“If the skin has adequate hydration and moisture, it will produce less sebum. In a nutshell, better hydration equals less oily skin.”

If you have oily or acne-prone skin, you might have the presumption that you should avoid anything oily – whether it’s food or skincare products. However, while it may be true of the former, using the right face oils can in fact help combat your oily skin problems.

But before we jump into that, it’s important to realise that oily skin isn’t really the main problem. In most cases of oily skin, the underlying issue is actually dehydrated skin, which in turn may be caused by – ironically – an oil deficiency under the skin’s surface. This sends signals to your sebum glands to overproduce sebum (oil) in order to make up for the lack of hydration.

“What this means is that if the skin has adequate hydration and moisture, it will produce less sebum. In a nutshell, better hydration equals less oily skin,” says Syahidah Abd Rahman, Senior Training Manager for Bobbi Brown Cosmetics (Malaysia).

This is where face oils enter the picture, since they contain the essential ingredients to balance our skin’s hydration and moisture levels.

Not all face oils are made equal

Though the Bobbi Brown Extra Face Oil is created for normal to dry skin types, those with oily skin can incorporate it into their nighttime skincare routine to help moisturise and hydrate the skin while sleeping.

“Its main ingredients are olive, sweet almond and jojoba oil – all emollients that help to moisturize, condition and soften the skin,” Syahidah tells. “It also contains Vitamin E, an anti-oxidant which will help protect the skin against free radicals and environmental damage.”

The concentrated formula provides intensive moisture that not only helps dry and flaky skin types, but also absorbs deep into the skin to significantly improve hydration.

Made with a blend of essential oils including Lavender, Neroli, Patchouli and Sandalwood, the Extra Face Oil produces a soothing scent to calm the senses – perfect before bed!

How to use face oils

For oily skin users, it’s best to use a face oil after your daily night cleansing to allow it to work its way into your skin over time.

“Apply a generous amount of the Bobbi Brown Extra Face Oil, wait for 5 minutes to allow it to really soak into the skin, then give it a wipe with a cotton pad soaked with the Bobbi Brown Hydrating Face Tonic to remove dead skin cells gently and effectively,” Syahidah advises.

“You can also layer it with your moisturizer for an added moisture boost or pat it over your foundation for an extra glow,” she adds.