S.O.S Serum!

As with many things that improve with age, unfortunately one downside that does not is the skin. Skin is definitely not one of the things that improve with age and we all dread it, men and women. What more if you are ‘blessed’ with oily skin. Double bad whammy! It just doesn’t stop does it? The skin, the face, these are lifelong investments that need buckets of care and attention. One slip up and voila, things can happen – imperfections, pigmentation, breakouts, blemished, acne, the list goes on. Lucky for us, there are a myriad of products that we can use to help slow down the signs of these skin concerns and better the skin’s health as time passes. Oily skin is very common. Although oily skin may be a blessing in disguise, where it is resilient and well protected from signs of aging and rarely suffers from sensitivity, but really, that is the case only if it isn’t over excessive. The problem occurs when it is over produced. Despite all the benefits of an oily skin type, the excess of natural sebum can make you want to fight against it. This is a tactic to avoid. Instead, you should find a middle ground, and serums can help you do just that. If you have oily skin and don't already use a serum, then your skin is missing out on great benefits. Many actives in serums are perfect for curtailing the symptoms of oily skin. Oily skin can be tough, but not when you've got a great serum in your stash. Believe it or not, serums aren't just for turbocharging your line-fighting regimen. With the right ingredients and texture, this beauty product can do wonders in helping to rebalance oily and spot-prone skin. A lightweight serum can easily be the answer to keeping your skin properly hydrated while encouraging lower sebum production. 

Oily skin is caused by excess oil produced within the pores. Fluctuating hormones can result in increased androgen levels. These androgens are considered one of the top oily skin causes. Oily skin happens when the sebaceous glands in the skin make too much sebum. Sebum is the waxy, oily substance that protects and hydrates the skin. Sebum is vital for keeping the skin healthy. However, too much sebum can lead to oily skin, blackheads, clogged pores, and acne. Oily skin can even feel greasy within hours of cleansing. Breakouts are also more likely because the sebum mixes with dead skin cells and gets stuck in your pores.

Serum, in fact is very important in your skincare routine. A face serum is not a moisturiser, like a lotion or cream, rather, they are highly concentrated formulations that are designed to sink into the skin quickly, and delivering an intensive dose of ingredients that can address common skin complaints. Face serums do not necessarily replace moisturiser, but can boost the hydrating effects of the moisturiser. Having said that, a serum is usually applied to skin after cleansing but before moisturising with the intent to deliver a potent shot of ingredients directly into the skin. Face serums are lightweight lipid-soluble gel based liquids concocted with more potent ingredients that penetrate deeper into the skin instead of laying on the surface. Serums include active ingredients that bring antioxidants to the skin and restore cell growth. They also act as a brightening treatment, an anti-aging prevention and can help with skin complaints such as dry or oily skin. However, one of the most striking benefits of face serums is their ability to help lock moisture into the skin. These qualities that differentiate serums from moisturisers make serums perfect for oily skin. These benefits are an exact match to the needs of oily skin.

It is however, important to find the right formula to suit your skin type, in this case oily skin. As mentioned, the power of serums lies in the fact that they're loaded with higher concentrations of damage-repairing ingredients and contain more potent combinations of skin-healing molecules that conventional creams and lotions just don't have room for. Because they are so power-packed, it is crucial to find the right fit for your skin to really reap the benefits.

A light, water-based version is best for oily or acne-prone skin, as too many rich plant oils can leave you feeling greasy and lead to clogging. Oily skin is often in need of moisture deep down to help regulate the skin's production of natural oils called sebum, so look for effective hydrators like hyaluronic acid and glycerine, plus vitamins A, C, and E.

Putting it into practice

S.O.S Oil Control Balancing Serum

30ml | For Acne-Prone, Oily and Shiny Skin Types

If you struggle with the daily annoyance of a face that resembles an oil slick, you know how difficult it is to get oily skin under control hence choosing the right product is important to combat this skin type. The two product categories that you should absolutely have in your routine if you have oily skin are an acid exfoliator and a lightweight hydrating serum because all skin needs hydration, but oily skin doesn't need the extra emollients in a thick moisturiser. Serums are great for oily skin because they are lightweight preparations. Many serums are water-based rather than oil-based, and so are a better match for skin that's already oily.

The S.O.S Oil Control Balancing Serum is a go-to for most people with oily skin type. This lightweight yet potent bottle of serum promises no breakouts and shine. It works against blemishes, regulates oil production and shine and reduces the appearance of spots and breakouts. 

Oily skin becomes maddening when too much oil is produced. This causes pores to become enlarged as they’re stretched beyond capacity to handle the amounts of oil being generated. It gets worse as the pore lining thickens, which blocks oil from getting to skin’s surface, resulting in blackheads, pimples and white bumps. 

Using the S.O.S Oil Control Balancing Serum can tighten and visibly reduces pores, soothes and calms skin leaving skin with a smooth matte finish and a perfectly balanced, clear and calm complexion. Using a serum daily is absolutely a great idea for people with oily skin. These serums can help keep skin on the face free of bacteria, cleansed, and hydrated, which can lead to the healthiest skin you’ve had in your life.

Application

Everyone's skin is different, but on average, you should give it about seven weeks to see how your skin responds to a new serum routine. Depending on the serum and the current state of your skin, you might even see initial results. Sounds promising right? Generally, you should use a serum all over your face and neck twice daily, once in the morning and then again in the evening, before applying your moisturiser if you want to get the most bang for your buck. Massage the serum in a gentle, upward circular motion until completely absorbed and be sure to avoid contact with the delicate eye area. We would recommend using the S.O.S Oil Control Balancing Serum after cleansing with the S.O.S Oil Control Clarifying Wash. The S.O.S Oil Control Clarifying Wash is a gentle cleanser that reduces breakouts and promotes clear, healthy skin. This cleanser works to deeply cleanse and remove pore-clogging grime and irritants while drawing out impurities and controlling oil production and shine. Leaving skin feeling clear, smooth and fresh, pores tightened and reduced, while preventing breakouts. For optimal results, follow with the S.O.S Oil Control Mattifying Lotion, an ultimate shine stopper moisturiser suited for oily skin. When coupled together, serums and moisturisers act as the perfect blend that improve skin exquisitely. This great ‘tag team’ allows those much needed nutrients to soak deep into the skin layers through the use of serums, while the moisturiser hydrate the outer layers of the skin.

Ingredients

Just like the rest of the products in the S.O.S Oil Control range, the S.O.S Oil Control Balancing Serum contains CM-Glucan, a water-soluble glucan derivative, with a combined protective action to repair, regenerate, preserve and heal, has the ability to stimulate the skin’s own defense mechanism. CM-Glucan enhances the skin’s resistance to UVA induced oxidative stress as well as other environmental hazards. It enhances the turnover of cell renewal and improves the skin’s barrier while calming and reducing irritations and is therefore ideal for sensitive skin. It also contains Pore Refining Active, a rich blend of soy phospholipids formulated from a Greek medicinal resin. Historically sought after for its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, it has been used for generations in skincare for its purifying and astringent effects. This unique pore refining active diminishes the appearance of dilated pores and evens the skin grain by tightening the pores due to its astringent effect while purifying the skin and unblocking pores due to its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory effects. The Nettle Extract presents antiseptic and sebo-regulating properties. Moreover, it is cited to be the botanical ingredient with the highest Vitamin E content and contains anti-inflammatory, astringent, bactericidal, healing and stimulating properties. Meanwhile, the Mattifying Agent works to absorb excess sebum and acts like a veil that gives skin a perfectly matte complexion all day.