Oily skin problems
Image adapted from: Coffee And A Stroller
In sunny Singapore, one of the worst skin types you can have is oily skin. Coupled with the general heat, humidity, and the fact that being sweaty is our default state, it can lead to pretty uncomfortable situations if you’ve got an oily face.
Here are 13 things that only make sense if you’ve got oily skin. Trust me, I feel your pain.
1. Your eyeliner options are reduced by 90%
Buying makeup is a struggle. You develop a razor-sharp eye for any makeup that has the word “matt” on it, and sometimes, even that isn’t enough. And when it comes to buying eyeliner – well, “smudge-proof” and “waterproof” give us hope, but there aren’t any guarantees either.
At least eyeshadow primer helps, as does relying on a bold lip look to direct attention away from the dark smears on my eyes.
2. Taking photos is hard
We can’t all be Kim Kardashian
Even selfies are a struggle, because let’s face it – your face is as reflective as a mirror and the Evil Queen could ask who’s the fairest of them all by peering at it. The odds are, you will look like a shining greaseball in most of the photos you take, and God forbid the flash is on. The shine is no joke, and Mei Tu Xiu Xiu can only do so much.
There’s a reason your IG photos are more scrutinised before being posted than some fashion bloggers, and it’s called your oily face.
3. Oil blotting sheets – best friend and worst enemy
On one hand, oil blotting sheets are great because they absorb the excessive amount of oil on your face. On the other hand, removing one from your face is an exercise in despair because the dang thing is often completely transparent, and that makes you die a little on the inside.
P.S: Rumour has it, Starbucks napkins make pretty good oil blotting sheets – so you know what to do the next time you need an emergency blot. Just remember to make sure it’s clean, hor.
4. You often contemplate the possibility of migration
Source: @kimberlylaurenwong
Cold weather places are the best, hands down. When everyone else is complaining about the weather drying out their skin, you’re rejoicing. For once, your face doesn’t feel like BP just wreaked havoc on it! Plus, your makeup won’t get totally ruined by the mix of sweat and oil that usually ensues.
Maybe we don’t belong here in Singapore. Maybe it’s time for us to leave for greener, colder pastures.
5. Going to the hawker centre is a huge sacrifice
Being sweaty and oily is the general outcome of a night out, and it gets even worse when you have oily skin. And if you’re headed out to the hawker centre, the heat and humidity are a sure guarantee that you’ll look like a not-so-hot-mess at the end of the night.
Plus, if your supper kakis want to take a post-meal selfie, you’re doomed.
6. Acne is a recurring problem
They say “don’t pop your pimples” but sometimes you just have to.
The thing about oily skin is that it often comes along with having large pores. Large pores mean more dirt and gunk can get into your skin, and that means HELLO PIMPLES.
There’s nothing fun about having giant pimples on your nose when you’re already in your twenties. The only consolation is that every time someone comments on it, you can tell them that your body is still young and going through puberty.
7. What do you mean “moisturise”?
You still have to moisturise, but like, why? Isn’t all this oil making my face moist enough? It just seems counter-productive to add even more grease to my already greasy face, y’know.
Still, some skincare experts say that moisturising your face tricks your skin into thinking it’s produced enough oil, and so it winds up producing less. They also recommend using oil instead of traditional moisturisers, as much as it sounds bizarre, as it’s good for removing all those nasty blackheads and whiteheads.
8. Your time of the month is the worst time of the month
When you’re on your period, the world is a terrible place. Aside from the fact that you’re bleeding, you feel bloated, the cramps hurt like crazy, and it’s just plain inconvenient.
And when you have oily skin, things get even worse because the period hormones just make your skin even greasier. Some days, staying at home and hibernating with a cup of hot Milo sounds like a good idea. With all these things put together, this is the worst time of the month.
9. At some point, you’ve said “the oil on my face is enough to fry an egg!”
Think of all the money you could save if the oil on your face could be used for other things, like making breakfast. People laugh whenever you say this, and you laugh too, but deep in your heart you weep silently because you know it’s true.
10. You end up saying good-bye to your foundation before you’re ready
This is one sight I really hate seeing
Some days, you have your makeup all beautifully done – and then you’re overcome with a sneezing fit or a running nose and the world comes to a screeching halt. Because once you touch that tissue to your nose – well, your foundation has just left your face and become one with the tissue.
And don’t get me started on what you find on your shirt at the end of the day, when all the sweat and oil have turned your foundation into a sweaty mess, and you into a giant splotch. You question why you even bother with makeup. I don’t know, girl, but I feel you.
11. Good luck if you wear glasses
Yes, that’s the face we make when we have to push up our glasses for the 145376th time.
Because of my extremely oily nose, my glasses have a tendency to slip down my face. This happens so often, and I’ve long given up on pushing them back up every 10 seconds, that the ‘old lady peering through her spectacles’ look is now my signature.
And if you’re a four-eyed soul with oily skin, you know what I’m talking about. It seems like you spend half your life pushing up your glasses on your face. Also, don’t look too closely at the nose pads on your glasses. It will likely gross you out forever, and you have your oily face to thank for that.
12. But there are some perks to having oily skin
For all the problems we have due to our oily skin, there are some benefits to having it as well!
We have access to our very own fountain of youth, though at times it seems more like an oil slick of youth. Due to excess oil, our skin is also more protected from pollution and UV rays! Plus, all the extra sebum means we have more antioxidants in our skin, which helps prevent inflammation, wrinkles, and fine lines. We don’t visibly age that easily – so hurray!
Plus, people with oily skin can get tanned much easier, instead of turning red like a giant lobster. The oils in our skin work together with SPF to protect us from UV rays, so we just need to invest in a good lightweight sunblock. As oily as our faces may be, at least we will always have a glorious sunkissed glow.
13. However, you’re still trying to find a skincare product that’s The One
Trying to find a skincare product that works for your greasy skin is not easy. It’s an endless circle of trial and error. Or a trial by fire, if the pimples on my face are anything to go by.
At this point in your life, you know every product on the market that’s targeted at oily skin. By heart. And you’ve probably used most of them at some point in your life, to varying degrees of success. The search for the perfect skincare product is like the search for true love, except true love might actually be easier to find at this point.
#oilyskinproblems
In hot and humid Singapore, oily skin is something that we try very hard to deal with. Oil blotting sheets, selfie-editing apps, and bathroom counters full of various skincare products are just part and parcel of trying to mitigate this oily problem.
But if your search for the best skincare product has so far been fruitless, and you’re still on the prowl for something that will sooth your greasy, acne-ridden face, heads up. The Body Shop’s range of tea tree products are specially targeted at getting those blemishes to disappear.
This post is brought to you by The Body Shop.
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