Understanding the different areas of your face and their specific needs is key to a skincare routine that works well. The T-zone is one area you’ve likely heard of and worried about. It’s commonly associated with excess oils, spots, and blackheads – here we’ll explore why the T-zone can be so problem-prone and what skincare works best for dealing with it.
What is the T-Zone?
The T-zone is the central bit of your face, made up of your forehead, nose, and chin – the features form a ‘T’ on your face, hence the name. It’s home to a higher density of sebaceous (oil-producing) glands compared to the rest of your face, so if you have oily skin, it’s likely this will be a problem area for you.
Skincare For an Oily T-Zone
If you do find your T-zone is excessively oily, prone to breakouts, or home to enlarged pores and blackheads, there are certain skincare adjustments you can make to help manage it. Oily T-zone? You’ll want to add oil-controlling products into your routine. Some of our favourite ingredients to help tackle an oily T-zone include salicylic acid (great for getting rid of excess oil and unclogging pores), niacinamide (helps regulate sebum production and reduce redness), and hyaluronic acid (great for hydrating the skin without contributing to excess oil). If you’re looking for some great skincare products to help manage or get rid of an oily T-zone, we’ve listed some of our faves below.
Look for gentle cleansers that can help control excessive oil, without overly stripping your skin. We love the By BEAUTY BAY 1% Salicylic Acid + Zinc PCA Cleansing Gel, it will work to unclog pores and improve texture, without being too harsh on the skin.
Don’t be afraid of oil cleansers if you have an oily t-zone. Using an oil-based cleanser like the Bioderma Sensibio Cleansing Oil can actually help break down oil further. If you wear makeup, we especially recommend using an oil cleanser in your routine and trying out double cleansing, it’ll help clear out pores around your t-zone and prevent a build up of makeup and excess oil from occurring.
Use a balancing and clarifying toner after cleansing to help further refine your T-zone pores and help regulate oil production. The COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Toner is great for this, and is gentle enough for daily use.
It might seem like a good idea in theory but stripping your skin of all moisture isn’t the way to control an oily T-zone. Instead, opt for lightweight and oil-free moisturisers like the Bubble Skincare Level Up Balancing Gel Moisturiser. This gel moisturiser is perfect for oily-combination skin, providing needed hydration without adding more excess oil.
Clay is another great ingredient to use if you want to control oil and breakouts on your T-zone. Clays absorb excess oils and impurities from your skin, detoxifying pores and mattifying your appearance – ideal for a problem T-zone. Our favourite way to use clay in a skincare routine targeting a problem T-zone is by using a clay face mask a couple of times a week. The Zitsticka Pore Vac mask is perfect for this – bentonite and kaolin clays will clear out your pores leaving you with smooth and nourished skin.
Incorporating targeted treatments to tackle spots and blackheads is another must when trying to manage an oily T-zone. For a spot treatment, we love the Cerave Blemish Control Gel, it’s a non-greasy formula that can be applied daily to help keep spots at bay.
For targeting blackheads that have a knack for making a home of your T-zone, pop the Starface Lift Off Pore Strip over a congested area, and let it work its magic. These non-irritating strips will instantly unclog your pores.
There you have our guide to the T-zone. For more help on dealing with other problem areas, check out our face mapping guide too!
