The right facial cleanser is important. If you have combination skin -- normal and oily -finding a product that works well on both can be a challenge. Often, your cleanser works perfectly well on your forehead and cheeks but after makeup, your T zone looks too oily. Managing your cleansing needs becomes a balancing act.
Significance
The National Library of Medicine published an article titled, "The Effect of a Daily Facial Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin on the Skin Barrier of Subjects with Acne," which revealed that study subjects who used a cleanser that was too harsh and drying caused the oil glands of their face to secrete even more oil. This phenomenom occurs because the oil glands in your skin overcompensate in an effort to balance the severe dryness.
Considerations
It is important to use a cleanser that does not damage your skin barrier. If your cleanser is too drying, your skin will be irritated, which can result in minute cracks. Once your skin is cracked, it is possible for bacteria to collect, which can result in an infection. If your cleanser contains a high percentage of moisturizers, it may not remove enough sebum and oil from the pores of your oily skin.
Ingredients for Oily Skin
To manage your oily skin, you may want to try products made for individuals with acne. There are certain ingredients is skin cleansers that work well on oily skin and acne. Read the ingredients in over-the-counter cleansers and always begin with a product that has the least amount of active ingredient in the cleanser. The experts at the Mayo Clinic recommend beginning with a product that contains benzoyl peroxide because it is effective and well tolerated by most skin types. If this cleanser is too drying for your normal skin, use it less frequently and substitute a cleanser with a water-based moisturizer.
Expert Insight
Cosmeceuticals are non-prescription products that are meant to improve the appearance of your skin. Your skin cleanser is a type of cosmeceutical. These products are not regulated by the FDA and because of this, the effect they have on your skin may not be as promised by their advertisers. If your skin is sensitive or if you suffer from allergies, the American Academy of Dermatology suggests reading the ingredients in your cleanser carefully. Some ingredients known to cause allergies are fragrances and preservatives. Although necessary to fight contamination of your skin cleanser by bacteria and fungus, the preservatives can cause allergic reactions. Some culprits to be aware of include parabens, imidazolidunyl urea, Quaternim-15, DMDM hydantoin, phenoxyethanol, methylchloroisothiazolinone and formaldehyde.
Tips
Finding a cleanser that is right for you is often a process of trial and error. If you are testing a new product, try to purchase a trial size in case your skin cannot tolerate the cleanser. Often, the higher-priced products contain the same ingredients as the less-costly option available at your local pharmacy. Read the labels and compare ingredients before you buy. For your normal-to-oily skin, a water-soluble cleanser should be fine for most of the year. However, during the winter heating season you may find your skin is drier than usual. If this is happens to you, experiment by using an oil-based cleanser during those months to reduce the amount of natural oil removed from your skin during cleansing. Finally, if you have experienced allergic reactions to skin care products in the past, look for preservative-free products. You can find them at your local pharmacy, organic market or online retailers.
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