What Ingredients Are Not Suited For Oily Skin?

Dewy skin that glows from within may be the most coveted type, but grease is a whole different story. People with oily skin type often find themselves swinging between the two ends of the spectrum, but that’s not where their issues end. Greasy skin makes it harder to apply makeup (and even harder to keep it on), and there’s a near-constant threat of breakouts and inflammation in the oily areas. People with oily skin are more prone to breakouts. Often in these cases, the oil glands are bigger or produce more oil, which tends to make the skin more susceptible to clogged pores, and therefore, acne. While using the right ingredients (think salicylic acid, sulphur, and retinol) is key, skipping the ones that can exacerbate oil production is important too. You should be looking for products that are as light as possible, and hydrate the skin rather than moisturize it. You want to look for cleansing ingredients that help maintain a pH and bacteria balance but skip over-drying ingredients at the same time.

1. Occlusives like petroleum jelly

The Pros suggest forgoing thick moisturizers and creams, and instead opting for a gel-based moisturizer that will hydrate your skin without piling on the grease. Moisturizers that are specifically made for drier or dehydrated skin types may contain occlusive ingredients like paraffin, mineral oils, lanolin, or petroleum, which are can clog pores. Occlusives create a thick barrier on the skin to prevent moisture loss through evaporation, but they may feel too heavy or sticky on oily skin.

2. Face oils like coconut oil

It’s easy to lump all oils as pore-clogging, but each variant has different qualities and affects skin differently. Natural oils work for some, but not always for everyone since they are highly comedogenic and tend to clog pores. Those with a high oleic content (like coconut, camellia, and hazelnut oil) are fatty acids that sit on the skin's surface and clog pores. If your skin is already greasy, reach for oils with a higher linoleic content instead, like rosehip oil or evening primrose oil.

3. Alcohol-based products

There are many kinds of alcohols used in skincare—some that hydrate the skin, others that cleanse it. And if you have oily skin, you may be tempted to pick products with alcohol for the tingling, squeaky clean feeling they leave behind. But this might not always be a good idea. For instance, strong alcohol-based toners will only get rid of the oil superficially, and can even strip your skin of its natural moisture. Toners tend to make skin more oily as the product tries to compensate for the sebum that is lost during cleansing. Instead, use natural toners such as thermal spring water that will degrease without causing dryness. Aloe vera and natural rose toners help calm the skin instead of drying it. Some primers, sunscreens, and setting mists may contain alcohol as well since the ingredient helps to preserve the formulas while also being light on the skin. But if your skin is particularly prone to rebound oiliness, skipping these might do you good.

4. Rough physical scrubs

Over-exfoliation, especially with formulas including harsh granules, can damage the moisture barrier, leaving skin more prone to sensitivity and imbalance. When skin is dried out, it overcompensates and creates more oil—resulting in increased chances of acne.

5. Silicones like dimethicone

Silicones help to make moisturizers and lotions silky and can leave skin looking smooth and mattified. They are also the main ingredients in primers, as they fill in any texture issues like fine lines or large pores on the skin, creating a slightly sticky surface that helps makeup stay on all day long. Considering any ingredient that forms a layer on top of the skin spells trouble for oily skin types, doctors suggest that those with severely acne-prone and oily skin use water-based primers and moisturizers instead of the silicone-based variants. You want to be careful with any products that will add more oil to your skin, but on the other, you also want to avoid anything that's overly drying, because if you strip your skin it will start to produce additional oils of its own to account for the difference. All of this makes you more susceptible to breakouts, and your oily skin can become acne-prone real quickly.