Oily skin is a skin type whose sebaceous glands produce more sebum than the skin can handle without shine, most often in the middle of the face. If you are looking for cosmetics for oily skin, take a look at the DIAMANT toner or the GLYCOLIC 10% night serum, or let our Advisor guide you.
What oily skin is and why it happens
Oily skin occurs when the sebaceous glands work excessively and produce more sebum than the skin needs for its natural protection. The result is a shiny surface, more visible pores and a tendency to shine just a few hours after washing. Sebum production is influenced most by genetics, which determines the size and sensitivity of the sebaceous glands from birth, and by hormones, especially androgens. These rise during puberty, over the menstrual cycle and in periods of stress, and they stimulate the sebaceous glands directly. This skin type is somewhat more often associated with male skin, because testosterone keeps the sebaceous glands more active over the long term, but it appears just as much in women of every age. The mechanism of sebum production is described in more detail by studies on sebum production (source: the PubMed database).
Internal causes are joined by external influences that can make oily skin worse, even though they do not cause it themselves. Heat and high humidity stimulate the sebaceous glands, which is why the oily shine returns faster in summer than in the cooler months. Paradoxically, the opposite extreme leads to the same result: harsh, degreasing cleansing and frequent washing with hot water. The skin feels clean for a moment afterwards, but then makes up for the lost protective layer with even more sebum production. This is called the rebound effect and it is one of the most common reasons why skin only gets worse with overly intensive care. The solution is not to dry the skin out, but to give it gentle cleansing and light, non-comedogenic hydration, which tells it that it does not have to guard its oiliness itself.
Oily skin, combination skin or acne? How to tell them apart
Oily skin, combination skin and acne are often mixed up in everyday speech, although they are three different things. If the shine and larger pores appear evenly across the whole face including the cheeks, it is usually evenly oily skin, which is what this article is about. If, on the other hand, only the area of the forehead, nose and chin, the so-called T-zone, is oily while the cheeks are rather normal or dry, it is most likely combination skin, which needs a different combination of care. You will find more about it in the article do you have combination skin. Increased sebum production is not acne in itself either, although it is among its risk factors, together with clogged pores and inflammation. If you are mainly dealing with spots and inflamed lesions, not just shine and larger pores, you will find a detailed approach in the article acne: causes and care. The distinction matters above all because the routine for each skin type looks a little different.
What a skincare routine for oily skin looks like
A routine for oily skin works best when it is gentle and regular, not aggressive. In the morning, brief cleansing with lukewarm water and toning is enough, which helps skin look more even without drying it out. The DIAMANT toner suits this, with a composition built on azeloglycine, prickly pear and hyaluronic acid, complemented by salicylic acid. In the evening, two to three times a week, you can add the GLYCOLIC 10% night serum with glycolic acid and salicylic acid, which helps the skin gently shed dead cells and look less shiny. On the other evenings a light non-comedogenic cream is enough, softening the skin without the feeling of a greasy film. During the day it is also worth not forgetting a sunscreen in a light, non-greasy texture, because the sun in the long run worsens the look of enlarged pores and of darker marks left by previous blemishes. Add a new ingredient, for example glycolic acid, to your routine gradually, once a week at first, and watch how your skin reacts.
| Step | Morning | Evening |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Cleansing | Gentle gel with lukewarm water | Gentle gel or micellar water |
| 2. Toning | DIAMANT toner on a cotton pad | DIAMANT toner on a cotton pad |
| 3. Care | Light non-comedogenic cream | GLYCOLIC 10% serum (2 to 3 times a week) or cream |
| 4. Protection | Cream with sun protection | - |
What to avoid with oily skin
The most common mistake is the belief that oily skin has to be degreased as thoroughly as possible. Harsh scrubs, alcohol-based toners and more than two washes a day only dry the skin out and trigger the rebound effect already mentioned, in which the skin compensates for it with even more sebum. So try to avoid these habits.
- Washing with hot water more than twice a day.
- Alcohol-based toners and harsh degreasing gels.
- Scratching or scrubbing the face with a rough washcloth.
- Skipping hydration on the grounds that the skin "does not need" it.
- Frequently touching your face with your hands during the day.
- Heavy, oily creams, which do not suit oily skin.
Oily skin in summer and in winter
Oily skin changes over the year, and it is worth adapting your routine. In summer, heat and humid air stimulate the sebaceous glands, so the shine returns faster and your skin may need some extra gentle mattifying during the day, for example with blotting papers for oily skin rather than another wash. In winter, heated, drier air takes moisture from the skin, so it can be dehydrated at the same time, feel tight and still be shiny. In this period slightly richer, yet still light hydration helps, giving the skin moisture without the feeling of a greasy film. Watching your skin through the year and making small adjustments to your routine is a more natural path than one unchanging routine for the whole year.
Did you know…
Did you know that aggressive degreasing of the skin triggers the so-called rebound effect, in which the skin makes up for the lost protective layer with even more sebum production?