

“A proper routine always includes using a facial moisturizer after cleansing to keep the skin healthy.” Regardless of whether your skin is shiny, dry, or oily, everyone should have a daily cleansing routine for their face, says Charles. Charles, MD, a dermatologist in Hinsdale, Illinois. Your body may trigger an overproduction of oil to try to compensate, explains Alix J. Say you wash your face too often and don’t moisturize. “When our skin lacks moisture, it can feel tight and itchy but look oily,” says Chimento. Harsh products that strip the skin of natural oils can also contribute to the problem. Over-exfoliating, for example, can alter your skin’s natural barrier function, leading to dehydration and tighter-feeling skin, says Chimento. One surprising potential factor is dry skin.

There are a few different causes of shiny skin.įor one, if you have more sebaceous glands, you might simply have oilier skin than someone who has fewer of these oil-producing glands. “However, if your face gets extremely oil or shiny by noon, chances are you have a slight problem with sebum production.”

“It is perfectly healthy and normal for the skin to have some shine - lack of shine or glow can be a sign of poor diet, insufficient sleep, and dehydration,” says Chimento. Of course, having shiny skin doesn’t necessarily mean that your skin isn’t healthy. Since there’s little depth to the skin, oil can appear as a film on the surface, says Stacy Chimento, MD, a board certified dermatologist at Riverchase Dermatology in Miami, Florida. Ceramides also help your skin regulate moisture levels. This barrier is meant to defend against environmental stresses like sun or pollution. Often appearing around hair follicles, sebaceous glands secrete sebum, an oily substance packed with ceramides.Įssentially, ceramides are fatty acids that help form your skin’s protective barrier.

In the world of dermatology, the term “shiny” refers to skin that’s oily or wet, says Hooman Khorasani, MD, chief emeritus of the division of dermatologic and cosmetic surgery at the Mount Sinai Health System in New York.
