Do you have oily skin? If your answer is yes, you’re definitely not alone. According to the International Dermal Institute, the number of adults dealing with oily skin is on the rise. Clinical studies reveal that as many as 55% of adults between the ages of 20 and 40 have at least mildly oily skin. It isn’t just oily skin that more people like you have the challenge of dealing with. Of women over the age of 25, more than half are also dealing with some degree of acne.

If you have oily skin, then you already know the challenges of caring for it. Oily skin is often acne-prone, but it can also be sensitive, dehydrated, and aging all at the same time. It’s challenging to know how to care for your skin when you’re dealing with acne breakouts and fine lines at the exact same time. Although you have something in common with other oily skin comrades, your skin and the challenges you face are unique.

Fortunately, there are some reliable ways you can take charge of your oily skin and have a beautiful, healthy complexion. Here are eight skincare rules for oily skin that leave you beautifully clear and radiant.

Use Products Designed for Your Skin

Are you someone who thinks that all skincare products are really created the same, just with different labels? Oily skin has special needs, meaning it requires skincare products that won’t overstimulate oil production, overly dry your skin, or clog pores. Plus, oily skin is often sensitive and acne prone. Your skincare products should also be gentle to reduce the chance of irritation and inflammation. OZNaturals has created a complete skin care regimen to care for oily skin.

Your skincare products should work together to bring about a balance for your skin. Products designed for normal, dry, or maturing skin can sit on top of oily skin, trapping oils, dirt, and dead skin cells beneath the surface. This is inevitably a formula for acne. If you have sensitive skin, or other skincare concerns, it’s extra important to choose a formulation that supports your skin on every level.

Cleanse Enough but Not Too Much

Proper cleansing is important for every type of skin but with oily skin it can be more challenging to strike the right balance. It’s tempting to cleanse your face several times throughout the day to clear away the oily buildup, but over cleansing can actually make the problem worse.

Like other skin types, oily skin should be cleansed twice a day – once in the morning, and once in the evening. The exception to this might be if you become extra sweaty or dirty during the day. You don’t want those extra layers of dirt and sweat sitting on your skin. Still, it isn’t necessary to cleanse your face every time you feel a bit of an oily sheen, and here’s why.

Each time you wash you’re face; you’re removing essential skin oils. Products designed for oily skin are typically formulated to remove even more of these oils, which can completely strip your skin if used too often. What happens next is that your skin overcompensates by producing even more sebum (skin oils). This isn’t exactly the result you were hoping for.

Always choose a gentle cleanser formulated for oily skin such as our Ocean Mineral Facial Cleanser. If oil build up proves to be a challenge during the day, keep a few blotting papers on hand to remove the excess sheen.

Care for Your Face with Clean Hands

The whole point of caring for your oily skin is to remove the oils and impurities from the surface, not add to them. Taking a minute to wash your hands before you care for your face is important for keeping your skin healthy and enhancing the effectiveness of your skincare products.

Your hands are carriers of all sorts of things you don’t want to come in contact with your face. Dirt and bacteria love to travel around on your fingertips, and each time you touch your face, you’re transferring all of it to your skin. Make a habit of washing your hands before doing anything that involves your face, whether it’s cleansing, applying moisturizer, or using cosmetics.

Exfoliate Regularly and Gently

Exfoliation is important for your skincare routine because it helps remove old, dead skin cells from the surface that can otherwise lodge in pores and cause breakouts. What exfoliation isn’t is a way to vigorously remove dirt and oil from your pores. Yes, as dead skin is lifted, so is dirt and debris but you don’t need harsh and vigorous products to achieve this result.

Stay away from exfoliators that are harsh and abrasive. These types of products damage your skin, both short term and long term. You can find a textural exfoliant such as our Bamboo Enzyme Facial Scrub that uses gentle, natural ingredients to lift old skin away. A well formulated glycolic acid peel is also a good choice for your oily skin.

Yes, You Need Moisturizer Too

With oily skin, you might think that moisturizer isn’t necessary, but nothing could be further from the truth. Oily skin results from an overproduction of sebum, which is important for keeping the skin supple but doesn’t really do the job of keeping your skin hydrated. Many products designed for oily skin strip away excess oil. This can leave your skin feeling parched, and it will compensate by – you guessed it – producing more sebum.

A moisturizer formulated for oily skin such as OZNaturals Sea Infused Herbal Moisturizer helps to keep your skin balanced, soft, and hydrated.

Go to Bed with a Clean Slate

When bed is calling your name, you might not have anything on your mind other than slipping off into dreamland. As tempting as it is, you should always resist the urge to go to bed without first cleansing your face – even if it’s the only part of your nighttime skincare routine you stick to.

During the day, your skin encounters all sorts of unpleasantries. There’s dirt, dust, and bacteria that are practically unavoidable. There’s also the accumulation of skin oils, sweat, and all the products you’ve applied to your skin earlier in the day. Leaving all of this on the surface of your skin is sure formula for waking up with a blemish or two.

Develop a Lifelong Relationship with Sunscreen

Ok, this one is true regardless of what type of skin you have. When your skin is oily, it’s extra important to seek out a sunscreen that’s formulated with non-toxic, natural ingredients – and then use it religiously. Sun damage to your skin leads to premature aging and can increase your risk of developing all types of skin cancer. Don’t take chances and make sure to include a high-quality sunscreen in your daily routine.

Wash Your Tools

Finally, it isn’t enough to wash your face. You should also be washing everything that comes in contact with it, including your makeup tools and brushes. Everyone should care for and cleanse their beauty tools regularly but when you have oily skin it’s necessary to clean them more frequently.

Your skin has extra oil on the surface that comes into contact with your beauty tools. This oil can also carry bacteria and dirt, which breeds problems when left unchecked. Get in the habit of choosing one day each week to clean all your brushes, even the ones you might not use that often.

Beautiful Skin Starts with a Great Skincare Routine

The most important thing you can do to care for your oily skin is to develop a regular skincare routine that features products that are gentle, natural, and formulated for skin like yours. Caring for your oily skin doesn’t need to involve harsh products that strip your skin of essential oils, leaving it parched and sensitive. Treat your oily skin gently, and with the kindness it deserves.

"Skin Cancer " "Healthy Beauty " "OZ-FC-OM-1002;OZ-FS-BE-1019;OZ-MO-SI-1018;OZ-RG-OS-2002 " "Acneic;Breakouts;Dehydrated;Fine Lines and Wrinkles;Oily;Premature Aging;Sensitive "