How To Rebalance Oily Skin During A Heatwave
Posted by Emma Moseley
When a heatwave comes along it’s often half unexpected, and you’re left in a predicament wondering how to care for your oily skin when it’s at its most unbalanced. In such situations it can be tempting to reach for harsh products to control the excess sebum your skin is producing due to the rise in humidity and external temperature. However, a good habit to adopt as someone with oily skin is to focus on rebalancing your skin rather than simply just ‘dealing’ with the excess sebum once it has already begun to surface to the outermost layer of skin.
With this said, let’s look into some simple ways in which you can gently rebalance your oily skin with little effort.
Don’t increase the frequency of cleansing
Stick to cleansing twice daily ONLY. It’s needless to wash your face midway through the day, dispense and use double the amount of product you’d typically use, or use more than two types of cleansers at a time. You should be using a water based cleanser in the morning to balance oily in skin in preparation for the day. Throughout the day, airborne bacteria and polution is attracted to your skin, and if they aren't washed away properly, they could potentially contribute to ageing, pigmentation and breakouts. Therefore, double cleanse is still a must in the evening routine. Starting with an oil based cleanser to break down the initial layer of makeup, oil and dirt from your face. Once you've removed the surface grime, it's time for a fully-fledged water-based cleanse. By double cleansing, you are removing dead skin cells and impurities from your skin that may lead to pesky breakouts and dullness, which means the leave-on skincare products that follow can better work their magic.
A sensible, and healthy skin promoting cleansing routine is one that removes some of skin’s natural oils but not all. Overly cleansing skin will do nothing but the opposite of making skin less oily. Skin’s natural defense mechanism is to produce natural moisturising factors to protect the epidermis from external aggressors, hence why it will excessively secrete sebum if deprived of essential moisture through over cleansing.
Opt for cleansers which are not too acidic or too alkaline. Reach for cleansers that have a low-neutral pH level of between 5.0-6.5. This will further help to keep skin balanced with the absence of astringents. It’s a good idea to use cleansers with Salicylic Acid, such as D'ALBA PIEDMONT Peptide No-Sebum Mild Gel Cleanser to address the different forms of acne that often come along with having oily skin as well as to balance skin and help minimize pigmentation. Salicylic Acid (BHA) lifts away excess sebum whilst also attracting and storing moisture from the products you layer thereafter.
D'ALBA PIEDMONT Peptide No-Sebum Mild Gel Cleanser
Decrease or limit the number of products in your routine
Less is more. During daylight hours of Summertime try to use only the basics: cleanser, toner, serum, moisturiser and sunscreen. The less layers you wear the more comfortable your oily skin will be. If you have observed that you’re having frequent breakouts during Summer - more than what is the norm for you at any other season of the year - you may also benefit from maintaining a minimalistic approach to skincare for your evening routine as well as your daytime skincare regime. Hold-off the 10-step skincare routine for a while – which may I add contains steps that should be used interchangeably throughout a week rather than everyday – and again stick to only necessary products until the weather becomes milder once again.
A basic skincare routine should contain antioxidants to pair with sunscreen to warn off free radical damage. Propolis is a great example of an ingredient which holds plenty of antioxidants but doesn’t interfere with sebum production. It’s often used in light consistency serums/ampoules and moisturisers perfect for creating thin layers of skin care which don’t make oily skin feel weighed down.
Use clay masks
Clay masks are reliable for soaking up excess sebum, however they are intended for occasional use once or twice weekly. The majority of clay masks contain Bentonite clay and other forms of clay which absorb excess oils well. When used from time-to-time they help to semi-mattify skin, yet not to an extent where skin is deprived of all moisture.
The Some By Mi Super Matcha Pore Clean Clay Mask is a prime example of a clay mask which works to both prevent moisture loss, and remove just the right amount of sebum. The Matcha (green tea) delivers antioxidants to skin, whereas the Heartleaf extracts soothe redness and inflammation.
SOME BY MI Super Matcha Pore Clean Clay Mask
Clay mask tips:
- Only apply clay masks to pinpointed areas of your face if your skin isn’t oily all over.
- Never leave on a clay mask for longer than the time stated on the product packaging to prevent sagging or tightening of skin subsequent to skin dehydration.
- After rinsing off clay masks, you have just 30 seconds to apply a hydrating toner or a facial mist to replenish lost moisture to maintain that healthy moisture-to-oil balance within skin.
Use water-based moisturisers and sunscreens
Gel-creams/gel type moisturisers and sunscreens suit oily skin types best as they hold plenty of hydrating ingredients minus the rich emollients (or at least contain less emollients and oils). All skin types thrive with the use of emollients, some plant-based oils and moisturising factors which are naturally present in skin. Although moisturisers and sunscreens which have a low-molecular weight with a high concentration of ingredients such as Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol, and good old Glycerin don’t suffocate pores by sitting on the surface of skin. On the contrary, they absorb into the skin quickly to supply sufficient hydration without adding richness. Here are our lightweight moisturisers recommendations which keep your skin hydrated and won't clog your pores.
Sun protection is a must during the day, so choose a refreshing, non-greasy sunscreen will keep your skin stay shine-free.
- The d’Alba UV Essence Water full Sun Cream (SPF 50+ PA++++) has a watery cream texture that does a fantastic job at providing broad spectrum UV protection without unwanted greasiness or stickiness.
- Innisfree Intensive Long-lasting Sunscreen (EX SPF50+ PA++++) not only provides strong UV protection, but is also highly water-resistant. The creamy formula dries quickly without any white cast, leaving skin refreshed and ready, with zero sticky residue.
- Shangpree Phyto Essence UV Sunscreen (SPF50+ and PA++++) is a lightweight and non-sticky sun cream with a fresh and easy-absorbed texture, leave a natural finish without oiliness.