There are benefits to having oily skin, but it can be one of the most frustrating skin types. That’s because more oil can mean more acne, as the oil on your skin (AKA sebum) mixes with dead skin cells and other debris to clog your pores and lead to whiteheads, blackheads and (with the influence of acne-causing bacteria) pimples. And since oily skin often means more acne, there are tons of skincare products for oily skin on the market. Let’s discuss some of the best oil control products for oily skin.
How oil-absorbing ingredients work
Oil-absorbing ingredients often work in a similar way, attracting oil from the surface of your skin or just beneath it by your pores. They use their large surface area and porous nature to absorb the oil and hold onto it so it doesn’t cause that classic oily shine on your skin. You can then easily rinse away the lifted and absorbed oil. Voila!
Helpful oil-absorbing ingredients for oily skin
-
Clay
Help is on the way, with clay! Oil-absorbing clay is one of the most common ingredients used for oily skin, primarily found in clay face mask form. Clay is extremely absorbent, and therefore great for helping to soak up and remove oil. Unfortunately, in doing so, clay can also rob your skin of the natural hydrating qualities that your skin’s oil provides. Because of this, clay face masks may contain hydrating ingredients to offset the clay’s drying effect. It’s important to remember that these hydrating ingredients are most likely only enough to offset the clay’s effects, and should not be considered a moisturizer.
Two types of clay are common in clay face masks. First, there’s kaolin, a white clay with a smaller particle size that absorbs at a mild to moderate effectiveness. Then, there’s bentonite, which is very absorbent due to its low moisture. This makes it ideal for extremely oily skin.
-
Charcoal
Charcoal is a super absorbent material because of its large surface area relative to its size. It is primarily made up of carbon, and its naturally porous nature helps it sponge up impurities and oil from the skin. Just as you may see claims that clay will "hydrate," you may also see claims that charcoal will "cleanse" the skin, but this isn’t really the case. Charcoal face masks can act similarly to cleansers by removing oil and debris from your skin, but they accomplish it in different ways.
Treatments for oily skin
If your skin type is oily, chances are you need more than the occasional oil-absorbing ingredient. You need a skincare routine that is built for oily skin. Try Proactiv Solution®, which was designed specifically for acne-prone and oily/combination skin. Benzoyl peroxide goes deep into your pores to help stop acne-causing bacteria and prevent new breakouts from forming.
The bottom line
Oil-absorbing ingredients can be extremely useful if you’re trying to clear up a significant amount of oil in a short time. If you’re looking to take care of oily skin for the long term, find the skincare routine that’s perfect for your unique skin with the Proactiv® acne treatment system that’s right for you.
