How to Find Anti-Aging Products for Oily Skin

Most anti-aging products are geared to dry skin. So what do you do if you have reached that certain age but don’t want your wrinkle cure to bring on an attack of post-adolescent acne? Even though some companies offer products labeled for oily, mature skin, your best answer is to check the ingredient list. It’ll tell you what you need to know. Read on to learn how to find anti-aging products for oily skin.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Determine if your skin is actually oily. Believe it or not, people often are wrong about their skin type. There are several skin analysis tests online that will help you find the truth.

2. Take stock of your own problems. They may be different from the ones your drier-skinned friends face, even if you’re all in the wrinkle-fighting brigade. Dark circles under your eyes? Dark spots in areas of trauma and sun damage? Sunscreen feels too oily? Makeup wears off too easily?

3. Determine if your skin is sensitive. Do a lot of ingredients irritate your oily mature skin? That can make it harder to choose anti-aging products, because you may not be able to use ingredients like glycolic acids for exfoliation or hydroquinone for spot lightening.

4. Try three ingredients that work well for mature, oily skin. Salicylic acid decreases both oiliness and wrinkles. Nonprescription retinol and prescription retinoid are also enemies to wrinkles and kind to oily skin. If your skin isn’t too sensitive, try alpha hydroxy acids like citric acid, glycolic acid and lactic acid for resurfacing.

5. Look for the lightest formulations. Serums and gels are usually the best. Lotions may be all right for you but avoid heavy creams. Contrary to popular belief, you may not have to avoid all oils in your products, especially if you exfoliate regularly. But stay away from mineral oil or petrolatum.

6. Mix your own, if you can’t find the right combinations. Many of these ingredients can be bought separately if you look for them, online and in health food stores. Pure aloe gel makes a great base for water-soluble ingredients, like vitamin C and peptides.

7. Take some anti-aging ingredients internally, like anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals alpha-lipoic acid and hyaluronic acid.

8. Try pure mineral makeup. It covers imperfections, evens skin tone, stays on oily skin and, if it’s talc-free, shouldn’t cause breakouts. A matte powder finish can be unflattering to mature skin, so consider a dewy finishing layer, or combining a matte finish for oil-control with a dewy finish in some areas for youthful glow.

Tips & Warnings

• Use moisturizer only where and when you really need it.
• As you age, oil production will decrease. Take notice and adjust your regimen as needed. You’ll be able to ask your dry-skinned friends for advice.
• No product works the same for everyone. Purchase a sample, get an in-store demonstration or check out a company’s return policy before spending too much money.
• Don’t use a cleanser that is drying; your face shouldn’t feel tight right after you wash. Drying your skin with cleanser will only inspire it to make more oil.

Resources

• Skin Typing and Product Selection
• Skin Type Test

[Belle5350]

on 3/19/2008 Thank you for that article! I am heading to "40" and still have breakouts. I will starting shopping for some of the non-RX ideas you provided!

Thank you again!