How To Handle Shiny Skin Based On Skin Type

Written By Jennifer Raskin / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

Do you have shiny skin? It happens to everyone thanks to the sebaceous glands in your skin which produce a natural oil called sebum. Sebum contains ceramides, fatty acids that are wonderfully nourishing for your skin and keep its protective barrier strong.

When your skin is healthy, it’s less likely to become shiny unless you’re sweating from exercising. Some people also have more sebaceous glands which would make for oilier skin too. In addition to producing excess sebum though, there are a few things that can make your skin shiny.

Common causes of oily skin include hormonal changes, anxiety or stress, environmental factors, medications, and most surprising of all, dry skin. When skin is dried out due to using the wrong products, it overcompensates by creating more sebum. This will make your skin appear shinier.

Reducing and Preventing Shiny Skin

Your cleansing routine is the most important factor for getting a handle on shiny skin. This is the first step in getting skin into good health from the outside. For dry skin that gets shiny, you should take a look at your cleanser.

A cleanser for dry skin which works to infuse dehydrated skin with more moisture and hydration is your best option. Hyaluronic acid is a prime ingredient as it helps draw moisture from the atmosphere so skin is less likely to get dried out and overproduce sebum.

Following that cleanse for dehydrated skin, be sure you use a moisturizer that has ceramides. This will help your skin feel like it has enough oil so it will regulate production and keep from making your skin too shiny.

Oily skin

If you have oily skin that gets shiny, you should choose skincare products that have ingredients to help tame the oil production. Salicylic acid with a water-based cleanser or glycolic acid help exfoliate skin without scrubbing. This exfoliates and removes the skin debris, keeping it from clogging pores.

Clogged pores and oily skin

Clogged pores can make things oilier so when you correct this issue, skin will improve. Generally speaking, gels and creams are better for oily skin. Plus, most people with shiny skin will do well with retinol in the evenings. It helps skin cell turnover and repairs the barrier function so that in time, your skin’s oil problems will balance out.

One trick to keep your face from outshining your best efforts is to use blotting papers. These can gently remove oil from shiny areas like your nose, forehead, and chin. Others find success with misting sprays that gently hydrate the skin throughout the day and refresh it.

Once you start using cleansing and moisturizing products made for your skin type, you will start seeing oil and shine control. While it’s impossible to prevent shiny skin all the time, such as when exercising or being outdoors on a hot day, what you do for your skin in your care routine will go a long way to keeping it looking as shine-free as possible.

Looking for 100% chemical-free, all-natural nourishing face and body oils? Check out Earth & Elm Nourishing Face Oil and Earth & Elm Nourishing Body Oil. Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral health and skincare. If you are looking for more health resources make sure to check out the Trusted Health Resources list. 

Written By:

Jennifer Raskin is a freelance writer, wife and mom that loves cold weather despite her location in Florida, cooking, reading, watching ‘80s movies, weight-lifting, and wine tasting.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.

Photo by Polina Kovaleva from Pexels