Perhaps even harder to deal with than combination skin, oily sensitive skin care is even more difficult. However, do not think that your greasy skin is unnatural. The oil produced is the result of glands in the middle layer of your skin and is used to keep your skin moist. In some people, the sebaceous glands make too much oil and the result is oily skin.
How to Know if You Have Oily Skin
The majority of teenagers have oily skin because of the rampant hormones produced at this time. However, if you are past the age of puberty, you can find out if you have oily skin by staring into a mirror.
Is your skin shiny, particularly in the so-called T-zone? This is an area on your face that extends from your chin up your nose to the point between your eyes, and also horizontally between the center points of each eye.
It is a good idea to search for this shiny layer straight after you wake up, as it may be hard to notice during the day. If you see it then you probably have oily skin.
The greasiness of your hair can also be an indicator whether you have oily skin.
Also, if you use foundation, it will begin to disappear after a few hours. If you find yourself continually dabbing your face with powder or a handkerchief, it is likely that you have oily skin.
You should search on other areas of your body as well.
Outbursts of blemishes and spots on the face, upper back, shoulders, chest and arms can all be indicators that you have oily skin. However, this is not always the best way to look because other factors like stress can cause these same symptoms.
How to Take Care of Oily Skin
It is the immediate reaction of many oily skin sufferers to try to get rid of those nasty oils that block the pores. This is the worst thing that you could do.
It will only result in the sebaceous glands fighting back at you by pumping up their rate of oil production in an attempt to replace the oil they have lost.
The oils are also necessary as they are the skin’s natural moisturizer and oily skin can sometimes be very sensitive. Do not try to get rid of oil. Just keep it under control. Removing it will simply lead to bigger problems.
However, you do need to keep your skin clean so dirt, bacteria and dead skin cells don’t block the pores and give you a face full of pimples. Your skin is fragile, so clean it gently. Never use hot water for washing your skin, just warm. Try to exfoliate about once a week using a non-abrasive agent so that your skin is kept clear of anything that will clog the pores.
Do not over-moisturize, as this will clog your glands. Always follow directions on the pack. Make sure you use cosmetics that do not contain oil and search for those that they say are non-comedogenic or non-acnegenic.
Non-comedogenic means that the product does not contain ingredients that are known to clog the pores of the skin.
Non-acnegenic means that the product does not contain oils, fragrances or other ingredients that could irritate the skin and cause acne or make it worse.