Amplify Your Oily Skin Routine

By Shammi Mondal 

If you're continuously blotting oil off your face or dabbing layers of compact powder on your skin for grease control, you're not alone. Our tropical weather has brighter days, but it also brings scorching heat, parched and often oilier skin to contend with. The rise in temperature and humidity during warmer months, will alter how your skin reacts to your regular skincare products. So, while you're focusing on hydration, don't forget to make some skincare changes as well. Switch to products that are light, calming, and breathable. 

To get you started, we've created a simple skincare routine that will fix your oily skin problems. 

Step 1: Cleanse 

Sweat, pollution, and oil buildup can make your skin appear greasy during this season. Cleansing your face not only decreases oiliness but also makes you feel fresh. 

Look for foaming cleansers that contain salicylic acid, glycolic acid, or niacinamide. These compounds will deep clean your skin, manage oiliness, and help minimise acne by unclogging pores.

Step 2: Hydrate 

Isn't it fantastic to feel a cool face mist touch your skin on a heated, sweltering day? A facial mist is an excellent summer companion. It is ideal for use at any time of day to soothe and refresh your skin. 

Don't worry, a face mist will not make your skin oily. In fact, spraying a mist before moisturising reduces the amount of moisturiser required, making your skin less greasy. To calm and soothe your skin, use thermal water or an aloe-based face mist.

Step 3: Moisturise  

Due to the obvious increase in humidity, you may feel tempted to skip the moisturiser, but if you don't, your skin will produce more oil to maintain hydration levels. This results in additional oiliness. 

To hydrate your skin and keep oiliness at bay, use a lightweight, gel or water-based moisturiser.

Step 4: Protect 

We've all heard about the benefits of sunscreen and how it can protect your skin from UV damage. However, we understand how inconvenient it may be when your sunscreen begins to melt in the heat and causes you to sweat excessively. 

To avoid this, choose a non-comedogenic, gel-based matte sunscreen that will not clog your pores and will keep you comfortable throughout the day. Along with this, your lips can become sunburned, which is why we recommend using an SPF lip balm for nourishment and adequate sun protection.

Step 5: Repair 

A serum before bedtime can make a significant difference in the appearance of your skin. Serums are potent concentrations of active substances that are easily absorbed by the skin. 

Choose serums containing lipophilic substances such as niacinamide, salicylic acid, dimethicone, and glycolic acid since they enter deeper layers of the skin and prevent excess oil production.

Step 6: Exfoliate 

Heat, perspiration, and grime stick to your skin and clog your pores, causing acne outbreaks or excessive oiliness. This is where exfoliating comes in handy. 

Use a gentle chemical exfoliant, such as a BHA or glycolic acid exfoliator, to remove dirt, pollutants, and dead skin cells from your face, revealing new, healthy skin.