Tips to manage sebum production

Summer is about all things fun. Days spent lounging by the beach, sipping on cool and refreshing cocktails and having barbecue nights with family and friends are amongst a few things that we look forward to during this time. Not to mention the chirpy and uplifting mood the bright and shining sun puts us in. 

But alas, with all good things there is always a little downside and so is the case with the summertime that we all love; oily skin. But it’s nothing that we can’t manage. With a few tips, tricks and tweaks to your everyday skin care routine, you can better control your skin’s sebum production, and have radiant and glowy skin despite the sticky season. So keep on reading to find out! 

Before we dive into the tips on how to better manage sebum production, let’s first understand what actually causes oily skin. 

What causes oily skin?

Under the pores of our skin are sebaceous glands that are responsible for the production of natural oil called sebum that helps to keep our skin hydrated. In some people, however, these sebaceous glands produce too much oil, resulting in oily skin. A downside of having oily skin is the likelihood of having more acne breakouts as they can clog your pores, resulting in whiteheads, blackheads and pimples. 

During the hot and humid weather of summertime, the sebaceous glands go into overdrive, producing excessive oil, leaving your skin feeling and looking oily and greasy. 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."

How can you prevent excessive oil production during summer?

While it’s not possible to stop the production of excessive oil entirely, there are several ways you can manage it, helping you achieve better looking skin during summer. 

Stick to cleansing twice a day

With all that stickiness, you might be tempted to wash your face every few hours. However, this is extremely counter-intuitive as frequently cleansing the skin using harsh products strips the skin of its natural oils, resulting in the production of even more oil to compensate for the loss. It’s like a vicious cycle; your skin feels oily, you wash it off, the skin produces more oil. They key is to stick to cleansing twice a day using a gentle cleanser that not only helps to remove dirt, grime and sweat, but also keeps the skin hydrated and soft. Opt for products that contain ingredients like oatmeal, which helps to gently exfoliate, cleanse, soothe and moisturize the skin. The Leovard Multicleanser contains the goodness of oatmeal, as well as papaya extract, ginger, and green tea, all of which help to gently cleanse the skin without drying it out, helping you manage your skin’s sebum production much better. 

Don’t over-exfoliate

Just like excessive cleansing, over exfoliation also results in the skin producing oil and sebum. This is because exfoliation results in the removal of dead skin cells as well as oils that clog your pores. While exfoliating once or twice a week is recommended, anything more than that, using harsh products will not only first agitate and dry out the skin, but will then result in the production of large amounts of oil. 

Use a toner 

Many people think of toning as an unnecessary step of a skincare routine, but it can be a game changer when it comes to managing oil production. Toning helps to close or minimize enlarged pores, in turn helping to slow down the production and accumulation of oil in the skin. However, it is important to note that many toners contain alcohol, which tends to dry out the skin. Instead, opting for toners with natural astringents like witch hazel, which also have healing and soothing properties can do wonders in keeping your skin looking radiant and bright. The Leovard Tonic not only contains with her hazel but also several other potent antioxidants like alligator pepper and white willow that can help you achieve great skin this summer!

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize

You’re probably rolling your eyes at this tip, but hear me out. While you think moisturizing your skin, especially if it’s oily, will make things worse, you my friend are misinformed. Infact, moisturizing regularly helps in preventing the skin from producing excessive amounts of oil. How? Since your skin is already hydrated and nourished using a moisturizer, the skin won’t feel the need to produce oil in case it feels dry and flaky. However, ensure that you use a lightweight, non-greasy and non-comedogenic moisturizer, like the Leovard Multicream to keep your skin looking fresh, hydrated and supple. 

Other tips include using blotting paper as and when need arises, reconsidering and altering your diet to eliminate greasy and oily foods, minimizing stress levels, as well as exercising regularly to keep your skin looking fresh and healthy. 

Takeaway 

Summertime glow is something everyone wants to achieve, but with oily skin, it can be a little hard. But by following the tips mentioned above you can better manage your skin’s sebum production this summer, and flaunt your beautiful, glowy and dewy skin.