Got Oily Skin? Follow This Skincare Routine

Do you experience excess oil, shiny skin, enlarged pores, blackheads, and breakouts? Then you probably have oily skin. Oily skin has overactive sebaceous glands, which means they produce more oil than you need. This can be caused by all sorts of things, from genetics to hormones, diet, and lifestyle, but sometimes it can be caused by using the wrong skincare products. If you strip your skin of too much moisture and don’t replace that hydration, skin compensates by overproducing excess oil. Your skin may appear shiny, with enlarged pores, and will be more prone to breakouts and blackheads.  

Read on for our top tips and product recommendations for building a morning skincare routine for oily skin. 

The best cleansers for oily skin won’t lather up enough to strip your skin, but instead will gently foam to cut through the oily residue that you find on your skin when you wake up. Look for simple, refreshing formulas that contain ingredients like salicylic acid and tea tree to deep clean pores and mattify shiny areas without leaving skin feeling tight. Gently massage your cleanser over your face and neck and rinse off with warm water. 

Applying a toner is another opportunity to target your skin with purifying and decongesting ingredients, to ensure that it’s super clean—but also to begin adding in some much-needed hydration. Keeping oily skin hydrated will help to balance your skin’s moisture levels, so it doesn’t feel the need to over-produce oil. Swipe a toner over your skin with a cotton pad after cleansing, then follow up with your serum.

Oily skin is more prone to blackheads—caused by sebum which builds up in pores and attracts dirt, resulting in a visible plug which oxidises (turns black) when in contact with oxygen. You’ll notice a lot of these around your T-zone area because there are larger and more active sebaceous glands here. Serums that contain ingredients such as niacinamide and salicylic acid will help to reduce sebum production and break down the buildup in pores to prevent blackheads from forming. Pat your serum onto dry skin, focusing on the T-zone where blackheads, breakouts, and oiliness are more prominent. 

Oily skin needs moisturiser just as much as dry skin does—you just need to choose the right one. Look for something water-based and oil-free which will provide itensive hydration but won’t clog pores or leave a greasy residue, and choose lightweight gel textures which feel soothing and absorb quickly. Keeping your skin well moisturised will teach it to slow down on the excess oil production.

Texture is the important thing to focus on when choosing an SPF for oily skin—you’ve probably tried your fair share of sunscreens which leave your skin looking (and feeling) greasy and sticky. Look for lightweight textures and mattifying formulas which are specially formulated to help control excess oil and won’t clog pores or trigger breakouts.