Oily skin is usually associated with summertime and warmer weather, and if this is your skin type, you probably feel relieved when colder weather sets in…No more stickiness, oily feel, and fewer  breakouts.  However, before you say no to moisturizers, it’s important to understand that  choosing the right non-oily, non-comedogenic, lightweight serum/moisturizer is actually a great opportunity for balancing kapha skin during the colder vata season. Here we’ll break down the best winter skin care ingredients for oily and combination skin.

Like most people with oily skin, there’s a pretty good possibility that you skip moisturizing during the winter (or vata) season. Whereas in reality, the cold winds and dry indoor heat sources can be quite damaging for oily (kapha) or combination skin. Neglecting out on one of the basics of skin care can cause acne breakouts and your skin may also be damaged from exposure to environmental toxins and UV rays.  People with combination skin tend to develop dry patches, with oiliness and breakouts in the T-zone.

With the correct Ayurvedic Skin Active ingredients, winter season is a great time to heal and repair oily skin, and the primary components are  ‘gentle cleansing’ and ‘lightweight moisturization’. Here are 6 of the best winter skin care ingredients that help balance oily and combination skin during colder weather.

Best Ingredients for Oily Skin in Winter

1. Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid provides gentle moisturization  when it comes to oily skin.  HLA won’t irritate skin or clog pores that cause breakouts. It’s lightweight and oil-free, and keeps the skin clean and refreshed and is suitable for oily skin year round.  HLA with Vitamin C helps brighten skin and get rid of dullness.

2. Honey

Natural raw manuka honey contains antioxidants that rebalance the skin and prevent bacterial proliferation. Its hydrating action nourishes and adds moisture to the skin without making it feel greasy. When used in the form of an exfoliation mask, honey works as a natural absorbent that removes excess oil, dirt and impurities from the pores.

3. Hemp seed Oil

Out of all the popular facial oils for oily skin, hemp seed oil is one of the most promising due to it’s non-comedogenic properties, (that is, it won’t block pores). Antioxidants in hemp seed oil also kill bacteria and balances the skin.

Editor’s Pro Tip: There is a popular a belief that if you have oily skin, you can stave off wrinkled skin longer than other skin types. While it’s true that the thicker dermis and overactive sebaceous glands keep oily skin more hydrated and you may have fewer lines overall, but it doesn’t completely wards off all the signs of aging. Your skin will still be prone to dullness, hyperpigmentation and crow’s feet.

To prevent this, a structured anti-aging treatment is essential for oily skin. While there are several options for dry or sensitive skin, serious serum treatments for oily skin are hard to find. Our BioScience Peptide Complex is lightweight, non-comedogenic formula that works miracles on oily skin. Loaded with natural vitamins and non-comedogenic bioactives that fight hyperpigmentation, firm dull skin, heal acne scars and evens your complexion without synthetic ingredients, harsh retinols or chemical acids.

4. Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe Vera gel is a natural astringent whose moisturizing properties hydrate the skin without making it oilier. It absorbs excess oil, dirt and impurities, leaving your skin clean and brightened. The glycol-proteins in Aloe Vera have powerful antibacterial properties which are effective in treating acne pimples.

5. Jojoba Oil

Jojoba oil is a natural humectant and works as a great moisturizer for both oily and combination skin. Topical application of Jojoba oil in the morning and evening helps regulate oil production by fooling the skin that it has produced enough. While providing all the hydration that the skin needs, Jojoba oil also clears acne, promotes collagen synthesis and  fades post blemish redness.

6. Vitamin C

Skin formulas with 10-25% of Vitamin C content give a powerful antioxidant shot to oily and acne-prone skin, providing the skin with adequate moisturization, tightening pores and boosting collagen production to slow the signs of skin aging. Vitamin C also brightens  the complexion and  provides a natural dewy look to the skin.

Read more: ‘When Less is More…How a Minimal Regimen Can Benefit your Skin’