Sick of oily skin

[justfedup2]

I'm in my 30s but my skin is the worst its been over the past few years.

Constantly oily and grubby looking. Big pores. Constant spots on my chin, every few weeks a big under the skin spot.

I'm not on any form of Birth Control, but sometimes consider it JUST because i'm sick of my skin.

On a daily basis I wear a SPF, double wear foundation with a pressed powder over the top. Within a few hours, i'm shiny.

Anybody had any experience with this or got any tips?

So annoying isn't it - I always thought by the time I was old enough to start getting wrinkles, at least I'd stop having oily skin. But no!!

What's your cleansing routine? I've found that my skin responds very well to chemical (not physical) exfoliants.

BHAs are the acids to use for oily/spotty skin - these exfoliate by cleansing out all your pores I think. Salicylic acid is the usual one.

I used Paula's Choice BHA toner after cleansing for a while, which was good, but now I've switched to Face Theory's Clarifying Cleanser, which has BHAs and AHAs in (AHAs exfoliate by sloughing away dead skin, so it makes your skin brighter). I use it about three times a week as a mask in the shower, then gently wash it away with a muslin cloth. My skin has been SO MUCH better since I used it.
www.facetheory.com/collections/cleansers-scrubs-masks/products/clarifying-cleanser-c2-pro?variant=31302122143805

On other days I just use a neutral foaming cleanser - I don't like cream cleansers.
www.facetheory.com/collections/cleansers-scrubs-masks/products/freshening-face-wash

Perhaps step away from the heavy make-up daily as well? I use a BB cream for every day, which has SPF in it, and gives a good enough coverage without clogging everything up. I've used this Boots one for years, and I'm amazed every day at the before and after, for something that is imperceptible once on.
www.boots.com/no7-beautiful-skin-bb-cream-for-normal-oily-skin-10134294?cm_mmc=bmm-buk-google-ppc--PLAs--L%26L+Asset-_-UK_Brand_No7_SSC&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIoYyGi_iW8QIVCNPtCh2a5wxLEAQYASABEgKVO_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

If I'm feeling a bit shiny, I'll add a light dusting of loose translucent powder (just ordered Glossier's Wowder to try, it gets rave reviews and i don't like my current one that much). But since using that facetheory clarifying cleanser, the shine has been more like a healthy glow and I haven't wanted ti cover it up as much.

I have the same problem. Been on the pill for years due to PCOS but now had to come off and within 2 weeks my skin became like an oil slick.

In the past I've used harsh products but later realised it made everything worse. I have found the best thing so far is to use bar soap as I feel it gets my skin the cleanest without being too harsh. I then use Avene tolerance emulsion moisturiser which is really gentle and non-greasy. I just use non-coloured powder rather than foundation as you can then use lots of layers of it throughout the day to control shine without it looking cakey. I also press tissues on my face throughout the day to absorb excess oil. Much cheaper and just as effective as those oil control paper sheets that are sold.

Double wear is a very thick foundation. Does your skin really need it? Bare minerals powder foundation might be better for you if you need some coverage.

www.paulaschoice.co.uk/shine-stopper-instant-matte-finish-with-microsponge-technology-full-size-3600.html

This is the best I have found.
I'm still not sure how to apply it under make up - but over the top it just mops everything up.

This www.boots.com/bioderma-sebium-pore-refiner-30ml-10202433 also helps.

Pears green soap for oily skin is great, I wash my face with it every morning. I also use pixi glow tonic about three times a week and it does help.

Which sunscreen are you using? A lot of them make my skin very greasy so I prefer a moisturiser containing SPF unless it's a particularly sunny day.

Also what do you use to remove your makeup?

I sympathise OP, it’s crap.

I use Paula’s choice BHA (salicylic acid) in the morning and have just started using Dr Emma Bunting’s night serum, which has niacinamide in it (good for sebum control) along with retinol. I like using it, but too early for results yet.

Make up wise I always use SPF - La Roche Posay anthelios is anti shine and a good matte base. Then a tinted moisturiser (using a beauty pie one at the moment). Would love to find an oil absorbing tinted base but they all seem to be glowy, which isn’t great for us.

I think mine has got slightly better as I've got older (I'm 42), but I still struggle. I've found avene cleanance range good, their cleanser and gel.

I don't find powder that helpful, but Benefit porefessional works for me, you can often get small tubes to try it out.

That LRP Antihelios stuff wasn't great for me at all. Left my skin quite greasy and broke me out on my chin. Annoying considering all the rave reviews.

Have you tried the Oil Cleansing method. I started it around the same age as you, maybe a bit older. It's relatively cheap. It's easy and for me after a month my skin was clear. I've hardly had spots since- except around my period and I'm now 47.

I had the worst skin. It was miserable. I only wish I'd started this sooner (I don't do it now, I don't need to)

www.healthline.com/health/oil-cleansing-method

And not just spots, it regulates and resets your oil production.

I was also going to suggest oil cleansing, it feels counterintuitive but it improved my skin significantly.

I'm now on tretinoin too and that's worked all sorts of wonders for my face.

45 and still ludicrously oily.

Working for me:
Dermatica prescription skincare
Clears pores at a deep level

Bare Minerals mineral foundation.
I realised that although I like the look of a cream tinted moisturiser and theoretically they are more flattering for ageing skin, it only looks good for half an hour then starts to split, whereas powder foundation looks slightly dry for 30 mins but is then fine for the day. Definitely agree Double Wear is probably too thick and greasy especially for summer

PITA. I am sick to the teeth of it. I’m early 50s and have never found anything topical that made any difference to the level of oiliness, but immune might be very bad. And I think I’ve tried everything.
I have finally bitten the bullet and gone on a couple of Roaccutane tabs a week. With the agreement of my dermatologist, obvs. THE RELIEF! I can’t tell you! I don’t have to wash my hair every day. Make up lasts more than 5 mins. And my skin looks heaps better. But but but - I’m well finished my family ( and no, menopause is changing nothing, still oily). It’s may not be suitable for you, and you do need a sympathetic derm. I also had my grumbling acne beginning to roar again, so that was another reason. But OMG, the difference! It is a revelation. Normal skin! The joy!

Spironolactone is very good too.

mine not immune!

Yes some kind of BHA first to help with spots and clogged pores. Then get Dr Hauschka Normalizing Oil. Yes, oil on oily skin stops your skin producing too much grease - harsh drying lotions do the opposite.

I've always had oily skin and The Body Shop seaweed range has worked really well for me, plus the right combination of products from The Ordinary.

@CatherineTheNotSoGreat could I please ask if you have noticed much of an improvement in your skin overall? I've read about studies where they have used low dose accutane as an anti ager, due to the increased collagen production. I last did accutane in my 20s when I wasn't thinking about wrinkles (them were the days)

Hmm @Watchingthetelly. Not sure yet - I’m about 2 months on it so it might be a little early to notice an anti-ageing effect. Having said that, my skin overall looks miles better, so a maybe is the answer. Texture, pore size, evenness. I did a ‘proper’ Roaccutane course years ago too. I’m sorry I didn’t start on a tiny dose once I was finished having kids. For perspective, my skin (before Roaccutane) is really really oily - no topical product has ever made a difference.

Thanks @CatherineTheNotSoGreat 👍

If you are looking for something natural to help with oil control, taking a high-strength B5 supplement helps suppress sebum production.