Part II of your Her-Via Skin Series

Oily Skin : The Shiny Alchemist

Oily skin has been unfairly villainized for years. It’s not chaos, it’s chemistry. If your forehead glows brighter than your future by 3 p.m. congratulations! your sebaceous glands are working overtime to keep you young. That’s right: oily skin actually ages slower. So maybe that shine is just… enthusiasm.

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What’s really going on

Those glands under your skin are like tiny baristas, pumping out oil (called sebum) to keep everything soft and smooth. The problem? They sometimes forget when to stop. Hormones, stress, spicy food and even your period can make them overproduce. The result: pores throw parties, blackheads RSVP “yes” and your makeup slides off before lunch.

Over cleansing or skipping moisturizer doesn’t help. When you strip your skin dry, it panics and makes even more oil just like a dramatic comeback tour nobody asked for.

How to calm the chaos

The secret isn’t to fight the oil but it’s to train it. Treat your skin like a high maintenance friend with firm boundaries and gentle care.

Key ingredients to know:
• Niacinamide — basically a therapist for your pores. Helps them chill out and look smaller.
• Salicylic Acid — the cleanup crew that clears out clogs and stops breakouts before they RSVP.
• Green Tea & Zinc — antioxidants that say “we’ve got this” when your skin starts drama.
• Centella Asiatica (Cica) — the ultimate peacemaker, calming redness and irritation.

Avoid alcohol based toners, overly foamy cleansers or anything that claims to make your face “squeaky clean.” Squeaky skin is secretly crying for help.

Your daily ritual (a.k.a. skincare, not witchcraft)

Morning

1. Gentle gel cleanser — no foamy drama.
2. Toner or essence with niacinamide or green tea.
3. Lightweight moisturizer like gel textures rule here.
4. SPF (yes, even if it’s cloudy, oil doesn’t protect you from UV, babe).

Evening

1. Double cleanse (micellar or balm + mild cleanser).
2. Salicylic or niacinamide serum.
3. A calm moisturizer which is not rich, not greasy, just right.

If you want that natural glow without looking like a disco ball, aim for balance and not punishment.

Her-Via Picks

Korean essentials

• COSRX The Niacinamide 15 Serum — strong, smart and non-sticky.
• Isntree Green Tea Fresh Toner — like an iced latte for your skin.
• Beauty of Joseon Matte Sun Stick — protection that fits in your purse and never ruins makeup.

International faves

• The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% — cheap, effective and social-media famous for a reason.
• Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant — legendary for keeping pores clean.
• La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat Moisturizer — smooth finish without the grease.

When oil meets age

• Teens & 20s — ride the glow, just don’t overdo it. Gentle cleansers and light hydration are enough.
• 30s & 40s — hormones chill a bit but stress enters the chat, antioxidants help.
• 50+ — oil slows down, so switch to soothing hydration instead of harsh mattifiers.

Reflection

Oily skin is not a curse, it’s a lifelong dewy filter. You don’t need to erase the shine. You just need to curate it. Treat your glow like gold: refine it, don’t reject it. After all, even alchemists knew that a little shine meant transformation.

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🌸 ← Back to Introduction — The Skin You’re In

💧 Previous : Dry Skin — The Thirsty Poet

🌤 Next : Combination Skin — The Diplomat

🕊 Read : Sensitive Skin — The Gentle Soul

☕ Explore : Normal Skin — The Balanced Muse

🌸 Finale : The Age Chapters — When Your Skin Writes Its Own Plot Twist