Skincare Routine For Dehydrated Oily Skin

I used to think my skin was just oily. Every morning I would wake up with a shiny face. My nose and forehead looked like a mirror. So I did what everyone told me. I used strong face washes. I used toners with alcohol. I skipped moisturizer because I thought it would make me more oily.

But my skin felt weird. It was shiny on top but underneath it felt tight. Sometimes it would even peel a little near my cheeks. I was so confused. How can skin be oily and dry at the same time?

Then I went to a skin doctor. She told me something I did not know. My skin was not just oily. It was dehydrated. That means it had no water inside. My skin was making too much oil because it was trying to protect itself from losing water.

What Is This Skin Problem Actually?

Let me make this very simple for you.

Dry skin means your skin makes less oil. That is a skin type. You are born with it or you get it as you get older.

Dehydrated skin means your skin does not have enough water. This can happen to anyone. Even people with oily skin can have skincare routine for dehydrated oily skin.

When your skin does not have water, it gets scared. It thinks something is wrong. So it starts making more oil to coat the surface. This oil sits on top but underneath your skin is still thirsty for water.

This is why you get that greasy look but also feel tightness. This is why your makeup does not sit well. This is why you get small bumps and sometimes breakouts even though your skin looks oily.

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What Causes This Mess?

I made so many mistakes with my skin. Maybe you are making the same ones too.

First I used a face wash that was too strong. It would make my skin feel squeaky clean. I thought that was good. But that squeaky feeling means you have stripped away all your natural oils. Your skin needs some oil to stay healthy.

Second I used a toner with alcohol. It burned a little but I thought that meant it was working. Alcohol dries out your skin and damages your outer layer.

Third I never used moisturizer. I thought oily skin does not need moisturizer. This is the biggest mistake. When you do not give your skin moisture, it makes more oil to try and moisturize itself.

Fourth I scrubbed my face too much. I used those rough face scrubs almost every day. I thought scrubbing would remove the oil. Instead it just irritated my skin and made the problem worse.

How I Fixed My Skin?

I changed my whole routine. It took me about three weeks to see real changes. Here is exactly what I did.

Morning Steps

When I wake up now, I do not wash my face with strong soap. I use a mild face wash. It does not lather too much. It does not make my skin feel tight. I wash with normal water. Not hot water because hot water dries out your skin.

After washing, I do not rub my face dry with a towel. I pat it gently. And I leave it a little wet. This is very important. When your skin is damp, it absorbs hydrating products better.

Then I use a hydrating liquid. Some people call it an essence. It is like water but with good ingredients. I put a little on my palms and press it into my face. I do not rub. I just press gently.

Next I use a serum. This is a thin liquid that has hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid holds water. It is like a sponge for your skin. I put this on my damp face too. A few drops are enough.

After that I use a moisturizer. But not a heavy cream. I use a gel moisturizer. It is light and feels cool on my skin. It seals in all the water I just put on my face. This stops water from escaping.

Last I apply sunscreen. Every single day. Even when I am at home. Sun damage makes dehydration worse. I use a sunscreen that is not heavy. It feels like a light lotion.

Evening Steps

At night I have to remove my sunscreen and makeup. So I use an oil cleanser first. This removes all the products from my face. Then I use my gentle face wash again.

After cleansing I use a calming liquid. This has centella asiatica. It soothes my skin. My skin used to be red and irritated. This helped calm it down.

Then I use my hyaluronic acid serum again. Same as morning.

At night I use a slightly thicker moisturizer. But still not heavy. It is a gel cream. It feels rich but does not clog my pores.

Important Things I Learned Along The Way

Exfoliate But Gently

I used to scrub my face hard. Now I use a chemical exfoliant once a week. I use salicylic acid. It is good for oily skin. It cleans out your pores without scratching your skin. I started with once a week. Later I increased to twice a week. Do not overdo this.

Do Not Change Products Too Often

I used to buy new products every month. I would see a new cream on Instagram and buy it. Then my skin would get worse. Then I would buy something else. This constant changing made my skin confused.

Now I stick to my routine. I give each product at least a month to work. Skin takes time to heal. You cannot fix it in three days.

Drink Water

I know everyone says this but it is true. I started drinking more water. Not too much. Just enough that my urine is light yellow. This helped my skin from the inside.

Eat Better

I noticed that when I ate oily and spicy food, my skin looked worse. I cut down on junk food. I added more fruits and vegetables. My skin looked better after two weeks of eating better.

Products That Worked For Me

• I am not telling you to buy expensive products. Here are simple things to look for when you buy.
• Your cleanser should not have sulfates. Sulfates make a lot of foam but they are harsh. Look for something that says gentle or mild.
• Your moisturizer should be gel based. Creams can be heavy. Gels are light and watery. They work better for oily skin.
• Your serum should have hyaluronic acid. This is the best ingredient for dehydrated skin. It pulls water into your skin.
• Your sunscreen should be SPF 50 and not feel greasy. There are many light sunscreens available now.

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Mistakes To Stop Right Now

Stop washing your face more than twice a day. Washing too much removes your natural oils and makes your skin produce more oil.

• Stop using hot water on your face. Hot water dries out your skin. Use normal water or slightly cool water.
• Stop skipping moisturizer. This is the biggest mistake. Oily skin needs moisture too. Just choose the right type.
• Stop using products with alcohol. They dry your skin and damage your barrier. Check the ingredient list.
• Stop using harsh scrubs. They create tiny scratches on your skin. These scratches let water escape.

How Long Does It Take?

• I started seeing small changes in one week. My skin felt less tight. The shine was still there but it was not as much.
• After two weeks my skin looked calmer. The redness went down. My makeup sat better on my face.
• After three weeks my oil production was more balanced. I was still oily but not as much as before. And my skin did not feel tight anymore.
• Everyone is different. Some people see changes faster. Some take longer. Be patient with your skincare routine for dehydrated oily skin.

When Nothing Works?

Sometimes skincare is not enough. If you have been following a good routine for a month and nothing changes, see a skin doctor. They can check if you have a skin condition. They can prescribe medicines if needed. I went to a doctor and she helped me understand my skin better. Sometimes we need professional help. There is no shame in that.

What I Want You To Remember?

Your skin is telling you something. It is not your enemy. It is not trying to make you look bad. It is just reacting to what you are doing to it. When you use harsh products, your skin fights back by making more oil. When you give it what it needs, it calms down. Stop fighting your skin. Start helping it. Give it water. Give it gentle cleansers. Give it light moisturizers. Give it time. This worked for me. It can work for you too. Just be consistent. Do not give up after three days. Skin healing takes time.