When your skin produces excess sebum (or oil), your forehead and other parts of your face can appear shiny or oily. While skin may produce excess oil for a variety of reasons, skin type and genetics are two key causes of oily skin. Contrary to popular belief, diet has little – if anything – to do with excess oil production. However, damage from UV rays, harsh exfoliants and other irritants can all stimulate skin to produce excess sebum.

Since you cannot change your skin type, help prevent excess shine by starting a skincare routine for oily skin. In addition to proper skincare, avoid excessively touching your face which can transfer dirt and impurities to skin as well as cause skin to produce more oil. Taking care of your hair is also an important step in helping prevent an oily forehead – especially if you have bangs. In the same way that certain skincare formulas may cause skin to feel oily or greasy, hair products that may come in contact with your forehead can also cause skin to look extra oily.

While oily skin types experience excess oil and shine all over, many people have an oily forehead or nose but experience drier skin in other areas. This skin type, known as combination skin tends to have oily patches in the t-zone (forehead, nose and chin), but is drier in other areas like the cheeks and jawline. Combination skin types may also notice that the center of their forehead is oilier while the outer areas feel a bit drier. If you have combination skin, it is essential to find skincare formulas that can target excess oil without over-drying your skin. Use a routine for combination skin to help keep skin balanced and shine-free.

When skin produces excess sebum, impurities like dirt and debris can often become trapped within the pore. These clogged pores can turn into blackheads, whiteheads and acne blemishes. While excess oil production does not necessarily mean your skin will develop acne, oily skin types are often blemish-prone and need a routine that can target shine and help reduce oil.

In caring for oily skin, there is a delicate balance between removing enough excess sebum to reduce visible oil and shine without causing skin to become dehydrated. Many oily skin types are tempted to use harsh skincare formulas to try to reduce oil or combat blemishes. While these products may effectively remove or reduce sebum, they may also remove oils that are beneficial to skin. Damage to the skin barrier can actually stimulate skin to produce more oil as a defense mechanism. The following steps can help reduce oil while respecting skin’s barrier:

• Cleanse with an exfoliating scrub or cleanser for oily skin
• Tone with an astringent formula that can help visibly diminish excess oil
• Moisturize with a non-comedogenic formula that can help keep oily skin balanced without clogging pores
• Mask several times a week with a clay mask, applying to the forehead or all over to help absorb excess sebum and detoxify skin
• Wash hair regularly and be careful to not use hair products that may cause excess oil on your forehead

Even if your forehead seems shiny, a daily moisturizer is a must-have for every skin type. Depriving skin of moisture can cause it to become dry or dehydrated which can cause it to produce even more oil. Look for a lightweight, non-comedogenic gel moisturizer for oily skin to help balance and refresh skin.

Men’s skin tends to be oilier than women’s skin and may need a more consistent routine of products for oily skin^I. If you have oily skin, use a cleanser or exfoliating scrub for men to help slough away excess oil and dirt. Follow with an astringent toner and a lightweight anti-shine moisturizer. To refresh on the go, spritz on a spray toner to help eliminate excess oil throughout the day.