Your skin’s balance is affected by your diet and hormones, and external pressures such as pollution. Photograph: Liliya Rodnikova/Stocksy United
An abundance of sebum, the skin’s naturally occurring protective oil, is a good thing. Without it, hair would have no shine and skin no moisture. But overproduction of sebum leads to shiny, oily skin and, often, blemishes.
On the face, sebum is emitted from sebaceous glands, predominantly in the T-zone, the forehead, nose and chin. You can’t change how your skin operates, but you can manage it. Here’s how to keep your skin looking radiant all year round.