Do People with Oily Skin Need Moisturizers?

If you have acne-prone or oily skin, you probably wonder if slathering on moisturizer could be considered as a little bit excessive. That thought actually makes sense since your skin already produces excess oil, and you’re probably trying to lessen the shine on your face. However, dermatologists say that skipping the moisturizer is a big no because it is an essential part of a basic skincare routine. It may sound a little bit counterintuitive to add more moisture to a skin that already seems greasy, but if you’re skipping moisturizers just because of that reason, then you might be doing your skin more harm rather than helping it.

What Causes Oily Skin?

According to dermatologists, oily skin occurs when there’s an overproduction of sebum by the skin’s oil glands. Sebum is what helps our skin barrier be hydrated and protected. However, it can cause our skin to look more greasy, shiny, and oily when it is overproduced. Dermatologists also say that if you have oily skin, it may be caused by hormones, genetics, and improper skincare.

The excess sebum that’s produced by over-productive sebaceous glands can also accumulate and clog your pores. This is why it can make your skin prone to blackheads, whiteheads, and even acne. This is why if you have oily skin, you need to be careful when it comes to keeping your skin balanced.

Do people with oily skin need as much moisture compared to other skin types?

According to experts, having oily skin does not necessarily mean that it is hydrated. For starters, the words “hydrated” and “dry” are often used interchangeably, and they can indicate different underlying issues, especially when it comes to your skin. Dry skin means your skin lacks sebum and dehydrated skin lacks water. This is why if your skin is oily, it’s probably not dry. However, it does not necessarily mean that it could be dehydrated.

Sebum is just one of the protective barriersto our skin. If you have oily skin, then it’s probably doing its work and keeps your skin hydrated. But, this does not mean that you can skip out on moisturizing your skin thoroughly. It might be tempting to avoid moisturizing your skin if you have oily skin. However, it is still essential to keep your skin hydrated to protect that skin barrier.

Experts say that if you skip out on moisturizing your skin regularly or try to dry out that excess sebum by over-exfoliating your skin or using oil-stripping products, then you might be doing your skin more harm than good.

The fact of the matter is if you overly dehydrated your skin, it can only trigger it to produce more oil to compensate for the loss. This can lead to more acne breakouts and clogged pores. The bottom line is, your oily skin needs moisture, too.

How can you keep your skin moisturized without making it greasy?

Dermatologists suggest that if you have oily skin, you must opt for moisturizers with thinner textures rather than those thicker creams to avoid greasiness. Remember, anything that you can scoop out using your hand or fingers is probably too thick and heavy for your oily skin, which is why you should look for lightweight moisturizers that can melt into your skin. Aside from that, it would be best if you also looked for products labeled non-comedogenic and oil-free because they would not clog your pores.

Additionally, products that contain hyaluronic acid, ceramides, glycerin, and peptides can also help bring moisture into your skin without clogging your pores. These products can help make your skin healthy and hydrated without interfering with its regular oil production.