Medically reviewed by Minimalist Health Specialist -  Written by Akruti Khandkar (Journalist)  on 22nd Sep 2020

Everything You Should Know About Winter Care for Oily Skin

Winter Care for Oily Skin

Your skin can give off a lovely glow when it's oily. The problem arises when these oil patches cause skin problems like acne, blackheads and other issues. Many might wonder that the winter's cold breeze eliminates the excess oil, but sadly, this isn’t true. Regardless of summers or winters, oily skin should be treated with the utmost care. There are many assumptions that in winters, with a drop in humidity when the climate cools, you may invest less time smudging your face and powdering your nose.

The most common reasons for oily skin in winter include hereditary, food choices, lifestyle, environmental, etc. Luckily, your greasy skin can be effectively controlled and taken care of with the help of basic skincare techniques.

Winter care for oily skin does require certain modifications in your beauty routine; however, it does not mean a total deserting of the products you use. When sebaceous glands overproduce sebum, skin becomes super oily.

We can’t directly hop onto the solution until we are well aware of the problem. We need to understand how the oil generates in the body before putting an end to it.  

How does oil work through the skin?

How does oil work

According to some studies, if you notice your skin continually looks shiny or experience a few blotting sheets a day, this can be an issue. The shine is the extra oil on your face, and it needs to be taken care of. Overactive sebaceous glands could be genetic or the aftereffect of hormonal changes in your body. Under all your pores is a sebaceous gland that produces regular oils called sebum.

Sebum keeps your skin healthy and hydrated. As mentioned before, however, these sebaceous glands can create a lot of oil in some individuals. Oily skin can even feel greasy even after a few minutes of cleansing. Many individuals also witness breakouts. This happens when sebum blends in with dead skin cells and gets stuck in your pores.  

How to put a halt on those adamant oily glands?

When oily glands trouble you due to hereditary qualities or hormones, it's hard to forestall. Adapting consistent skin healthcare and healthy eating habits, such as staying away from sugary, fried, or processed food, can bring a huge difference, says Dr. Rinky Kapoor, dermatologist India.

It's enticing to use heavy beauty products to cover up that oil, but this can aggravate the condition. Instead, when your oily skin misbehaves, decrease the use of cosmetics, particularly foundation. Pick water-based products like a serum rather than oil-based. Make sure if, in any case, your skin gets irritated with any product, cease use. If your skin is hypersensitive, always consider your dermatologist before using any product.  

How does winter add to your oily skin woes?

Despite skin type, winter is the season when the majority are confused about their skincare routine. But people with oily skin in winter suffer the most. The emollient moisturizer makes your skin oily, and chilly air makes it dry. What a disaster! The blend of cold and dry outside and hot and dry inside—is too much. You can't control the climate and killing the warmth inside isn't an alternative.

To keep your skin hydrated and comforted, you can include concentrated, weightless hydration-drenching products to fool your skin into the era of spring. 

How Oily Should Your Skin be in Winters?

Here's a tip- regardless of any season, if you have oily skin, you need to dodge stuff that causes your skin to feel heavy and saturated. Preferably, a blend that can cause obstructed pores and bumps.

Taking care of oily skin in winters doesn’t mean stocking up on substantial items; instead, you have to layer a progression of lightweight cosmetics that give smoothing, fresh fixings without causing the skin to feel clogged or drenched.

At Minimalist, choosing a couple of our serums will give you the best outcomes without compromising your skin. These imaginative lightweight solutions are prepared with the sorts of ingredients your skin needs and will transform your dull skin to look and feel smoother, milder, more even, and more radiant all year long.

It's important to add products like Niacinamide 10% + Zinc, an oil-free lightweight serum with aloe-based formula with replenishing ingredients like niacinamide, zinc, and other components that would boost your dermal immunity and keep your skin healthy and radiant.  

What you should forbid yourself from doing-

As mentioned above, your food and lifestyle choices make a massive impact on your skin. Apart from that, here are some of the points to remember- 

1. Avoid hot showers

As relaxing as a hot shower can appear, as justified by Board-certified dermatologist Jennifer Powers, dries your skin out over the top and leaves it looking dull. Stick to tepid water, which will help wash off the dirt without leaving your skin dry and stretchy. 

2. Stick to your comfortable product

A common mistake made by many is that they change their healthy skin items according to the season. If your current face wash and creams are functioning correctly for you, keep using them in the winters. An abrupt change in items can prompt skin break out flare-up.  

3. Opt for water-based makeup

A critical tip for oily skincare is to ensure that the cosmetics you use are oil-free and water-based, says Dr. Rinky Kapoor, Dermatologist in India. This is particularly significant while choosing your base items, for example, BB cream, foundation, or concealer 

4. Pat, don't rub

Never rub your skin dry; pat it with a towel. Scouring your face can disturb your touchy pores and lead to an abundance of oil discharge.  

5. Use a fresh cloth

Make sure to change your bed cloth and face towels once per week. Bedsheets and pad cover gather residue and microbes that attack your skin as you rest around evening time. This can cause breakouts everywhere on your face and arms.  

6. Minimize scrubbing

Utilizing a face scrub regularly worsens oily skin. However, you should scrub your face once every 2 weeks. If possible, make your natural scrub with sugar or coffee or oats. This would clean your face and keep it moisturized at the same time.  

7. Stay hydrated

Drink at least 2 liters of water a day to keep your body hydrated. Remain hydrated with green tea, coconut water, and new natural product juices.

"Your skin would show signs of dehydration due to lack of water consumption," says Dr. Reagan Anderson, Board-certified dermatologist.  

8. Go liquor-free

Not just at parties. While picking a skin toner and any skincare product, check the ingredients to ensure the item is liquor-free. If everything else fails, do ask the seller. Don't just purchase an item that claims it is reasonable for oily skin. Research well. 

9. Go natural

It's alright not to dig into expensive items for your skin; the best items are in your kitchen. Ingredients like tea tree oil, sandalwood, and turmeric are amazingly useful for oily skin. The internet is loaded with DIY scrubs and masks that are suitable for your oily skin in winters. 

Products that will help oily skin in winters

To lessen the burden of search of products for your oily skin, we have narrowed down some elements that can be beneficial for oily skin in winter: 

1. Hyaluronic Acid

The hyaluronic Acid, which normally occurs in our bodies, is the fundamental ingredient in Restylane, a gel-infused into the skin to lessen facial wrinkles and lines.  

2. Benzoyl peroxide

Benzoyl Peroxide is a mainstream ingredient used in acne treatment. As suggested by AAD, It works by obliterating bacteria that cause acne and advancing skin cell turnover, treating stubborn acne, and safeguarding future breakouts.

3. AHA (Glycolic Acid)

Glycolic Acid is a stalwart element for oily skin, particularly if you are troubled with breakouts. Glycolic Acid is an Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) that is used in most of the oil-free products, especially strips that help improve the skin's texture and appearance.

4. Niacinamide

Niacinamide is a sacred goal skincare ingredient that you will see in several lotions and serums. You might know it as vitamin B3. Niacinamide supports in managing the sebum. It additionally builds-up the external layer of skin and increases its surface renewal rate to help invert the presence of damage, for example, hyperpigmentation and enormous pores.  

5. BHA (Salicylic Acid)

Salicylic Acid is a part of Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) treats oily skin by opening up clogged pores and killing microbes, says Yoram Harth, MD, a dermatologist. They are oil-solvent, which permits them to dissolve oil, which means they can separate all the oily dirt in your pores and direct sebum control.

6. Retinol

Justified by AAD, this vitamin A derivative is usually found in anti-aging formulas that target issues like wrinkling and hyperpigmentation, yet it's similarly viable for oily skin. It decreases sebum creation and helps to improve the skin surface. You may face irritation and dryness regardless of any type of retinoid you try. If you've just begun to use retinoids, you should start with low concentration formulas and stir your way to what suits your skin best. 

Exclusive Advice From Minimalist-

At Minimalist, we care about your health, well-being and skincare routines. We are passionate about introducing you to effective skincare routines. If you eat healthy, stay positive and hydrated, you might not need to use any product, precautions, or advice to make your skin glow. You are perfect and you must remember that!