Greasy skin – help for shine and an oily complexion

Shiny skin appears predominantly on the face – especially in areas with lots of pores like the T-zone, i.e. the forehead, nose and chin. Hereditary disposition, the wrong choice skincare products, taking medicines, hormonal changes and disorders, stress as well as poor diet are some of the main causes for the skin to feel greasy and have an oily shine:

• Hormones: The production of the hormone testosterone boosts oil production. The hormonal imbalance has a negative effect on the complexion. Hormonal problems can lead to an oily shine and skin impurities in puberty as well as adulthood.
• Stress: As the largest organ in terms of area, the skin is a mirror of our insides. When we are stressed, the body produces too much sebum, which has a negative effect on the skin’s immune system. If the pores are blocked, bacteria have it easy. If they settle, they can lead to spots and blackheads. Combined with hormonal problems and shifts, greasy skin is also prone to acne.
• Unhealthy diet: Not everyone is able to eat healthily every day. More than anything, fast food and excessive sugar consumption can upset the balance of the skin.

Through increased sebum production – the technical name for which is seborrhoea – the topmost skin layer tends to thicken and the sebum can no longer drain away unhindered. The pores seem bigger. The skin tends to become irritated and develop impurities.

Whereas a light film of oil is perfectly normal and protects the skin from negative environmental influences as well as dehydration, a very greasy complexion is helped only by a shift in lifestyle and dietary habits as well as the right skincare. It is important to choose mild skincare products that soothe the skin. Aggressive ingredients set off increased sebum production as a protective mechanism within the skin.

If you are prone to greasy skin on your face, you should opt for antibacterial skincare and ensure your skin is getting sufficient moisture after thorough cleansing. Greasy skin on your chest or cleavage, neck and back is best cared for with gentle shower gels with skin-soothing ingredients as well as gentle peels. PH-neutral products with the ingredients zinc, hemp and jojoba have an additional an anti-inflammatory effect. You should consistently avoid products containing silicones, perfume, parabens, alcohol and hormones, which can make skin irritations worse.

Oily skin that tends to produce excessive sebum requires a lot of attention to achieve the desired mattified complexion. With a high-quality, oil-free lotion, you can safely remove residues – like dust, dirt and make-up. A face tonic clarifies the skin and has a mattifying effect before the application of a good moisturising face cream.

A thorough deep cleanse smooths the skin and contributes to refining the pores. Chemical peels, which remove dead skin cells effectively and combat blocked pores, can considerably improve your complexion. As they work without any physical irritation, they prevent your sebaceous glands from being stimulated to increased activity. Face peels with the active ingredient salicylic acid penetrate the pores thanks to their fat-soluble character and are able to dissolve inflammatory blockages. If your skin can tolerate it, you can use a chemical peel every day – available as a fluid for larger areas of skin or in a creamy texture for smaller areas of skin. To see how your skin reacts, you can start to use peels at intervals of several days and gradually reduce the time between applications.

Even oily skin can become dehydrated and likes to be provided with sufficient moisture. If you have greasy-dry skin, an appropriate moisturiser is a must. Emulsions, lotions and moisturisers with light textures care for your skin without placing additional stress on it and making it greasy. The best skincare products are those that contain hyaluronic acid. Your skin feels comfortably smooth and soft when supplied with sufficient moisture and by locking the available moisture into the skin.

A greasy film on the skin can lead to carefully applied make-up quickly running off and disappearing into nowhere within a few hours. To avoid this problem, along with the right skincare, the sequence in which you apply your make-up plays a decisive role. Loose powder, fixing spray and a mattifying primer are indispensable. Unlike a normal make-up routine, primer and fixing spray are applied in a different sequence.

After you have moisturised your face carefully with a light, moisturising face cream and allowed it to fully absorb – the rule of thumb is to wait around 20 minutes – you can dab the loose powder carefully on your face and work it in cautiously. Take care to apply only a thin layer, so that your complexion looks natural and fresh.

To finish, spray your face with the fixing spray, which has the effect of a protective layer on the skin, thanks to its delicate texture, and gives it moisture. Let the spray dry well before you apply the primer. Once you have carried out this preparatory work step, you can apply your make-up as usual. You will be surprised how well and for how long your make-up lasts. Due to the special demands of your skin, natural cosmetics and high-quality make-up products are best for you.