What is oily skin?

Do you know about hyperseborrhea? This is the scientific term for oily skin. Hyperseborrhea occurs when there is an excess of sebum: an oily substance secreted by the sebaceous glands to protect the epidermis from external aggressors. The skin then takes on a shiny appearance, sometimes referred to as glowing. This phenomenon, which lays the groundwork for pimples and blackheads to appear, is therefore not pleasant. Fortunately, there are solutions available to control the overproduction of sebum and purify the skin.

OILY, BLEMISH-PRONE AND ACNE-PRONE SKIN

The clear signs of oily skin

Oily skin is quite easy to identify, as certain clinical signs are typical of hyperseborrhea. First of all, excess sebum makes the skin oily and shiny, especially in the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin). Also characteristic of oily skin are uneven skin texture, enlarged pores, the presence of comedones (the famous blackheads and whiteheads) and make-up not staying on the skin.

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What causes oily skin? 

Why do we get oily skin? There is no one answer to this question. The occurrence of excessive sebum production can be due to a variety of factors. So what is responsible for excess sebum? The reasons are primarily endogenous, i.e. they depend on internal causes, such as heredity or hormonal imbalances (especially during adolescence, which can cause acne).

The causes can also be external, such as the occurrence of stress, pollution, exposure to tobacco or changes in temperature.

Note that in adulthood, men are more prone to oily skin as androgens (male hormones) stimulate sebum production.

Everything you need to know about the causes of oily skin

 

I often find it difficult to take off my t-shirt at the beach because I don't like to show my upper body. My skin is oily and thick, it has scars and sometimes I still get spots. I ended up buying an anti-UV t-shirt so I wouldn't have to keep explaining my self.

Jérôme 35 years

Where does oily skin occur on the body?

Sebum is a physiological secretion of the sebaceous glands. These glands are not evenly distributed over the body. This is why some areas get oilier than others. The areas richest in sebum are the face (especially the T-zone: forehead, nose and chin), as well as the scalp, upper back and chest. Excess sebum is accompanied by small blackheads (comedones). Finally, the presence of fatty acids in sebum facilitates the proliferation of certain bacteria that trigger the inflammatory phase of acne.

The trio of winning treatments for oily skin 

Oily skin requires regular care. Your skin care routine should include three steps. The first is cleansing. Then hydration. That’s right, even oily skin needs to be hydrated. But sometimes, oily skin also needs to be purified. This is the third step. Purifying the skin includes regular exfoliation or the application of a purifying mask. 3 steps to a clearer complexion - doable, isn't it? 

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    Find all our tips for taking care of oily skin

    Oily vs combination skin: not to be confused

    Skin changes with age: oily skin in adolescence generally becomes mixed in adulthood.

    Oily teenage skin

    In adolescents, the overproduction of sebum, and therefore oily skin, affects the entire face. Blemishes can develop on the face as well as on the shoulders, upper back and chest. 

    Combination skin

    As the name suggests, combination skin is neither completely dry nor completely oily; it’s a bit of both. As we age, sebum production naturally decreases. Oily skin tends to be concentrated in the middle of the face: the famous T-zone. On the rest of the face, which is less rich in sebaceous glands, the skin is more likely to be normal or even dry. 

     

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    FRIENDLY (AND EXPERT) ADVICE

    The health of your skin and the effectiveness of your skin care also depend on your lifestyle. A healthy diet and adequate hydration are therefore essential. Smoking, alcohol and stress should be avoided.

    Discover our lifestyle tips

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    Make-up for oily skin

    Poor hold and foundation that "slips": in principle, make-up and oily skin don’t go well together. But that doesn't mean you can't find suitable (and effective!) make-up. Above all, it’s important to choose the right products and develop a good ritual for applying them. First, we advise you to choose non-comedogenic make-up products only. Next, before applying your make-up, don't forget to cleanse your face and apply a mattifying moisturiser. Finally, this step cannot be repeated often enough, but the cleansing / make-up removal stage is essential for healthy skin, so you need to do this every single day.

    Find all our make-up tips

    Everything you need to know about skin pores

    Pores are essential to the health of our skin. They act as a gateway for nutrients and an outlet for impurities secreted by the epidermis. They are also essential for letting the skin breathe. The problem is that, in the case of oily skin, all sorts of impurities can clog pores (resulting in those dreaded blackheads!) and “suffocate” the skin. To ensure that the pores can continue to perform their functions, it is therefore essential to clean the skin thoroughly in the morning and evening. It’s best to use non-comedogenic products (for both skin care and make-up) which by definition will not clog the pores of the skin. A gentle exfoliating mask can also help you to deeply cleanse the pores. But not more than once a week in order to avoid damaging your skin. 

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    Our answers to your questions

    To sort the true from the false: that's what we're here for.

    This is not true. The shiny appearance of oily skin can suggest that it is overly moisturised. But let's not confuse "fat" with "water". Although it may seem surprising, oily skin can also be dehydrated, because while it may not be lacking in oil, it may be lacking in water deep down. As well as being cleansed, your skin will need to be hydrated with products specifically developed for your skin type. Why? They can regulate excessive sebum production, limiting shine while helping your skin maintain its moisture and suppleness.

    This is both true and false. Even the sun has its shadows! Although it seems to dry out the skin at first and reduce some types of inflammatory lesion (such as acne pimples), the sun is actually contributing to the skin thickening and the overproduction of sebum. When autumn comes back around, the skin suddenly becomes oily again and blemishes reappear. This is known as the "rebound effect". Even in summer, and even if your skin looks "clean", maintain a good skincare routine and especially good sun protection.

    This is false. Cleansing the skin in the evening helps eliminate excess sebum and aggressors accumulated during the day (pollution, etc.). But sebum production doesn’t stop at night; this is why gentle cleansing in the morning is also recommended. Cleansing in the morning allows you to apply your skin care products on clean skin, making them more effective. Bonus tip: spraying your skin with Thermal Spring Water in the morning will wake up your skin and prepare it for your skin care.

    Our solutions to take care of oily skin

    Our Cleanance products are designed to help you feel more comfortable in your skin
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    Cleanance Mattifying Emulsion

    The only cream I’ve found that doesn’t create shine (which usually happens after 2 hours with any other cream on my acne-prone skin). It’s perfect! My only regret is not discovering it earlier ;)!

    Anaïs, 23 years

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