Combining Ingredients for Oily Skin Control

Yes, it is often effective to use more than one ingredient to control skin oiliness, as sebum production is influenced by multiple factors and biological pathways. Combining ingredients that target different mechanisms can provide a more comprehensive solution.

Here are some types of ingredients and examples that work well together to manage oily skin:

• Ingredients that reduce sebum production: These work by regulating the activity of the sebaceous glands.

  • Example: Sebum-Reg™ (Capryloyl Glycine) works by inhibiting the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme, which is involved in oil production.

• Ingredients that control acne-causing bacteria: Oily skin is often associated with acne due to the proliferation of P. acnes bacteria. Controlling these bacteria can help.

  • Example: Pep®-Acne (Oligopeptide-10) is an antimicrobial peptide that targets acne bacteria.
  • Example: BioSulphur™ EQ (Water Soluble Sulfur) has antibacterial properties and helps reduce oiliness.
  • Example: Prebio-care (Skin Prebiotic) helps balance the skin's natural flora, making it harder for harmful bacteria like P. acnes to grow.

• Ingredients that help cleanse/remove excess sebum: These are particularly useful in cleansing products.

  • Example: Sebum-Off (Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate) is a surfactant that effectively dissolves and washes away sebum.

• Ingredients that absorb excess surface oil: These help provide an immediate mattifying effect.

  • Example: Powders like Silica (e.g., UltraBlur™, although its description notes it's less for absorption than blurring, other forms of Silica or similar powders are effective oil absorbers) can absorb oil on the skin surface.

How to combine them:

You can combine ingredients from different categories in a single formulation or use different products in your routine that contain these ingredients.

• A serum or cream could combine Sebum-Reg™ (production control) with Prebio-care or Pep®-Acne (bacterial control).
• A cleanser could utilize Sebum-Off to effectively remove oil.
• A finishing product or primer might contain oil-absorbing powders like Silica to mattify the skin.
• BioSulphur™ EQ could be included in masks or spot treatments for its oil-reducing and antibacterial effects.

By targeting the reduction of oil production, controlling bacteria, and managing surface oil, a combination of ingredients can provide a more effective approach to controlling skin oiliness than relying on a single ingredient.