MEN'S SKINCARE FOR OILY SKIN
A common question we get from men is, what is a good men's skincare routine for oily skin? Men's skin is about 20% thicker than women's and naturally produces more sebum (oil). Thicker, oily skin has the benefits of maintaining a healthy skin barrier as well as less fine lines and wrinkles as the skin ages. But it also comes with some downsides as well. Oily skin men tend to develop a greasy shine on the face, more specifically on the forehead and nose, dubbed the T-Zone. Oily skin men can also be prone to clogged pores, blackheads and acne. These issues can become an annoyance and more noticeable without proper skincare. A simple skincare routine with the right men's skin care products can help combat and minimize oily skin, keep pore clear and minimize breakouts for a healthier looking complexion.
Do Not Over Cleanse
It’s a common myth that if you have oily skin, you should wash your face more often. Unfortunately, over cleansing may be the cause of your oily skin problem. If you don't have the right men's face wash and you cleanse your face too often within a 24-hour cycle, you can strip your skin of its natural oils. This causes your skin to produce more oil in an attempt to hydrate and rebalance your skin, which is a natural reaction.
Choose the Best Men's Face Wash
If you use a harsh cleanser, like a bar soap, it will strip your skin of its natural oils, raise its pH and cause your skin to go in to overdrive and produce more oil. Choosing a best face wash for men that is gentle, pH balanced and non drying is key for men with oily skin. Using a gentle men's face wash in the morning and night to rinse away impurities without stripping the skin of its natural oils so it is ready to be hydrated with a daily men's face moisturize.
Do Use A Men's Face Moisturize Day & Night
Another common myth is that men with oily skin do not need to moisturize. Moisturizing after cleansing is key in replenishing, hydrating, and restoring your skin’s natural balance. For daytime, look for a men's face moisturizer with SPF and for nighttime, look for a nourishing moisturizer to replenish and revitalize the skin. When your skin is moisturized daily, it will naturally produce less oil. So, say goodbye to an oily t-zone, clogged pores and blackheads on nose!
Do Exfoliate with A Face Scrub for Men
Exfoliating with a best men's face scrub twice weekly is key in caring for oily skin. It helps to slough off dead skin cells, keep pores clean, allowing moisturizes to hydrate and absorb deeper into the skin. Two times per week to start is recommended for men with oily skin.
Oily skin men should also consider a toner / exfoliator with salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid that is oil soluble and helps to combat oily skin. It penetrates deeper into the pores to melt away excess sebum keeping it from hardening, clogging pores and forming blackheads. This is an essential for oily skin. Look for a toner / exfoliator with 1-2% salicylic acid.
Drink Water & Stay Hydrated
Oily skin can be the body’s response to dehydration and pH levels that are out of balance. Water is your body's principal chemical component and makes up about 50% to 70% of your body weight. Your skin and organs need water to hydrate and to detoxify the body. In general, you should try to drink at least 32 ounces of water a day. Keep in mind excess coffee, tea, sugary foods and beverages will dehydrate the skin.
PORE CLOGGING INGREDIENTS TO AVOID
We’ve put together a short list of pore clogging ingredients that might be worth steer clear of if you have oily skin and prone to acne.
PETROLEUM JELLY
It's very thick, sitting on the surface of the skin and can suffocated the pores, leading to oil and dead cell buildup that can ultimately turn into a pimple.
COCOA BUTTER
Although coco butter has beneficial properties to moisturize the skin but it is also high in oleic acid, a fatty acid, which tends to be more comedogenic and puts it at a high rating of 4 on the comedogenic scale. An alternative that's just as moisturizing but won't clog pores is shea butter, which is non-comedogenic.
COCONUT OIL
Rated 4 on the comedogenic scale. While coconut oil can be pore clogging, you would have to see where it is on the ingredient list. If it is lower on the list, it may not affect your skin. However, if you are prone to acne then it might be best to skip it.
SILICONE
Even though silicones are a 1 on the comedogenic scale they can still potentially cause pimples in some, especially if you are prone to acne.
LANOLIN
Lanonin has a rating of 4 on the comedogenic scale making them highly comedogenic. Lanolin comes in many versions. The two most likely versions to consistently clog pores regardless of your skin type: acetylated lanolin and acetylated lanolin alcohol.
MARULA OIL
Coming in at 3-4 on the comedogenic scale, theoretically not suitable for those prone to acne.
PORE CLOGGING INGREDIENTS CHECKER
A quick google search will reveal that there are a plethora of skincare companies and clinics with their own pore clogging ingredients list. They also have online apps to rank where the specific ingredient falls on the comedogenic scale to help you make more informed decisions on your men’s skincare choices. A word of caution is to use these tools as a general guideline and make your final decision based on the product's over all formulation.
Putting your best face forward doesn’t have to be complicated. Men with oily skin should start with a simple skincare routine. Start with the holy grail: best face wash for men, a face scrub for men, men's face moisturizer with SPF and a replenishing non pore clogging antioxidant moisturizer at night. Let your skin get use to the products (typically 3-4 weeks) then add new products like green clay mask and hydrating face mask for men to level up your skincare routine.