Oily Skin Benefits: The Advantages and Disadvantages of Oily Skin
The Skinsmith | 1st September 2022
Most of us with oily skin know the disadvantages that go with it, but there are some very cool advantages to oily skin as well so let’s take a look at why oily skin can be a good thing!
What Are the Benefits of Oily Skin?
Firstly, why does skin get oily? Everyone’s skin contains sebaceous glands, these glands are located almost everywhere on our body. They are attached to a hair follicle and are most common on the face & scalp.
However, you won’t find sebaceous glands on the palms, hands or soles of our feet! Sebaceous glands produce a substance called sebum or more commonly known as “oil” and its purpose is to moisturise the hair and the skin to keep them both healthy. An oily skin produces excess amounts of sebum whereas a dry skin doesn’t produce enough.
Now let’s look at why oily skin is good and can be an advantage over other skin types:
Example of a seabaceous gland infection.
Oily Skin Creates a Natural Sun Protection Barrier
We all have a natural skin barrier which is a protective layer on the surface of our skin. It is made up of dead skin cells, lipids and fatty acids. This vital layer provides our whole body with a layer of protection against external environmental stressors such as; UV, bacteria and impurities, as well as other harmful external factors. This barrier also helps to keep moisture in our skin keeping it healthy and hydrated.
UV is one of the main factors when it comes to skin aging and damage. We are continually exposed to UVA and UVB rays on sunny days, cloudy days and even when we are inside next to a window! UV causes damage in several ways; it breaks down collagen and elastin fibres which gives strength and support to our skin as well as damaging our skin cells directly by causing them to age prematurely. Excess exposure to UV rays can lead to DNA damage as well as cellular damage. Damaged cells can lead to visible ageing signs that show on the surface of our skin. These signs include, uneven skin tone, wrinkles and sagging.
A healthy skin barrier provides a layer of protection against UV rays reducing the damaging effects caused by the sun. An oily skin tends to have a healthier skin barrier as the higher amount of oils in the skin maintains a stronger skin barrier which protects in one piece as it needs those lipids and fatty acids to function as it should. A dry skin on the other hand can have a compromised or broken skin barrier which could leave “holes” in this protective layer, leaving your skin exposed to stressors!
Oily Skin Prevents Dry Skin
We’ve looked at how oily skin produces excess oils or lipids and that these oils help to moisturise the skin and hair, we also know these oils help to maintain a healthy skin barrier function to provide better protection for your skin.
Dry skin by its very nature doesn’t produce enough of these moisturising oils causing the skin to become dry, rough and possibly sensitised. Due to the amount of oil, oily skin produces it means having oily skin actually prevents dry skin! We are often asked “can your skin be oily and dry", and the answer is yes it can. This type of skin is often referred to as combination skin, as you will have areas of oily and areas of dry skin.
Generally, if you have a combination skin type you will find you are oily in the “T-zone” which is across the forehead and down the nose, whilst the cheeks and chin are dry. Following a good daily routine for oily skin is very important as it will help to balance the oil production and minimise, shine and breakouts. Your daily routine for oily skin should consist of a cleanser that removes excess oil but doesn’t strip away the good oils, a toner to balance and hydrate the skin and a light-weight moisturiser or hydrator to add vital nutrients to the skin without feeling too rich or creamy. A good example of a moisturiser for oily skin is Stone Crop Hydrating Gel with soothing stone crop to balance and heal the skin.
Oily Skin Can Slow Down Aging Skin
A dry skin will often show the visible signs of aging more easily than an oily skin. This is partly due to the dryness in the skin, fine lines and wrinkles can appear more apparent as a drier surface will show creases more easily than a moisturised one. A dry skin can also become inflamed and inflammation can be a cause of premature aging in the skin and body. An oily skin is often a thicker skin than a dry skin as it is plumped and has a healthy skin barrier, the more plumped oily skin will tend to hide or minimise wrinkles and fine lines. The healthier skin barrier on an oily skin will help to keep out external stressors such as UV that can cause premature aging.
Ensure you maintain a balanced and healthy oily skin by following these oily skin care tips:
Step 1: Cleanse Your Skin
Cleansing is very important as it removes excess oils and impurities, however make sure you do not use a cleanser that is too harsh, stripping away too much oil, leaving your skin feeling dry.
As odd as it might sound a cleansing oil can be the best option for an oily skin as it removes the “bad” oils but not the good oils protecting your skin barrier. Our fave cleansers for oily skin include: Stone Crop Gel Wash and Stone Crop Cleansing Oil, and if you have breakouts as well Clear Skin Probiotic Cleanser will help to reduce breakouts and promote healing.
Step 2: Use a Toner
Follow your cleanser with a toner to rebalance the pH of the skin, help to minimise pores and help to add hydration to soothe the skin. Use a toner that does not contain alcohol as alcohol removes those vital oils and can irritate the skin's surface.
Instead, opt for one of Eminences Toniques or Mists and our favourites for oily skin include:
- Lime Refresh Tonique to refresh and balance
- Mangosteen Revitalising Mist to help minimise pores
- Stone Crop Hydrating Mist to soothe and heal.
Step 3: Try Serums Or Face Masques for Oily Skin
Optional oily skin care tips such as masques and serums can target specific concerns that result from oily skin such as larger pores, excess oil and breakouts.
You can include serums into your daily skincare routine for oily skin and add a masque 2-3 times per week. Clear Skin Willow Bark Booster Serum is formulated for oily skin specifically and Raspberry Pore Refining Masque is a delicious option full of antioxidants to revitalise oily skin.
Step 4: Utilise Moisturisers for Oily Skin
Moisturise! Although this seems odd, oily skin needs to be moisturised to help nourish the skin cells and promote cell renewal and healing. Look for a lightweight or oil-free moisturiser such as Stone Crop Hydrating Gel or Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Hydrator.
Oily Skin Disadvantages
As you can see there are a few advantages to having an oily skin, however there can also be some disadvantages so let’s explore those in more detail:
Excess Oil Causes Clogged Pores
Dead skin cells, impurities and excess oil become trapped inside open pores on the skin causing a plug which we refer to as a clogged pore.
A clogged pore can lead to a blackhead or comedone as the plug builds up inside the pore and becomes exposed to the air, the air oxidises the end on the plug turning it darker, they look like little black dots within the skin. Mostly found around the nose and chin area where pores tend to be slightly larger to begin with as the skin is more stretched over those types of areas.
To help treat clogged pores you need an effective cleansing routine with exfoliation to remove the dead skin cells and balance the excess oil production. If you notice you have clogged pores the first step is to use a cleanser that contains an exfoliant. Salicylic Acid is a gentle exfoliant that is great at cleaning out pores. Try Clear Skin Probiotic Cleanser or Acne Advanced Cleansing Foam for a deep but gentle cleanse. Morning and night is best to ensure your skin is cleansed properly to minimise the chance of clogging pores in the first place.
You may need to add an exfoliation product to your routine 1-2 times per week to make sure all the dead skin cells are removed effectively. Our choice would be Clear Skin Willow Bark Exfoliating Peel, simply apply to the skin and leave for 3 minutes, no need to neutralise or rinse!
You should try to treat clogged pores if you notice them as they can get infected and lead to breakouts or infection.
Your Skin Appears Greasy
Oily skin is often referred to as greasy skin because the excess oil gives skin that tell-tale shine! The excess oil on the surface of the skin can be a disadvantage as it can trap dirt and impurities which can lead to clogged pores as mentioned above.
It can also be an issue for make-up wearers as make-up can look patchy or even wear off faster. You can help to reduce shine throughout the day with a balancing moisturiser such as Clear Skin Probiotic Moisturiser or Eight Greens Whip Moisturiser.
You can learn more about this in our blog, "Skincare for Oily Skin: 6 Effective Must Try Products".
More Prone to Acne Breakouts
Generally if you have acne or breakouts you have an oily skin too. Acne is formed in a similar way to clogged pores. Clogged pores reamin open to the surface of the skin where the plug oxidises and causes the blackhead.
Acne results from a clogged pore that becomes infected when bacteria also gets trapped in the clogged pore. The pore fills with a white pus and can become inflamed creating a redness around the pus filled tip.
Controlling acne is the best solution, start with a daily skincare routine for oily skin as outlined earlier, this will go a long way in the treatment and prevention of acne. However, there can be other causes of acne including; diet, hormonal imbalances and even medication.
If you find you are suffering with moderate to severe acne a gentle yet effective treatment to start with is our Acne Advanced Treatment System with encapsulated salicylic acid and antiseptic herb blend, it contains a cleanser, masque and hydrator to help to control, treat and prevent acne breakouts in an all in one system.
7) You Can’t Skip A Wash
Something that people may not realise is that if you suffer from oily skin, skipping a wash can be a problem. Because oily skin produces too much oil it is imperative that you clean away the build-up of oil from the skin regularly.
Oily skin benefits from cleansing twice per day. While we sleep the excess oil will be mixing with dead skin cells and can cause clogged pores as mentioned earlier. At the end of the day the excess oil will have mixed not only with dead skin cells but possibly, dirt, impurities from pollutants and if you wear make-up that too.
Cleansing your skin gently removes the build-up on the surface of the skin and leaves your skin fresh and healthy. It will reduce the frequency of clogged pores which can potentially lead to pimples as well. Cleansing with the right cleanser helps to balance the excess oil, slowing down production and should also nourish your skin which in turn will maintain and healthier skin barrier, that protective layer on the skin vital for a healthy skin and body.
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Alternatively, you can identify the ideal oily skincare product for your oily skincare routine by speaking to our experienced team today on 01305 300950 or by emailing [email protected]. The entire Skinsmith team looks forward to hearing from you soon.
