Seven Dirty Habits That Are Making Your Skin Oily

Have you ever wondered what causes your oily skin? If you're prone to oily skin, it can be very frustrating, and it can be challenging to find the root cause. The skin gets visibly oily due to the overproduction of sebum. Naturally, sebum is produced to keep the skin moisturized and protected. 

When the skin overproduces sebum, it causes pimples, whiteheads, and oily skin. In turn, this all adds up to be a potential skin nightmare. Don't worry, though. We're here to give you a couple of possible catalysts for your oily skin – and our proven advice on taming it.

You're Not Washing Often Enough (Or Too Often!) 

Forgetting to use a face wash may seem harmless, but it is the most common cause of oily skin. When the pores are blocked with dead skin or dirt, the skin starts emitting excessive oil. Washing your face during the mornings, evenings, and after heavy sweating helps keep the pores clear and manage sebum buildup. 

Avoid aggressive scrubbing, though, as this irritates the skin and throws off its balance. As a result, this can cause micro-abrasions and redness, making oily skin worse and leading to more damage and buildup. In addition, make sure to use cleansers infused with glycolic acids, which cut down on oils. 

You'll also want to avoid washing your face too many times in a day. Overwashing results in dehydrated skin, which results in your pores going into overdrive. The skin doesn't take kindly to the lack of moisture and is likely to overcompensate with excessive oil production.

Removing too much oil is very bad for the skin, so make sure not to go overboard. It would be best to clean your face two times a day, only washed additionally as needed. When you only feel oily, use a napkin, moist towelette, or blotting paper since another face wash is unnecessary. 

You're Not Using Enough Moisturizer 

You're not the only one that needs hydration, and your skin needs it, too. Even with oily skin, keeping the skin hydrated is a must. When the skin becomes super dry, it'll overcompensate by ramping up oil production. That way, it can boost the skin's protective outer barrier. This will not only result in oily skin but pimples, too. So save yourself the headache by keeping your face adequately moisturized.

When adequately hydrated, skin is less likely to have excess oils. Dehydrated skin may even increase the risk of breakouts. That's why you always want to moisturize after cleansing your face. It would help if you went for a lightweight, high-quality moisturizer. Heavy creams (such as cocoa butter) aren't the best for oily skin types.

You're Using Heavy Makeup Products 

Makeup is often a secret weapon, as it can help enhance your features and make you feel more confident. It's tempting to go all out, but you should avoid heavy layers of makeup. Instead, oily skin works best with lightweight makeup products. Everything – from your primer to your setting spray – should always be light. 

Going for a full coverage look can be addicting. But, it would help if you avoided it when unnecessary, as excessive makeup suffocates the skin. Plus, using heavy layers of makeup blocks the pores and causes an increase in oil production. This means you'll get oily skin, but pimples and blackheads too. Save the total coverage for nights out, and keep your everyday makeup lightweight.

In addition, never sleep with your makeup on. Save yourself the headache and wash your face before calling it a night. You should always make sure all of your makeup is thoroughly washed off before your head hits the pillow. When you sleep with a full face of makeup, your skin absorbs the product, which will lead to clogged pores.

You're Not in Good Weather Conditions

Summer is fantastic for many reasons, like feeling the sun's warmth and frolicking in the sand. Oh, and let's not forget that beautiful golden tan! The sun is fantastic for many things, but keeping your skin healthy isn't one of them. Skin is the protector of our bodies; as such, it comes in contact with the sun more than any other. As a result, it comes face-to-face with all of the bad weather conditions we may endure.

The climate drastically affects your skin's oil production, especially during hotter months such as summer, where humidity and temperatures are out of the roof. Similarly, the cold, dry winter weather may also cause dehydrated skin. 

Summer weather makes you more vulnerable to oily skin, and winter weather can, too. This may appear as a lose-lose situation when you take it in at face value. But, the best solution is to adjust your skincare routine throughout the year—for example, more sunscreen and face wash in the summer and more moisturizer in the winter.  

You're Eating Foods High in Grease, Sugar, or Fat

A hamburger and fries may sound delicious and tempting at the moment, but good skin comes from within. It is a given that consuming greasy and high-fat foods would make it very easy to produce oil. So, it's natural to conclude that eating fatty and high-fat foods may be the culprit for your oily skin.

Sugar and carbs are strongly associated with oily skin, too, and for a good reason. These foods increase your hormone levels, leading to an abundance of harmful side effects, one of which is oily skin. Making homemade meals is an easy way to have some of your favorite foods without a heavy penalty. Learning how to cook new meals can be an enjoyable process, too! 

You're Putting Too Much Stress on Yourself

Life can be a handful, and it's not always easy to cut back and relax. But overworking yourself could cause oily skin. Stress causes a flood of stress hormones to release into your bloodstream. One hormone, CRH (or a corticotropin-releasing hormone), is often associated with increased skin oil production. 

Another culprit is androgens, a male hormone that triggers oil production. Stress is in everybody's life, but learning to manage it is the key to a healthy and happy life. Take a break and enjoy doing something that you love. Your skin will thank you! 

You're Consuming Too Many Dairy Products

Milk is the stealthy villain to rob your skin of its precious oils. Commercially sold milk is rich in progesterone and DHT, increasing skin oil production. In addition, consuming milk increases insulin release and, you guessed it, sebum.

We know you may be hesitant to cut off milk entirely, and you don't have to. Filtered milk or milk from a local dairy farm is likely to have considerably less progesterone and DHT. If that isn't your forte, opt for a milk substitute such as almond milk.

Having oily skin can be frustrating, especially if you think you're doing everything in your power to control it. However, a few seemingly-harmless habits could lead to your shiny complexion. By taking note of these seven culprits and being proactive about avoiding them, you can finally have the matte skin you crave!