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Insecure About Having Oily Skin?
You're not alone...
Here we present you with a focus group study¹ that reveals you’re not alone with your oily skin struggles – and how the effects of having oily skin go beyond skin deep…
As mentioned throughout this website, oily skin is a common occurrence. And because most people deem oily looking skin as unattractive, many are self-conscious about having such a shiny face.
It goes for both men and women:
“When I am around people or out in public, then it becomes a bigger issue that makes me feel very self-conscious about myself. It makes me feel dirty like I am not a clean person (which I am!)” – US female study participant.
“It’s embarrassing to go out and have my face suddenly looking all greasy” – US male study participant.
“The [oily] feeling becomes very annoying to me, and that’s very important to me” – US male participant.
These responses are from a focus group study involving 54 participants with oily skin. The study’s goal was to assess the severity of symptoms and the impact of facial skin oiliness related to their emotional well-being.
Here we’ll go over some of the results and what we’ve learned from them.
Surprisingly, the effects of having oily skin are more than you consciously know.
Here’s what we found:
How People Assess Their Skin’s Oiliness Level
Not surprisingly, the most common way people assess their skin oil is by looking at a mirror (83%). How shiny their skin appears is how they gauge their skin’s level of oiliness.
“Whenever I go to the bathroom and look in the mirror to touch up my makeup thru-out the day, my shiny skin is very noticeable” – US Female participant.
The next common method is the touch assessment. 52% of the study uses a simple stroke of their fingers to determine their skin’s oil level. If you examine the oil on your fingers after stroking your face, you are part of the 35% that does the same. If you tend to rub your fingers with your thumb to assess your oiliness, so do 31% of the total study.
“I can touch my face and tell that it is oily” – US male participant.
“I touch my nose or chin and can see the oiliness in my fingers!” – US female participant.
42% blot their face as a visual inspection, 61% of whom use a tissue or toilet paper. 30% use cleansing tissues like those rice papers, and 26% use paper towels.
28% check for skin oiliness 1-3 times per day. 26% of the study check 6-10 times per day.
24% could tell just by the way how their skin’s sensation feels without even touching it. They say that they can tell by the “heaviness” or how “dirty” their skin felt.
“When I wake in the morning, and my face feels heavy. I then touch my face, and I can feel the grease. I look in the mirror and only confirm my suspicions, I have a shiny, oily face” – US Female participant.
What People Think Is The Cause For Their Oily Skin
In the study, participants reported several factors that cause their oily skin. The most common response given; stress and anxiety (81%). 76% mentioned temperature causes their oiliness, 68% said the season plays a part, and humidity is also an influence for 67% of the participants. Also, 59% of female participants reported their hormones affect their facial skin’s oiliness.
The Emotional Impact Of Oily Skin
The majority of the participants reported that their oily skin causes an emotional impact and disrupts their daily lives. 73% feel self-conscious and are usually preoccupied with their oily skin throughout the day. They worry about how others perceive their appearance. They frequently check their oily skin and feel embarrassed around other people.
Oily skin also impacts their daily life as they need to wash or blot their skin constantly. Female participants talked of having to apply face powder and needing to reapply makeup multiple times a day. 18% reported having to wash their face 6-15 times a day, 50% 3-5 times a day, and 42% wash their face 1-2 times a day.
Here’s a list breakdown of the emotional impact of oily skin and effects on daily routine:
| Appearance & Social Impact | % Of Total Sample |
|---|---|
| Perception of Appearance | 67% |
| Self-Consciousness | 59% |
| Social Confidence | 18% |
| Distress/Interruption | |
|---|---|
| Preoccupation of Appearance | 56% |
| Worry about need to manage condition | 31% |
| Frequently checking skin oiliness | 18% |
| Impact On Daily Life | |
|---|---|
| Washing or Cleansing for oil control | 65% |
| Times of day when typically washing | 44% |
| Need to Blot | 41% |
| Apply Face Powder (females only) | 52% |
| Makeup (Re)Application (females only) | 30% |
| Number Of Cleansing Per Day | |
| - 1-2 | 42% |
| - 3-5 | 50% |
| - 6-15 | 18% |
| Effect On Diet | |
| - No Fast Food, No Rich Food | 54% |
| - No Chocolate, No Sweets | 26% |
| - Eat Healthy Foods, Eat More Fruit | 26% |
As you can see, you’re not alone in the struggles of having oily skin. The effects of this condition go beyond the physical. It takes up quite a bit of mental energy, having to deal with it. The preoccupation, annoyance, frustration, effects on self-esteem and social functioning is quite a bit of headspace taken up just for having oily skin. And you don’t need that in your life.
Do you share the same feelings as the participants of this study? Do you have other struggles with having oily skin that wasn’t reported here? Let us know in the comments section below.
How To Get Rid Of Oily Skin
The simplest way to get rid of oily facial skin is to wash regularly using foamy facial cleansers and exfoliate two to three times a week. Exfoliating prevents dead skin cells from clogging your pores and producing acne. Do not use soaps to wash your face as it will dry out your skin.
But, if you’re like the participants above, you already know this, and needing to wash your face constantly is something you struggle with.
The key is not “getting rid” of oily skin. In fact, getting rid of the oils (sebum) on your face will only cause your face to produce more oil. It’s because your face needs the oil to lubricate and protect your skin.
The goal should be “controlling” your skin’s oil – both the production of it and the underlying appearance of it on your skin. That’s precisely what a mattifying lotion does. If you haven’t already, check it out d*shine’s Mattifying Moisturizer w/ Oil Control here:
If you liked this article, below are some others that you may also enjoy.
In any case, be confident in your skin. There are other important things in the universe for you to be worried about.
Follow us on IG @dshine.me, Facebook, or shoot us a message here. We look forward to meeting you!
Study Cited:
Patient Experiences With Oily Skin [1]
5 Benefits Of Mattifying Products
What Is A Mattifying Moisturizer?
The Difference Between Dewy And Oily Skin
The Importance Of Eye Contact
Should Skincare Products Be Gendered?
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