Acne-prone skin tends to become oily. Therefore, in order to get rid of the unsightly shining of the face, people struggling with acne often turn to mattifying products. Is this the right solution that really prevents skin from shining? Let’s find out!
Before answering the question of whether mattifying creams harm acne-prone skin, it is worth considering why and for what purpose sebum appears on our skin. It is produced by all skin types, even dry ones. Its purpose is to provide the correct level of hydration and protect against dryness. Every skin needs sebum and its production is not a bad thing. With acne-prone skin, sebum production is higher. However, the idea is not to completely inhibit it. We need to bring about a balance in which sebum production is not too high, but not too low either.
As the name suggests, a mattifying cream is designed to mattify our complexion. This effect is especially important for people with acne, since their facial skin produces excessive amounts of sebum. For the effect of mattifying cream are responsible for sorbents, which absorb the secretion from the sebaceous glands. In the role of sorbents, the most common are polymer particles, microfibers, clay and corn starch. In addition, manufacturers often include other excipients in the formulation, such as plant extracts, zinc compounds and salicylic acid derivatives. Antibacterial, moisturizing and nourishing ingredients can also be found in some creams.
Sebum is essential for maintaining proper skin hydration. Its low production or complete lack of production can lead to completely dry skin and disruption of the hydrolipid barrier. If our face glows from excess sebum, we can reach for mattifying products, but this should be done with caution. The cream is supposed to help the proper and balanced production of sebum, not completely inhibit it.
Mattifying products cannot be used too often. Even applying the cream once a day will help the sebaceous glands function properly. Also important is the composition of the products applied to the skin. Mattifying creams should not contain mineral and other petroleum-based oils, as these are foreign to our skin and impossible to process. The same is true of silicones. Although they give the effect of a smoothed complexion, they are difficult to assimilate. Of course, in the composition, we should also beware of ingredients such as alcohol and other types of preservatives, which can dry out our complexion and paradoxically cause even more sebum production.
It would seem that oily skin does not need moisturization in the form of creams. This is a misconception. Lack of hydration causes dryness, which results in even more sebum production.
When caring for acne-prone skin, it is important to remember to regularly cleanse, tone and moisturize the skin. Such a ritual can work better than many mattifying products.
main photo: unsplash.com/Raphael Lovaski
