Matte Chat: What You Need to Know About Oily Skin

What does oily skin mean? There's a lot more to this skin type than a bit of shine.

What is Oily Skin?

Everyone needs a certain amount of natural oil to keep their skin supple and moisturized. Skin type is determined by how much oil the skin on your face produces; depending on this, your skin type can be categorized as dry, combination and oily. An oily skin type is exactly what it sounds like - excess oil on the face produces a persistently shiny or greasy appearance. If you don’t treat your oily skin, pores can become clogged and enlarged, and dead skin cells may accumulate. Blackheads, pimples and other types of acne are also common with this skin type.

The Science Behind the Oil

Sebaceous glands are located within the skin and are responsible for secreting an oily substance called sebum. Sebum lubricates the skin, protecting it from drying out or becoming irritated. This oil, along with sweat, is secreted through the pores. When this process goes smoothly, sebum not only lubricates your skin, but it also removes dead skin cells and other irritants from your pores. However, when over-active sebaceous glands produce excess sebum, your skin looks shiny and your pores can become clogged, leading to a host of skin imperfections.

How to Know if You Have Oily-Type Skin

If your skin exhibits the following, then you have an oily skin type:

Your face is shiny and usually appears greasy later on in the day
Makeup doesn’t stay on and seems to “slide” off
The oilier areas of your face have blackheads, pimples or other types of acne
Pores are visibly enlarged, especially on your nose, chin and forehead

Take special note of your T-Zone. The T-Zone is the region of the face consisting of the forehead and nose which naturally tend to have more active oil glands that may produce excess sebum. If your T-Zone is oily but the rest of your face looks normal or dry, then you have combination-type skin. Anyone's skin can have multiple "types," and that these types can change due to hormones, climate and stress levels. If you're still not sure which skin type you are, find out here.

Who Gets Oily Skin?

Oily skin is typically hereditary - if you have oily skin, it's probably because your parents suffered a similar fate. But excess oil can also be the result of heightened hormone levels, for instance during puberty, as well as during some parts of women’s menstrual cycle, during pregnancy and when they're going through menopause, as sebaceous glands become more active during these times.

Silver Lining

If your oily skin is driving you crazy, there’s good news - those with oily skin types tend to have more moisture in their skin, making them less prone to premature wrinkles. The key is to keeping the oiliness of your skin under control so you can put your best face forward. ESPADA blue light acne treatment is clinically proven to do just that! By reducing sebum levels and resulting breakouts, ESPADA is the skincare secret weapon perfect for those with an oily skin type.

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