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Having oily skin is already an inconvenience that can quickly become a source of complexes and worries. But having oily skin that peels is even more restrictive, especially since few answers are given on this subject. Although this is a concern that we encounter less often, it can still be resolved relatively easily with appropriate solutions. So, what to do about oily peeling skin? First of all, let's see why your skin is oily and flaky. Then we will see the solutions to remedy this double problem of oily and peeling skin. 

Why is your skin oily and peeling?

By the way, why is your skin greasy?

Oily skin is characterized by too much sebum production. As a result it has a shiny and oily appearance. Sebum is an oil produced by the skin which is responsible for protecting it from potential attacks from the external environment and fromprevent her from becoming dehydrated. It is the first component of the hydrolipidic film of the skin. It therefore functions as a skin barrier.

Although sebum is essential to ensure the maintenance of healthy skin, it appears in a large part of the population, that it is generated in too large a quantity. This is when the skin becomes oily. It is helpful to note that this natural oil is made by the sebaceous glands that are found in your skin. These will react during each stimulation -or what seems to them to be an attack- by making more sebum. 

What factors lead to oily peeling skin?

What are the factors can be responsible for the appearance of oily and peeling skin?

Like all other types of skin, oily skin needs its daily hydration. Indeed, the main mistake when you have oily skin is to think that it does not lack hydration. However, this is often the case: oily peeling skin is a signal that your skin is dehydrated.

On the other hand, the more the skin will lack hydration, the more oily it will be. Indeed, the sebum being produced, among other things, to retain water in the skin and prevent the latter from becoming dehydrated, when the latter runs out of it, the sebaceous glands will produce more sebum to compensate for this lack. 

Finally, aggravating parameters can also disturb the balance of the skin and cause oily skin that peels :

• The products you use and in particular soaps which weaken the skin protective film. As a result, the skin is attacked, it risks peeling and producing more sebum. 
• The environment and in particular the cold, the pollution and the sun which dries up and irritates the skin. Consequently its flaking is going to be faster. It will therefore both peel visibly but also grease to protect itself. Changes in temperature, wind and humidity can also make your case worse. 
• Lifestyle : smoking, caffeine, stress, diet, alcohol, sleep and certain medications.

What can you do to avoid having oily, peeling skin?

A skin that is oily and peeling is therefore a signal that it is lacking in hydration. To solve this problem you will therefore need to use moisturizers adapted to your oily skin. But that's not all because if the skin is lacking in hydration, something is surely wrong with your lifestyle. Thus, it will also be necessary for you to adopt a good routine for the skin with healthy, non-drying, non-stripping and non-irritating products. Finally, you will have to adopt a healthy lifestyle so as to maintain healthy skin.

Oily peeling skin: which cosmetics to choose?

In order to regain the balance of his skin andavoid having oily skin that peels, it is above all mandatory to adopt cosmetic products that are not irritating, stripping or drying. Secondly, you will need to adopt products both able to meet its need for water to avoid peeling skin and able to rebalance sebum to avoid the greasy effect.

1 - How to wash your skin to prevent it from being oily and peeling?

Start by using mild soaps with neutral pH suitable for body and face skin to avoid oily peeling skin. Indeed, as we discussed earlier in this article, the sebaceous glands will have the annoying tendency to produce a surplus of sebum as soon as the skin is attacked. And washing can quickly be part of these attacks if the soap you use does not respect the sensitive balance of the skin. In addition, many soaps and shower gels dry out, strip and irritate the skin, which will desquamate the skin. As a result, the skin will be more oily and will tend to peel. 

The mild soaps are made with non-irritating and non-abrasive ingredients so as to prevent interference with the sebaceous glands and therefore the normal production of sebum; but also to avoid the desquamation of the skin and therefore the peeling skin. 

We suggest you Goat's milk soap from Savonnerie du Regagnas against oily peeling skin

Why should I buy it?

From organic farming, it is made without allergens and petrochemical compounds (toxic to the skin).
Enriched in high quantities with goat's milk renowned for being extremely gentle on oily and / or acne-prone skin.
Is suitable for the skin of the body and face.
Cold saponified, it contains only natural non-irritant and non-drying active ingredients for the skin.

Discover our selection of the best soaps for oily skin and the criteria for choosing it by clicking here.

2 - What creams to use for oily peeling skin?

Oily skin is characterized by an overabundance of sebum on the skin and therefore lipids. It does not lack nutrition but hydration. Indeed, the hydrolipidic film of the skin is made up of water and fat. The fat will help maintain water in the dermis. Thus, when water is lacking in the skin, the sebaceous glands will accelerate their production of sebum to compensate. As a result, the skin will be more oily and will tend to peel since it will be dehydrated. 

To avoid a peeling greasy skin, it will therefore be essential to hydrate it. You will have to find a cream with no active ingredients moisturizers, anti-aging or anti-wrinkle -depending on your needs- suitable for oily skin and therefore which is mattifying. Then, it will have to be formulated with sebum-regulating ingredients allowing to find a normal production of sebum.

In summary, your cream should be formulated:

• essentially with agents derived from water such as, for example, hydrosol, aloe vera or even hyaluronic acid.
• with sebum-regulating and purifying components (powders, essential oils, certain oils).
• without too many fatty substances (vegetable butters or oils) which tend to make your skin even more oily.

In addition, be careful to systematically adopt a cream with natural active ingredients against the development of oily peeling skin. Indeed, there are very many creams composed of harmful, irritating, drying molecules derived from petrochemicals such as, among others, sulphates, silicones, parabens, quats, preservatives or synthetic fragrances. Beyond presenting dangerous health risks, they may weaken your skin and make it even more greasy. In order to make it easier for you to select a good product, we suggest the application INCIbeauty who transparently examines your beauty products and certifies whether the product is good for you or not.

3 - 100% natural to fight against oily and peeling skin

Some natural and virgin products have sebum-regulating, purifying and balancing properties perfect for avoid oily peeling skin. These are vegetable oils, essential oils and Ayurvedic or vegetable powders.

• About vegetable oils for oily and peeling skin. Conversely to what one could presume, a certain number of oils have purifying and regulating virtues. These are the oils that can be characterized as "non-comedogenic". As a result, they will not oil the skin but on the contrary balance it. You can use them by making a mask on the skin on a weekly basis. By doing this, the epidermis will naturally assimilate the fluid and imbibe all of its benefits. The best oils to cleanse and regulate oily peeling skin are: Hazelnut, Jojoba, Carrot, Avocado, or Hemp.

• Regarding essential oils for oily skin. Essential oils have the specificity of being very concentrated and therefore of having very important therapeutic properties. There are a large number of them on the market, some of which have purifying, sebum-regulating and balancing properties: lemon, pink geranium, petit grain bigarade, true lavender, tea tree, ylang ylang, grapefruit, and lemon beds. However, be careful, since essential oils are very concentrated, they should not be abused and they should always be diluted. In practice, you can mix 1 to 2 drops in your day cream or in your weekly mask. They should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women or children under 8 years old. 

• About Ayurvedic or herbal powders for oily skin. To purify, cleanse and balance excess sebum naturally, powders will be your best allies. The most effective powders you can use to combat oily peeling skin are: Orange powders, Neem, Green clay, White clay, Reetha, Bhringaraj Nagarmotha. The powders are used in masks. In practice, mix them with a little water (in order to obtain a creamy texture). Then apply the mixture as is on your face. Be careful though, they can dry out the skin of the face if you leave it on for too long. Keep the mask on for 5-10 minutes, no more.

What skin routine to adopt against this problem?

To take care of your oily peeling skin, it is essential to adopt a good skin routine. Simple but effective, the following principles will allow you to have less oily skin:

• Degrease and cleanse your skin with lukewarm water daily, morning and evening with a mild soap.
• Make a gentle, non-abrasive exfoliation once a week to cleanse your skin from impurities.
• Always remove make-up before sleeping so that the pores of the skin can breathe. To do this, favor the use of a vegetable oil such as sweet almond, a lotion or even a micellar water.
• Use a moisturizing day cream and / or a specific moisturizing serum for oily skin types in the morning and evening.
• Once a week, make a natural cleansing mask from powders or a balancing mask from vegetable oils.

Healthy lifestyle against oily skin

To avoid oily peeling skin, it is very important to have a good way of life. Indeed, healthy, problem-free skin is often linked to a healthy body. As a result, a poor lifestyle, nutritional deficiencies or an internal concern will inevitably have an impact on the condition of your skin. Various main principles should therefore be followed to prevent your skin from getting greasy:

1 - A good diet in the service of less oily skin

• Pay attention to your diet. It is better to avoid foods rich in saturated fat and refined sugars responsible for the production of free radicals and toxins. Be careful not to completely remove grease-based products. But prefer food that contains good fats (vegetable fats). Indeed, bad fats will have to stimulate the production of sebum, conversely to good fats.
• Try to regularly eat foods rich in antioxidants which prevent premature aging of the body. We recommend that you consume red fruits, which are among the foods with the greatest nutritional intake of antioxidants. Hence, they effectively fight against the development of free radicals and the decline of the skin.
• Eat foods rich in trace elements, vitamins, proteins and omega-3s which help maintain healthy skin.

2 - Adopt good lifestyle habits to avoid having oily, peeling skin

• Drink daily and at least 1,5l of water per day to meet your skin's hydration needs.
• Try to avoid smoking as much as possible, which is involved in the degradation of the quality of the epidermis. In fact, be aware that the products contained in cigarettes degrade several constituents of the dermis and prevent irrigation of skin tissues. As a result, the balance of the skin is disturbed and it can then become more oily and peel.
• Make sure you protect your skin from the sun's UV rays by wearing a cap, scarf or hat and putting on face sunscreen, certified organic and natural if you can. This is because sunscreens are filled with chemical ingredients that can also damage your skin.
• Sleep time is necessary for the body to regenerate. Ideally, get 8 hours of sleep a night and a minimum of 6 hours.