Oils for Oily Skin?

Author Team Essentialist

We know it sounds counterintuitive but oils can be incredibly beneficial for people with oily skin! Oils are incredibly adept at keeping skin balanced by regulating oil production as well as strengthening and protecting the skin barrier. The deal with oily skin is that it often starts with a stripped skin barrier when too many natural oils have been removed. The skin then attempts to bring itself back to equilibrium and ends up overproducing oils. It’s cyclical and often hard to break. When the removal of natural oils is the root cause topical application can assist.   

Now let’s talk sebum, it often has negative connotations but it’s not a dirty word. Sebum has a role in helping the skin stay hydrated and protected. Similar to excess oil production, it is excess sebum production that gets us twisted. With excess sebum pores look larger because of buildup and clogging, skin gets that shiny (not glowing) look, and yes, acne and blackheads form. Keeping your natural oils balanced will also serve to regulate sebum production.

We mentioned that facial oils can be great for oily skin however, there are some oils you should steer clear from if you do have oily, acne prone skin as they are likely to clog pores! Furthermore, beware of fragrant oils, aka essential oils. Essential oils do share many of the same benefits as non-fragrant oils but they are very likely to sensitize and aggravate your skin. The Daily Renewal Facial Oil was formulated with oily, acne prone skin in mind and without essential oils however, we cannot speak for other facial oils! See below a short list of oils to avoid in ingredient lists if you have oily skin: 

  • Apricot Kernel oil
  • Avocado oil
  • Sesame oil
  • Sweet Almond oil
  • Unfractionated Coconut oil
  • Wheat Germ oil

Here is a list of commonly used fragrant oils:

  • Lavender oil
  • Rosemary oil
  • Sandalwood oil
  • Peppermint oil
  • Lime oil
  • Lemon oil
  • Eucalyptus oil
  • Jasmine oil
  • Orange oil
  • Orange blossom oil
  • Grapefruit oil
  • Bergamot oil