Which soap(s) should be used for oily skin?

The skin is oily when the sebaceous glands secrete an excessive amount of sebum (a phenomenon known as hyperseborrhea). As a result, it tends to shine, especially around the nose wings, forehead, and chin (the T-zone of the face). However, other parts of the body can also be affected, such as the chest, scalp, upper back, and so on.

Oily skin is also associated with dilated pores, a thick skin and an irregular skin texture. It also promotes the appearance of blemishes (blackheads, pimples, etc...). This is a hereditary phenomenon that can be exacerbated by certain factors, such as hormonal fluctuations, stress, the use of unsuitable and comedogenic skin care products, pollution, tobacco smoke, clothing friction, sun exposure, sleep disorders, etc...

Oily skin is not an inevitability. It can be mitigated by using skincare products with ingredients that have properties capable of regulating sebum secretion such as:

• The purifying charcoal cleansing care:

  You can incorporate into your beauty routine the purifying cleansing care with activated charcoal (INCI name: "Charcoal Powder"). This active ingredient has the ability to absorb toxins and impurities present on the skin's surface, thus deeply unclogging the pores. Charcoal also helps to regulate excess sebum, thereby preventing the appearance of pimples and mattifying oily skin. Finally, this ingredient has a granular texture but is gentle enough to perform a light mechanical peeling of the skin. It thus removes dead cells from the skin's surface and stimulates cellular renewal. In addition to activated charcoal powder, this soap also contains hemp oil (INCI name: "Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil") with sebum-regulating properties, as well as Atlas cedar essential oil (INCI name: "Cedrus Atlantica Wood Oil") and Scots pine (INCI name: "Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil"), offering anti-bacterial and purifying action.

• The rebalancing cleansing care with nettle:

  If your skin is oily, you can add the nettle rebalancing soap to your daily skincare routine. Rich in mineral salts and trace elements (sulfur, zinc, copper, etc...), the stinging nettle (INCI name: "Urtica Dioica Leaf Powder") rids the skin of toxins. This plant also has purifying and astringent properties. It then regulates excess sebum. In addition, stinging nettle also contains antioxidants (chlorophyll, flavonoids, etc...) that protect the skin from the effects of aging and promote the regeneration of skin tissues. To enhance the actions of the nettle soap, nettle powder is combined with other ingredients such as eucalyptus globulus essential oil (INCI name: "Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil") for its astringent properties.

• WANG XIUFANG TIAN YONG. A Novel material bamboo charcoal and its new application in cosmetics.

• NOR ASFALIZA A. & al. Synthesis and characterization of active biocarbon material for use in cosmetics and personal care products. Key Engineering Materials (2020).