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Is Sebum Good or Bad for Your Skin?
Sebum is the oily substance your sebaceous glands produce to keep your skin supple, hydrated and protected. Yet it has a bad...
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What helps oily skin?
A gentle, consistent routine that brings your sebum back into balance, instead of stripping your skin. Cleanse only in the evening with a mild cleanser, avoid mineral oil and harsh foaming agents such as SLS, and finish with a light, cold-pressed plant oil. Because it resembles human sebum by around 98%, your skin registers that enough oil is present and calms its own overproduction.
Oily skin is one of the most common skin concerns, and one of the most misunderstood. It usually starts with an overactive sebum production. From puberty onward our growth hormone works overtime to help the body mature, and that same hormone stimulates every function in the body, including the sebaceous glands. The skin begins to shine. What many people don't realise is that conventional skincare often makes it worse: mineral oil seals the skin completely, so sebum builds up in and on the surface, while harsh foaming agents like SLS (sodium laureth sulfate) strip the skin bare. It feels clean, but it is misleading, the skin responds by producing even more sebum, and its natural microbiome, its built-in protection, is damaged. At Abloom we believe the answer is not to fight your skin, but to bring it back into balance with pure, plant-based care.
What causes oily skin
Oily skin rarely appears out of nowhere. It is the result of sebaceous glands producing more sebum than the skin needs, and a few clear factors drive it:
- Hormones. Sebum production rises sharply in puberty, when growth hormone is most active, and it stays active in adulthood too.
- Harsh cleansing. Products with SLS and other sulfates strip the skin, which then rebounds with even more oil to protect itself.
- Mineral oil. This occlusive ingredient seals the skin, trapping sebum in the pores and giving a shiny, greasy look.
- A disrupted microbiome. Over-cleansing damages the skin's natural barrier, letting less friendly bacteria take over.
Please note: not all oily skin is the same. Skin types that originate from very warm climates naturally produce more sebum, and for good reason, sebum holds moisture beautifully, which the skin needs when it loses water in the heat. With the right care, these skin types can find a healthy sebum balance too. The goal is always balance, never stripping the skin.
Why oily skin still needs nourishment
It sounds contradictory: more oil on already oily skin? But the principle is simple, oil cuts oil. A natural, cold-pressed plant oil resembles human sebum by around 98%. When you apply it, the skin receives the signal that enough sebum is present and calms its own overproduction. Stripping the skin does the opposite: it panics and produces more.
Nourishing oily skin with the right antioxidants and light plant oils protects the barrier, supports the microbiome and, over time, helps the skin regulate itself, less shine, fewer clogged pores and a calmer complexion.
This is the oil to reach for when your skin feels dry, rough or dull. A few drops are enough to make it feel soft and cared for again. The oil absorbs quickly and leaves a natural glow, not a shiny layer. It works just as well all over the face as it does on dry patches. You can also mix a drop into your cream for extra nourishment.
The routine for oily skin
Four simple habits, tailored to what oily skin really needs.
Tip 1: Cleanse only in the evening
Even a very gentle cleanser washes away more sebum than water alone. The light sweat of the night rinses off perfectly with water, water is cleansing in itself. Cleanse twice a day and the skin has to 'refat', producing even more oil, exactly what we want to avoid. In the evening, use the Purifying Cleanser, gentle yet effective, with minimal impact on your sebum layer. If your skin is not excessively oily, you can use it in the morning too.
Tip 2: Always avoid mineral oil
This occlusive ingredient seals the skin completely. Sebum builds up in the pores and gives a shiny, greasy look. Check your concealer and foundation for it as well.
Tip 3: Cut back on animal dairy
The milk of cows, sheep and goats also contains growth hormone, exactly what we already have too much of. Growth hormone stays active in adults, so look for plant-based alternatives.
Tip 4: Use a natural oil on the skin
It sounds contradictory, but a natural oil calms an excess sebum production. Because it resembles human sebum by around 98%, the skin registers that enough oil is present. Choose natural, cold-pressed and organic for the highest quality. Miracle Oil is an exquisite blend of the finest, healthiest oils that hydrates and brings excess sebum back into balance.
Shop the routine for oily skin
Try all four steps in mini sizes first, or choose your products from the full collection.
Purifying Cleanser (10 ml), Hydrating Toner (10 ml), Miracle Oil (10 ml) and Enzyme Peeling (7 g). For 10 to 14 days.
free from microplastics, toxins, chemicals or additives •
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Products for oily skin
Step 4 · Oil
Step 1 · Cleanser
Step 2 · Lotion
Organic Hydrating Toner
Gives thirsty skin a moisture boost and takes the tightness away.
from €18,50
Step 2 · Lotion
Organic Supreme Skin Elixir
Our most concentrated serum, for visibly smoother and firmer skin.
30ml30 active natural ingredients
€84,00
Mask · Peeling
Organic Enzyme Peeling
Refines and brightens your skin with natural enzymes.
50gr13 active natural ingredients
€56,00
Box
Oily Skin Regimen Box
Two weeks of the balancing routine, in mini sizes.
Purifying Cleanser (10ml), Hydrating Toner (10ml), Miracle Oil (10ml) and Enzyme Peeling (7gr)
€39,00
Nutrition for balanced skin
Your skin is the only organ you can nourish from both the inside and the outside. For oily skin, a few dietary shifts really help.
Eat more: Oily fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines) or algae oil, rich in omega 3. Vegetables and fruit full of antioxidants (berries, peppers, kale). Zinc-rich foods (pumpkin seeds, legumes) that support clearer skin. Water and herbal tea for hydration from within.
Limit or avoid: Animal dairy, which carries growth hormone. Foods high in sugar and fast carbohydrates, which can spike sebum production. Excess omega 6 oils (sunflower, corn and soybean oil) and fried food.
Oily skin care
Frequently Asked Questions
All about oily skin
Choose mild, plant-based care that does not strip the skin. The Purifying Cleanser removes dirt and excess sebum without dehydrating the skin, the Hydrating Toner restores moisture, and a few drops of Miracle Oil help bring sebum back into balance. Once a week, the Enzyme Peeling gently clears the pores. You will find them all in our collection for oily skin.
Keep it simple. Cleanse with the Purifying Cleanser in the evening, in the morning rinsing with water is enough. Then press the Hydrating Toner into the skin and finish with a few drops of Miracle Oil. Use the Enzyme Peeling once a week. Want to try the full routine first? The Oily Skin Regimen Box contains all four steps in mini sizes, for 10 to 14 days.
No. Cleansing twice a day removes too much sebum, and the skin reacts by producing even more. Cleanse only in the evening with a gentle cleanser, and simply rinse with water in the morning, water is cleansing in itself.
Yes. It sounds contradictory, but oil cuts oil. A cold-pressed plant oil resembles human sebum by around 98%, so the skin registers that enough oil is present and calms its own overproduction. Miracle Oil is light, absorbs well and helps balance excess sebum.
No. Sebum is your skin's natural protective layer: it holds moisture, protects the skin barrier and keeps your skin supple. It only becomes a problem when there is too much or too little, so the goal is balance, not washing it away. Read more in our blog about sebum.