
I grew up with oily pores and skin at a time when a matte look was all the fashion. Even though individuals would inform me my pores and skin was “glowing,” I spent my teenage years furiously powdering my t-zone to convey down the shine. (There was no such factor as glass pores and skin or glazed donut pores and skin, I can let you know that a lot.) Quick ahead a pair a long time and dewy pores and skin is all the fashion. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve positively come to understand my pure pores and skin kind extra and have been capable of see it for its benefits.
No matter the place oily pores and skin has stood in relation to the pattern cycle, one factor has remained fixed. All through my profession, I’ve observed that folks are likely to consider having oily pores and skin helps stop wrinkles and different indicators of ageing. However is it true?
I’ll say upfront, I don’t consider one pores and skin kind ages “higher” than one other. With regards to ageing, every pores and skin kind has its personal benefits (and drawbacks). Pores and skin fads might come and go, however on the finish of the day, your pores and skin kind isn’t a pattern. It’s one thing that dictates how your pores and skin must be cared for and what its distinctive wants are.
Understanding your pores and skin’s strengths and weaknesses is the easiest way to create a recreation plan that permits it to age in a wholesome, sleek approach. When you’ve got oily pores and skin, this submit will train you tips on how to do exactly that.
The Benefits of Oily Pores and skin and How It Can Assist Stop Wrinkles
What does it really imply to have “oily” pores and skin? Individuals with oily pores and skin sorts (like Skin Types 1-4) have a better density of sebaceous glands. These are the glands that produce oil, and this oil is liable for offering moisture and shielding our pores and skin from environmental aggressors, micro organism, and extra.
These of us with oily pores and skin are fast to see the downsides, however let’s take a step again and take a look at some advantages you won’t have thought-about!
Increased Concentrations of Oil Glands Could Imply Thicker Pores and skin
One doable good thing about oily pores and skin is that the excessive density of sebaceous glands means having thicker pores and skin general. This gives a pure cushion that makes the pores and skin much less liable to creasing or folding, which will help gradual or stop the formation of wrinkles and nice traces.
Dr. Sam Lam, a board-certified plastic surgeon who sees a variety of pores and skin sorts in his apply every single day, echoes this perception: “One of the simplest ways to know the supposed bias towards oily pores and skin is to know how the pores and skin repairs harm, which is the sebaceous (or oil) gland as the primary supply of regeneration. Individuals with oily pores and skin might have extra lively oil glands and thereby have extra safety. There may very well be an affiliation of oil glands with thicker pores and skin, which is much less liable to collagen breakdown.”
He notes that this isn’t one thing that’s been scientifically confirmed, it’s extra of a concept primarily based on a mix of present analysis and his personal observations. After 30 years of working with pores and skin hands-on, I are likely to agree with these observations.
Whereas oily pores and skin sorts might have a leg up on the subject of wrinkle prevention, it’s necessary to do not forget that traces and wrinkles aren’t the one elements of facial ageing. Facial sagging and pores and skin laxity are a pure a part of the ageing course of, and having oily pores and skin doesn’t stop this.
Sebum Gives Pure Moisture and Safety
Having dry or dehydrated pores and skin can contribute to the event of nice traces, so that is one other occasion when having oily pores and skin might repay. Our pores and skin has a more durable time holding onto moisture as we age, and having your individual built-in moisture from oil manufacturing can actually be helpful.
Sebum additionally acts as a defend for our pores and skin, so oilier pores and skin sorts might have a bit extra pure safety towards ageing triggers like air pollution, free radicals, and UV harm (however not sufficient to skip sunscreen, after all!). This further little bit of safety means it is perhaps simpler to keep up vivid, even-toned pores and skin, one other attribute of youthful-looking complexions.
All nice information for greasy pores and skin sorts, proper? Earlier than getting too carried away although, do not forget that being much less liable to wrinkles isn’t the identical as being immune. One of the simplest ways to capitalize in your pure benefits is correctly caring in your pores and skin with a constant routine (and sure, oily pores and skin nonetheless wants moisturizer).
Frequent Growing older Issues for Oily Pores and skin (and What to Do About Them)
No matter pores and skin kind, we’re all extra liable to sure elements of pores and skin ageing than others. The hot button is understanding which elements we’re liable to and addressing them early on. As they are saying, an oz of prevention is value a pound of remedy.
Beneath, the commonest ageing considerations for greasy pores and skin sorts and tips on how to get forward of them.
Pore measurement
Talking from expertise, these of us with oilier pores and skin can wrestle with pore measurement as we age. When you could have extra sebum flowing via your pores it will possibly stretch them out, making them seem larger over time. This won’t be tremendous noticeable once you’re youthful, however as we age we begin to lose cushion and quantity in our pores and skin. This cushion helps “plump out” enlarged pores, however because the pores and skin turns into extra lax, giant pores turn out to be extra apparent.
A easy, even pores and skin texture is one key characteristic of youthful-looking pores and skin and it may be troublesome to make pores seem smaller as soon as this begins to occur, so that is positively an amazing factor to start out addressing early on!
The right way to Stop Enlarged Pores
- Handle oil manufacturing by utilizing the proper components for greasy pores and skin
- Hold pores clear by getting common extractions and exfoliating at residence
- Use retinol to assist protect your pores and skin’s pure “cushion”
Study all about the very best technique for minimizing giant pores.
Pimples Scars
Whereas not everybody with oily pores and skin experiences zits, many do—particularly of their youthful years (I do know this was the case for me). Breakouts can differ in severity, however in case you’re somebody who’s handled deep nodular or cystic zits, you recognize all too effectively it will possibly go away behind indented scarring. That is by far essentially the most troublesome type of zits scarring to take care of, and similar to enlarged pores, it will possibly turn out to be extra distinguished as we age.
You possibly can handle the results of zits scarring over time by sticking to a diligent skincare routine that features collagen-stimulating components. Use a vitamin C serum within the morning to assist construct collagen and stop additional harm. Use retinol within the evenings and think about consulting with a dermatologist to work your approach as much as a prescription power since this may give essentially the most dramatic outcomes. Most significantly, put on solar safety each single day, rain or shine (this sunscreen is perfect for oily skin). Whereas each vitamin C and retinol will help construct collagen, defending towards solar harm is essential to stopping collagen breakdown within the first place.
In case your scarring is extreme, skilled remedies comparable to radiofrequency microneedling could be a game-changer.
Sebaceous Hyperplasia
Final (however not least), having oily pores and skin makes you extra liable to sebaceous hyperplasia as you age. Sebaceous hyperplasias are benign pores and skin growths that seem as flat, barely raised bumps. As I mentioned, they’re utterly innocent, however they could be a nuisance. I’m going to my dermatologist yearly to have these kind of growths eliminated by way of electrical cauterization.
The Takeaway—Does Oily Pores and skin Age Higher?
As you’ll be able to see, there are many advantages to having an oily pores and skin kind. In case you’re somebody who hasn’t at all times felt good about having oily pores and skin, I hope studying about these advantages will help you embrace it! To recap, a better focus of oil glands results in thicker pores and skin, which is extra resilient towards nice traces and wrinkles. Increased sebum manufacturing additionally means extra pure moisture and built-in safety from the weather, which could be useful for sustaining vivid, even-toned pores and skin.
With that mentioned, having oily pores and skin doesn’t make you completely proof against wrinkles, particularly deep expression traces. It additionally doesn’t shield towards facial sagging, which entails deeper elements of our anatomy like fats and muscle. Oily pores and skin sorts may additionally wrestle with pores and skin texture and huge pores as they grow old, extra so than dry pores and skin sorts.
On the finish of the day, the easiest way to keep up wholesome pores and skin and stop indicators of ageing is a well-rounded skincare routine constructed in your distinctive pores and skin kind. A skincare routine ought to handle ALL of your pores and skin considerations—not only a few (and oily or dry is just one a part of the equation). Undecided what your routine ought to appear to be? Take this quiz to get started!
Lastly, do not forget that ageing is a multifaceted course of affected by so many elements comparable to way of life, setting, and genetics. The best way I see it, do what you’ll be able to to handle your pores and skin, your well being, and your happiness, then benefit from the trip 🙂 I consider steadiness is essential and I attempt to incorporate it into my on a regular basis life.
Up subsequent, be taught why it is best to really think about your self fortunate when you have zits!

Movie star Esthetician & Skincare Professional
As an esthetician educated in beauty chemistry, Renée Rouleau has spent 30 years researching pores and skin, educating her viewers, and constructing an award-winning line of merchandise. Her hands-on expertise as an esthetician and trusted skincare skilled has created a real-world resolution — merchandise which can be formulated for nine different types of skin so your face will get precisely what it must feel and look its greatest. Trusted by celebrities, editors, bloggers, and skincare obsessives across the globe, her huge real-world information and fixed analysis are why Marie Claire calls her “essentially the most passionate pores and skin practitioner we all know.”