I grew up with oily pores and skin at a time when a matte look was all the craze. Even though individuals would inform me my pores and skin was “glowing,” I spent my teenage years furiously powdering my t-zone to carry 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 many years and dewy pores and skin is all the craze. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve undoubtedly 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 seen that folks are likely to imagine having oily pores and skin helps stop wrinkles and different indicators of getting older. However is it true?
I’ll say upfront, I don’t imagine one pores and skin kind ages “higher” than one other. In relation to getting older, every pores and skin kind has its personal benefits (and downsides). Pores and skin fads could 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 sport plan that permits it to age in a wholesome, sleek manner. You probably have oily pores and skin, this submit will educate you the way to do exactly that.
The Benefits of Oily Pores and skin and How It Can Assist Forestall Wrinkles
What does it really imply to have “oily” pores and skin? Folks 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 accountable 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 have a look at some advantages you may not have thought of!
Greater Concentrations of Oil Glands Could Imply Thicker Pores and skin
One potential advantage of oily pores and skin is that the excessive density of sebaceous glands means having thicker pores and skin total. This supplies a pure cushion that makes the pores and skin much less vulnerable to creasing or folding, which can assist sluggish or stop the formation of wrinkles and high-quality strains.
Dr. Sam Lam, a board-certified plastic surgeon who sees a variety of pores and skin sorts in his follow day-after-day, echoes this perception: “One of the best ways to grasp the supposed bias towards oily pores and skin is to grasp how the pores and skin repairs injury, which is the sebaceous (or oil) gland as the primary supply of regeneration. Folks with oily pores and skin could have extra lively oil glands and thereby have extra safety. There might be an affiliation of oil glands with thicker pores and skin, which is much less vulnerable to collagen breakdown.”
He notes that this isn’t one thing that’s been scientifically confirmed, it’s extra of a principle based mostly on a mix of current 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 could have a leg up in the case of wrinkle prevention, it’s essential to do not forget that strains and wrinkles aren’t the one elements of facial getting older. Facial sagging and pores and skin laxity are a pure a part of the getting older course of, and having oily pores and skin doesn’t stop this.
Sebum Offers Pure Moisture and Safety
Having dry or dehydrated pores and skin can contribute to the event of high-quality strains, so that is one other occasion when having oily pores and skin could repay. Our pores and skin has a tougher time holding onto moisture as we age, and having your personal built-in moisture from oil manufacturing can definitely be helpful.
Sebum additionally acts as a protect for our pores and skin, so oilier pores and skin sorts could have a bit extra pure safety in opposition to getting older triggers like air pollution, free radicals, and UV injury (however not sufficient to skip sunscreen, in fact!). This additional little bit of safety means it is perhaps simpler to keep up vibrant, 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 vulnerable to wrinkles isn’t the identical as being immune. One of the best ways to capitalize in your pure benefits is correctly caring on your pores and skin with a constant routine (and sure, oily pores and skin nonetheless wants moisturizer).
Frequent Ageing Considerations for Oily Pores and skin (and What to Do About Them)
No matter pores and skin kind, we’re all extra vulnerable to sure points of pores and skin getting older than others. The secret is understanding which points we’re vulnerable to and addressing them early on. As they are saying, an oz. of prevention is price a pound of treatment.
Beneath, the most typical getting older issues for greasy pores and skin sorts and the way to get forward of them.
Pore dimension
Talking from expertise, these of us with oilier pores and skin can battle with pore dimension as we age. When you will have extra sebum flowing by way of your pores it will probably stretch them out, making them seem greater over time. This may not be tremendous noticeable if 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 change into extra apparent.
A clean, even pores and skin texture is one key function of youthful-looking pores and skin and it may be tough to make pores seem smaller as soon as this begins to occur, so that is undoubtedly an awesome factor to start out addressing early on!
How you can Forestall Enlarged Pores
- Handle oil manufacturing by utilizing the proper components for greasy pores and skin
- Preserve 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 most effective 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 fluctuate in severity, however in the event you’re somebody who’s handled deep nodular or cystic zits, you understand all too nicely it will probably go away behind indented scarring. That is by far probably the most tough type of zits scarring to cope with, and identical to enlarged pores, it will probably change into extra distinguished as we age.
You may 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 injury. Use retinol within the evenings and think about consulting with a dermatologist to work your manner as much as a prescription power since it will give probably 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 can assist construct collagen, defending in opposition to solar injury is vital to stopping collagen breakdown within the first place.
In case your scarring is extreme, skilled therapies similar to radiofrequency microneedling generally is a game-changer.
Sebaceous Hyperplasia
Final (however not least), having oily pores and skin makes you extra vulnerable 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 fully innocent, however they could be a nuisance. I am going to my dermatologist annually to have some of these growths eliminated through 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 all the time felt good about having oily pores and skin, I hope studying about these advantages can assist you embrace it! To recap, a better focus of oil glands results in thicker pores and skin, which is extra resilient in opposition to high-quality strains and wrinkles. Greater sebum manufacturing additionally means extra pure moisture and built-in safety from the weather, which might be useful for sustaining vibrant, even-toned pores and skin.
With that mentioned, having oily pores and skin doesn’t make you completely resistant to wrinkles, particularly deep expression strains. It additionally doesn’t shield in opposition to facial sagging, which entails deeper elements of our anatomy like fats and muscle. Oily pores and skin sorts can also battle with pores and skin texture and huge pores as they become older, 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 getting older is a well-rounded skincare routine constructed on your distinctive pores and skin kind. A skincare routine ought to tackle ALL of your pores and skin issues—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 getting older is a multifaceted course of affected by so many elements similar to life-style, setting, and genetics. The best way I see it, do what you’ll be able to to care for your pores and skin, your well being, and your happiness, then benefit from the trip 🙂 I imagine steadiness is vital and I attempt to incorporate it into my on a regular basis life.
Up subsequent, study why it’s best to really think about your self fortunate when you have zits!

Celeb Esthetician & Skincare Knowledgeable
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 professional has created a real-world answer — merchandise which might 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 data and fixed analysis are why Marie Claire calls her “probably the most passionate pores and skin practitioner we all know.”