Are we all on the verge of a menty b (*mental breakdown*)... because, same! It is a statistical fact that we are more stressed than we have ever been.
Australia’s Health Report, which conducted more than 755,000 health checks in Priceline pharmacy stores over a two-year period, found that Gen Z females are reporting more than triple the rate of high stress (17.3 per cent) compared to their Gen X parents (5.4 per cent). But can this increase in stress be responsible for your more oily than usual skin? Let’s get into it!
How do I know if you have oily skin?
First things first, how do you even know what skin type you have? Normal, dry, oily, combination or sensitive? If you have oily skin, the most common symptoms that you will notice are:
- visibility large pores
- makeup greasing up or wiping off easily during the day
- feeling the need to powder or blot your face throughout the day
- clogged pores or blackheads.
Can stress cause oily skin?
When our stress levels rise we also see a rise in cortisol, the main stress hormone, among other androgen hormones. With the rise in cortisol, we subsequently see an increase of oil production in our skin. So, the more stress, the more cortisol, which results in more oil.
Does oily skin cause acne?
So, not all people who suffer with acne necessarily have oily skin, however excess oil production can definitely be a factor as to what might be the underlying cause of your breakouts! Higher amounts of oil on our skin can lead to blocked pores, which is one of the key causes behind blemishes.
Can you get rid of oily skin?
The best prevention for oily skin is finding a strong skincare routine that works for you and sticking to it.
Cleansing with oily skin
We recommend washing your face regularly to prevent congestion build up on your skin. Cleansers that are well suited to oily skin will lift away excess oil, bacteria, and debris that oil can trap in your pores. Make sure you stay away from oil based cleansers and makeup removers as well. We would recommend using a gentle micellar water like this Bioderma one, paired with the tbh Skincare anti-bacterial cleanser morning and night.
Moisturising with oily skin
It might seem counterintuitive, but moisturising oily skin is an absolute MUST. Skipping this step in your skincare routine can actually lead to more oil production in your skin (shocking!!). Moisturising is one of the key ways you can regulate oil production in your skin. If you do not add moisture to your skin, it will become dehydrated and start to overcompensate by producing more sebum (another fancy word for oil).
Ingredients to avoid with oily skin
Finding the right products for oily skin isn’t necessarily all about avoiding oils altogether. Some oils can in fact benefit acne prone skin, you just need to know which ingredients to avoid.
Ingredients on the 'avoid' list include:
- Coconut oil
- Hazelnut oil
- Sunflower oil
- Almond oil
- Avocado oil
- Beeswax (cera alba)
- Cocoa butter
- Coconut oil
- Corn oil
- Cotton seed oil
- Mineral oil
- Beeswax
- Lanolin
Does drinking water help oily skin?
Is there ever any downside to drinking more water bestie? Did you know that oily skin can actually be a sign of dehydration? It’s our skin's way of telling us we’re dehydrated, our skin starts to overcompensate and produces more oil to fight the dehydration. Upping your water intake can help to re-balance oil levels in your skin.
Diet and oily skin
Does eating oily food cause oily skin?
This is another skincare myth, (thank god because I could never give up fries!). Whilst many people believe that oil, sugar, carbs and grease lead to our flare ups, we’re here to tell you that this isn’t necessarily true. There is very little evidence behind this theory. The fats in our diets don’t directly affect the oil production in our skin, YAY!
Does dairy cause oily skin?
If you love cheese as much as I do you may be a little sad about what I’m about to say next…this one, unfortunately, does have some truth behind it. Cow's milk contains casein and whey protein, which is thought to increase the production of certain hormones in the body that are linked to an increase in oil production. This can in turn, be linked to an exacerbation of acne. If you can’t function without your morning coffee like me, try switching to an alternate milk like almond, or oat! And aside from that, we are not fans of encouraging you to cut out things from your diet altogether. It’s all about moderation bestie, so just keep an eye out for how much diary you are consuming day to day.
