What is oily skin?

The clear signs of oily skin

Oily skin is quite easy to identify, as certain clinical signs are typical of hyperseborrhea. First of all, excess sebum makes the skin oily and shiny, especially in the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin). Also characteristic of oily skin are uneven skin texture, enlarged pores, the presence of comedones (the famous blackheads and whiteheads) and make-up not staying on the skin.

What causes oily skin? 

Why do we get oily skin? There is no one answer to this question. The occurrence of excessive sebum production can be due to a variety of factors. So what is responsible for excess sebum? The reasons are primarily endogenous, i.e. they depend on internal causes, such as heredity or hormonal imbalances (especially during adolescence, which can cause acne).

The causes can also be external, such as the occurrence of stress, pollution, exposure to tobacco or changes in temperature.

Note that in adulthood, men are more prone to oily skin as androgens (male hormones) stimulate sebum production.

Everything you need to know about the causes of oily skin

Where does oily skin occur on the body?

Sebum is a physiological secretion of the sebaceous glands. These glands are not evenly distributed over the body. This is why some areas get oilier than others. The areas richest in sebum are the face (especially the T-zone: forehead, nose and chin), as well as the scalp, upper back and chest. Excess sebum is accompanied by small blackheads (comedones). Finally, the presence of fatty acids in sebum facilitates the proliferation of certain bacteria that trigger the inflammatory phase of acne.

Oily vs combination skin: not to be confused

Skin changes with age: oily skin in adolescence generally becomes mixed in adulthood.

Oily teenage skin

In adolescents, the overproduction of sebum, and therefore oily skin, affects the entire face. Blemishes can develop on the face as well as on the shoulders, upper back and chest. 

Combination skin

As the name suggests, combination skin is neither completely dry nor completely oily; it’s a bit of both. As we age, sebum production naturally decreases. Oily skin tends to be concentrated in the middle of the face: the famous T-zone. On the rest of the face, which is less rich in sebaceous glands, the skin is more likely to be normal or even dry. 

Make-up for oily skin

Poor hold and foundation that "slips": in principle, make-up and oily skin don’t go well together. But that doesn't mean you can't find suitable (and effective!) make-up. Above all, it’s important to choose the right products and develop a good ritual for applying them. First, we advise you to choose non-comedogenic make-up products only. Next, before applying your make-up, don't forget to cleanse your face and apply a mattifying moisturiser. Finally, this step cannot be repeated often enough, but the cleansing / make-up removal stage is essential for healthy skin, so you need to do this every single day.

Find all our make-up tips

Everything you need to know about skin pores

Pores are essential to the health of our skin. They act as a gateway for nutrients and an outlet for impurities secreted by the epidermis. They are also essential for letting the skin breathe. The problem is that, in the case of oily skin, all sorts of impurities can clog pores (resulting in those dreaded blackheads!) and “suffocate” the skin. To ensure that the pores can continue to perform their functions, it is therefore essential to clean the skin thoroughly in the morning and evening. It’s best to use non-comedogenic products (for both skin care and make-up) which by definition will not clog the pores of the skin. A gentle exfoliating mask can also help you to deeply cleanse the pores. But not more than once a week in order to avoid damaging your skin.