10 mistakes to avoid when you have oily skin

10 mistakes to avoid when you have oily skin

Oily skin can be a real daily challenge. Excessive shine, dilated pores, recurring pimples, blackheads... this type of skin requires special attention and adapted care. Yet many people make mistakes that aggravate the situation without even realizing it. Here are the 10 mistakes to avoid when you have oily skin, along with advice on how to restore a balanced, radiant complexion.

1. Use overly aggressive products

The first and perhaps most common mistake is to use skin care products that are too harsh. Some people think that drying out oily skin will reduce sebum production. In fact, the opposite is true: skin reacts to aggression by producing even more sebum to protect itself.
Avoid abrasive soaps, coarse-grained scrubs and alcoholic lotions. Instead, opt for gentle, pH-neutral cleansers and non-comedogenic products specially formulated for oily skin.

2. Washing your face too often

Another common mistake is trying to wash your face several times a day to eliminate shine. However, excessive cleansing disrupts the skin barrier and once again stimulates sebum production.
Morning and evening cleansing is sufficient. In the morning, it removes excess sebum produced during the night; in the evening, it eliminates pollution, sweat and make-up accumulated during the day.

3. Neglecting hydration

Many people think that oily skin doesn't need moisturizing. This is a mistake! Poorly moisturized skin compensates by producing more sebum.
Choose a light moisturizing cream based on water or aloe vera gel, and avoid textures that are too rich. Matifying skincare products, serums or non-comedogenic moisturizing fluids are ideal for maintaining the balance between hydration and sebum regulation.

4. Forget sun protection

Oily skin often neglects sun protection for fear of a shiny or sticky effect. Yet the sun can aggravate imperfections and promote sebum production.
Use a suitable, light, mattifying sun cream, specially designed for combination to oily skin. Oil-free formulas and gel textures offer effective protection without clogging pores.

5. Exfoliating too much

Exfoliation is essential for removing dead cells and unclogging pores, but overdoing it can irritate the skin. A gentle exfoliation once or twice a week is all you need.
Choose chemical exfoliants based onsalicylic acid (BHA ) orglycolic acid (AHA ) rather than overly aggressive mechanical scrubs. These active ingredients help refine skin texture and reduce blackheads without causing irritation.

6. Use unsuitable make-up

Comedogenic make-up is one of the worst enemies of oily skin. Thick foundations, compact powders and oily formulas can clog pores and encourage the appearance ofacne.
Opt for a fluid, mattifying, non-comedogenic foundation. And remember to cleanse your skin thoroughly every evening with a purifying micellar water or light cleansing oil.

7. Neglecting make-up removal

Sleeping in make-up is a fatal mistake for oily skin. During the night, the skin regenerates itself; if it is covered with make-up residue, pollution or sebum, pores become clogged and imperfections appear.
Adopt a two-step make-up removal routine:

  1. A cleansing oil or balm to dissolve impurities.

  2. A gentle cleansing gel to complete the cleansing.

This method, known as double cleansing, is ideal for preserving the balance of oily skin without damaging it.

8. Touch her face constantly

It's a reflex that's often unconscious: touching your face, popping a pimple, smoothing the skin... These commonplace gestures encourage bacterial proliferation and aggravate inflammation.
Hands carry bacteria and impurities that settle on the skin, creating pimples and blackheads. Try not to touch your face, and regularly disinfect your telephone, glasses and make-up brushes.

9. Using too many treatments at once

When we have oily skin, we're often tempted to overdo it: multiplying cleansers, serums, masks and mattifying creams, thinking that the more we treat, the better. But this is a major mistake.

Oily skin is reactive and sensitive to excess. Accumulating too many different skin care products can lead to :

  • Disrupt the cutaneous barrier, making the skin more vulnerable to external aggression.

  • Unbalance sebum production, which may then increase to compensate.

  • Irritation, redness or even pimples due to interactions between products.

It's best to focus on a simple, consistent routine:

  1. A gentle cleanser morning and night.

  2. A light moisturizer.

  3. A targeted treatment (anti-imperfection or mattifying).

And that's it!
It's better to use fewer products, but ones that are well chosen and adapted to your skin type, rather than overloading the epidermis.

10. Ignore diet and lifestyle

Finally, a poor diet and lack of sleep can have a considerable impact on skin quality. Refined sugars, fatty products and processed foods stimulate sebum production and promote skin inflammation.
Eat a balanced diet, rich in fruit, vegetables, omega-3s and vitamins. Drink enough water and get at least 7 to 8 hours' sleep a night. Regular physical activity also helps to oxygenate the skin and eliminate toxins.

Conclusion: balanced oily skin is possible

Oily skin is not a fatality: properly understood and treated, it can even become an asset, as it often ages more slowly than other skin types. The key is to avoid these 10 mistakes:

  • Do not aggress the skin,

  • Maintain proper hydration,

  • Choose non-comedogenic skincare products,

  • And adopt a regular, gentle routine.

With a little patience and the right gestures, your oily skin will regain its natural balance, radiance and refined texture.

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