Oily skin needs hydration too! Below, we share a checklist of products to try this winter to keep your oily skin in check and healthy.
With changing seasons comes changing skin care routines – it’s a pretty universal concept, right? Well, back-pedal a few years, and this oily-skinned gal couldn’t be budged. I refused to increase my hydration or cut back on exfoliation, and in retrospect, it’s no wonder my skin looked as irritated and red as it did my first few winters in New York City.
That’s right, even those with oily skin need to be making skin care swaps to keep their skin in tip-top condition when temperatures drop. Here are the types of products I’m rotating into my routine and why they can work for you too.
A Nourishing Oil Cleanser
As someone who is incredibly acne-prone, I was surprised and thrilled to learn that using an oil cleanser helped clear my skin. Plus, my skin feels less tight and overall more hydrated. During the colder months I especially like the Then I Met You Living Cleansing Balm. It’s packed with sea buckthorn oil and melts off makeup, SPF and excess sebum without stripping the skin.
An Exfoliator with PHAs
Exfoliating pores with AHAs and BHAs is important to do year round, but it can be easier to go overboard and as a result dry out your skin during the harsh winter. That’s why it’s a great time to use polyhydroxy acids or PHAs, either exclusively or to switch up your usual exfoliating routine. Since they have a larger molecular weight, they don’t penetrate the skin as deeply and are less likely to cause irritation.
The ingredient is featured in the gentle Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30Days Miracle Toner, as well as naturally-derived tea tree, which tackles inflammation and acne. It’s truly a best of both worlds situation.
A Hydrating Toner
Amongst the oily and acne-prone community, acid and astringent toners tend to be the formulas of choice, but in the winter, I like to cut back on the exfoliation and instead prep my skin with a silky, thin, hydrating toner.
The Rovectin Lotus Water Calming Toner specifically didn’t make me break out it any way, which is usually my largest concern with adding more hydration to my routine. My favorite thing about this toner is that it’s packed with hyaluronic acid, which helps to hydrate the skin and fortify the barrier.
A Serum That Contains Niacinamide
Niacinamide is known for regulating oil production, brightening, and helping to reduce pore size, but without drying you out. Because it can regulate oil without stripping the skin, it’s a great addition for anyone who’s acne-prone.
RELATED: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Niacinamide
The ingredient is in the Manyo Factory Galac Niacin 2.0 Essence, which also contains galactomyces fermented extract.
A Lightweight Overnight Mask
Not all sleeping masks are heavy and pore-clogging. One of my favorites is the COSRX Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask. It uses lightweight sunflower seed oil to deliver deep hydration, niacinamide to continue to brighten and help with oil control, and 65% rice extract, which helps to hydrate and brighten even further.
A Moisturizer With Ceramides
Ceramides not only deliver deep hydration to the skin, but help to reinforce your skin’s natural moisture barrier. Having a strong moisture barrier is key because it helps to ensure you don’t lose moisture throughout the day.
The Then I Met You Calming Tide Gel Cream contains ceramides, is antioxidant and peptide packed, and contains niacinamide, which by now, you know is a powerhouse ingredient for helping control oil and to give a brighter complexion.
+How do you deal with oily skin during the winter? Let us know!