Half your face is normal and half of it is dealing with excess oil. This happens in the T-zone region of the face. Controlling excess oil in the T-zone area covering your forehead, nose and chin is quite a task for women. This kind of skin where half the area is oily and the cheeks region is dry or normal is associated as a combination skin type.
This creates the need of using a targeted face wash which helps in cleansing the oil from the skin but does not make the cheeks more dry. It should be able to cleanse and moisturize skin in moderation to achieve balanced skin throughout the face.
It should be formulated with active ingredients that help in clearing the excess sebum from the face along with hydrating the skin. It should not overpower and gently cleanse. The right face wash must not completely dry out the skin. It should work in moderation. Choosing the best face wash for women is important because it determines how to prep your skin. It would help in balancing out skin surface and promote better results with other skin care products.
Reason behind oily T-zone
The forehead, nose and chin together form a t-like shape and is considered as the T-zone area of the face. This region is packed with a high number of hyperactive sebaceous glands. This creates excess oil production in this region. It also gets triggered by hormonal imbalance, genetics and weather conditions as well.
These factors could result in excess oil production in the t-zone area. The pores of this region get enlarged and release more sebum. When excess oil sits on the face it leads to greasy shine on the t-zone. It causes enlarged pores and pimples because dirt and dead skin cells get mixed with oil and clogs the pores. The T-zone differs from cheek areas as it is dry and it leads to a challenging combination skin type.
Selecting appropriate formulation type
For combatting excess oily T-zone of the face, choice of facewash formulation matters a lot. A cream or oil based cleanser would be ineffective for combination skin because it could make the T-zone more oily and will clog the pores of the skin.
Instead of that you can opt for lightweight and hydrating formulation like a gel based cleanser or a foaming cleanser. Gel cleansers are lightweight and non-sticky formulations which work well for oily T-zone. Gel cleansers are mostly water based and they get absorbed quickly into the skin delivering active ingredients. Gel cleansers produce rich lather and they glide easily on the skin ensuring proper cleanse.
Foaming cleansers are liquid or gel base at start and when applied on the face they produce rich airy lather. This lather when rubbed on the skin works to lift off the excess oil and other impurities from the skin. The foam has increased surface area and clears the impurities from the face effectively. It feels soft and non-sticky on the face.
Ingredients that can work well
- Salicylic acid: It is a beta hydroxy acid which is oil soluble in nature. It is ideal for clearing from T-zone because it has the ability to penetrate deep into the pores. It works by crossing the oil layers of the skin and then it clears out the excess oil from the pores. It dissolves the hard plugs of oil and other impurities from the pores and clears them.
- Niacinamide: It is known as vitamin B3 and it helps in controlling excess oil from the T-zone by stimulating the sebaceous glands secretions. It helps in regulating normal oil secretion in the body. It helps in clearing surface oil. It also helps in protecting the barrier of the skin.
- Encapsulated charcoal: It is a better form of activated charcoal that works by pulling out excess oil from the pores. It works like a magnet and absorbs the excess oil from the pores. It delivers better results because it is in encapsulated form. It does not dry out the skin completely.
- Ceramides: They are barrier protecting agents that keep the skin barrier intact by providing ceramides to the barrier that helps in repairing the damaged skin. It helps in locking the moisture in the skin by repairing the barrier layer of the skin. It also moisturizes the skin.
- Hyaluronic acid: It is used to help in keeping the skin plump and hydrated. It works by moisturizing skin and blocking it in.
How to use a face for oily T-zone?
- Wash your hands first
- Then wash your face with lukewarm or cold water
- Take a required amount of face wash
- Apply it to the face by massaging gently
- Target the t-zone area and rub gently
- Exfoliate for about 30-60 seconds
- Rinse off the product with water
- Pat dry using a soft towel
- Apply a light weight moisturizer after
- Apply sunscreen while going out during the day
Final thoughts
Oily T-zone and dry cheeks is a sign of combination skin. Half the face looks excessively shiny and you require a gentle cleansing skincare product that helps in balancing the skin texture to even it out.
It helps in controlling excess oil from the T-zone along with hydrating the dry cheek area. This kind of face wash would be beneficial for combination skin types. It is important to look for ingredients while buying a facewash for your skin type.