Ready to have your mind blown? It may not surprise you that there are natural skincare ingredients that are great for oily skin, but what if I told you that some of the best natural skincare ingredients for oily skin are oils?
If you have oily skin, you might think using oils on your face is bad. You’ve more than likely been told that using oils on your skin can clog your pores, cause acne, and make your skin look greasy. The truth is, that’s not always the case. Not all oils are created equal, some can help balance your skin’s natural oil production, unclog your pores, and even prevent and heal acne. Plus, many nourish, heal, and protect your skin from environmental damage and premature aging - pretty fantastic, right?
In this blog, we will introduce you to some of the best natural skincare ingredients (spoiler alert, most are oils) for oily skin and share how they can take your skin from greasy to glowing. We’ll also share our favorite products that contain these ingredients and how to use them in your routine.
What are natural skincare ingredients?
Natural skincare ingredients are substances that are derived from natural sources such as plants or minerals, this can also mean animal sources, but since we’re all about cruelty-free and vegan products, we won’t be touching on those. It also means, these ingredients are not synthetically produced or chemically modified - no GMO here! Plus, they are usually rich in antioxidants, vitamins, omega fatty acids, and other nutrients that benefit the skin. In short, natural ingredients are pretty terrific!
Why are natural skincare ingredients beneficial for oily skin?
We’ve touched on a few of the reasons natural skincare ingredients, namely oils, are beneficial for oily skin, but let’s dive in and take a closer look at why naturally derived oils are so great for oily and acne-prone skin:
- Naturally derived oils help balance your skin’s natural oil production. Some oils, such as the ones found in STUNN skincare have a similar composition to your skin’s sebum (the oily substance produced in your skin’s sebaceous glands oil), which means they can penetrate your pores without clogging them. In other words, these oils are non-comedogenic. Applying these oils to the skin can trick your skin into thinking that it already has enough oil, which restores balance and helps prevent the overproduction of sebum.
- Many of these natural skincare oils can help unclog the pores and prevent acne. Some boast anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, which can help fight acne-causing bacteria, dissolve impurities, and slough away dead skin cells that can block pores. This process helps prevent blackheads and whiteheads from forming.
- Natural skincare ingredients play a role in nourishing, healing, and protecting your skin. Many natural oils provide essential fatty acids (hello omegas), vitamins, antioxidants, and other nutrients that your skin needs to stay healthy and resilient. They can also help repair the skin barrier, strengthen elasticity, and fight damage from environmental factors and UV rays - say it with me, these ingredients rock!
How do natural skincare ingredients work for oily skin?
The mechanism of action of these oils for oily skin depends on their chemical composition of fatty acids. Two primary types of fatty acids are relevant and beneficial for oily skin: linoleic acid and oleic acid.
Linoleic acid is an omega-6 fatty acid that is essential for the health of the skin barrier. It helps regulate your skin’s oil production and prevents transepidermal water loss (aka TEWL). Linoleic acid also acts as an anti-inflammatory and helps reduce redness and irritation.
Oleic acid is an omega-9 fatty acid that is primarily beneficial to hydrate and lock in moisture. It can also help soften and smooth skin tone and texture. Oleic acid is also an antioxidant and helps protect the skin from oxidative stress caused by UV exposure and other environmental factors.
In short, natural skincare oils high in linoleic acid and low in oleic acid are ideal for oily skin, as they are lighter, less greasy, and less likely to clog pores.
What are some of the best natural skincare ingredients for oily skin?
As discussed, many natural skincare oils can benefit oily skin, but here are some of the most popular and effective ones:
- Squalane: Squalane is a naturally occurring lipid that is derived from plants such as olives or sugarcane (like the sustainably sourced sugarcane squalane found in all STUNN’s products). It is similar to squalene, which is a component of human sebum. Squalane is non-comedogenic (meaning it will not clog pores), lightweight, fast-absorbing, and moisturizing. It helps balance the oil production of the skin, prevent water loss, and protect the skin from environmental damage - amongst other fantastic benefits.
- Jojoba oil: Jojoba oil is extracted from the seeds of the jojoba plant, and it is a liquid wax ester rather than an oil. Jojoba oil is also non-comedogenic, lightweight, fast-absorbing, and moisturizing. It mimics the sebum of the skin and helps regulate its production. It also has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that help reduce acne.
- Rosehip oil: Rosehip oil is cold-pressed from the seeds of rosehips, which are the fruits of rose plants. In addition to being non-comedogenic and fast-absorbing, it is also rich in linoleic acid, provitamin A (which converts to retinol), vitamins C and E, and antioxidants. It helps unclog pores, reduce acne scars, brighten the complexion, improve texture, and stimulate collagen production.
- Seabuckthorn oil: Seabuckthorn oil is extracted from the berries or seeds of seabuckthorn plants. Seabuckthorn oil is non-comedogenic, fast-absorbing, and rich in fatty acids such as omega-3, 6, 7, and 9, vitamins A, C, and E, as well as antioxidants. This ingredient is known to help heal wounds, reduce inflammation, prevent infections, and promote collagen synthesis.
- Grapeseed oil: Grapeseed oil is obtained from the seeds of grapes. Grapeseed oil is non-comedogenic, rich in linoleic acid, vitamin E, and antioxidants. It helps tighten pores, reduce acne, improve elasticity, and protect the skin from free radicals.
- Sacha inchi oil: Sacha inchi oil comes from the seeds of sacha inchi plants. Sacha inchi oil is non-comedogenic, rich in omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, vitamins A, E, and antioxidants. It helps balance oil production, reduce inflammation, prevent acne, and repair the skin barrier.
- Castor oil: Castor oil comes from the seeds of the castor plant. Castor oil is non-comedogenic even though it is thick and dense in texture. It has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that help cleanse the pores and fight acne. It also has astringent properties that help tighten the skin and reduce excess oil.
- Cacay nut oil: Cacay nut oil is extracted from the nuts of cacay trees. Cacay nut oil is non-comedogenic and rich in linoleic acid, vitamins A and E, and antioxidants. It helps unclog pores, reduce acne scars, smooth wrinkles, and improve skin texture.
- Raspberry seed oil: Raspberry seed oil comes from the seeds of raspberries. Raspberry seed oil is non-comedogenic, moisturizing, and rich in linoleic acid, vitamins A, C, E, and antioxidants. It helps unclog pores, reduce acne scars, brighten complexion, and improve skin texture.
What products contain natural skincare ingredients for oily skin?
From simple to complex, your entire skincare routine can (and likely should) consist of only natural skincare products. At STUNN, we took special care to create the essentials for all skin types, using only high quality, non-pore clogging, plant based oils. Below, we have outlined our favorite products, and recommendations, but the key when evaluating options is to read the ingredient labels - just because something says it is natural doesn’t always mean it is 100% natural (or healthy).
- Cleansers: Cleansers are products that remove dirt, makeup, excess oil, and impurities from the skin. They are essential for oily skin to prevent clogged pores and acne. Our top recommendation for the best natural cleansers for oily skin is:
- Halo Brightening Oil Cleanser: This cleanser contains sacha inchi oil and peppermint to detoxify and purify pores, dissolving acne-causing bacteria. It also contains organic grape seed oil to prevent acne and tighten pores, plus squalane to help balance oil production skin and restore skin’s natural moisture.
- Moisturizing Face Oils: Moisturizers and/or face oils are products that lock in moisture and help prevent transepidermal water loss. Though you may not think oily skin needs moisture, the truth is they’re super important in balancing oily skin. Our top recommendations for the best moisturizing face oils for oily skin are:
- Dew Brightening Face Oil: This ultra-lightweight moisturizing face oil contains squalane to balance oil production and replenish the skin, as well as rosehip oil, sea buckthorn oil, and raspberry oil all of which boast the benefits of omega fatty acids and deliver vitamins and antioxidants to the skin to improve its overall health, while preventing breakouts.
- Revival Barrier Repair Face Oil: This deeply moisturizing face oil contains prebiotic oat kernel oil and broccoli seed oil to strengthen the skin barrier, balance the skin’s microbiome, and promote the synthesis of ceramide lipids. It also contains ginger to reduce redness and irritation, plus squalane and jojoba to hydrate and balance oil production.
- Serums: Serums are products that deliver concentrated doses of active ingredients to the skin on the cellular level. They can target specific skin concerns such as acne, aging, or pigmentation. Our top recommendations for the best serums for oily skin are:
- Gloss Clarifying Serum: This powerhouse serum was specifically formulated for oily and acne-prone skin. It contains organic willow bark which is a natural form of salicylic acid and blue tansy to dissolve acne-causing bacteria and calm inflammation. It also contains organic argan oil and sea buckthorn to help decongest pores and clarify skin tone and texture, as well as licorice root extract to fade hyperpigmentation.
- Fountain Phyto Retinol: This high-performing retinol alternative contains organic rosehip oil and cacay nut which convert to retinoic acid on the cellular level and help prevent acne. It also contains hibiscus, a natural form of alpha hydroxy acid to slough away dead skin cells and provide an inside-out exfoliation.
How to use natural skincare products in a routine for oily skin?
Good news! Using natural skincare products in a routine for oily skin is super simple! You just need to follow a few basic steps and customize them according to your skin’s needs and preferences. Here is a simple guide on how to use natural skincare products in a routine for oily skin:
- Step 1: Cleanse your skin with a gentle yet pore-purifying cleanser, like Halo, that will deep clean and detoxify your pores, while balancing your skin’s natural oil production.
- How to use: Massage the cleanser onto your face (your skin can be wet or dry), then gently remove the oil with a wet washcloth. We recommend using this product in the morning, but you’re welcome to use it at night as well to help remove product and environmental debris from your skin.
- Step 2: Treat your skin with a plant-active serum that targets your specific skin goals or concerns. Depending on your needs you can choose a serum like Gloss to heal breakouts and fade hyperpigmentation, or a retinol alternative like Fountain to clarify your skin while providing inside-out exfoliation and youth-boosting benefits such as boosting collagen and smoothing wrinkles.
- How to use: Apply 3 drops onto your fingertips, then gently pat and press onto the surface of your skin, including your under eyes and neck. We recommend using an-acne fighting serum like Gloss in the morning, and a retinol alternative like Fountain at night.
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Step 3: Moisturize your skin with a natural moisturizer or face oil that hydrates and protects your skin without clogging your pores. For a lightweight daytime face oil, we recommend Dew which helps protect your skin from environmental factors, and a restoring face oil Revival at night to help repair damage while you sleep.
How to use: Apply 3-5 drops directly onto your face or your fingertips. You can moisturize your skin once or twice a day depending on how oily your skin is.
Some tips on how to customize your routine for oily skin are:
- Experiment with different natural skincare product combinations and ingredients until you find what works best for you. Everyone’s skin is different, so take the time to work out which routine and product combinations are most agreeable to your skin and lifestyle.
- Pay attention to how your skin feels and looks after using a product. If your skin feels tight, dry, or irritated, you might be using a product that is too harsh or drying for your skin. If your skin feels greasy, shiny, or congested, you might be using a product that is too heavy or rich for your skin. Remember, especially when you start using oils to balance oily skin, there can be a minor adjustment period of 1 - 4 weeks while your skin learns to balance it’s own oil production. This is completely normal - and as long as it is simply a minor case of re-teaching your skin how to function optimally (and not red, inflamed, acne causing, or otherwise uncomfortable), it is well worth sticking through!
- Remember to adjust your routine according to the season, weather, and climate. Your skin might need more or less hydration and protection depending on the temperature, humidity, and sun exposure.
- Be consistent and patient with your routine. Natural skincare products might take longer to show results than conventional ones, but they are gentler and safer for your skin in the long run.
Conclusion
Balancing oily skin can feel like an insurmountable challenge, but the good news is these natural skincare ingredients can make a positive impact by balancing your oil production, unclogging your pores, and preventing acne. All while nourishing, restoring, and protecting your skin.
We hope you enjoyed this post and learned something new about natural skincare ingredients for oily skin. If you did, please share it with your friends and family with oily skin!. And if you are looking to start balancing your oily skin, be sure to check out our website and connect with us if you have any questions.. We would love to hear from you!
STUNN Collective was born to give you your glow back with clean, plant-active skincare expert-crafted to visibly and effortlessly replenish dull, dry, depleted skin without irritation or compromise.
