Having an oily skin type is both a blessing and a curse. Sure, you’ll look younger for longer, but you’ll also spend a fair amount of time stressing about breakouts and dealing with a shiny complexion for the privilege. And don’t even get us started on that gross tight feeling you get when you try to use a harsh cleanser to sort things out. Or, if you’re quite oily, that constant film that makes your face feel bleugh…

Today we’ll be going over how to care for oily skin and deal with breakouts, and suggesting the ideal skincare for acne fighting. 

How To Cleanse Oily Skin

Oily skin needs a slightly different cleanse to other skin types.

While generally the role of your cleansing step is simply to remove any environmental stressors that have found their way onto your skin during the day, those with an oily complexion will need a cleanser that also reduces excess sebum (our skin's naturally occurring oils).

Unfortunately, many products go a little too far in this regard and strip all oils, rather than simply those that are excessive, leaving our skin feeling tight and dry while also making us more vulnerable to sensitivity and reactiveness.

When searching for a cleanser for oily skin, it is important to select one that provides gentle results while also hydrating and soothing skin. We recommend the use of our Dermassure Clear & Calm Foaming Cleanser for those who like this type of application, or our Cranberry Face & Body Cleansing Bar for those who want a little less foam.

Dealing With A Shiny Complexion

A shiny complexion is pretty much par for the course for those of us with oily skin and it can be quite inconvenient and damaging to confidence and self-esteem. The good news is that this shine is generated by the presence of excess sebum (our skin’s naturally occurring oil) so by balancing out the production of this oil, we can reduce, or even eliminate shine.

For those with an oily skin type, this balancing is best achieved via a targeted skincare routine suited specifically to oily skin. You’ll want to look for a combination of hydrating ingredients and those targeted towards reducing sebum production and rebalancing the complexion. We recommend our Dermassure range for this purpose. 

For those who are experiencing a shiny complexion as a skin concern, you will first need to identify what has caused the situation to arise. Nine times out of ten, this is due to dehydration, as your skin will naturally create more oil if it feels that it is not getting enough moisture. This can generally be rectified by upping your water intake, making use of a gentle, oil-reducing cleanser and applying hydrating serums and moisturisers. We suggest our Dermassure Clear & Calm Foaming Cleanser paired with our Erda Firming Serum followed by our brand new, soothing and hydrating gel cream moisturiser, Oz Fraiche. 

Does Oily Skin Need Moisturiser?

A common misconception that seems to arise quite often in the beauty world is that oily skin types should not use moisturiser. The justification for this is that oily skin does not need any products that will increase the amount of moisture on the skin and that any skincare used will simply clog pores and increase breakouts.

While this assertion is incorrect, there is some truth to certain parts of it. Oily skin types should not use thick, oil based moisturisers as yes, these products will increase oil levels, fuel breakouts and provide little benefit for your complexion. The problem here, however, is that if you choose to use no products because of this, your skin can easily end up dehydrated and unprotected - especially if you’re using a harsh, stripping cleanser to try to deal with the oil that your face produces naturally. This will then lead to your skin creating more oil as it can feel attacked and become damaged.

So what do we do about this?

Well, we apply moisturiser, but we apply the right type of moisturiser. Our Dermassure Matte Comfort Moisturiser, for example, is specially formulated for oily skin and is designed to reduce the frequency and severity of breakouts by balancing sebum production. It also nourishes deeply without adding extra oils and provides the hydration that your skin craves. 

Can Skincare Cause Acne?

Short answer: yes and no. While the use of incorrect skincare can cause acne, the right products for your skin type should not cause breakouts.

When skincare causes acne, it is generally because the products being applied are commodegenic or otherwise unsuitable for your skin. Irritated skin is far more likely to break out than happy skin, so if you’re stripping all oil from your skin, applying treatments that aren’t right for your complexion or concerns, or using moisturising creams that are too thick for your skin type, there is a possibility that your skincare can cause acne.

If your skincare is properly suited for your complexion and concerns, the only time that you should experience breakouts due to usage will be when you are first establishing your routine. This is because, unfortunately, things do tend to get worse before they get better. Give any new routine at least a month or two to see whether it works well with your complexion as otherwise your skin will still be trying to purge any nasties and rebalance itself meaning you’ll end up in a never ending cycle if you change before this time. 

Skincare For Acne - Your Perfect Breakout Banishing Routine

The intricacies of your skincare routine will depend on your skin concerns and goals but the base of your routine should always be based on your skin type. With that in mind, we’ve outlined our recommended skincare routine for banishing acne below:

Cleanse: Dermassure Clear & Calm Foaming Cleanser - a gentle cleanser suitable for sensitive and irritated skin that will remove impurities and excess oils without stripping your skin and leaving you with that gross, tight feeling.

Treat: Dermassure Clear & Calm Flaxy Balance Serum - as the name suggests, this serum is designed to help clear your complexion of blemishes, calm irritated skin and balance out sebum production.

Moisturise: Dermassure Clear & Calm Matte Comfort Moisturiser - designed to provide hydration and deep nourishment while being light enough not to exacerbate issues with oily skin, this moisturiser can also help reduce shine and improve the appearance of blemishes.

Mask: Dermassure Clear & Calm Pore Refining Mask - designed to provide a deep cleanse, refine the appearance of pores and balance the complexion, this mask is the perfect weekly treatment for those with oily skin. 

Is There Any Skincare That Can Remove Acne Scars?

While scarring from acne is generally permanent, you can certainly reduce the appearance of scars through an appropriate skincare routine. Our Complexion Perfection Ultra Bright Serum is designed to brighten skin tone and reduce hyperpigmentation (spots that do not match the rest of your complexion). Because of this, it can be quite helpful in reducing the appearance of acne scarring.

You can also consider using our Manuka Honey Peel if your skin is not currently broken or experiencing severe irritation. This cult-favourite best seller provides ten benefits in just ten seconds and can be helpful in evening complexion, smoothing out skin and improving the effectiveness of other skincare products applied after use. 

Hot Tip: If you're going to use both of these, check out our Revive And Brighten Bundle.

Is There Anything Else I Can Do To Help Manage Oily Skin?

While you may hate your shine now, the good news is that the aging process is generally slower for those who naturally produce more oil as a significant factor in the appearance of aging is the amount of sebum that our skin produces. Having said that, we understand that you probably don’t want to be dealing with acne well into adult life just to have less wrinkles as you get older.

The best way to manage oily, problematic skin is to take a holistic approach. Make sure you’re eating right (you may even want to consider a skin clearing diet) and caring for your skin properly at all times, but especially following a workout. You should also focus on prioritising self-care, as the less stress you are under in general, the better your skin will look and feel. Apart from this, all you can really do is maintain an appropriate skincare routine and visit your dermatologist if you find that your complexion is having a significant impact on your quality of life.

If you’ve got any other questions, drop them in the comments below and we’ll be happy to help you out. Otherwise, have a beautiful day and we’ll see you next time.