Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHydration vs. OilAcne and MoisturizingMoisturizers for Oily Skin
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Hydration vs. Oil
Acne and Moisturizing
Moisturizers for Oily Skin
If you have oily skin or tend to be prone toacne, moisturizers still play an important role in your skin-care routine. Skin oils and skin hydration are not the same thing, and your skin can be both oily and dehydrated. Moisturizers can help offset fluid loss due to environmental factors, such as cold weather, or other causes.
This article will help you to better understand thebiology of your skinand what is needed to keep it healthy. It explains the benefits of daily moisturizing when you have oily skin, and some of the products best suited to achieve this goal.
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Skin hydration is the process in which water is absorbed into the layers of the skin, known as theepidermisanddermis, to maintain its plumpness, elasticity, and resiliency.
Although the excessive build-up of sebum can lead to oily skin and acne, it doesn’t mean that the skin is well-hydrated. Moreover, the very act of stripping away these oils promotes the loss of moisture.
In the end, hydrated skin is healthy skin. Without ample moisture, the appearance and protective function of the skin can be severely compromised. With prolonged dehydration, your skin is at greater risk of:
Skin Health and Dehydration
Remember that just because your skin has a lot of oil doesn’t mean that it has a lot of water. Things like cold weather, hot baths, and harshastringentscan all disrupt the integrity of the skin, leading to rapid moisture loss and dryness.
The Best Body Washes for Acne, Tested & Reviewed
Many acne ingredients have a profound drying effect on the skin. This includes topicalretinoidslikeRetin-A (tretinoin)andisotretinoinor topical antibacterials like benzoyl peroxide.
These drugs promote drying in two distinct ways:
List of Common Moisturizer Ingredients
There are many moisturizers created specifically for oily skin. These products are light, fast-absorbing, and won’t leave your skin feeling slick or looking shiny.
A good moisturizer has three main properties:
Occlusive Agents
Occlusive agents like petrolatum, lanolin, mineral oil, paraffin, and squalene are usually quite greasy. If you have oily skin, silicone derivatives like dimethicone orcyclomethiconeare not greasy if used on their own.
Humectants
These include ingredients like glycerin, sodium lactate, ammonium lactate,hyaluronic acid, sorbitol, urea, andalpha hydroxy acids, all of which are suitable for people with oily skin.
Emollients
There are some emollients that are less greasy (likeceramides) and others that are more greasy (like stearic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, lauric acid, and fatty alcohols).
Look for moisturizers labeled “non-comedogenic,” meaning that they won’t clog pores and causecomedones(blackheads or whiteheads). Steer clear of moisturizers containing mineral oil, cocoa butter, petrolatum, or petroleum as well as skin products with fragrances that tend to be harsh on the skin.
The 7 Best Ceramide Moisturizers, Tested and Reviewed
Summary
Skin oils and skin hydration are two different things, meaning that people with oily skin also need to be sure that their skin is moisturized. The first step is to ensure that they’re drinking enough water and the entire body is properly hydrated.
Some acne treatment products, like retinoids, dry the skin and increase hydration needs. Beyond that, certain moisturizers prove to be better options for people with oily skin than others are. Their ingredients seal in skin moisture and help to draw in moisture from deeper skin layers.
You may want to try different moisturizers until you find the products that work best for you.
A Word From Verywell
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5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Palma L, Marques LT, Bujan J, Rodrigues LM.Dietary water affects human skin hydration and biomechanics.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2015;8:413-21. doi:10.2147/CCID.S86822Zasada M, Budzisz E.Retinoids: active molecules influencing skin structure formation in cosmetic and dermatological treatments.Postepy Dermatol Alergol.2019;36(4):392-7. doi:10.5114/ada.2019.87443Matin T, Goodman MB.Benzoyl peroxide. In: StatPearls.Chularojanamontri L, Tuchinda P, Kulthanan K, Pongparit K.Moisturizers for acne: What are their constituents?.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2014;7(5):36-44.Sethi A, Kaur T, Malhotra SK, Gambhir ML.Moisturizers: The slippery road.Indian J Dermatol.2016;61(3):279-87. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.182427
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Palma L, Marques LT, Bujan J, Rodrigues LM.Dietary water affects human skin hydration and biomechanics.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2015;8:413-21. doi:10.2147/CCID.S86822Zasada M, Budzisz E.Retinoids: active molecules influencing skin structure formation in cosmetic and dermatological treatments.Postepy Dermatol Alergol.2019;36(4):392-7. doi:10.5114/ada.2019.87443Matin T, Goodman MB.Benzoyl peroxide. In: StatPearls.Chularojanamontri L, Tuchinda P, Kulthanan K, Pongparit K.Moisturizers for acne: What are their constituents?.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2014;7(5):36-44.Sethi A, Kaur T, Malhotra SK, Gambhir ML.Moisturizers: The slippery road.Indian J Dermatol.2016;61(3):279-87. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.182427
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Palma L, Marques LT, Bujan J, Rodrigues LM.Dietary water affects human skin hydration and biomechanics.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2015;8:413-21. doi:10.2147/CCID.S86822Zasada M, Budzisz E.Retinoids: active molecules influencing skin structure formation in cosmetic and dermatological treatments.Postepy Dermatol Alergol.2019;36(4):392-7. doi:10.5114/ada.2019.87443Matin T, Goodman MB.Benzoyl peroxide. In: StatPearls.Chularojanamontri L, Tuchinda P, Kulthanan K, Pongparit K.Moisturizers for acne: What are their constituents?.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2014;7(5):36-44.Sethi A, Kaur T, Malhotra SK, Gambhir ML.Moisturizers: The slippery road.Indian J Dermatol.2016;61(3):279-87. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.182427
Palma L, Marques LT, Bujan J, Rodrigues LM.Dietary water affects human skin hydration and biomechanics.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2015;8:413-21. doi:10.2147/CCID.S86822
Zasada M, Budzisz E.Retinoids: active molecules influencing skin structure formation in cosmetic and dermatological treatments.Postepy Dermatol Alergol.2019;36(4):392-7. doi:10.5114/ada.2019.87443
Matin T, Goodman MB.Benzoyl peroxide. In: StatPearls.
Chularojanamontri L, Tuchinda P, Kulthanan K, Pongparit K.Moisturizers for acne: What are their constituents?.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2014;7(5):36-44.
Sethi A, Kaur T, Malhotra SK, Gambhir ML.Moisturizers: The slippery road.Indian J Dermatol.2016;61(3):279-87. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.182427
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