Someone recently told me that I was lucky to have oily skin. It was the Holi weekend and honestly, I was a lot more confident about stepping out than my friends. The reason: my terrific and shiny oily skin. Having a healthy, protective lipid layer can definitely be considered a ‘luck factor’ during the festival of colours because it barricades the chemicals and particles from reaching my pores and settling there. But on any other day, oily skin comes with its own set of woes and concerns.
For instance, waking up with a thick layer of oil during the summertime can be very uncomfortable, it almost feels like my skin can’t breathe, and washing it off with harsh cleansers can be equally unpleasant. Due to my oily skin, I have often suffered from acne or breakouts, sudden redness, large pores, and dull skin. But one of the most annoying issues has always been the grease on my face. There have been days when I’ve used up endless packs of blotting paper to keep the oil at bay. And to ensure no extra grease layers on my face, for the longest time, I wouldn’t use any moisturisers. It’s pretty natural to believe that oily skin doesn’t necessarily need a moisturiser, in fact, a lot of my fellow oily-skinned friends feel the same. Growing up, the classic creamy rich moisturisers not only made my face oilier but also aided in breakouts (thus the common myth). But, what one needs to understand is that moisturising (the right kind) is needed for any and every skin type.
That said, we also asked Dr Aanchal Panth, celebrity dermatologist and YouTube star, some questions on the subject and how to really care for oily skin. “Moisturiser helps in slowing down a process called ‘transepidermal water loss’ which means loss of water from the upper layer of the skin due to external factors like heat, pollution or air conditioning. By applying moisturiser, you can seal in the moisture and reduce damage to the skin barrier. Think of it as a protective shield on top of your skin. For people with oily skin, gel-based or lightweight moisturisers (that do not feel heavy or sticky) work best and are as vital as for people with dry or normal skin types”, shares Dr Aanchal.
“You can apply a suitable moisturiser before sunscreen in the morning and over your serum at night. Both men and women need hydration to prevent skin from drying out, regardless of the skin type. You can look for ingredients such as carmine, urea, bisabolol, niacinamide, glycerine, hyaluronic acid, zinc PCA, and zinc gluconate. These ingredients nourish without making your skin feel heavy or greasy” she confirms.
Being a skincare enthusiast, I needed a moisturiser that was curated specifically for my skin that would fit into my day and night routines seamlessly. A good moisturiser for oily skin can actually help control the production of oil, and waking up with glowing skin that isn’t soaked in oil has always been my dream.
I recently got my hands on Nykaa’s new launch from their SKINRX range. After trying it for a week, I highly recommend the new SKINRX Day Moisturisers for oily skin that are actually available in two variants. Powered with niacinamide and ceramides, the Nykaa SKINRX 5% Niacinamide Day Moisturizer with SPF 15 for Oily Skin gives my skin a boost of hydration while reducing dark spots, blemishes and acne marks. The Nykaa SKINRX VItamin C Day Moisturizer with SPF 15 for Oily Skin is a brightening vitamin C and cica enriched moisturiser that helps reduce dullness, and hyperpigmentation and reveals a radiant, natural glow. Both variants are blended with willow bark extract which helps reduce excess oil. They’re also powered with SPF 15, perfect for summers and you can use them during winter too. The best part about this product is that it fits right into my routine and targets my concerns like my acne and blemishes.
