Are oil blotting papers helpful for oil control, or is it a temporary measure that makes you generate even more oil? In this article, hear what a dermatologist has to say about oil blotting sheets for oily skin, including oil control tips for acne-prone oily skin.
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What are oil blotting sheets?
Blotting sheets are highly absorbent papers that help to absorb oil from the skin, leaving a more matte complexion. The oil absorbing sheets you find in the drugstore are usually made from rice paper, wood pulp, and even cotton.
How does oil-absorbing paper work?
Essentially, they absorb the sebum produced on your face. Wicking away sweat, grime and oil when applied to the surface of your skin.
Are oil blotting sheets effective? Are they good or bad for your skin?
Many find that their skin gets greasier as we near the end of the day. In particular, living in Singapore’s humid climate may make you feel like your skin is oilier than it should be. While blotting papers do work in removing the oil from your face, many drugstore oil blotting papers have an astringent effect that can irritate the skin. Removing all the oil on your skin by absorption can lead to a paradoxical condition known as reactive seborrhea.
Reactive seborrhea is when removing oil on your skin can lead to increased production of oil. Therefore, using oil blotting sheets for the sole purpose of reducing excessive oil production may not be effective. This is because it doesn’t treat the underlying causes of excess oil production.
Dermatologist-designed best oil blotting sheets
For individuals with acne prone skin, a tip I have is that it’s okay to remove the excess oil on your skin in the middle of the day. We have traditionally heard that blotting is bad for your skin. However, certain blotting linens infused with plant oils such as the Anti-Inflammatory Oil Blotting Linen can be helpful. Made from the hemp plant, or Cannabis Sativa this blotting paper can help to counteract reactive seborrhea. It does this by helping to stabilise the micro environment of the skin. By physically removing the oil and the grime that’s produced and accumulated on your skin. It also leaves a plant oil residue that’s an antioxidant, which can help to moisturise your skin as well. In short, this breaks the vicious cycle by moisturizing and hydrating your complexion,” Dr. Teo Wan Lin, accredited dermatologist.
Dermatologist tips for oily skin
Tip #1 – Use the right oily skin face wash
The key to an oily skin cleanser is that it should have an effective lathering action to remove oil dirt and grime. But at the same time, it should respect the skin barrier by not stripping the skin completely dry. Chemical sulfates tend to damage the skin barrier after repeated use. Interestingly, it is a total myth to treat oily skin with ‘deep cleansers’. Oily skin often reacts by producing even more oil when it is stripped of its natural moisture barrier. This iis a condition known as reactive seborrhea. In addition, such deep cleansers often contain small concentrations of salicylic acid or lactic acid, which when used daily, often cause facial dermatitis and eczema.
The Miel Honey™ Cleanser has natural antibacterial properties. The oil control is achieved by the gentle foaming action of honey as an emulsifier, substituting the bulk of chemical lathering agents such as laureth sulfates.
Tip #2 – Don’t forget to moisturize
After removing the excess oil from your skin, touch up with a moisturizing facial mist that contains hydrating ingredients to prevent your skin from reactive seborrhea. The Mineral Booster contains deep sea water, and is formulated with polyglutamic acid. Hydrating sprays like this one are more acceptable to use over your makeup rather than a cream moisturiser. This is also relevant for acne-prone oily skin. In summary, moisturizing is a key step in your mid-day skincare routine, and a spray can help with touch-ups without messing up your makeup.
The Mineral Booster is a dual function refreshing mist to increase absorption of skincare at night. And, for a perfect look with make-up & during touch-ups in the day. It also contains skin-calming & repairing active ingredients.
If you have oily or acne-prone skin, use an emulsion-base moisturizer. This is most suitable for the hot and humid climate here in Singapore. For convenient management, my patients often opt for the Radiancé Fluide™ Hydrating Emulsion, which is a lightweight moisturiser formulated as an emulsion (or oil-in-water) that is also packed with ceramide-type lipids and humectants like hyaluronic acid in a comfortable non-greasy texture suitable for the face.
OurRadiancé FluideTMHydrating Emulsionis a light-weight moisturizer that helps you to achieve a natural dewy glow for your skin. Oily or combination skin types can look out for this moisturizer as it will not feel heavy on the skin, and is perfect as make-up base.
To regulate the moisture barrier of naturally oily skin, use a pharmaceutically compounded 1% hyaluronic acid serum. This is to regulate skin moisture without the oil you would find in a moisturising cream and is perfectly comfortable in our humid climate. To illustrate, the HA at a potent 1% intensively hydrates the skin without shine and occlusive effects. Therefore, over time eases the skin’s propensity towards oil production.
Tip #3 – Finish off with a loose powder for oil control
Additionally, you can use a loose powder formulated with Zinc Oxide, which is researched to help control the oil production and increase comfort levels on the skin. It is also more cosmetically appealing as it gives you a matte complexion.
The Anti-Acne Zinc Oxide Loose Powder has anti-sebum, oil control effects for comfortable application on sensitive skin.
Tip #4 – Avoid using makeup removal wipes
Makeup remover wipes are usually formulated with harsh makeup base dissolvers that can be irritating to skin. It is extremely hard to impregnate a fabric or sheet with a gentle cleansing solution and ensure that it is stable, hence, most makeup wipes contain harsh chemical ingredients. Makeup is oil soluble. Hence, use micellar formulations or oil emulsions to gently remove your makeup.
The Le Lait Milk Cleanser is a gentle makeup remover including LARECEA™ Extract to accelerates collagen formation and for skin regeneration.Provides gentle & effective cleansing for sensitive skin, post-laser treatment & mature skin types.
Tip #5: Effective acne control creams
Certain topical medicines or ingredients may also be helpful to improve the condition of oily, acne-prone skin. Ingredients to look out for in your pimple creams are chlorella vulgaris extracts, and Berberine. Chlorella Vulgaris is a botanical anti-inflammatory that helps to prevent breakouts.
The Blemish Spot Cream is a pimple cream that uses bioactive plant extracts to quickly reduce and inhibit spot inflammation. It contains chlorella vulgaris for anti-inflammation, argania spinosa for anti-pigmentation, and methionine for wound healing.
Berberine is a traditional Chinese herb that has proven to target mechanisms in acne formatoin in 4 main ways. Firstly, it blocks angroden and sebum production, helping to control oil. Secondly, it is anti-inflammtory, bactericidal and helps to treat hyperpigmentation and scarring through inhibiting melanin formation.
We use Berberine as Prescriptive Acne Treatment as it is a botanical ideal for maskne treatment under a face mask. With zero irritation formula and safe on fabrics.
