Oil, your new BFF — Why you should put down the 'Acne-Fighting' Products and Choose Oil Instead
Layered Cami over Ripped Jeans
If you're a regular reader, you know I love learning (and sharing what I learn!) about any and every tip and trick out there for improving skin! I shared some of the best lifestyle habits you can cultivate for great skin here, and first on my list was drinking water. Why? Because a large factor behind great skin is proper hydration. Right behind hydration is balance. When skin is dehydrated, it shrivels up and wrinkles are more pronounced. When skin is dry and unbalanced, it tightens up and overproduces sebum (oil), which leads to acne.
What many people don't realize, is that excess oil production can be, and frequently is, triggered more by under-hydrating your skin (or over-drying it with 'acne-fighting' cleansers) than out-of-whack hormones. Don't get me wrong, hormone-related acne is a real thing, and it's something I still have a bit of and am currently trying to figure out how to eliminate. But so is exacerbating it by incorrect skincare.
Aside from drinking plenty of water, one of the best ways to keep skin hydrated and balanced is oil. I know what you're thinking, especially if you have oily skin and this is the first time you've heard this idea... "Oil? Like, putting it on my skin? That's a great recipe for a major breakout!" ... or ... "Oil? My skin has wayyyyy too much of that already. Why on earth would I put more on top of it!?" I had those thoughts and probably every other thought that comes to mind when suggesting using oil on acne-prone skin. I used only oil-free lotions, cleansers, and foundations for years, and bought anything and everything that had salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Now? I avoid them at all costs and consider oil my skin's new BFF.
Oil is the most natural and beneficial moisturizer you could use on your skin. It keeps your skin moisturized and balanced - what it needs to be to look great!
1) A good oil will hydrate your skin. (Just because you're hydrating from the inside- aka drinking a lot of water- doesn't mean you don't need to hydrate from the outside!) This helps keep it looking young and wrinkle free. Many oils are also packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which help even more with preventing aging. Not only does oil hydrate, but it also provides a barrier over you skin, which locks in the hydration. And added bonus is that your makeup will lay much better and look much better when applied over hydrated skin! Oil is one of the best ways those with dry skin can hydrate their skin, but even those with oily skin should use it to hydrate!
2) A good oil will balance your skin. When you're skin is balanced, you're much less likely to break out, because you're skin isn't over-producing sebum. Many 'acne-fighting cleansers' actually leave your skin unbalanced. They kill all bacteria in the skin (there is actually good bacteria and bad bacteria!) and strip it of any natural moisture that the oil it naturally produces provides. Your skin then tries to compensate, but ends up over-doing it by producing too much sebum. This is why I avoid cleaners that claim to fight acne! They end up doing more harm than good! Instead, I prefer regular cleansers or oil-cleansing and use an oil on my skin every night after cleansing.
How does oil balance your skin though? One, properly hydrated skin doesn't over-produce sebum. When your skin is regularly being properly moisturized, it stops over-compensating. Two, when you choose the correct oil for your skin type, it actually balances out the acids in your skin. Three, when you oil you use as a moisturizer, it replaces some of your skin's oil. You're replacing dirty, pore clogging oil with clean oil that won't clog your pores. Lastly, many oils actually fight and kill bacteria and fungus, which is one of the main causes of acne (in addition to clogged pores).
The right kind of oil will not only replace, but it will kill bacteria that builds up, and it will heal existing acne quicker & will help prevent future acne!
So I bet now you're wondering, how do I know which types of oil are right for my skin, and how do I incorporate them in my skincare routine? Those are great and important questions, which I will be covering soon! Because there's so much to say on this topic, I've decided to turn this topic into a mini-series! So stay tuned for my next post! For now, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the topic! Do you have oily skin? Have you consequently avoided oil in an effort to battle it? Or, are you a fellow oil convert who loves using oil on your skin? What are your favorite ways to use it?
-Laurelle