Skin Care for Older Women With Oily Skin

If decades pass as you struggle with an oil-slick complexion, it’s time to admit it may be a lifelong battle. Although hormones and heredity control how long your face stays oily, you can successfully stop the shine. While oily skin is just as problematic at 40 as it is at 20, age requires a major overhaul of your skin care routine. Fighting wrinkles, lines and age spots without breaking out like a preteen means reading product labels like a pro.

Wash your face twice a day by massaging it for 60 seconds using a gentle, oil-control face wash containing alpha hydroxy acid, glycolic acid or a low percentage of salicylic acid. Look for acid percentages of no more than 1 percent, as higher percentages are too drying for mature skin.

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Saturate a cotton ball with an alcohol-free toner and wipe it over your face after you wash to remove any remaining residue and to balance the pH of your skin.

Apply a pea-sized amount of an anti-aging serum or gel each morning, concentrating on areas of fine lines and wrinkles. Look for products that are water based, not cream based, which can cause breakouts in mature skin.

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Apply a dime-sized amount of an oil-free moisturizer with a sun-protection factor of 30 to keep your face plump and reduce wrinkles caused by the sun’s rays. Apply the moisturizer only to dry areas and avoid the oily forehead, nose and chin areas. If you experience shine due to your oily skin, opt for a mattifying lotion that contains particles that absorb excess oil throughout the day 1. Apply the mattifying lotion to areas such as the nose, forehead and chin, which are prone to oiliness.

Apply an oil-free, powder-based makeup that matches your skin tone. Avoid using cream-based foundation and those labeled for older skin, as they typically have added oils and moisturizers, which can clog pores.

Apply a pea-sized amount of an anti-aging cream that contains retinol each night after washing and toning, smoothing it gently over your skin using your fingers. Retinols work to exfoliate skin, which removes dead skin cells and helps clear out the oily gunk from your pores. Follow with your moisturizer.

Exfoliate once or twice a week by massaging a dime-sized amount of gentle facial scrub containing micro beads over your face with circular motions. Exfoliate for 60 seconds and rinse your face using warm water.

Tips

Apply the mattifying moisturizer throughout the day, if needed, to control shine.

If the oily skin persists, visit a dermatologist who can perform procedures or prescribe medication to reduce oil production.

Warnings

Never use soap to cleanse oily skin as soaps strip out moisture, which causes your skin to produce more oil.