Year after year, dry flakey skin is the talk of the town in these brisk and honestly too cold winter months (especially for all of our California readers). Everyone is always going on and on about ‘how to keep dry skin moisturized’ or ‘finding the perfect moisturizer for dry skin’, but where is all the buzz for our oily skin friends?

Oily skin needs just as much attention and moisture during this season. Don’t you dare think that oily skin folks can skip out on a proper winter time skincare routine. Having a skincare routine is a year-round necessity to keep you and your skin living its best freakin’ life.

What is oily skin? Do I have it?

The telltale sign of an oily skin profile is having, what we like to call, an ‘over-dew-for-blotting’ face by about mid-day. A little shine never hurt anyone, but there’s a fine line between a dewy glow and feeling like a (very cute) grease ball.

The most common misconception about oily skin is that it doesn’t need moisturizer or facial oil. Adding more oil to an already oily surface doesn’t make any sense at first, but it is actually the best thing you can do for oily skin. It enriches the skin with vitamins and nutrients that boost healthy complexion and signals your brain to stop over-producing oil.

What causes oily skin?

Contrary to popular belief, oily skin and dry skin are more closely related than you think! Oily skin types typically have overactive oil glands that produce an excess amount of sebum, aka ‘oil’. Many things can cause oily skin, like your genetics, hormonal changes, and, yup, even dry skin.

Overly dry skin could be a reason for all the oil your skin is over-producing. When the face experiences intense dryness, it compensates by turning up skin’s natural oil levels.

How to balance oily skin?

To keep oil production at a healthy level, remember this: #stayhydrated. Hydrate your body with at least 8 cups of water a day and make sure you’re getting fruits and vegetables in your diet. Sorry, pizza toppings don’t count!

Now you’re probably thinking, “what the heck, I read all that just to be told to drink more water?!” Don’t fret because this is the moment you’ve all been waiting for. The secret sauce to balancing oily skin.

The secret sauce -- or should we say secret oil is...facial oils! Facial oils are a complete game-changer for balancing your skin. It helps nourish and moisturize your skin and actually trains it to produce a normal level of oil. Look out for hemp seed, rosemary, eucalyptus, or lavender essential oils when picking one out.

How can I incorporate a facial oil into my routine?

Facial oils are easy to use and super versatile. Facial oil can also double as a moisturizer, just add it to the last step of your skincare routine. An alternative way to use it is by mixing a few drops into your moisturizer before application. Easy!

Not all facial oils are created equal. Make sure that when you’re choosing a facial oil, it’s all natural so you know exactly what is going into your skin.

Alright now, go on and glow on! :)

<3 Hazel B.