With the Philippines’ hot and humid weather, people with oily skin struggle the most in finding the right balance in their skincare routine. Oiliness usually means that your skin is dehydrated. If your skin is dry, your sebaceous glands will overcompensate for the lack of moisture by producing more oil. This excess oil can then congest your pores, which is why many people who have oily skin types are also prone to acne.
Oily skin is harder to maintain during summer because the increased oil production makes breakouts even more likely. According to Dr. Melanie Palm, Medical Director at Art of Skin MD, “Over the summer, temperatures and humidity levels rise. These environmental changes encourage the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum. This leads to undesired facial oiliness.”
The secret to an effective skincare routine for oily skin is finding the right ingredients and product formulations to avoid exacerbating oiliness, clogging the pores, and causing breakouts. Here’s a guide on choosing the best skincare products for oily, acne-prone skin in the Philippines.
Skincare Routine for Oily Skin in the Philippines
A basic oily skincare routine suitable for the Philippine weather consists of five steps:
Step 1: Cleanse
Wash your skin every morning and at night. Compared to other skin types, oily skin can tolerate more cleansing. You may feel like your skin is clean from the night before, but while you sleep, it’s already busy shedding and producing more oils during this time.
Clear away dead skin and excess oil with a pH-balanced cleanser. A water-based facial wash with a pH level of around 5.5 is gentle enough to cleanse your skin without stripping off its natural oils. The goal is to achieve the right moisture balance. Even if you have oily skin, it’s never good to dry it out. Otherwise, your skin will become dehydrated, which causes your sebaceous glands to produce more oil.
Cleansers with high pH levels can strip down your skin’s protective barrier. “If, after washing, your skin feels tight, dry, or inflamed, that means the cleanser or cleansing mechanism was too strong because, in addition to cleansing, the surfactant has broken down a significant number of bonds in your skin that forms your skin barrier,” explains Dendy Engelman, a New York dermatologist.
Check out Kiehl’s Calendula Face Wash. This deep cleanser gently lifts away impurities, dirt, and oil without drying out your skin, so it’s perfect for oily, acne-prone, and even sensitive skin.
Step 2: Tone
After getting rid of the oil, makeup, and dirt from your face, use an alcohol-free toner for oily skin. A toner without alcohol can gently cleanse and soothe your skin without drying it out.
Kiehl’s Calendula Toner is alcohol-free and formulated with select herbal extracts, including whole calendula petals. This product is scientifically proven to improve oiliness and the appearance of pores in just three days. It’s also lightweight, sinks into the skin quickly, and sits well under makeup, so it’s perfect for everyday use even with the Philippines’ humid weather.
Step 3: Treat
Everyone has different skin concerns, so this step will vary depending on the issue you want to address. Here are some of the common skin concerns you can treat:
- Dark circles – Fill in fine lines and conceal dark circles with an eye brightening serum. It would be best to go for a product with potent amounts of vitamin C to improve the appearance of aging skin.
- Stubborn acne marks and dark spots – Treat post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation with a dark spot solution that evens skin tone and imparts radiance to the skin.
- Textured skin and blemishes – Enhance collagen production and accelerate skin renewal by using a retinol serum. A serum with potent retinol, ceramide, and peptide ingredients can promote cell turnover and support youthful-looking skin.
Step 4: Moisturize
You’re using the wrong kind of moisturizer for oily skin if you feel like its consistency is heavy. Avoid creams or oils because your skin may not absorb them thoroughly; they’ll just sit on the surface and clog your pores. The best moisturizer formulation for your skin type is lightweight, like water-based or oil-free gels.
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream is a suitable oil-free moisturizer for oily skin. It has a fresh and non-greasy texture that quickly absorbs into your skin. With its Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract and Antarcticine formula, your skin will retain moisture better.
Step 5: Protect
Exposure to UV rays will cause your skin’s function to deteriorate faster and pigmentation to darken further. Whether indoors or outdoors, you need to protect your skin with sunscreen, especially in a tropical country like the Philippines.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher to block 97% of the sun’s UVB rays. Additionally, make sure to choose a non-comedogenic sunscreen to avoid acne breakouts.
Kiehl’s Daily UV Defense Aqua Gel is a water-light sunscreen that offers SPF 50 PA++++ and pollution protection. It’s lightweight, non-comedogenic, and sinks quickly into the skin. This sunscreen has also been tested in humid conditions, so it’s the perfect sun protection product if you have oily skin and live in a tropical climate.
Take Better Care of Your Oily Skin
You can control shine and reduce breakouts by following a skincare regimen tailored to your skin type and the climate of your location. A well-constructed morning and night routine filled with cleansing, toning, treating, and moisturizing can do wonders for your skin and help maintain its health.
Aside from choosing the right products and ingredients, it’s equally important that you incorporate some skincare habits like using blotting papers and washing your face after exercising. To shop for the best skincare products for oily acne-prone skin in the Philippines, check out Kiehl’s.