Oily skin is a skin type in which the sebaceous glands produce more sebum than the skin needs. That sounds like a problem, but sebum has a function: it protects the skin against drying out and helps keep the skin barrier intact. Things go wrong when production is too high and disrupts the balance. In this article you will read how to recognize oily skin, what the causes are and how gentle care supports balance without further disrupting the skin. For the background on oils and skincare, read our article on natural skincare explained. To find out which oil suits oily skin best, read the oil guide.
1. What oily skin is
Sebum is an oily substance that the sebaceous glands in the skin produce. It consists of a mixture of triglycerides, waxes and squalene and, together with sweat, forms a protective film on the skin's surface. In normal amounts, sebum is functional: it retains moisture and protects the skin against external influences.
With oily skin, sebum production is structurally higher than average. As a result, the skin gets shiny faster, particularly on the T-zone, and pores are more often visible. Excess sebum can accumulate together with dead skin cells, which makes blockages develop more quickly.
Oily skin is not a problem in itself but a skin type with specific needs. The challenge lies in maintaining balance, not in removing sebum.
2. How to recognize oily skin
You can recognize oily skin by a combination of characteristics that become clearer over the course of the day.
| Sign | What it looks or feels like |
|---|---|
| Shiny skin surface | Shine on the forehead, nose and chin, sometimes across the whole face |
| Visible pores | Larger, visible pores particularly on the nose and cheeks |
| Make-up that fades quickly | Foundation or powder sinks in or disappears within a few hours |
| Blackheads forming quickly | Open or closed comedones, particularly in the T-zone |
| Oily feeling after cleansing | Skin feels oily or heavy again shortly after washing |
Oily is not the same as dirty. Shiny skin does not mean it is insufficiently clean. It means the sebaceous glands are active. Cleansing harder therefore does not make the skin less oily; it can actually disrupt it further.
3. What causes oily skin
The amount of sebum the skin produces is largely determined by genetic predisposition and hormonal influences. Androgens, a group of hormones that activate the sebaceous glands, play a central role in this. That explains why oilier skin so often occurs in puberty, but also with hormonal fluctuations later in life.
On top of that, external factors play a role. Climate and humidity affect sebum production. Stress responses via cortisol can additionally activate the sebaceous glands. And perhaps the most underestimated mechanism: overly aggressive skincare. When the skin is stripped too much, it compensates by producing more sebum. The reflex to cleanse oily skin harder therefore often makes the problem worse.
4. Oily skin and blemishes
Oily skin and blemishes often go together, but they are not the same thing. Excess sebum can mix with dead skin cells and partly or fully block a pore. In such a closed-off environment, micro-organisms can multiply more quickly, which can trigger an inflammatory response.
Even so, sebum is only one of the factors. Keratinization, the skin microbiome and inflammatory processes also play a role in the development of blemishes. Read more about exactly how acne develops in our article on how acne develops. For what you can do concretely, read our article on what to do about acne.
5. How to support oily skin
Caring for oily skin is all about balance. The goal is not to remove all sebum but to keep the skin clean and comfortable without disrupting the skin barrier. An intact skin barrier helps keep sebum production stable.
Cleanse gently
Choose a gentle cleanser that removes dirt and excess sebum without leaving the skin feeling tight or taut. Skin that feels tight after washing has been stripped too much. A light hydrosol such as rose water can help refresh the skin gently after cleansing.
Light plant-based oil
Oily skin needs lipids, even though that sounds contradictory. Light, fast-absorbing oils support the skin barrier without a heavy or occlusive feeling. Jojoba oil has a composition that closely resembles the skin's own sebum and is absorbed quickly. Hemp seed oil has a light texture and a high linoleic acid content. Neither leaves a greasy film. Products that suit oily skin can be found in the collection for oily skin.
Clay as a weekly step
A clay mask absorbs excess sebum and can temporarily make the skin more matte. Use it not daily but once or twice a week. Bentonite clay has a strongly absorbing effect. Ghassoul clay is gentler and also suitable when the skin is more sensitive.
6. What you'd better not do
With oily skin there are a few common mistakes that make the situation worse rather than better.
- Cleansing or scrubbing too often: the skin barrier becomes damaged and sebum production increases as compensation
- Using products that strip the skin heavily: the same mechanism
- Avoiding oil entirely: the skin needs lipids, even with oily skin
- Switching many products at once: the skin needs time to recover and respond to a routine
- Thinking oily skin needs no care: without a routine of gentle cleansing and basic care, the balance becomes further disrupted
This article is intended solely as informative background and does not replace medical advice. With persistent complaints or doubt, consult a general practitioner or dermatologist.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use oil if I have oily skin?
Yes. Oily skin needs lipids to keep the skin barrier intact. When that barrier is stripped too much, the skin responds with more sebum production. Light oils such as jojoba oil or hemp seed oil are absorbed quickly, leave no greasy film and are well tolerated by many people with oily skin. Use a small amount and apply the oil thinly.
Does cleansing more often help reduce oily skin?
No, and it often backfires. When the skin is stripped too much, it compensates by producing more sebum. Gentle cleansing twice a day, morning and evening, is enough for most people with oily skin. A cleanser is well chosen when the skin feels clean but not tight after washing.
Does oily skin go away with age?
Often it does, gradually. Sebum production decreases as we grow older, so oily skin usually becomes less oily over the years. Many people notice this around the age of thirty or forty. Oily skin can then transition to combination or normal skin. This is a normal biological process and differs from person to person.
Is oily skin the same as blemished skin?
Not necessarily. Oily skin produces a lot of sebum but does not automatically have to be blemished. Blemishes develop when excess sebum clogs pores, which happens more often with oily skin but is not always the case. With a gentle routine that supports balance, oily skin can look calm and cared-for.
Which clay suits oily skin?
Bentonite clay has a strongly absorbing effect and is suitable as a weekly step for oily or blemished skin. Ghassoul clay is gentler and also usable when the skin is more sensitive or the bentonite feels too intense. Do not use clay daily and do not let the mask dry out completely, to spare the skin barrier.
Oily skin on the face: how do you handle it?
Oily skin on the face responds well to a routine without aggressive stripping products. Those actually prompt the skin to produce more sebum as compensation. A gentle cleanser, light hydrosol and a non-comedogenic oil such as jojoba oil or hemp seed oil work better on oily skin than heavy mattifying products.
Cause of oily skin: why do you produce more sebum?
Excess sebum production is driven by hormones, particularly androgens. That explains why oily skin occurs more often in puberty, around menstruation or with hormonal fluctuations. Genetic predisposition also plays a role. Other factors that stimulate sebum production are stress, overly aggressive cleansing and high humidity.
Extremely oily skin: what is the approach?
With extremely oily skin, the temptation to cleanse more intensively is strong. This usually backfires. A gentler approach with a light foaming cleanser, followed by a hydrosol and a thin layer of jojoba oil or hemp seed oil, gives most people better long-term results than aggressive stripping.
Oily skin experiences: what helps according to users?
People with oily skin describe the most improvement after stopping alcohol-based toners and excessive cleansing. A commonly mentioned switch is to a small amount of jojoba oil or hemp seed oil as basic care, oils that do not dry the skin out further and do not additionally stimulate sebum production.
Oily forehead: is that normal?
An oily T-zone, including the forehead, is the most common pattern with oily or combination skin. The sebaceous glands are more densely present there. The same approach applies to the forehead: cleanse gently, do not over-strip, and use a light non-comedogenic oil as basic care.
Which oil works on oily skin?
Jojoba oil is the most recommended oil for oily skin: the wax esters resemble human sebum, it is non-comedogenic and has a light texture. Hemp seed oil has a high linoleic acid content and absorbs quickly. Both are used on sebum-rich or blemished skin as an alternative to heavy creams.
Also take a look at our jojoba oil and our hemp seed oil.
