Pollution, poor diet, emotional and hormonal upsets aren’t always kind to your skin – and particularly the skin of your face. If you have oily skin, things can be even tougher, as this skin type finds it difficult to regulate itself. Absolution gives some tips and advice for oily skin, including the ideal beauty routine, to keep it purified and radiant every day.
How do you recognize oily skin?
"Oily skin" is skin that produces too much sebum. It's easy to distinguish from other skin types as it's characterized by three specific factors:
- Oily skin feels thicker and tends to shine, even when it's perfectly clean. Unlike combination skin, which is shiny mainly in the T-zone, with oily skin, the face is shiny all over.
- The reason the skin looks shiny is because pores are dilated and produce more sebum than necessary. This makes the skin oily and shiny, while also making it difficult for the skin to find its balance.
- Finally, all this excess sebum can lead to blemishes, blackheads and clogged pores. It all begins with an imbalance in the sebaceous glands, which suddenly produce excessive amounts of sebum. This sebum builds up in pores, which dilate and eventually become clogged – leading to irritation, redness, blackheads and spots!
Common misperceptions about oily skin
We tend to think of oily skin as being more resilient than other skin types. While it's true that oily skin is generally thicker, it can also be more prone to sensitivity. One of the main reasons for this is that many products designed for oily skin have harsh formulas that strip the skin and weaken the epidermis – which then produces even more sebum to defend itself. Another cause can be dehydration: people with oily skin often confuse hydration (provided by water) with nourishment (provided by oil), and tend to avoid using moisturizers as they're worried it will make their skin even more shiny. Yet, ironically, if the skin lacks moisture, it will produce more sebum to compensate!
It's clear that oily skin needs specific skincare products and a gentle, caring routine. All too often, the formulas of conventional skincare products do not address the real needs of problem skin. If you use harsh products and you're not gentle with oily skin, it can lead to a vicious circle: the more you do to your skin with the aim of purifying it, the more harm you may do!
What's the best beauty routine for oily skin?
In order to purify oily skin and regulate it over the long term, opt for a simple routine and active ingredients that gently cleanse deep down and regulate.
Cleanse without being harsh
In the evening, use a gentle, organic cleanser that works to purify and regulate the skin. This first, essential step in your skincare routine will remove dead cells and traces of sebum that have built up during the day, and which could clog pores and dull the complexion.
Le Nettoyant Pureté is a gel cleanser that removes makeup and cleanses the skin, while gently soothing and restoring balance. Formulated with White Willow, Oat and Roman Chamomile, it helps to smooth the skin and stimulate cell renewal, while its deep cleansing action helps to clear blemishes.
Purify then regulate with an Essence Botanique
Oily skin is considered to be "problem skin" and needs more advanced, non-drying skincare products. If you want to purify oily skin, don't even think about using conventional toners made with alcohol and other harsh ingredients! Instead, opt for a different kind of toner, like an Essence Botanique! With their hybrid texture, our Essence Botanique formulas care for the skin and make it more receptive to the products applied afterwards.
L'Essence Botanique PURETÉ is ideal for gently purifying the skin and getting it ready for a long, busy day. It's formulated with Myrtle (purifying and astringent properties), Burdock (fights blemishes) and Hemp (rich in omega 3 and 6, linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid). Hemp oil helps to protect against environmental aggressors and provides skin with elements that are essential for its structure and to keep it looking young. This is the ideal skincare product if you want to purify your skin while giving it the hydration it needs. It also helps to tighten pores, increase microcirculation and regulate sebum production.
Use it in the morning to stimulate the skin and help protect it from external aggressors. In the evening, use it as the final step in your cleansing routine, and to prep the skin for your usual skincare products.
How to use it: pour a few drops into your hands then apply all over the face, lightly pressing and patting into the skin with the palms.
Once or twice a week, to complete your purifying skincare routine, apply Le Masque Pureté Détoxifiant – a deep-cleansing mask that absorbs toxins and tightens pores. It leaves skin feeling soft (not at all tight!) and radiant.
Moisturize without clogging pores
Be careful not to mistake oily skin for well-hydrated skin. In fact, it can be quite the opposite! Every morning and evening, after cleansing, apply a non-toxic, non-polluting moisturizing cream that's absolutely safe for your skin. La Crème de Santé is the ideal organic skincare product to moisturize and regulate your skin. Rich in prebiotics and botanicals, it's perfect if you have skin that can play up occasionally, and provides it with all the ingredients it needs to function properly and glow! Formulated with Aloe Vera, Calendula and an extract of Anthyllis (derived from a plant with adaptogenic qualities), it helps to stimulate microcirculation, regulate sebum production and refine skin's texture. It also contains Babassu oil from Amazonia, rich in tocotrienols, with antioxidant properties. Finally, Lemon Balm and Hyssop work to purify and regulate the skin, while their anti-inflammatory properties help to calm skin reactions.
If your skin is dehydrated (because yes, oily skin can also be dehydrated skin!), mix this cream with Le Sérum Anti-Soif – ideal if you want to plump your skin without making it shine.
A purifying trio for oily skin
There are times of year when it's much more tempting to drink cocktails than to stick to a skin detox routine! We totally understand this, but your skin may suffer the consequences... When this happens, why not adopt three skincare products that will help to restore your skin’s balance? L’Essence Botanique PURETÉ, La Crème de Santé, Le Masque Pureté Détoxifiant… They'll bring your skin all the benefits it needs after those fun and enjoyable (but less skin-friendly!) times!
Look at your lifestyle habits
- Oily skin is sometimes the result of an overly rich diet. If you eat lots of sugary and greasy food, this can "saturate" your skin, and blemishes will appear. If you want to keep your skin fresh and healthy, avoid eating too much food that's rich in lipids and sugars. And go easy on the alcohol. You may enjoy it, but your skin won't enjoy it quite so much!
- While we all know that smoking is bad for the skin, if your skin is oily the effects can be even worse, as dilated pores will directly absorb the particles from cigarette smoke.
- Exercise regularly and try to make sure you get at least seven to eight hours of sleep a night. Sleep is one of the keys to more beautiful, more healthy skin.