The Ultimate Guide to Skincare for Oily Skin
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Skincare for oily skin is its own beast that requires a tailored approach. And while oily skin may come with excess shine and propensity for clogged pores that can be a pain to deal with, oily skin also tends to be thicker and more resilient - meaning less wrinkles! - so it definitely has its benefits.
What’s important is that your oily skin is properly managed and cared for, which means a focus on regulating the oil on your skin and helping to keep your pores clean, while still maintaining the necessary moisture and hydration to keep your skin healthy and functioning properly. Let’s dig a bit deeper into what this looks like!
In this post, I’ll go into:
How to Tell if You Have Oily Skin
There is a difference between having oily skin as a skin type, and having oily skin due to other factors. Someone with an oily skin type naturally produces a lot of oil, whereas someone with dry skin could present with oily/shiny skin if, for example, their skin is very dehydrated and is temporarily producing more oil to compensate for the lack of hydration.
Below are some of the tell-tale signs that can help you identify if your skin type is oily.
Shiny appearance: Your skin often looks shiny, especially on your T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin).
Note: Oily skin is often confused with combination skin because both can present with a shiny/oily T-zone. One way to tell the difference is that oily skin often presents with oily skin all over your face, whereas combination skin might just see oily skin around the T-zone, but drier skin on the cheeks and other areas. If you have combo skin, rather than oily, that may require a different skincare approach.
Oily feel: Your skin may feel oily/greasy to the touch, especially as the day wears on. And while skin tends to dry out more during colder weather, this natural oiliness tends to persist regardless of the weather or season.
Note: One thing you can try is to wash your face - which should help clear some of the oil - and then just let your skin sit for about 20-30 min without applying any products. If your skin becomes shiny or oily within that time, you likely have oily skin.
Enlarged pores: With oily skin, the sebaceous glands in your skin naturally produce more oil/sebum within your pores. This can cause the pores to appear larger and more prominent, particularly in the T-zone, where the skin tends to get more oily.
Frequent breakouts: The oil/sebum that your skin produces can get mixed with dead skin cells and other bacteria on your skin’s surface, which can fill and clog your pores if this buildup gets trapped on the surface of your skin and doesn’t get cleaned up regularly. This can result in acne, like those pesky whiteheads, or blackheads.
Since oily skin is very active in producing sebum, you may be more prone to clogged pores and acne.
Uneven texture: Along with acne, the clogged pores caused by the build-up of oil, skin cells, and other gunk on your skin may also cause your skin to have a bumpy texture.
Makeup issues: The oil on your skin can actually emulsify with your makeup (i.e., the oil and water mix), causing it to break down more easily or separate such that products like foundation may not stay on your skin well and slide around/off.
If you’re interested in overall skin health and improving your skin barrier, check out: 5 Tips for Skin Barrier Repair
What Causes Oily Skin?
Oily skin can be caused by several factors, including:
Genetics: Skin type, including how active your sebaceous glands are, can often be inherited. So if your parents had oily skin, you might be the same way. You could also inherit factors like size of sebaceous glands, where larger glands can produce more oil, and how your body responds to hormones that stimulate oil production.
Hormones: Fluctuations in hormones like estrogen and progesterone, especially during that time of the month, pregnancy, or puberty can lead to increased oil production. This is why it sometimes seems like your skin gets a lot more oily than normal. Periods of increased stress, as well as hormonal disorders (like PCOS), may also impact hormone levels and lead to increased oil production.
Diet: Intake (or deficiencies) of certain foods can contribute to oiliness. For example, dairy sometimes contains natural hormones which can stimulate oil production. Sugary foods can elevate insulin levels, which can then stimulate androgen production and cause increased oil production. And in general, heavily processed or unhealthy foods can impact overall skin health and cause inflammation, which may stimulate oil production.
Over-washing or over-exfoliation: Stripping the skin of natural oils via cleansing or exfoliation can lead to a rebound effect. Doing either too frequently or harshly can irritate the skin, leading to increased oil production as the skin tries to compensate for the stripped oil.
Dehydration: Ironically, not drinking enough water can cause your skin to produce more oil as a way to compensate for perceived dryness.
Environment: Exposure to pollution, smoke, other environmental irritants, or even extreme weather can stimulate oil production. These environmental factors could trigger inflammation, weaken the skin barrier, or even clog pores, all of which could lead to increased oil production.
Skincare products: Using heavy or comedogenic (pore-clogging) products can exacerbate oiliness. On the flip side, using skincare products that are overly drying can lead to more oiliness as your skin tries to compensate. This is why it’s so important to find products that can balance clarifying and nourishing properties.
Medications: Some medications can increase oiliness, especially those that affect hormones (like birth control pills).
Unfortunately, not all of these causes of oily skin are within your control. However, if you read on, we’ll go over how you can best manage the oiliness, regardless of cause.
How to Manage Oily Skin
Sometimes I hear oily-skinned folks pose the question, “how can I get rid of oily skin?” However, I don’t think that that’s the correct question to ask. Oily skin can actually be a good thing as long as it’s kept in check. So the better question is…”how can I manage oily skin?” And for that, there are several tips below that can help.
Skincare Routine for Oily Skin
In terms of skincare routine, the standard steps are still applicable. However, the products used should be tailored to oily skin:
Cleanser: Use a gentle foaming or gel cleanser designed specifically for oily skin to remove excess oil without stripping your skin.
Toner: Find toners that help control excess oil and minimize the appearance of pores. Some good ingredients to look out for include niacinamide, witch hazel, or AHAs.
Serum: If choosing to use a serum, you can find one that helps control oil production, reduces breakouts, and/or improves skin texture. A great ingredient to look into is retinol, which promotes cell turnover, helping to reduce clogged pores and improve skin tone (though you should make sure your skin can handle it first because it can cause skin sensitivity). Niacinamide is a good ingredient again, as is salicylic acid.
Moisturizer / Sunscreen: Lightweight, oil-free, and non-comedogenic moisturizers and sunscreens are ideal to keep your skin hydrated without adding excess oil or clogging your pores. These kinds of formulations also tend to be better for avoiding shiny skin.
Exfoliant: Exfoliating 1-3 times a week with a chemical exfoliant (like salicylic acid) can be a good practice to help prevent clogged pores and remove dead skin cells.
One thing to keep in mind for your routine is that while you do want to use products that clarify your skin, you don’t want to overdo it. So you can try balancing one or two products with clarifying actives with other products that are purely hydrating/moisturizing so that you get a good balance between oil regulation and skin nourishment.
Lifestyle Tips for Managing Oily Skin
Here are some easy-to-incorporate tips for your daily living that can also help you manage your oily skin:
Diet: Limit sugary and greasy foods. Focusing on a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can keep your skin happy and help balance your hormones, which ultimately helps regulate oil production.
Hydration: Drink plenty of water to keep your skin happy and healthy. When your skin is healthy, its ability to regulate oil production and protect against irritation is functioning at its best.
Avoid Touching Your Face: It’s a good idea to avoid touching your face as much as possible as touching your face can transfer oils and bacteria to your skin, leading to breakouts. This is especially pertinent if you’re in public areas because your hands are more likely to come into contact with bacteria.
Manage Stress: Stress can mess with your hormones and trigger excess oil production by your skin (trust me, I know this too well). Practicing stress-reducing techniques like yoga, meditation, or even just going for a quick walk, can help reduce the stress and subsequent impact on your skin.
Use the right kinds of products: Looking for mattifying makeup and moisturizers can help control shine throughout the day, as can using a translucent setting powder if you use makeup.
Products labeled “non-comedogenic,” “oil-free,” or “for oily skin” are also good for avoiding clogged pores.
Always remove your makeup: Leaving makeup on overnight can trap bacteria on the skin, and prevent your skin from being able to properly repair and refresh itself as you sleep, which ultimately increases the likelihood of breakouts. Therefore, it’s so important to remove your makeup (with an oil-free makeup remover) and wash your face before bed.
Remove oil as necessary throughout the day: Sometimes cleansing your skin morning and night is not sufficient for managing the oil. It can be helpful to keep blotting papers handy to absorb excess oil throughout the day.
Try clay masks: If you have the time for it, clay masks can be a way to absorb excess oil and detoxify your skin. Ingredients like kaolin clay or bentonite clay are great for this, and can also help soothe the skin. Plus, clay masks are just super relaxing!
Managing oily facial skin involves a combination of proper skincare, lifestyle adjustments, and product choices. And remember, your skin type can actually change over time, so it’s important to constantly monitor it and adjust your routine to fit your skin. That being said, by adopting some of the tips mentioned above, you can be well on your way to better handling and appreciating your oily skin.
If you’re hoping to learn more about the essential steps to solid daily skincare routines, check out: The Simple Morning Skincare Routine for Beginners and The Simple Nighttime Skincare Routine for Beginners
Product Recommendations
When choosing skincare products for oily skin, it’s typically a good idea to look for ones that will help you clarify the skin / manage the sebum production, without being too stripping. The last thing you want is to over-strip your skin in the quest to get rid of the excess oil, which can actually make things worse and lead to increased oiliness.
The products below are great for maintaining that balance of effective oil management, while still supporting healthy, moisturized skin.
Best cleansers for oily skin:
This brand makes great products all-around, and this cleanser is no exception. It has a nice gel-like texture that softly lathers on the skin and protects the skin barrier by maintaining oil and moisture balance.
Key ingredients include AHAs to gently exfoliate dead skin cells, helping to clear the pores and promote skin turnover, plum water to add moisture to the skin, and mung bean extract to further hydrate and decrease inflammation.
CeraVe is always a good option if you’re looking for a gentle, but effective, skincare product. This non-comedogenic cleanser is super lightweight and comes in a gel-like consistency that lathers on the skin. It’s packed with hyaluronic acid that helps hydrate the skin during cleansing, while niacinamide helps to both calm the skin and balance the oil production. Keeping with CeraVe tradition, this product also contains essential ceramides, which are great for supporting the skin barrier.
Best toners for oily skin:
I like this toner because (after shaking) the consistency was only slightly thinner than that of the Laneige Cream Skin toner, so it felt super nourishing. But in addition to being nourishing/hydrating, its powder layer also helps absorb sebum and control its production. Other great ingredients in this toner include rice extract that helps to subtly brighten, soothe, and hydrate the skin, as well as centella asiatica then helps to calm redness and inflammation.
This is a lightweight, and refreshing toner that helps soothe and hydrate the skin with green tea extract. It also contains anti-sebum P, which is a power-house complex of Evening Primrose, Pueraria, Pine Needle and Elm Root Bark, that helps with sebum absorption and minimizing pores.
This toner leaves your skin feeling so fresh. And given its liquid-y consistency, you can comfortably apply multiple layers of it if needed.
Best serums for oily skin:
This is an excellent serum for oil control as it features niacinamide, which helps regulate oil production, improves skin texture, and has anti-inflammatory properties. Acetyl Glucosamine gently exfoliates, thereby stimulating cell renewal and keeping the skin’s surface fresh, while zinc further helps with oil regulation. Overall, this is a simple, yet super effective, serum that balances the skin, resulting the appearance of smoother and smaller pores.
This clarifying serum is great for oily, acne prone skin as it is non-comedogenic, and contains loads of ingredients that help balance the skin. For example, zinc helps reduce sebum production and has anti-inflammatory properties. It, along with PHA, also gently exfoliates, helping unclog pores without being too drying. Blue tansy can balance skin and is a soothing anti-inflammatory.
And on top of that, this serum contains a ceramide complex that supports the skin barrier. So it’s an all-around great option for oily skin.
Best moisturizers for oily skin:
This is a lightweight, and non-comedogenic gel-cream moisturizer that leverages niacinamide and zinc to help regulate sebum production and soothe the skin. Just as the name implies, it is mattifying, i.e., it minimizes signs of excess oil production and helps control shine, which is a huge plus if you’re planning on wearing makeup.
Other beneficial ingredients include green tea and pine bark extracts, which further regulate oil production and improve overall skin texture.
This moisturizer stars prebiotics that help manage the bacteria in your skin that causes clogged pores and blemishes. It also contains other ingredients that help to balance the skin such as witch hazel, which is natural astringent that can help tighten pores and reduce oiliness, as well as AHAs and fruit extracts that gently exfoliate and clear pores.
Along with all the pore clearing, skin balancing goodness, ceramides and hyaluronic acid help to nourish the skin and keep it adequately hydrated and moisturized.
For more moisturizers, check out: 5 Best Moisturizers for Oily Skin
Best sunscreens for oily skin:
So.. this sunscreen isn’t specifically intended for oil regulation. However, I think it’s just a great all-around sunscreen that supports healthy skin and could pair very well with other products that contain active ingredients that treat excess oil.
This is a chemical sunscreen that contains beetroot extract, known for its brightening, soothing, and anti-inflammatory properties. And though it also hydrates with ingredients like vitamin E and hyaluronic acid, it’s non-greasy and extremely lightweight.
As is true with most CeraVe products, this sunscreen is no-nonsense, but very effective. On top of the SPF 30, hyaluronic acid and ceramides help moisturize and support the skin barrier, while retinol helps regulate cell turnover, preventing clogged pores and excess oil. The encapsulated retinol also works to gradually thicken the skin, providing anti-aging benefits.
This sunscreen is great for everyday use. It goes on very lightly, doesn’t feel greasy, and can be comfortably worn all day long.
Oily skin doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It can actually be a blessing in disguise, as the oil can help keep your skin more moisturized, elastic, and young looking for longer. So in the long run, I honestly think that our oily-skinned friends are better off! However, the key is effective management with the right skincare routine and products so that the oil doesn’t overrun the skin. And hopefully this post provided some helpful skincare tips, products, and insights on how to do so!