The Causes of Oily Skin: Your Guide to Face Care for Men with Oily Skin

That shine you see in the mirror is actually one of the most common skin complaints from men. You’re not alone if you feel like your oily skin is getting in the way of your confidence and style. Face care for men with oily skin doesn’t have to be an hours-long stressful experience – some choice products and a bit of an overhaul of your routine can make all the difference.

1. Pollution

Although it’s pretty hard to avoid, the city smog and endless streams of car exhaust fumes can all lead to blocked pores. The science tells us that atmospheric pollution causes the oxidisation of your sebum (the natural oily secretion that comes from your glands), changing its composition.

Cars in traffic jam

If you spend a lot of time in the concrete jungle, getting on and off the tube or crossing congested roads, try looking at a face scrub that is made with oil controlling ingredients. You can scrub away the day’s gunk and put a fresh face forward every single morning.

2. Diet

One of the biggest red flags for oily skin is your diet. You can order all the very best male skin care products, but if your chips-to-vegetables ratio is leaning more to the chip side of things, it might be time to take a look at what you eat.

Table of unhealthy foods

Dairy products, refined carbohydrates and saturated fats are thought to contribute to a build up of oil which will leave you with a shine. We’re aware that sometimes the kebab shop or pizza parlour can appear like a beautiful mirage in the desert but keeping these tasty trips in moderation is good for your skin and your waistline. Try working these foods out of your diet and replacing them with things that are fresh and low in sugar. We would also recommend using a high-quality skin treatment like a face wash to remove the build up and help put some love back into your skin.

3. Sleep

Ok, so we all probably know we need more sleep, but without a good chunk every night you could be contributing to your oily skin. The best male skin care routines always include a section on sleep and we also understand how important it is to your skin. If you don’t sleep enough, your body can start to increase more insulin which is thought to effect sebum levels – so it’s important to try and get as many z’s as possible.

Alarm clock

Getting the full forty winks might be something you dream about (or not, obviously) but it really can make a difference to your overall mindset as well as your skin. Lack of sleep can make you feel stressed, which itself leads to oily skin and acne. It can become a vicious cycle which is hard to get out of. Try a few methods to help you sleep – there are some great bedtime apps for ambient sounds designed to help you drift off. But, if you do wake up with a pimple, try a blemish targeter to combat it.

4. Moisturise

Yes, you should still use moisturiser even if you have oily skin. It might seem a bit counter-intuitive but trust us, it’s not. Your natural oils do nourish the skin on your face, but it can also lead to the pores being full of junk you don’t need. If you choose a moisturiser that is designed for oily skin, you’ll be replenishing your skin with the stuff it actually needs.

If you choose a moisturiser that absorbs quickly, it lessens the chance of blocked pores which helps keep oily skin at bay. Look at the ingredients too! Opt for something that uses a good blend of natural ingredients if you can. We use witch hazel and juniper in our Oil Control range, alongside some other manmade ingredients to give you the best blend of skin-loving stuff.

5. …and finally, not using the right products!

Another big cause of skin complaints like oily skin is the use of the wrong type of products. You can search high and low for the latest lotions, potions and wonder-ingredients, but what really counts is choosing products that are designed for your specific skin type.

Oil Control selection

Of course, we can blow our own trumpet here because Bulldog Skincare does exactly what you need. Got oily skin? We’ve got a whole Oil Control range, so yeah, we can help.