Rethinking Oily Skin: Embracing It and Mastering Its Management

Many people view oily skin as a burden, associating it with shine, clogged pores, and acne. But while it may present some challenges, oily skin comes with its fair share of benefits. The trick lies in understanding how to effectively manage oily skin to unlock its true potential.

1. Natural Moisture Balance: Oily skin has a built-in hydration mechanism, helping keep it naturally moisturized, preventing dryness, and promoting a healthy complexion.
2. Youthful Appearance: The presence of sebum provides a protective layer that helps minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
3. Enhanced Healing: By creating a barrier and delivering moisture, oily skin facilitates faster healing and reduces the likelihood of scarring.

Sun Protection: Sebum contains a small amount of natural sunscreen, offering a slight added layer of protection against harmful UV rays.

Here are a few key strategies that patients may not know:

• Gentle Cleansing and Avoid Overwashing: Do not use harsh cleansers that strip away too much oil, as this can trigger rebound sebum production. Use clean beauty products only.
• Moisturize Properly: Even oily skin requires hydration. Choose oil-free or lightweight moisturizers that provide adequate moisture without clogging pores.

Exfoliate Regularly: Choose ingredients like salicylic acid or alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) to gently slough off dead skin cells and promote cell turnover.

At the beginning of a pimple's lifecycle, the pore becomes clogged with excess sebum, dead skin cells, and bacteria. This leads to the formation of a comedone, which can be either an open comedone (blackhead) or a closed comedone (whitehead).

For open comedones (blackheads), gentle exfoliation and salicylic acid can help unclog the pore and promote cell turnover. Closed comedones (whiteheads) can also benefit from salicylic acid to reduce inflammation and clear the pore.

Using Green Caviar Miracle Matter Bar, a Niacinamide soap bar powered with 1% Salicylic Acid that balances and brightens blemished skin can help in this stage.

Active Ingredients:

• Salicylic Acid 1%: exfoliates skin
• Niacinamide PC 3% (Vitamin B3): special-grade low nicotinic acid reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and controls sebum production
• Papain: brightens blemishes
• Cica: Madecassoside protects against free radicals while Asiaticoside stimulates collagen production

If the comedone becomes inflamed, it progresses into a papule or pustule. The area may appear red, swollen, and tender due to the body's immune response to the bacteria in the blocked pore.

Topical treatments help reduce inflammation, kill bacteria, and promote healing.

Try Wild Algae Super Skin Tonic, a state-of-the-art anti-bacterial and calming tonic with MicroSilver BG ™.

Active Ingredients:

• MicroSilver BG 0.1%: EcoCert COSMOS- approved pure elemental non-nano silver removes harmful germs from the skin’s surface
• New Zealand Kawakawa Extract: scientifically-proven anti-inflammatory properties quickly soothe skin
• Manuka Honey: exceptionally potent polyphenols act as immunomodulators, helping the skin fight off inflammation
• New Zealand Native Red Seaweed: bioactive delivery system binds and enhances the delivery of potent bioactives into the skin

As the inflammation subsides, acne lesions eventually heal and resolve. The skin gradually returns to its normal state, however, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (dark spots) or scarring may be left behind.

Topical treatments containing Vitamin C or Niacinamide help fade any remaining post-inflammatory marks and promote skin healing.

The holy trinity of bright, clear skin – stabilized Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Acid + Niacinamide can be found in Wild Algae Glow Up Serum.

Active Ingredients:

• Vitamin C 2%: 3.0 Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, the most stable and easily-absorbed form of Vitamin C, helps speed up the resolution of acne
• Hyaluronic Acid: plant-derived, high molecular weight HA increases the moisture retention level and smoothens skin
• Niacinamide PC 3% (Vitamin B3): Special grade, low in nicotinic acid hydrates skin while controlling excess sebum
• Licorice Root Extract: inhibits tyrosinase activity by directly binding to it and preventing its action

Follow it up with Wild Algae Glow Quench Creme, a featherweight, non-greasy daily Niacinamide moisturizer that hydrates while controlling excess oil.

Active Ingredients:

• Niacinamide PC 3% (Vitamin B3): Special grade, low in nicotinic acid hydrates skin while controlling excess sebum
• Cica: Madecassoside protects against free radicals while Asiaticoside stimulates collagen production
• Philippine Sea Grapes 3%: hydrates skin while preventing further water loss due to its hygroscopic qualities

Arming yourself with the knowledge on how to manage oily skin, plus the right clean beauty products that suit your skin type will help you get closer to having your healthiest, most radiant, and clearest skin.

Pure Culture is committed to promoting safer and more sustainable beauty practices by using natural, non-toxic, and natural products. Prioritizing skin health rather than just providing temporary skin benefits, incorporating ingredients that nourish and support the skin's natural balance.