The best skin-care routine for oily skin, according to dermatologists

Oily skin is exactly what it sounds like: skin characterised by the production of a lot of oil. If you’re constantly dealing with shininess, always feel like your face has been hit by an oil slick by the end of the day or tend to notice a bit of oil buildup across your nose and forehead, it may be time to invest in a skin-care routine for oily skin.

Need another reason to target oily skin with your daily regimen? Because it produces so much oil (also known as sebum), this skin type often goes hand in hand with acne. But take heart: if you’re battling breakouts, you’re in good company. According to the Australasian College of Dermatologists, acne is the most common of skin diseases and up to 85 per cent of Australians will develop it during their lifetime.

Luckily, there are great skin-care formulations that can help oily skin avoid acne and stay healthy, and some formulas may even help curb oil production. Finding the best skin-care routine for oily skin just takes a little know-how, so we reached out to board-certified dermatologists Dr Corey L. Hartman and Dr David Kim to find out what makes a great oily-skin routine.

“Oily skin is genetic, and it has to do with the size and activity of the oil glands that are associated with the hair follicles,” Dr Hartman explains. “That means if you have thicker hair, you may have thicker or larger oil glands.”

Another thing that can impact the amount of oil your skin produces? Hormones. That’s why acne, which is so often associated with oily skin, commonly shows up during puberty, and for those who menstruate, around their periods.

Now that you know what triggers oiliness, it’s time to put together your ideal skin-care routine for oily skin – and it’s simpler than it sounds. As Dr Kim notes, when it comes to oily skin types, less is more. “It’s best not to add too many layers for oily skin,” he says. “Otherwise, it can clog your pores and cause acne flares.”

If you’re ready to get glowing (but not shiny!) skin, follow the regimen below. Trust us: skin care for oily skin has never been easier.

The heart of a good skin-care routine for oily skin has four main daily steps:

Cleanser

Toner

Moisturiser

Sunscreen

There are additional steps you can add in if necessary or as needed:

Exfoliator

Acne treatment

If hitting all those steps sounds intimidating, don’t worry. We have everything you need to know, including product recommendations.

Read on for some tips to applying your skin care products: the right way.

Every good skin-care routine – including one for oily skin – begins with a good cleanser. You want to use it twice a day: once in the morning to prep your skin to apply your products, and again at night to take off any debris you’ve collected throughout the day.

You might’ve heard that you can skip a morning cleansing, but rinsing without washing is better suited to a skin-care routine for dry skin. If yours is oily, go ahead and use a cleanser in the morning and at night.

Dr Hartman says that for oily skin, the best face wash is likely “something a little astringent” that uses hydroxy acids or benzoyl peroxide. “You don’t want to do so much that it pushes you in the direction of overly drying,” he explains. That can lead your skin to produce more oil, a process called rebound oiliness.

As for the best face wash formulations, Dr Hartman recommends staying away from oils, which can sometimes be comedogenic. (In other words, they can clog your pores.) Instead, look for gel, foam or cream cleansers.

Toner is technically an optional skin-care step, but many dermatologists recommend it for oily skin because it can help regulate sebum. These watery formulas are meant to eliminate any leftover makeup and grime left after cleansing, while treating the skin with helpful ingredients.

What’s the best way to use them? “Once or twice a day on a cotton pad,” says Dr Kim. “Apply to [your] full face.”

The best toner for you depends on your goals: Are you aiming for better skin texture? Regulated oil production? A combination of both? According to Dr Kim, if you have oily skin, look for gentle exfoliating acids, such as glycolic or lactic acid, to gently resurface the skin. Or go with salicylic acid to help with sebum control.

You’ll know you’ve found the right one when your skin feels soft and smooth after use, not tight or dry. Luckily, unlike the harsh toners of the past, today’s formulas are much gentler and more foolproof.

Yes, oily skin needs moisturiser. It may sound counterintuitive, but keeping your skin moisturised means it won’t have to work as hard to keep hydration levels up! In fact, Dr Hartman says it’s one of the keys to holding off rebound oiliness. You want to use it morning and night, after cleansing.

When looking for the best moisturiser for oily skin, the formula is everything. “I like things that are less creamy and more like a serum or gel base,” says Dr Hartman. “You want something light, nothing too heavy, nothing too emollient,” he explains. In other words, look for terms like daily or sheer, and skip thicker formulas – night creams and bottles marked intense may be too heavy for oily skin. One thing to stay away from: oils, as they can be comedogenic, meaning they may clog pores.

Read on for handy year-round tips for dry skin and chapped lips.

Sun damage impacts every skin type, including oily skin, so having SPF in your morning routine is non-negotiable. And, yes, that means you need to use it year-round, even on cloudy days and in the winter.   (And don’t forget the scalp sunscreen!)

Admittedly, sunscreen can make your skin look a little oily, so finding a nongreasy sunscreen is essential (more on that in a second). But Dr Kim reassures us that’s not impossible. “If you’re using good skin care that helps exfoliate and regulate sebum production, you should be able to wear sunscreen without feeling too greasy,” he says.

When it comes to the best face sunscreens for oily types, lightweight daily formulas win. Just be sure yours has an SPF of 30 or higher.

Whether you reach for a mineral or chemical sunscreen is a matter of personal preference, and it often comes down to how they wear on your skin (mineral sunscreens can sometimes leave a white cast). “The goal is to find your favourite sunscreen – chemical or mineral – and actually use it every day,” says Dr Kim.

Powder sunscreens are a good option for touching up oily skin – they allow you to reapply SPF on the go while soaking up oil. Sunscreen oils, on the other hand, are best avoided. “These can clog the pores,” he says.

Don’t miss these top forget-me-not sunscreen spots.

Exfoliators help remove the dead skin cells that can mix with sebum and clog pores, which is why exfoliating can be an important step in your routine.

There are two categories of exfoliants: chemical (like glycolic and salicylic acid or retinols, which increases cell turnover) and physical (scrubs that use friction). Dr Hartman recommends starting with chemical exfoliators, as “they’re a more controlled way of exfoliation,” he says.

Apply an exfoliator once or twice a week – or more if your skin can handle it – either in the morning or at night. You may need to start slow, only using it more often if you don’t experience irritation. Beyond that, exfoliate only for very special events, when you really want a glow. That way, you won’t trigger irritation.

Dr Hartman’s go-to products for oily skin are prescription retinoids or over-the-counter retinols – not surprising, as these vitamin A derivatives are darlings of the dermatology world. But retinoids are harsh chemicals. “For retinol, start using a pea-size [amount] only twice weekly, and let your skin develop tolerance,” says Dr Kim. You’ll want to apply retinol at night and be extra careful about wearing sunscreen during the day.

For people who don’t tolerate them well, Dr Hartman says an alpha hydroxy acid (like glycolic acid) or beta hydroxy acid (like salicylic acid) is a great alternative. If you prefer a physical facial scrub, remember: the finer the particles, the better.

First, forget about spot-treating blemishes – if you’re dealing with acne, Dr Kim insists it’s best to treat your whole face. That way, you prevent breakouts before they have a chance to form. And if you’re struggling with breakouts, he says, “you should use at least one prescription cream on your full face to treat existing pimples and prevent new ones.”

Heads up: retinoids don’t just aid exfoliation; they can treat acne too. If you’re using a retinoid for acne control and have sensitive skin, you may want to consider this your combo acne and exfoliating treatment. It covers both needs, and including an additional exfoliant in your skin-care routine may cause irritation, especially if your skin is sensitive.

If acne is something you grapple with more than occasionally, see your dermatologist for a prescription cream – your doctor will pick the formula that’s best for your skin. If it’s a retinoid, you’ll use this at night.

But if you only experience the occasional pimple and would rather go for an over-the-counter option, you’ve got some choices. First things first: you’re going to want a cream rather than a medicated face wash. Sure, face washes offer some acne-fighting ingredients, but you wash them away almost immediately. “Acne wash stays on your face for five seconds, so you need something that will stay on your skin the whole day or night,” Dr Kim explains.

While you may see a few other ingredients (like azelaic acid) pop up in the acne world, when it comes to OTC options, there are two all-star ingredients: salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. Both are effective, but of the two, benzoyl peroxide tends to get a little more love – it’s especially effective when combined with antibiotics (under a doctor’s care), according to the Mayo Clinic.

Just be aware that it can bleach fabrics, so make sure to let it really soak in before getting dressed. And, again, make sure to apply it to your whole face, not just one pimple. Remember, your goal is to avoid pimples in the first place.

Armed with our dermatologist-approved skin-care routine for oily skin, you’re well on your way to a less-greasy face. But there are a couple more things to consider as you follow this regimen.

Here are the only 3 skincare products a dermatologist says we all need.