We’ve all experienced oily skin at one time or another but why is my skin shiny but not oily? Often, oily skin brings about shiny skin with it. When this happens, it’s generally the result of excess sebum production, oily skin, poor diet, and an imbalance in hormones. Shiny and oily skin tend to go hand in hand.
However, if you have ever experienced shiny skin that isn’t oily, you’re not alone. While most cases of shiny skin accompany oily skin as well, there are some instances where shiny skin isn’t oily. This can be a unique skin experience, especially if you typically have matte, shine-less skin.
If you don’t like the shine and want to keep your skin smooth and even, it’s important to know the underlying causes of skin shine so you can figure out which products and skincare techniques will work best for your skin.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about why your skin is shiny but not oily, and which products and skincare routine methods can help fix it.
Why Is My Face Shiny But Not Oily?
The most noticeable place to find shiny skin is on the face. First, let’s go over the skin types. There are five categories of skin:
1. Oily Skin: Oily skin is often noticeable oily, porous, and even sometimes greasy looking. If you have oily skin, you likely use less moisturizer and more acne products to regulate sebum production.
2. Dry Skin: Dry skin is essentially the opposite of oily skin. This skin type usually requires more heavy-duty moisturizer to keep the skin healthy than other skin types. You may notice flaky, irritated areas if you have severely dry skin.
3. Normal Skin: Normal skin isn’t too dry or oily. If you have normal skin, you may experience some dryness or oily characteristics resulting from weather or diet, but typically have a regular skin type.
4. Sensitive Skin: Sensitive skin is characterized by severe sensitivity to things like diet, ingredients in products, exercise, weather, and even laundry detergent or clothing. Sensitive skin has a variety of different causes, but the best products for sensitive skin are gentle cleansers, moisturizers, and lots of SPF.
5. Combination Skin: Combination skin can be a combination of oily, dry, and sensitive skin. Some areas of your face may present as oily while others are dry. This typically has to do with your T-zone and how your skin reacts to things like weather and diet.
If your face is shiny but not oily, you likely have a dry skin type. Here’s why! Dry skin is more likely to give off a healthy glow or shine without looking oily or greasy. While some don’t like to have shiny skin, it’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Having a healthy glow to your skin can be an indicator that you’re eating nutritious foods, consuming the proper diet of vitamins and nutrients, and are getting proper exercise.
However, there are a few reasons why your face may be shiny but not oily. Start by looking at the facial cleanser you use. Some soaps can make your skin feel tight, sticky, and look shiny. This is true for face soaps as well. If your skin feels tighter, stickier, or harder to move after you use your cleanser, this may be the culprit for your shiny skin.
Why Is My Forehead Shiny But Not Oily?
If your shiny skin is mostly on your forehead area, this could be an indicator that your T-zone is producing more oils than usual. Even if your skin doesn’t necessarily look oily, sebum, or facial oils, maybe the cause of your shiny forehead.
Luckily, this is relatively easy to address. Sebum is what our bodies produce to naturally protect and moisturize our skin. If your body is overcompensating for sebum production because your skin is dry, you may simply need to use more moisturizer, or find a heavier duty moisturizer that gets the job done.
This will not only help reinforce the skin’s moisture barrier, but it will help eliminate unwanted oiliness and even prevent acne! It’s also important to use gentle products with ceramides. These are essential fatty acids for skin that help add to the skin’s moisture barrier and protect it. Ceramides are essential for promoting the skin’s moisture levels and retaining hydration.
What Causes Shiny Skin?
There are many factors that can cause shiny skin. It’s important to differentiate between good shiny skin and unwanted shiny skin! Factors influencing the two main types of shiny skin include:
Healthy Shiny Skin
Healthy, shiny skin is often caused by a healthy lifestyle and diet. In other words, if you eat a balanced diet, partake in moderate exercise, and support overall health and wellness, your skin will likely show this in a shiny, glowing appearance. This type of skin is preferred by most and is typically more glow-related than shiny.
Unhealthy Shiny Skin
Unhealthy shiny skin is often characterized by the opposite. Excess sebum production, an unhealthy diet, and general dirty skin can cause shiny-looking skin. This is typically related to oily skin as well. If your oily skin is producing a shine you don’t like, there are tips and tricks that can help. Read on to learn more.
Why Is My Skin Shiny and Dry?
Dry shiny skin is likely caused by the soaps you use or lack of moisture. Let’s start with the lack of moisture in the skin. This can sometimes present itself as shiny skin if your skin is dry enough. As skin becomes dry, it can sometimes become tight as well. Along with this, skin can look and feel shiny.
Why Is My Face So Shiny After I Wash It?
Your face may become shiny after washing because of the soap you use! If you use a cleanser that has harsh ingredients, chemicals, or drying alcohols, this may result in shiny skin afterward. It’s best to use a gentle cleanser with natural ingredients that doesn’t make your skin shiny.
Why Is My Skin Shiny After Washing?
Your skin other than your face may also become shiny due to the bar soap you use. This is common in cheaper bar soaps or soaps that use cheap chemicals, preservatives, and harsher ingredients. Aim for natural products that help promote your skin’s health and keep the shine out of your skin.
