A basic yet crucial step that can make or break any skincare routine is cleansing the face. For as long as the skincare industry has existed, dermatologists and skin experts the world over have emphasised the importance of using a good face wash. It cleanses off dust, grime and pollution and makes the skin the perfect foundation for the rest of your skincare routine.
Unlike minty-fresh toothpaste or versatile trimmers, face wash isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Thankfully, though, the skincare space has long since been catapulted to new levels of evolution and breakthroughs to accommodate different skin types and concerns. If you’re one with oily skin, you can find products specifically formulated for you, too.
The Thing About Oily Skin
Oily skin type is when the oil glands (or sebaceous glands) present in the skin produce more oil than usual. This leads to the face looking shiny and greasy almost all the time. Since this skin type has an inherent tackiness, dirt and pollution can get trapped easily. Add to this excess sebum clogging the pores. All this together makes for the perfect gateway to pimples, rough texture, and blackheads. There’s more – unlike women’s skin, men’s skin is 25% thicker and tougher. As a result, men’s skin tends to be on the oilier side in general. Therefore, it’s important to choose a good men’s face wash for oily skin.
Common Oily Skin Concerns
Breakouts and blackheads can be common occurrences for those with an oily skin type. Some pimples can even be painful. They appear almost all over the face and on the neck, too. This is due to excess sweat, sebum and bacteria getting trapped in the pores. Blackheads or open comedones are another pesky issue. Unlike whiteheads and pimples, these are open pores or hair follicles that are exposed to air. So when dirt, grime and sebum get trapped in open pores or hair follicles, they get oxidised pretty quickly, giving it a ‘blackhead’ appearance. Aside from external factors, hormonal fluctuations and stress levels also make oily skin more prone to bumps and pustules. Another skin concern that oily skin type faces is texture, which happens due to the build-up of dead skin cells.
Sounds familiar? We understand that it can be a challenge. As long as you know how to choose a good men’s face wash for oily skin, you can rise to it and even beat it! Let’s explore the ideal ways to choose a face wash.
Exfoliating Face Wash
Physical Exfoliants
Exfoliating is another method of cleansing the skin that’s a bit more thorough and deep. Traditional exfoliating methods involve using textured scrub particles to remove dead skin cells from the top layer of the skin. These can be ingredients like walnut shell powder or dissolving microbeads found in many exfoliating face washes. Using an exfoliating brush can work equally well as a physical exfoliator with your face wash.
Nykaa Man recommends:
Chemical Exfoliants
If your oily skin is slightly on the sensitive side, you’re better off opting for a chemically exfoliating face wash. These involve ingredients such as salicylic acid, lactic acid and glycolic acid. While salicylic acid goes deep into the skin and dissolves excess oils and acne-causing bacteria, glycolic acid and lactic acid provide gentle exfoliation to the top layer of the skin to remove dead skin cells.
Nykaa Man recommends:
Natural Face Wash
Staying true to traditional, at-home remedies, a natural face wash is formulated with natural ingredients. Tea tree, neem and green tea extracts as well as turmeric are common ingredients used in face washes. While the green ingredients fight acne-causing bacteria and curb excess oil, turmeric fades away the dark spots and scarring left behind.
Nykaa Man recommends:
Lightweight Hydrating Face Wash
We’re aware that ideally hydrating face washes are mostly targeted towards people with dry skin. But a little-known fact is that oily skin can get dehydrated, too. Lack of water content in the skin could indicate a compromised skin barrier, which could cause even more oil production. It’s equally important for oily skin type to retain hydration and regulate oil production in the skin.
Nykaa Man recommends:
Busting Myths Behind Cleansing Oily Skin
- Cleansing the skin three times a day: Cleansing the skin once or twice a day is enough. Over-cleansing the skin can strip the natural oil and wreck the natural skin barrier, making the skin oilier
- Cleansing the skin three times a day: Harshly cleansing the skin will only lead to irritation and inflammation. Gentle cleansing is enough to cleanse away all impurities and excess sebum
- Cleansing the skin three times a day: If your skin feels tight after cleansing your face, you might be either over-cleansing or using too much face wash. A pea-sized amount is an ideal amount of face wash to do the needful. Bonus tip? To restore the natural oils on your face, follow your face wash with a moisturiser
Once you find the best men’s face wash for oily skin that suits you, rest assured that you can get the best out of your skincare routine for healthy, glowing skin.
