Greasy skin is an issue for most people as it becomes difficult to manage it. Greasy skin is nothing else but oily skin. It becomes tedious to deal with because it is not just one concern, it further leads to clogged pores, acne breakout and excessively shiny look.
All these concerns can be troubling due to excess sebum production but it does not mean sebum is not essential for the skin. It is important for skin hydration and barrier protection. So we just need to control the excess oil secretion and not completely dry it out.
A face cleanser can be ideal to deal with excess oil on the face and control it. You just need to find the right ingredients in a face wash which makes it the best face wash for oily skin.
Charcoal is a popularly known and effective choice for clearing out the impurities. It works like a magnet for the skin that pulls out the impurities from the face and gives a clear skin. So a charcoal face wash can be quite effective in removing the surface impurities from the face and provide a non greasy skin.
What is greasy skin actually?
An oily skin occurs due to hyperactivated sebaceous glands that start producing more and more sebum than regular. This leads to greasy skin which occurs more prominently due to stress, hormonal changes, environment, pollution and even diet.
This greasy skin can be a roadmap to more concerns like
Enlarged pores
Clogged pores
Acne
Blackheads and whiteheads
Because of all such concerns that get related to greasy/ oily skin, you need to control it before there is an increase in problems.
How does activated charcoal help?
Activated charcoal is a form of carbon that has a porous texture which is made from coal, coconut shells etc. and this activated charcoal is quite beneficial in removing impurities because of its unique surface structure. It works like a magnet and pulls out the impurities.
Instead of using random ingredients, you can go for a charcoal based face wash which is well formulated and provides various benefits like:
Removing excess oil
Pulling out impurities from the face
Clearing the pores
Maintaining clean skin
It works by:
Controlling excess oil: It is great in controlling excess oil from the skin. It works by removing sebum from the surface by absorbing the oil efficiently and leaving behind a hydrated skin.
Deep cleansing: Activated charcoal works by going into the pores and pulling out the dirt, dust and dead skin cells effectively and prevents skin from further acne and breakouts that occur because of clogged pores.
Reducing blackheads and whiteheads: Activated charcoal if used regularly can prevent clogging of pores which prevents the occurrence of blackheads and whiteheads. Also it has antibacterial action that protects from breakouts.
Detoxifying: Environmental damage and pollution can affect the skin by depositing toxins and activated charcoals detoxifies the skin from these toxins and helps in achieving a clear skin.
Gentle exfoliation: Charcoal not only clears the surface impurities it also provides gentle exfoliation for the skin by removing dead skin cells and dirt.
So activated charcoal works quite well in skin cleansing and it helps in removing not only oil but also other impurities that can affect the skin.
Ingredients that can be paired well with activated charcoal face wash
There are several ingredients that can be used along with activated charcoal to perform even more effectively and enhance the properties.
Niacinamide: It helps in cleansing the skin along with maintaining the skin barrier support. It also helps in improving the skin texture.
Salicylic acid: It is also a helpful exfoliating agent that performs by clearing out the pores and controlling excess sebum.
Tea tree oil: It has been incorporated along with charcoal because of its skin purifying and antibacterial properties.
Ceramides: They are paired because of their hydrating barrier support features. They help in moisturizing the skin.
Aloe vera: It has been used in skincare products because of its hydrating and skin soothing action.
Glycerin: It has been used to prevent drying out of the skin due to exfoliation.
Skin Suitability
Activated charcoal is ideal ingredient for exfoliation and cleansing purpose and can be used by people with:
Sensitive skin
Oily skin
Combination skin
Acne prone skin
Normal skin
Sensitive and dry skin can also use charcoal face wash if it is formulated with some other soothing ingredients as well that can be skin suitable.
How to use a face cleanser?
Firstly wash your face with lukewarm or cold water. Do not use hot water.
Then take some product in your hand
Apply it to the face gently and rub gently all over
Target t-zone because it is more oily
Rinse off the face wash with water
After that if required apply a toner and light textured serum
Use a lightweight moisturizer after that
Apply SPF while going out in the day
Final thoughts
A greasy skin requires exfoliating cleansers that can clear out the oil and leave behind a normal skin. Activated charcoal can be used because of its powerful magnetic action that can be used for pulling out the impurities from the face like oil, dust and dead skin cells. It is ideal because it does not leave the skin dry after that. If it is formulated with barrier supportive ingredients then it can be incorporated in your daily skincare routine.