The Perfect Skin Care Routine for Oily Skin

We all have aspects of our skin that we wish we different. Maybe you wish your skin was firmer and younger-looking or that it was less dry. But be careful what you wish for because the opposite of dry skin – oily skin – has its challenges too. If you’re fighting a daily battle with clogged pores and a greasy-looking complexion, you know what I mean.

For all of you out there with oily skin, there’s hope! You might be surprised by how much more manageable your skin type is when you find the right daily skin care routine. To help you start dialing into the products that are perfect for you, here’s a picture of what your daily routine should look like.

A Morning Skin Care Routine for Oily Skin

 Once you rise and shine, here’s an outline of how to de-shine your skin.

 Step 1: Cleanse

Cleansing is one of the most misunderstood steps in skin care when it comes to oily skin, because you don’t want to just reach for the most powerful, scorched-earth cleanser you can find to get rid of as much oil as possible. In fact, over-drying your skin with an overly harsh cleanser can actually make oily skin worse because your oil glands will produce more oil as a reaction to being dried out. Instead, opt for a specialized cleanser for oily skin.

Step 2: Tone

Toner is an underappreciated part of a skin care routine, but you might be surprised by how much it can do for your skin. Toners can help with a lot of different skin care goals, but their general purpose is to rebalance the acidity of your skin after cleansing. Try a purifying cleanser to balance your oil production.

Optional Step 3: Serum

Serums are versatile and varied skin care products that are thin and lightweight but have very concentrated ingredients. This isn’t a must, but serums are a great way to work toward your skin goals, whether you choose an anti-aging serum, an acne control serum, a pigment correcting serum for dark spots, or another option.

Step 4: Moisturize

There’s a common misbelief that if your skin is oily, you don’t need to moisturize. While I regret to be the bearer of bad news, that’s not true. A good lightweight moisturizer can help to balance your oil and hydration. You might especially enjoy a mattifying moisturizer because it can give you hydration without giving your face a greasy shine as you get ready for the day.

Step 5: Sun Protection

Before you head out for the day, don’t forget about sunscreen! A mattifying sunscreen is a great way to keep your skin safe from sun damage and premature aging without the shiny look that often comes from sunscreen.

A Nighttime Skin Care Routine for Oily Skin

When it’s time to turn in for the night, your skin is ready for another dose of TLC. Here’s what your typical nighttime skin care routine should look like if you have oily skin.

Step 1: Do a Double Cleanse

Double cleansing is using two different cleansers: first an oil-based cleanser and then a water-based cleanser. This deep cleans your pores to clear out excess oil and debris but without drying out your skin too much.

Step 2: Exfoliate (A Few Nights a Week)

If you have oily skin, the skin cells that you naturally shed every day are more likely to form clogs in your pores because they can get stuck in the oil. To keep your skin blemish-free, it helps to use an exfoliator once or twice a week. This buffs away shedding skin cells before they have a chance to clog your pores. Plus, it gives your skin a spectacularly soft feel, and who doesn’t love that?

Optional Step 3: Serum

As with your morning routine, you can toss a serum into your nightly skin care based on what you’re trying to improve about your skin. It could be the same serum you use in the morning or a different one.

For example, retinol serum is a popular choice for nighttime skin care. It’s an effective choice for anti-aging but it’s not recommended to use in the morning because it makes your skin more sensitive to the sun, so save it for the PM.

Step 4: Moisturize

Finally, we can’t forget to hydrate! Top off your refreshed skin with a moisturizer that’s designed for oily skin and then head off for some beauty sleep.

Remember: It’s Not About Drying, It’s About Balance

Ultimately, what’s important to remember about oily skin is that drying out the oil from your skin isn’t the goal, and that can even make the issue worse. It’s all about balancing your oil production so you get healthy, hydrated skin without clogged pores or a greasy finish.