As the memes suggest India is not for beginners and India is truly not for beginners come summertime, especially for the oily skin girls. Chances are if you have oily skin it’s acne-prone too. And now that summers are here it only means one thing, the season that you dread is here with excess humidity that will result in acne flare-ups. So how do we deal with it? Worry not cause we reached out to Mr. Joseph, skincare expert at The Ordinary, for an exclusive interview to shed light on this common skincare woe faced by many, managing oily skin and preventing acne flare-ups, especially in humid climates. According to Basham, excess humidity can indeed be a “death trap” for those with oily skin, often leading to frustrating acne breakouts. Here, he shares his expert tips and tricks to navigate this skincare challenge effectively.
Opt For Ingredient Specific Products
Basham reveals that one of the main causes of pimples is the extra oils and dirt that block the pores. To deal with this, he suggests following an ingredient-specific skincare routine. He adds “One of the first things I recommend is using products that help maintain skin balance,” he further adds that “Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is excellent for managing excess oil.” Niacinamide has been known to help control sebum production and improve texture while Zinc on its part aids in reducing inflammation caused by bacterium growth.
Salicylic Acid Is Very Important
Salicylic acid Solution also known as Salicylic Acid is another powerful ingredient suggested by Basham.“Salicylic acid is great for exfoliating within the pores, removing excess sebum from the skin,” he notes. This beta hydroxy acid (BHA) penetrates deep into the pores, effectively dissolving excess sebum and dead skin cells, preventing acne from forming.
Key To Using Best Moisturisers
Joseph also notes how humid conditions can worsen the situation for oily skin people. Dr Joshep points out that a lightweight, non-greasy moisturizer is essential. “While I have been in India, I have been using Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan which is a very light gel type of moisturizer. It almost feels like a serum but is fantastic for supporting the skin barrier,” he says. This formulation is unique as it quenches dehydration without any inhalation of grease left by other moisturizers. The natural polysaccharide known as Beta Glucan helps reinforce and make the skin immune to irritation. According to Dr Joseph, those living in humid environments should opt for lightweight formulations that are not heavy on the skin or add to its greasiness. These specific ingredient-based products help regulate the production of oil as well as maintain the barrier of the epidermal skin thereby preventing further damage caused by environmental stressors.
Managing oily skin and preventing acne in some humid climates calls for strategic thinking. So make sure that follow these expert skincare tips.