Thanks to hormone fluctuations, oily skin can affect women well into their 30s and 40s, leaving you battling blemishes at a time when you thought you’d be free of breakouts and focused on an anti-aging skincare routine.
The good news is that people with oily skin tend to have less noticeable lines and wrinkles than those with other skin types, but it’s still important to take steps to keep your skin looking and feeling youthful.
With the right mix of products it’s possible to build an anti-aging routine which is perfectly tailored to your skin type.
Cleanse, but don’t over cleanse
Cleansing is a vital part of any anti-ageing skincare routine, removing dirt, makeup and oil which builds in the pores and causes blemishes. Your face will be left clean, so other products such as moisturiser can be absorbed more effectively.
When your skin feels oily and greasy it can be tempting to scrub away enthusiastically, however, this can do more harm than good, drying out the skin and highlighting any signs of ageing or even leading to increased oil production.
You don’t want to wash your face too often or too vigorously. Choose a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser – avoid foams which can be harsh on the skin and dry it out – and stick to washing twice a day, morning and night. Remember, you don’t have to scrub for your face to be left clean and fresh. Simply wet your face with warm water and pour a small amount of cleanser onto your fingertips them massage into the skin with small circular motions. Rinse thoroughly and pat your face dry with a soft towel. If you are tempted to wash your face more than twice, try using a blotting paper instead.
Moisturise, with the right products
Oil and moisture are two different things, so even if you have oily skin, it’s skin important to moisturise every day as part of the anti-ageing process. In fact, an oily complexion is often caused by dehydrated skin. A good moisturiser helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and keeps skin looking healthy, firm and smooth. If you have naturally oily skin, opt for a light oil-free moisturiser rather than heavy creams and emollients. Look out for products which are water-based and non-comedogenic as these won’t clog your pores, and keep an eye out for creams with mattifying and shine-reducing properties.
When it comes to applying your moisturiser, don’t over-do it. Apply a small amount and rub in using small circular motions, building up across your whole face. Your skin will absorb what it needs.
Exfoliate regularly
The specific challenges of oily skin as it ages include enlarged pores and blemishes. Regular exfoliation, two or three times a week, can help tackle both these issues, removing older layers of skin which can hang around the surface clogging pores and causing skin to look dull and prematurely aged.
Chemical exfoliation, which features ingredients which loosen and remove old skin, rather than physical exfoliation – which involves rubbing rough particles over the skin – is typically recommended for oily skin as physical exfoliation can irritate the skin and lead to breakouts.
Focus on your eyes
Fine lines and wrinkles around your eyes are likely to be among the first signs of ageing and tackling them can help keep your skin looking younger for longer.
The skin around your eyes tends to be dryer then elsewhere on your face, meaning you can use a more intensive moisturiser or emollient formula, even if you are opting for a thinner product elsewhere. Again, when it comes to application, be gentle. Simply pat a small amount of product on the under eye area using your ring finger and move out towards your temple. These creams are often best used at night to give them time to really soak into the skin.
Use sun protection
Daily sun protection is one of the most important parts of any anti-ageing regime. Wearing at least SPF 15 each day – even if it’s cloudy – helps guard your skin from UVA rays which contribute to skin ageing, as well as UVB rays.
People with oily skin are often reluctant to wear sun cream each day, due to concerns that it will make their skin even greasier. However, there are plenty of ways to get the sun protection you need without layering on numerous creams and lotions. There are a number of sun protection products on the market designed especially for oily skin, or you can use a foundation or moisturiser with SPF protection, so you can minimise the number of products you are putting on your skin.
Get plenty of sleep
There are lots of small lifestyle changes that can help keep the signs of ageing at bay and don’t involve putting too many products on your skin. Sleep is extremely important to maintaining a youthful looking complexion. Ideally aim for at least 7 hours a night, but if this isn’t possible, try and schedule in a couple of early nights each week.
