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  5. How To Choose The Best Cleanser For Oily Skin

Having a shiny, greasy face even after a good round of cleansing? It is time you switch to a cleanser that's made for your oily skin. Let us help you understand how you can choose the right cleanser.

Are You Sure About Your Skin Type?

Before you even think of picking the right cleanser, rethink about your skin type. There are four major skin types - normal, oily, dry and combination. Your T-zone might feel oily towards the afternoon even if you have normal skin. Whereas in oily skin type, there is oiliness all over the face.

Have you figured out your exact skin type yet? If not, take SkinKraft's unique skin profiling questionnaire (SkinID™) to understand your skin and its unique requirements.

What Is Oily Skin?

The sebaceous glands in the dermal layer of your skin secrete sebum (oil). When the sebaceous glands are overactive, they produce excess oil leading to oily skin. [1] You can't control how much sebum your skin makes. However, there are definite ways to manage it.

Sebaceous gland

Why Is Cleansing Important?

Cleansing forms the first step in any skincare routine. Primary function of a cleanser is to remove dirt, excess oil and makeup residue from the face. It also prepares your skin for the application of next set of products in your routine.

Cleansers contain cleansing agents called surfactants (surface acting agents) [2], which have a hydrophilic (water loving) head and a hydrophobic (oil or grease loving) tail.

While cleansing, the hydrophobic parts of the surfactant attach to the oil or grease and hydrophilic part get attached to the water and form structures called micelles. This is how they draw out the impurities from the face.

Cationic micelle

How To Choose Your Cleanser?

For healthy skin, choose a cleanser that is:

  • Light Weight
  • Non-comedogenic
  • Gentle
  • Fragrance Free
  • Sulfate Free

Pro Tip:

Cleanse your face post workout too, besides the usual morning and night cleansing routines.

Ingredients To Look Out For In Cleanser For Oily Skin

1. Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid that removes excess oils (sebum) from the skin. It removes the top layer of the skin to get rid of excess oil build up and dead skin cells. It could make your skin unusually dry. [3]

2. Benzoyl Peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide is an exfoliating agent. It removes the excess sebum from skin and prevents the development of acne. Benzoyl peroxide can lead to dryness and redness. [4]

Consult a dermatologist if you notice extreme dryness or redness. Use minimal concentrations of benzoyl peroxide and gradually increase the concentration.

3. Glycolic Acid

Glycolic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) used in a variety of cleansers, moisturizers and toners. It is derived from sugarcane. It has a very good penetrating effect and is extremely useful for oily skin.

Glycolic acid prevents clogging the pores that lead to breakouts on the skin. It is also an excellent exfoliator (removes dead skin cells from skin’s surface). [5]

 Glycolic acid is considered safe to use but consult your doctor if you have sensitive skin. Water neutralises its acidic effect when it is rinsed off after cleansing.

4. Niacinamide

Niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3 offers a host of benefits to skin. It controls the production of sebum and controls the existing acne on oily skin, if any. [6]

Topical niacinamide is safe to use. Niacinamide cream may aggravate allergic reactions if you already have some.

Best Face Cleanser For Oily Skin

Sebum Control Face Cleanser

The SkinKraft Sebum Control Face Cleanser is made for normal oily and oily skin. Its key ingredients are syndets (synthetic detergents) and niacinamide. The syndets are gentle and cleanses the skin without stripping off the oils and disrupting its pH balance. The ingredient niacinamide controls the overactive sebaceous glands.

Skincare Tips For Oily Skin

  • Do not overwash
  • Do not scrub aggressively
  • Use the right moisturizer
  • Remove your makeup
  • Do not touch your face repeatedly
  • Use a sunscreen

Are you ready to fight oily skin with the right cleanser? Over to you. Tell us about your cleansing routine in the comments section below.

Begin By Knowing Your Skin