How important is moisturizing for oily skin type?

Apparently, very important. People with oily skin tend to assume that they do not have to moisturize daily since their skin produces excess oil, but that is a false assumption, which this article is here to clear up that misconception. First, I will explain why moisturizing is also fundamental for the oily skin type, and then follow up with what to look out for in products when getting a moisturizer for oily skin type.

When we think of oily skin, we picture excessive oil enough to moisturize and keep the skin very shiny but, that is not the case. What happens is that when the skin produces excess sebum (oil), then we respond by exfoliating to reduce the oil, in the process of exfoliating, the skin losses its moisture and becomes dry. As a result of the dryness, the body reacts by producing more sebum which causes acne, and the cycle continues over again.

In other words, though the sebum produced by the skin (i.e; oil) is needed to protect our skin from external pollutants and bacteria, too much of it does not hydrate your skin. Therefore when sebum is exfoliated from the skin, it leads to loss of moisture and dryness, which then leads to acne. The reason above is why people with oily skin need to moisturize because, by moisturizing, you are not only providing your skin with the hydration it needs but also protecting it from over-exfoliation and dryness.

 Now that we know how important it is to moisturize, let’s learn about what to look for and what to avoid in moisturizers for oily skin types. First, look for products that identify as oil-free, water-based, or non-comedogenic (which implies that the product does not clog pores), which helps to make sure the moisturizer is not adding to the oil already present in your skin. Regarding ingredients, I will focus on 3 which are hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and alpha-hydroxy acid (specifically glycolic acid). The ingredients listed above are just a few but, they contribute a lot when it comes to hydrating and keeping the skin moist.

To summarize, I will introduce a few moisturizers that will work great for the oily skin type, these products are Tiam’s ‘AC Oil-free Cream‘, ‘Oil-free Ultra-moisturizing Lotion‘ by Cosrx, and Purito’s ‘Centella Unscented Recovery Cream‘. Any one of these should hydrate your skin properly.
A friendly reminder, always carry out a patch test for allergic reactions before using a new skincare product.