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Science-Backed Ways to Fight Oily Skin

Shiny skin might sound nice, but not when it’s a greasy mess! These science-backed ways to fight oily skin will give you the complexion you want and the healthy skin you need.

By GLAUX CHEM®Published 6 years ago 6 min read
Top Story - August 2018
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Photo by Roberto Delgado Webb on Unsplash

Oily skin can be a pretty difficult issue to deal with. People who have this skin type are way more likely to have bad breakouts, have excessively shiny skin, and may even have difficulty keeping their makeup in place due to the oil their skin produces. During the summer, these problems often magnify.

Contrary to popular belief, oily skin isn’t caused by a lack of hygiene. Oily skin is actually caused by having sebaceous glands that produce too much oil. It can happen for a variety of reasons, including diet, hormonal imbalances, or just having it be a hereditary issue.

Bad as oily skin can be, it’s relatively easy to control and if you have the right tools, effortless. Companies like GLAUX CHEM® have made it possible to reduce breakouts due to this problematic skin type. Scientists have spent decades researching, and have found the best ways to fight oily skin. Here are the best tips to try!

Eat raw foods.

Photo by Rose Elena on Unsplash

A very wise person once said, “You are what you eat.” When it comes to your skin, this is absolutely true. The old wive’s tale of avoiding certain food types if you want to control your skin’s oil production has some scientific evidence backing it.

Studies have shown that eating excessive sugar and eating deep fried foods can make oily skin worse. So, if you’re looking to fight oily skin, cutting that extra serving of fries from your diet is a great start. Your skin (and waistline) will thank you.

Strange as this may sound, your environment has a huge impact on how your skin looks and feels. Having a home that has low humidity levels can cause your skin’s oil glands to get irritated, which in turn, can spark excessive oil creation.

By keeping a humidifier in your home, you’re helping your skin stay irritation-free and ensuring that you get better skin every time you come home.

One of the most common skincare myths out there is the idea that eating oil will make your skin oily. This isn’t just untrue; it’s totally wrong! The truth is that having the right fats in your diet and skincare routine can be impressively effective at controlling oil production.

Studies have shown that diets that are high in oils that contain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are far more likely to have controlled oil production. In fact, dermatologists now believe that one of the best ways to fight oily skin is to have more omega-3 and -6 fatty acids in your diet.

Additionally, studies have also shown that even adding omega-3 fatty acids into your skincare routine can produce excellent results. Plenty of natural oils have been shown to offer this sebum-controlling effect, including hemp seed oil and pomegranate seed oil.

Using a product that is rich in hemp seed oil, such as GLAUX CHEM®’s Face and Body Oil, can immediately help reduce and balance oil production.

Reduce the amount of times you wash your skin.

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When you have oily skin, it’s very tempting to try to wash away the excess oil and hope that the newfound dryness will stick. Some may even go so far as to wash their skin more than four times a day to try to get the oil to stop being produced.

Doing this actually dries out skin, and depending on what you use to wash your face, can also irritate it to the point of a breakout. A better idea would be to limit the amount of times you wash your face to once or twice per day.

Avoid drinking caffeine and alcohol—and stick to water.

Photo by Tracey Hocking on Unsplash

Your skin’s oil-producing sebaceous glands are very sensitive to a number of different factors, and if you haven’t guessed, diet is one of them. What you drink is just as important as what you eat, and studies have shown that certain drink ingredients can cause skin to temporarily dry out.

When your skin temporarily dries out, you might think this is a good thing for oily skin. However, after your skin gets dry, your sebaceous oil glands will get a signal to produce even more oil. This, in turn, makes your skin oilier in the long run.

Both caffeine and alcohol are diuretics and have this drying effect, which is why dermatologists and dieticians both agree it’s best to avoid both if you want to fight oily skin.

Stop using scented soaps.

Photo by Matthew Tkocz on Unsplash

Drying oily skin out clearly doesn’t have the balancing effect that you need in order fight off excessive oil production. Most people who have dry skin don’t realize this, and will often try to use products that make their skin feel dry immediately after use—only to find their skin condition deteriorating with each use.

Scented soaps are one of the most common culprits for oily skin problems, and this is due to the fact that soap fragrances always contain alcohol in them. Using alcohol on your skin is not a good move, as it pulls water out of your skin and also irritates oil glands. A better option would be to get an unscented soap that is made with hemp oil or an equally nourishing oil.

Actually, using any form of harsh ingredients in your skincare routine should be avoided.

Photo by Christin Hume on Unsplash

Believe it or not, oily skin is usually very sensitive—even if it doesn’t seem like that at first. Harsh chemicals found in skincare products irritate the oil glands in your skin, which in turn, causes them to get inflamed. When sebaceous glands undergo inflammation, they kick into overdrive.

Harsh chemicals do not bode well for your skin, period. Using gentle products that have anti-inflammatory ingredients, therefore, can help you reduce the amount of excess shine you see in your skin.

Start hitting the gym.

Photo by Sawyer Bengtson on Unsplash

It’s no secret that having a good exercise routine can help you improve your overall health, but did you know that regular exercise also can help you get better skin? When you sweat it out at the gym, your body automatically goes into “detox mode” and works to improve your metabolism.

This helps fight oily skin in two ways. First, getting rid of excess toxins will naturally help your skin’s sebaceous oil glands balance themselves out. Second, getting a better metabolism tends to make every part of your body work more efficiently—and that includes your skin. The end result is a glowing complexion that doesn’t involve extra shine.

Mellow out.

Photo by Sawyer Bengtson on Unsplash

Stress is pretty terrible for you, and science backs this idea immensely. When you’re stressed, your body releases the hormones cortisol and adrenaline. Normally, these hormones help humans fight threats and also react better to surprise attacks. Too much stress? All it really does is cause weight gain and excessive oil production.

If you’re stressed, it may be time to reduce the amount of anxiety you have. Studies have shown that reducing stress is one of the easiest ways to fight oily skin. Yoga, anyone?

Moisturize!

Photo by ian dooley on Unsplash

Counterintuitive as it may be, moisturizing has been proven to be one of the best ways to fight oily skin and help reduce oil production. Studies have shown that massaging plant-based unrefined oils onto skin sends signals to your sebaceous glands to decrease oil production.

By regularly moisturizing with a natural oil, you’re making it easier to have clear, beautiful skin in the long run. This is why GLAUX CHEM®’s Face and Body Oil is one the best tools you can have when you’re trying to reduce the oiliness of your skin.

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About the Creator

GLAUX CHEM®

Our mission is to help those with skincare needs by developing natural products that are inspired by Mother Nature. Learn more at https://www.glauxchem.com.

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