you're using pretty heavy makeup on a day-to-day basis, consider using a cleansing oil.

• Oily skin + makeup

Do you have oily skin but you love to wear makeup? Fear not. I've thought about this as well. First thing first, I would personally recommend using mattifying and pore-filling primer for the most problematic area on the face. Other than those areas, you can use hydrating/dewy primers if you want. 

I'm all about creating the right balance when it comes to my makeup. So yes, I double prime. Don't freak out! Primers are not meant to stay on your skin the whole day. Always, always, double cleanse to make sure you're getting all the makeup and dirt out of your skin. 

But yeah, a lot of the time I prefer keeping the center of my face a little matte while leaving my cheeks dewy for that perfect balance. My Mary-Lou Manizer is already good enough to achieve my perfect dewy, balanced look but the Stila Heaven's Hue Highlighter brings the whole look to another level!

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Do you have oily skin? What are your tried and true tips to manage it?