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Yogurt is a milk-based, edible ingredient created by the fermentation of specific microorganisms found in milk. It is an excellent probiotic, which means it’s good for your stomach when eaten – and what’s good for the inside is good for the outside! But did you know that you can also use yogurt topically, in the form of a face mask, to reap several skincare benefits?
Yogurt contains some wonderful creams and fats which can have a moisturizing effect on the skin, and the probiotics and lactic acid in it make it excellent for fighting skin problems like clogged pores and acne. Lactic acid acts as a chemical exfoliant, expelling dead skin cells and encouraging clear pores. In addition, a yogurt containing probiotics can help keep minor bacterial infections and acne at bay.
There are some drawbacks of using yogurt topically. Firstly, the fats present in some yogurt can be heavy and can clog your pores, and negate the exfoliating properties of the lactic acid. Also, if you use yogurt too high in lactic acid or leave it on for too long, it can trigger an acne flare. In addition, there is concern that because many dairy products come from cows that have been treated with hormones, applying products laced with hormones onto your skin could disrupt your hormone levels, and even worsen hormonal acne. Research with yogurt as a skincare ingredient is still ongoing and controversial. The best way to know which ingredients to use in the right combinations and concentrations for your particular skincare goals is to take our Skin Quiz here.
Oily skin occurs when the sebaceous glands in the pores are producing more oil, or sebum, than necessary. Sebum is natural in all skin as it keeps the skin moist and healthy. Over production of sebum can be caused by hormones, genetics or could even be a result of dry skin over-compensating by producing extra oil, in order to retain some measure of moisture.
Oily skin can also be caused by using the wrong products for your skin type. For example, if you are using overly drying soaps and astringents for your skin type, your skin may respond by over producing oil to compensate, as mentioned above. This can create an unfortunate cycle of using harsh soaps to eliminate oils, but instead exacerbating the problem.
On the other hand, overly oily makeup and products can also cause oily skin.
Ingredients that help exfoliate dead skin cells to keep pores unclogged and increase new skin cell production, such as Vitamin A/Retinol, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid, are good for treating acne as well. Benzoyl peroxide is a topical agent for fighting bacteria and unclogging pores. It is one of the longest-used medications to keep oily pores clean and healthy. Jojoba oil is also good for fighting bacteria trapped in oily skin and maintaining a moisture barrier to prevent over-production of sebum.
yogurt may be effective for oily skin, but there are many other factors that may affect whether this ingredient would work on your skin or if there are better ingredients that may work for you. Take this skin quiz to find the best ingredients for your skin and build your skincare routine.
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