Can Oily skin just be genetic?

Apr 3, 2012

Monique M.

I know that there is probaly a handful of skincare topics regarding oily skin. But for some reason when I look at people and they state they have oily skin, Im like " NO. I have oily skin"

Some people have a shine, but can easily wiped away and you dont see it. You can see the flourescent of the light bulb againist my forehead and nose.

I have started a routine skin care, for the past 2 years, but nothing seems to work. Ive bought pretty much every face care , moisturizer, toner I can think of. For a while I was on Boscia, switched to Biore, St Ives, Lancome, Clinque, BE. And now I am using Lush products.

I wash my face in the morning with Coalface, use the tea tree toner, and the oil free moisturizer. When I have those days when I dont feel like putting make up on, or even the mineral veil, after an hour or so , i see oil beads on my nose, and head. Well pretty much everywhere. I am a oil slick. I cant use liquid foundation because it looks heavy on my face.

Ive been to mac, and sephora recently and they Rep, stated that Halo was a great foundation for absorbing oil, but after an hour, Bam , oily. I understand great make up comes from great skin care but i cant seem to get my oil under control.

I drink aproximately 8-10 glasses a day. Just recently got a colonic.)thought maybe my skincare had something to do with my intentine) I do get fried food, but not often. Do I just Accept that its genetics and try to work with it?

As far as make up i love the way BE looks, but after a while, I am greasy. Yes, I think thats more of the word im looking for, not oily but greasy. Like ive stated I have mineral veil, blots, just bought Urban decay setting spray. I have tried it yet, because I havent put make up on for a few days.

Can anyone shed some light on what im doing wrong, or what I need to do? The girl at the store stated she can tell I am mentally driving myself crazy.

Apr 3, 2012

Joi K.

I agree u need a dermatologist and stop using the moisturiser! Moisturiser are used to what? put moisture in the skin u dont need that ur problem is too much moisture. So I say as a professional and as someone that has oily skin as well. The dermatologist have products and treatments that are oh so helpful and also MAC prolong foundation used with their prep and prime pore reduce and primer s awesome and alcohol in MODERATION helps applied at night not alocohol based products I would be careful of any at home remedies or organic products just because ur skin could react adversely and there is nothing that u eat that promotes oily skin its a myth that has been proven not to have anything to do with it as a derm will tell u but water does help but definitely try a derm its worth it and saves money and time in the end

Apr 4, 2012

Landrey S.

Hormone inbalances, vitamin deficiancy, excess caffine, or anything that can throw your body off balance can aid to pre-genetic make up of excessive oil production.Id definitely see a dermatologist or holistic medicine to see where the root of it starts.

Apr 4, 2012

Santina A.

Definitely see your doctor or a dermatologist! I had super oily skin until I started taking birth control pills for my acne (it actually stops the skin from over producing oil!). Now I'd say I'm normal to dry skin, and I rarely get oily during the day anymore.

I had tried everything up until the point where I went to see my doctor, it's probably your best bet! 

Apr 4, 2012

Monique M.

Thanks Kaitlin,Landrey& Santina, I have started looking to seeing a derm

@ Nichole.. Im going to try just having a all protein diet and see if that makes a difference. I have noticed that when I do have my fruits and veggies usually I am washing them down with a soda or caffinated drink. Or if i eat fried food, ill have a protein shake an hour or so later. Ive replaced my soda with Naked smooties which is very good, and lean protein shakes. Hopefully it makes a differnce. But im thinking my skin is beyond my eating habits

@ Joi, i ave an oil free moisturizer , which basiclly has not an ounce of oil in it. I find that it i dont put something on my face after i have stripped away all the oil, my face is tight,dry, and ashy (lol) . once i opted not to put on moisturizer, and i became even more greasy.

@ Santina, a friend of mine was stating she was once very oily but when she started taking birth control pills, it stopped the oilyness. She stated she is very dry now. Her and I laughed the other day while having a discussion because she wishes her skin was oily like mine, and I wish I was dry like her. I figure its easier to control dry skin but she begs to differ.

anyhoo, thanks ladies. 

Apr 6, 2012

Joi K.

@Landry S. I have heard that over and over again that if someone that has oily skin does not put oil on their face their face feels tight and dry and ashy and to be honest overactive oily skin that causes a problem needs to be on the dry side and u cant strip away the natural oils in ur face if u did u wouldnt have oily skin the only way u can strip away the oil in skin is if u do something to alter the oil glands in your skin deep in the dermis of ur skin what u are going by is how ur skin feels immediatly after u wash ur skin and that always goes aways the main thing and I say this as a professional that deals with this issue all the time is to get a little dry and focus on products that a dermatologist can provide that will help control the oil production but most products that say oil free or non comedomegenic which means it does'nt cause clogged pores but if u have an overactive oil glands then u always run the risk of anything that is meant for moisturising to cause an outbreak or blemishes if u opt for instead of moisturising that u apply wicth hazel I think u will see a big difference and do some sort of exfoiliating by a professional that will help too there are so many treatments that are inexpensive and available to do that are really good and helpful and if u just incorporate more water in ur diet that will help too but dont give up and def look into a dermatologists for more exstensive help ;-)

Apr 6, 2012

Shelley W.

@Joi K. I HAVE to use moisturizer on my oily skin because it actually balances it out. If I don't it will shine like a disco ball and I will get the worst acne ever. And my dermo told me to not stop using moisturizer....just stay away from the one's loaded with junk like mineral oil and fragrance. I also drink green tea (3 big mugs a day) and that has made a huge difference in my skin as oppossed to just plain water. 

Apr 6, 2012

Shelley W.

And oily skin can be genetic. Most of the women in my family have oily skin. Its actually a blessing in disguise if you think it about it though....because oily skin doesn't age as fast as dry skin. 

Apr 7, 2012

Joi K.

@ all ladies if u have overactive oil glands then u are producing more than what u need and therefore u apply a moisturizer and u have outbreaks and blemishes and u have a constant shine when u apply ur makeup and I have worked with a number of dermatologists that will tell u that and I have heard them tell patients to cont to use a mositurizer if the meds they give u become too drying and harsh or if they have patients that feel they must have some form of mosituerizer and ur skin will produce oil no matter what and yes it is genetic and more prone in women of color because we have alot more melanin than women with a fairer pigmentation but I have dealt with patients that feel they must have a moisturizer and cont to use their brand and then I asked them to stop for a few weeks and follow the regimen that we suggest and they ALL noticed a huge difference ! But def to each lady their own and even if the moisturizer dont have alot of oils and other ingridients there is still something that can cause the glands to get clogged and cause u to have a blemish or acne outbreak if it worked we wouldnt be having this discussion and those of us that have severe oily skin would know exactly what to do and not need a dermatologist or specialized products :-)

Apr 7, 2012

Bee K.

I definitely think oily skin is genetic! :) My sister has oily skin and I have mainly dry skin and we are hardly a year apart. She has/had the same regimen as me, until I changed it to adjust to my skin...and I use grapeseed oil to moisturize my skin and it's finally making me look my age (i started to really look old)!