Strolling in Burnaby, the sunlight streaming through the glass facades brings warmth, but also quietly activates the sebaceous glands on countless faces. Step indoors, and the air conditioning makes your skin feel tight instantly—this hot-and-cold rollercoaster is the daily nightmare for oily skin in summer. When your forehead is shiny enough to reflect light and your foundation melts away by noon, the battle against the “summer oil field” has quietly begun.
At R·MEDY Aesthetics Centre, we believe: True oil control isn’t about stripping, but about restoring balance. Instead of damaging your skin barrier with harsh cleansing, we combine technology with natural wisdom to help your skin return to its natural state of oil-water balance.
Why Does Your Skin Become an “Oil Field” in Summer?
1.1 Burnaby’s Climate Code
Burnaby’s summer is like a friend with a mercurial personality—sunny one moment, drizzly the next. This unpredictable weather is a prime culprit behind increased oil production. The high humidity outdoors (sometimes over 60%) excites sebaceous glands, while stepping into heavily air-conditioned rooms, where humidity can plummet to around 20%, makes skin feel threatened, triggering it to produce even more oil in “self-defense.”
Don’t forget the “invisible killer” around us: UV rays. Even on cloudy days, the UV index can reach levels 3-4. These rays not only stimulate oil oxidation but also enlarge pores. Add traffic particles from main arteries like Central Broadway mixing with sebum, and it’s like forming “concrete glue” inside your pores, worsening clogging.
1.2 Decoding the Sebaceous Gland Scientifically
Sebaceous glands are actually our skin’s natural protection factories, producing the right amount of oil to maintain skin health. But when bombarded by multiple stimuli like heat, humidity changes, and UV rays, this factory goes into overdrive. The result: shiny skin, enlarged pores, and even inflammation and breakouts. Understanding this is key—our goal isn’t to shut down the factory, but to help it get back to a normal production schedule.
Summer Oil Control Solutions
At R·MEDY, we understand the struggles of oily skin, which is why we offer a range of professional treatments. They operate like a well-trained elite team, each with a specific role, working together to help you reclaim sovereignty over your skin’s oil-water balance.
2.1 The Oil-Control Triple Threat
| Treatment | How It Works | Best For | Course Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBL (BroadBand Light) | AI-powered light technology targets pigments & stimulates collagen | Sun spots + enlarged pores | Series of 3, 2 weeks apart |
| Golden Micro-needling RF | Microneedles + radiofrequency work together | Acne scars + oily skin types | Strict sun protection essential post-treatment |
| HydraFacial | Vortex-powered cleansing + serum infusion | Instant cleansing + hydration | Monthly maintenance |
✨ BBL (BroadBand Light)
Imagine a treatment that acts like a precise sniper, locking onto and solving multiple skin issues—that’s our BBL Photofacial. It uses advanced light energy technology. An AI system automatically identifies targets like pigment and hemoglobin in the skin, releasing specific wavelengths of light that are gently absorbed. The light energy converts to heat, precisely targeting overactive sebaceous glands to inhibit secretion, while simultaneously stimulating collagen regeneration to refine pores and improve skin texture. The process is comfortable, requires no downtime (often called a “lunchtime procedure”), allowing you to discreetly enhance your appearance during a break.
✨ Golden Micro-needling RF
For oily skin accompanied by enlarged pores and acne scars, Golden Micro-needling is the epitome of “targeted repair.” It uses gold-plated microneedles, finer than a strand of hair, to deliver radiofrequency energy precisely to target tissues at different depths. The micro-channels created not only prompt the skin to initiate its own healing mechanism, producing abundant new collagen, but also allow paired oil-control and repair serums to work directly in the deeper layers of the skin. This tackles oil secretion at the source and improves pore issues, achieving deep revitalization and reconstruction of the skin.
✨ HydraFacial
The HydraFacial is the pinnacle of daily deep cleansing and maintenance. It uses unique Vortex-Fusion technology, akin to giving your pores a detailed “deep clean.” Through integrated steps of “cleanse, exfoliate, extract, hydrate, protect,” it painlessly and gently suctions away blackheads, whiteheads, excess oil, and impurities, while infusing the skin with nutrient-rich serums to replenish moisture and nutrients. It instantly improves shine and rough texture, restoring a fresh, refined complexion. It’s the ideal choice for maintaining daily skin cleanliness and oil-water balance, perfect for regular upkeep.
2.2 Exclusive ‘3-Phase Oil Management’ Technology
This is one of R·MEDY’s signature programs, custom-tailored for oily skin:
- Instant Absorption: First, professional products containing ingredients like marine polysaccharides quickly absorb excess surface oil for an immediate matte finish.
- Long-Term Regulation: Professional devices or products are used to infuse ingredients like zinc ions into the skin, inhibiting the activity of the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme responsible for excess sebum production at the root cause.
- Barrier Repair: The final, crucial step involves replenishing the skin with lipid components like ceramides to repair the damaged skin barrier, thereby reducing “compensatory oiliness” triggered by barrier damage.
The Golden Rules of Post-Treatment Summer Care
Professional treatments need scientific at-home care to consolidate and prolong the results. At R·MEDY, we not only provide treatments but also develop detailed post-care plans for you.
3.1 The New Standard of Sun Protection
For oily skin, especially after treatments when skin might be more sensitive, sun protection is paramount.
- Choose Physical Sunscreen: Opt for physical (mineral) sunscreens containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide (SPF 30-50+). These ingredients are generally gentler, less irritating, and zinc oxide can also help absorb oil and soothe the skin.
- Reapplication: Besides applying the correct amount (about a coin-sized dollop for the face), on oily summer days, you can gently blot away excess oil before reapplying. Use a mineral powder or setting spray with SPF for touch-ups to avoid messing up your makeup or adding heaviness.
- Evening Repair: Skin sustains subtle light damage after sun exposure. Use nighttime skincare products containing antioxidants and repairing ingredients like green tea extract, Vitamin C, or niacinamide.
3.2 At-Home Care Regimen
In daily care, gentle cleansing and hydration are crucial.
- Cleansing: Choose gentle products like amino acid-based cleansers. Avoid overly harsh soap-based cleansers that can strip the skin’s natural oils, leading to a “the more you wash, the oilier you get” cycle.
- Hydration & Moisture: Oily skin often needs “hydration” rather than “oil.” Use lightweight hydrating serums, gels, or lotions containing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, panthenol (B5), or ceramides. These help maintain skin moisture, repair the barrier, and indirectly regulate sebum production. After using blotting papers, follow up with a facial mist to replenish hydration and aid balance.
- Weekly Care: Use a cleansing mask (with ingredients like kaolin or bentonite clay) 1-2 times a week, focusing on the T-zone, to help absorb excess oil and deep clean pores. Avoid this during the immediate recovery period after treatments and don’t overdo it.
- Diet: Maintain a balanced diet, avoid overly greasy, high-sugar foods, drink plenty of water, and ensure adequate B-vitamin intake. This also helps reduce oil production from the inside out.
The Oily Skin Summer Survival Guide
4.1 Lifestyle Adjustments
- Diet Management: Consider reducing intake of dairy products and high-sugar, high-Glycemic Index (GI) foods, as these may stimulate sebaceous glands to produce more oil.
- Cooling Tricks: Carry a small facial mist or a crystal facial roller in high temperatures. Use them to cool and soothe the skin when it feels hot and oily.
- Makeup Choices: If wearing makeup, opt for mineral-based foundations. These are often lighter, less likely to clog pores, and can help absorb oil throughout the day.
4.2 Emergency Rescue Plan
- Instant Oil Blotting: Keep blotting papers handy. Use a pressing motion rather than wiping, which can spread oil and makeup around or cause friction. After pressing, lightly spritz with a hydrating mist, gently pat dry, and then lightly dust with translucent powder or touch up with powder foundation.
- Pimple Emergency: For sudden red, inflamed breakouts, use targeted spot treatments containing ingredients like sulfur, salicylic acid, or tea tree oil to help reduce inflammation and dry them out.
This summer, let’s move beyond the embarrassment of shiny skin and embrace the refreshment that technology offers. At R·MEDY, we don’t just provide treatments; we share the wisdom of living in harmony with your skin—because true victory in oil control means your skin can breathe freely, even under the Burnaby summer sun.