Cut Shine Quick: How to Control Excess Oil and Greasiness
Cut Shine Quick: How to Control Excess Oil and Greasiness
Excess sebum can be the result of a number of factors, including weather, hormones or stress levels. You’ll notice it when your skin starts to sport excess greasiness and shine, and if this is you, you’ve likely landed here looking for solutions. Take this as your guide to controlling and handling excess sebum, as we share easy and practical tips to implement into your daily skincare routine for clearing away buildup, impurities and unwanted oils. The goal is to achieve a balanced and strong complexion, and our best K-beauty recommendations will definitely do the trick. Start scrolling for everything you need to know.
1. Double cleanse
Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - Ma:nyo
To get to the root of the problem, you first have to start off with a clean canvas. We recommend a refreshing double cleanse to begin your PM routine, so that excess oils and impurities can be cleared away for the rest of your routine to work as effectively as possible. The Ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil is a gentle yet powerful cleansing oil that melts blackheads, whiteheads and other impurities without clogging the pores. It uses a nourishing blend of 14 plant-based oils to maintain skin moisture levels while regulating sebum production, letting you emerge from your first cleanse refreshed and clarified.
B_LAB - Matcha Hydrating Foam Cleanser
Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - B_LAB
Follow up with the B_LAB Matcha Hydrating Foam Cleanser and don’t be fooled by its name: this foam cleanser keeps things light and airy to balance the skin’s oil-water levels, ensuring you receive just the right amount of moisture without triggering excess sebum production. It’s made with Matcha and Green Tea Leaves that not only provide potent antioxidant protection, but also calm inflammation and kill acne-causing bacteria that oilier skin types are prone to. As it removes excess sebum and impurities on a daily basis, it helps to strengthen the skin barrier over time.
2. Exfoliate
To prevent sebum, dead skin cells and other buildup from clogging the pores, exfoliation is a no-brainer. It’s a very necessary step that clears away all the debris that the skin doesn’t naturally slough away, but oftentimes people are scared of exfoliation because they don’t know how to do it correctly, resulting in sore and over-exfoliated skin.
Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - medicube
Toner pads are an easy way to tick off exfoliation from your to-do list, and it’s difficult to mess them up. The medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0 incorporates AHA, BHA and Anti-Sebum P that clear the skin of excess greasiness and blackheads, working to shrink enlarged pores and smooth out skin texture with every swipe. They’re made to be used daily post-cleanse to eliminate excess sebum and waste, clinically tested to restore the complexion to a more balanced state. If sales trends alone are anything to go on, the fact that it’s been sold over 7 million times says a lot about it.
3. Try these ingredients in your routine
The following ingredients are recommended for oily skin types to control excess sebum and support skin health in the long term. You’re looking towards a brighter and glowier – but not slicker – complexion in the near future.
Propolis
COSRX - Full Fit Propolis Synergy Toner
Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - COSRX
Propolis is a highly rated skincare ingredient for anyone with oilier skin, because it enhances natural radiance in addition to reducing redness and taming irritation. The COSRX Full Fit Propolis Synergy Toner contains 72.6% Black Bee Propolis and 10% Honey extracts to boost dull, dry and irritated complexions, upping the skin’s moisture levels without exacerbating excess oiliness. Furthermore, it plumps up the complexion and targets dark spots and hyperpigmentation for a visibly rejuvenated appearance.
Snail Mucin
COSRX - Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - COSRX
In the same vein, Snail Mucin is another ingredient lauded for balancing and hydrating oilier complexions. You’re sure to have already seen, heard or read about the hype surrounding the COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, and we can confirm the hype is totally warranted. Lightweight and nutrient-rich, the water-based regulates skin hydration levels sans excess sebum, keeping the complexion calm and nourished. It also nixes dark spots and elevates skin glow in a similar way to Propolis.
Niacinamide
APLB - Glutathione Niacinamide Ampoule Serum
Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - APLB
Niacinamide is an all-round star ingredient for its many skin benefits, including controlling and balancing excess sebum, evening skin tone and texture, and tightening the appearance of enlarged pores. It’s one of the key ingredients within the APLB Glutathione Niacinamide Ampoule Serum, a booster that calms, purifies and revitalizes the complexion alongside enhancing skin elasticity and soothing irritation. Its ingredients list is chock-full of gems like Centella Asiatica, Tea Tree Leaf extract and Beta-Glucan that form a gentle booster good for all skin types.
4. Use lightweight hydration
Torriden - DIVE-IN Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Soothing Cream
Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - Torriden
An excess amount of oil can be an indication of a lack of hydration, which causes the skin to produce more sebum to compensate. This is easily avoidable by opting for lightweight sources of moisture, such as the Torriden DIVE-IN Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Soothing Cream. Concocted with 5 layers of Hyaluronic Acid, the featherlight gel cream sinks into the dermis to build 3D networks that retain moisture in the long term. It promotes a calmer and stronger skin barrier and as a result, the skin becomes bouncy and plump, safeguarded against dryness-induced excess sebum.
5. Protect with a matte finish
Purito SEOUL - Daily Soft Touch Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++
Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - Purito SEOUL
No matter your skin type, SPF is an absolute must every single day; it protects against sun damage and consequential skin concerns that can contribute to excess greasiness. A common complaint about sunscreen is that it makes the skin look and feel oily, thanks to heavier, more hydrating formulas, and if you can relate, you need the Purito SEOUL Daily Soft Touch Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++ in your life. The Ceramide and Centella-spiked formula leaves a mattified finish on the skin that is non-greasy and wears comfortably throughout the day.
6. Weekly treatment
Isntree - Real Mugwort Clay Mask
Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - Isntree
Equip your weekly pamper routine to clear away excess sebum with the Isntree Real Mugwort Clay Mask. Its Clay ingredient is responsible for absorbing excess oils and impurities from the pores, while Mugwort calms any irritation or redness that may arise. Unlike other more stringent formulas, this one doesn’t strip the skin of oils and moisture completely, instead ensuring oil and water levels are well-balanced during and after the use of the treatment. Fans of the formula notice a visible difference with just one use, praising it for how it invigorates and softens the skin.
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