People with oily or breakout prone skin are often under the assumption they got the short end of the stick. They feel that to keep the breakouts away, they need to constantly use products that dry out their skin and leave it feeling “tight”. They often are so scared of anything that says “moisturizing” or “hydrating” because they believe that is what is causing or contributing to their oiliness and breakouts. I have oily skin too and that is exactly what I thought… until I learned the truth.

That truth is this. Oily Skin is a skin type, like dry, combination and normal skin types. Oily skin naturally produces excess sebum, an oily substance that keeps the skin hydrated. Simply put, this skin type is often associated with breakouts or a skin condition called acne, due to the sebum and dead skin cells mixing with bacteria and plugging up the hair follicles. When people have breakouts or acne, they often are quick to use products that contain harsh ingredients like alcohol or benzoyl peroxide, to help dry out and treat the breakouts.

These ingredients initially “work” to dry up and clear the breakouts, however, when used long term without adding the proper amount of moisture back into the skin, the skin gets dried out and visible dryness occurs. On top of the dead skin cell buildup, the skin underneath then starts producing even more oil to compensate for the lack of moisture in the skin and the cycle of breakouts and acne continue. If you are one of those many people stuck in this cycle, there is an answer and there are things you can do break free from it.

The answer is this. Stop using those super harsh products and find a gel based cleanser that with be effective at calming and treating your current breakouts. Look for ingredients like salicylic acid or glycolic acid. These two ingredients are powerful and very effective at treating breakouts and keeping the dead skin cell buildup to a minimum.

Next, get a toner that will balance and bring the skins ph to a normal level, this is crucial so the skin doesn't start overproducing from the cleansers ingredients. Follow with a corrective moisturizer that will bring a light hydration back into the skin, also preventing it from starting to over produce oil. Spot treat breakouts with a powerful serum and apply an oil-free SPF 30 during the day.

As a final note, the skin producing a little extra oil also has its perks. Oily skin types often show fewer signs of aging than people with dry skin as the natural moisture in the skin keeps it plump and hydrated, minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles or areas of dryness. So keep your skin care routine balanced and don't let bacteria from dirty makeup brushes, sweat from a workout, cell phones, etc. get in your way of good looking skin!

LEONA BAISLEY: Having been a licensed esthetician for over 8 years, Leona has worked for a variety of spas and wax only salons. She is passionate about skin care, waxing and education for both the professional and the client. She has over 4 years of wax training experience for large organizations and is in the beginning stages of creating her own education classes that will help licensed estheticians and cosmetologists grow their businesses and compete with the top professionals in the industry.