Why Does Skin Produce Excess Oil When It’s Hot?

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What on earth does temperature have to do with skin?

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A lot, according to experts. 

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Think of your skin as your own personal warrior. Or bodyguard. Or BFF. It’s here to look out for you, to protect you.

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When the weather is hot and humid, your skin may start to become dry and dull (at first). As a response to this, your oil glands are stimulated to produce excess oil and sweat to bring back moisture and life to the skin, and also to keep your body temperature nice and cool. While this is done with the best intention always, your precious skin may overdo it (a lot). 

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And that’s when you’ll end up with too much oil. So how can you manage it?

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Five Ways to Tackle Excess Oil in Hot Weather

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These are five great ways to manage and get rid of excess oil in hot weather, so you can focus on the important things.

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1. Wash Your Face with The Right Cleanser

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The first step to reducing excess oil is by ensuring that your face is washed every morning and every evening. This gets rid of the oil build-up that you already have on your skin, and prevents your pores from becoming clogged.

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Using a cleanser with oil-balancing ingredients, such as salicylic acid, will help you manage the amount of oil on your skin. Avoid using cleansers with harsh chemicals, as this will completely dry out your skin and promote even further oil production to balance it out.

2. Use Blotting Papers

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If you’re heading to a party or sleepover, you may be stressing over the oiliness on your skin. Even if you’ve washed your skin before heading out, you know yourself well by now: in a few hours under the heat, as you’re jumping around in your friend’s garden, the oil factory will fail you again.

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Fortunately, there’s another oil-fighting weapon you can add to your list: blotting papers. These are the tiny papers that you can fit in your purse and use to draw out excess oil on your skin. The key here is to not overdo it, so that you don’t completely dry out your skin. Limit to using it once or twice a day, and you should be good!

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3. Use Oil-Free Makeup

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Did you know that a lot of makeup products contain oil? Shocker! This is particularly true for foundation, which may contain oils that clog your skin and trigger the production of excess sebum. 

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Check if your foundation contains any oil, and then swap it for an oil free option. Pop into your nearest Sephora to find the best foundation options for you!

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Even better yet, if you feel like you can, opt out from wearing foundation during the hotter months. This will help keep your skin clear and prevent excess oil from bugging you. 

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4. Stay Hydrated

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Yep, you heard us. Drink enough water! This isn’t only great for your overall health, but also for your skin.

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Staying hydrated is an important, and often neglected, aspect of skincare. When you drink enough water, your whole body’s moisture levels are balanced. This includes the skin on your face. Instead of becoming ultra dry (which then stimulates your oil glands) your skin’s hydration levels will remain balanced, helping you avoid excess oil for longer periods of time. 

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Please don’t skip this step <3 

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5. Use an Oil Clearing Face Mask

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In the midst of all your social plans and obligations, make sure you schedule in some self-care time. Not only is this crucial for your mental health, but it’s also a great way to tackle excess oil by putting on an oil clearing face mask. 

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We would recommend masks that contain clay, as they are the best ingredients for drawing out excess oil on the skin. Another great ingredient to look out for is charcoal, as face masks with charcoal draw out toxins and oils and unclog your pores. 

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BRB. Scheduling in a face mask session tonight.

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Say Byeee to Excess Oil

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These simple, fool-proof methods are steps that you can incorporate into the hotter months to eliminate excess oil on your skin. 

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While your skin may feel the need to magically transform into an oil factory every time the temperature goes up, you can use these steps to show it who’s boss.

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