This article will educate readers on how to properly exfoliate oily skin, avoid common mistakes, and choose the best exfoliating scrubs that effectively control excess oil and prevent breakouts.
Author: Dermoi
Reading time: 7 minutes
Article content
- Do’s
- Don’ts
- Best Exfoliating Scrubs for Oily Skin
- 1. Biretix Micropeel Purifying Exfoliant Treatment
- 2. Medik8 Sleep Glycolic
- 3. PCA Skin Pore Refining Treatment
- Exfoliating Scrub for Oily Skin: Final Thoughts
Exfoliation is a healthy and essential way to manage your skin health, especially if you have oily skin. The right type of exfoliating scrub for oily skin and the right methods can control excess oil, unclog your pores, and prevent breakouts. This helps to more deeply penetrate your skin and stimulate collagen, even out your skin tone, and more.
The problem is that people who struggle with oily skin may unintentionally over-exfoliate and use the wrong product, causing worsening skin issues. This guide will help readers find the best exfoliating scrub for oily skin and teach how to use it correctly for perfect results.
Do’s & Don’ts of Using an Exfoliating Scrub for Oily Skin
So what are the do’s and don’ts of using an exfoliating scrub for oily skin?
Do’s
Choose the Right Type of Exfoliant
You can choose from different types of exfoliants. The most common two are chemical (AHA/BHA) for deep cleansing or physical (fine granules) for surface smoothing. The type of exfoliant you want is generally based on the condition of your skin, your level of sensitivity if any, and any other products that you might already be using to treat your acne.
Exfoliate 2-3 Times a Week to keep skin fresh without irritation.
It is important that you exfoliate regularly but regularly does not mean every single day or twice per day. It means two or three times per week so that your skin is fresh but not irritated. If you exfoliate more frequently than this, it can actually cause redness, inflammation, additional breakouts, dry skin, uneven skin tone, and hyperpigmentation.
Apply on Damp Skin to prevent unnecessary friction.
You don't want to apply any exfoliating face scrub for oily skin to a dry face. You might think that this will help get rid of the oil faster or more effectively but it's simply not true. This causes unnecessary friction, which leads to damage of the skin's natural barrier and that can exacerbate breakouts, redness, and irritation.
Follow with a Hydrating Moisturizer to balance oil production.
It is important that you follow up with any exfoliation treatment using a hydrating moisturizer. This helps to keep your skin moisturized and maintain proper oil production. If you don't, your skin might trigger excess oil production to try and compensate for the natural oils having been stripped away through exfoliation.
Use Sunscreen Daily.
Exfoliation makes skin more sensitive to UV rays. So, it's imperative that you use sunscreen daily. If not, you can become more sensitive to sun exposure, leading to redness, irritation, and damage.
Don’ts
There are several key things you should avoid:
Don’t Use Harsh Scrubs with Large Particles (e.g., walnut shells) → Can cause micro-tears.
Micro-tears are bad for your skin because they damage an otherwise complete protective barrier and this leaves your skin more vulnerable to redness, irritation, and environmental damage. Even if you can't see the tears, harsh exfoliation with large particles and abrasive scrubs can take away from your skin's ability to naturally restore itself.
Don’t Over-Exfoliate → Leads to increased oiliness & breakouts.
Too much exfoliation can increase the oiliness and breakouts. It might seem counterintuitive if exfoliation helps reduce breakouts that too much exfoliation would actually make breakouts worse, but it leads to inflammation, dry skin, and damage to your skin barrier. This damage means acne-causing bacteria is more likely to get in and cause breakouts.
Don’t Mix Too Many Actives → Leads to damage and dryness.
You don't want to mix too many actives, like an exfoliant with retinol or a strong acne treatment as this can cause excessive exfoliation. Exfoliation is a great thing but too much of a good thing can be harsh on your skin and disrupt the protective barrier. When you combine too many actives, it increases the risk of dryness, peeling, skin sensitivity, and irritation. In effect, it strips away the natural oils of your skin and can make you more sensitive even if you didn't start with skin sensitivity.
Don’t Forget to Patch Test when trying a new exfoliating scrub → Avoid additional redness or damage.
When you are trying to find the best exfoliating scrub for oily skin, you should always do a patch test first. Don’t start with a new product, especially something like an overnight peel across all of your face, because you could wake up with additional irritation or redness that you cannot hide. A patch test is a way to try a new exfoliating scrub in a small area that is inconspicuous and to wait 24 hours for any adverse effects.
Don’t Skip Moisturizer → Oily skin still needs hydration!
Moisturizer helps replenish any lost moisture, keeping your skin healthy and hydrated instead of dry and flaky. While you might think that oily skin is already hydrated, excess sebum is not the same as hydration. Using a proper moisturizer will prevent your skin from irritation and environmental damage and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
Best Exfoliating Scrubs for Oily Skin
When it comes to picking the best exfoliating face scrub for oily skin, you have several options:
£39.00
£55.00
£19.95
1. Biretix Micropeel Purifying Exfoliant Treatment
Biretix is a leading dermatological prescription for acne-prone skin, offering a wide range of next-generation retinol complex time-release formulas and plant-based peptides to help remove acne-related bacteria.
This is a great exfoliating scrub for oily skin because it's designed to control excess oil and leave your skin radiant. Ideal for those who struggle with breakouts, the ingredients naturally neutralize bacteria that cause acne, clear out the pores, and reduce irritation.
With natural ingredients like willow bark and niacinamide, your pores and skin tone are strengthened while bacteria is neutralized and future breakouts are prevented.
2. Medik8 Sleep Glycolic
Medik8 offers an overnight AHA peel that helps exfoliate your skin in a safe and gentle fashion. This is an overnight treatment that gradually releases glycolic acid to support the skin barrier, reducing congestion and retaining moisture.
This is an ideal product for gentle exfoliation that doesn't exacerbate redness or discomfort. With regular use, you will see a noticeable improvement to your skin texture, cleared congestion on the skin, and an even skin tone thanks to natural ingredients like Korean Clover extract and glycerin.
3. PCA Skin Pore Refining Treatment
PCA offers a unique pore refining treatment that is an advanced mask that exfoliates, removes oil, and minimizes your pores. This treatment accelerates cell turnover, removing dead skin cells and other impurities that might get trapped in your pores and lead to congestion and breakouts.
It also works by minimizing enlarged pores to help lead to smoother, softer skin. The absorbent clay is a key ingredient in drawing impurities out of the skin, while the bisabolol, a chamomile extract, calms the skin and reduces inflammation.
Exfoliating Scrub for Oily Skin: Final Thoughts
Exfoliation should be a regular part of your skin care routine, but it's important that you exfoliate the right way to get clear, shine-free skin. Take time to review these tips and choose the best exfoliating face scrub for oily skin, one that prevents breakouts and improves your skin texture without causing additional redness.
Follow these do’s and avoid the don’ts for healthy, glowing skin.
At Dermoi, we bring you a unique concept store dedicated to scientifically-verified skincare. Our experienced scientific team carefully studies and selects each product, ensuring only the most potent and effective options make it to our shelves. With Dermoi, you can be confident in using products that are high-quality and advanced.
For any questions about your skincare routine or product recommendations, our scientific team is available for support. Feel free to reach us by email at [emailprotected] or call (0)20 3963 9930, Monday through Friday, between 11am and 4pm.
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