Best Skincare Routine for Oily Skin 2024

How should I care for oily skin? Oily skincare routine tips.

There’s more to oily skin than sebum, clogged pores, and shine. Did you know oily skin is thicker than other skin types and more resistant to fine lines and wrinkles? There’s also more to caring for oily skin than soap and water. Skin care for oily skin should gently wash away excess sebum, visibly shrink pores, re-balance, and nourish. Let’s take a look at how to control oily skin.

What causes oily skin?

If you’ve been battling oily skin lately, it can feel as if oil is the enemy; but it’s not. Oil – called sebum – has an important job to do. It keeps our skin lubricated, supple, and healthy – allowing the skin to do its job, which is to keep vital moisture inside the body and act as a barrier against pollutants and bacteria that may be dangerous to the body.

As your body produces sebum, it travels to the surface of the skin, collecting cells that are shed inside the hair follicle. When a follicle is full, the sebum flows onto the surface of the skin and is joined by lipids from skin cells, sweat, and environmental matter. When trapped or allowed to pile up on the skin’s surface, blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples rear their ugly heads.

Keep in mind that since sebum production is affected by hormone activity, your skin’s oil levels will change throughout your life – increasing at puberty and typically starting to decrease by age 20. Oil production will continue to slow with age, which can mean that skin that is oily during adolescence and through your 20s can become normal or even dry after 40.

What are common signs you have oily skin?

Essentially, your skin type is determined by the amount of oil your body produces. Oily skin produces an oversupply of natural oils. There are many reasons for this: Hormones that are especially active in puberty, menstruation and pregnancy, illness or diseases like Parkinson’s, certain medications like oral contraceptives, extreme stress or sleep deprivation, and the wrong choice of skin care for oily skin.

If you’re still not sure and you’re asking yourself – what is my skin type? – take a quick look in the mirror.

Here are some of the key signs of oily skin in men and women:

A glossy/ shiny appearance on your skin that feels sticky to the touch
Frequent acne breakouts
Blackheads and whiteheads
Dull-looking skin
Large and clogged pores
Oily hair that needs to be washed frequently

However, if you have a combination-type skin, you may find that your T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) is oily, while your cheeks feel normal or dry.

Best step-by-step oily skincare routine by Clarins

A common misconception when it comes to skincare for oily skin is that you need to wash your face excessively and use products that are harsh and dry out your skin. But this only tends to make the problem worse.

Here’s a gentle, but effective 6 step skincare routine for oily skin that will keep your skin healthy, balanced, and refreshed.

Step 1: Cleanse

Your skin tends to shed skin cells and lose water as you sleep, which leads to the sebaceous glands working overtime to produce more oil and keep your face hydrated. This oil combines with your sweat, leaving a thick oily build-up for you to contend with in the morning.

So, the first step in getting rid of this excess oil and any impurities is cleansing your face with a gentle foaming face wash - both in the morning and night, as well as after sweating excessively (post workout, for instance). Wet your face with warm water and, using your fingertips, apply the cleanser all over your face avoiding your eye area. Gently scrub and work it into a lather. Rinse gently and pat your face dry with a clean and soft towel.

A good cleanser for oily skin should be lightweight and hydrating. The Purifying Gentle Foaming Cleanser by Clarins, made with salicylic acid, is a non-drying and creamy cleanser that washes away oils and keeps your skin fresh and soft.

Step 2: Exfoliate

Remember how we mentioned that you shed dead skin cells at night? Exfoliating is one of the best ways to remove these and prevent your pores from getting clogged. Bonus? It makes your face smooth and soft.

For best results, exfoliate 2-3 times per week as part of your skincare routine for oily skin. Try a gentle Exfoliator that washes away embedded dirt and revives your skin.

You can incorporate any of these Clarins exfoliators for oily skin into your daily or evening skincare routine.

Step 3: Apply toner

The next step in your face routine for oily skin is applying a toner. Alcohol-free toners prevent clogged pores and remove any residual oil and dirt from your face. Think of a toner as something that finishes the job that the cleanser started.

After you cleanse or exfoliate, soak two cotton pads with the toner and gently wipe it over your face. Aaaand that’s it! Allow it to work its magic and dry. We recommend Clarins’ plant-based Purifying Toning Face Lotion that gets rid of the gunk on your pores, leaving you with hydrated, soft, and shine-free skin.

Step 4: Target problem areas

This step in your oily skincare routine depends on the specific problems you’re facing. For instance, if you have visibly enlarged pores, try Clarins’ Pore Control Serum. It visibly tightens your pores and de-shines your face.

If you have acne spots, Clarins’ Vegan Blemish Lotion works wonders. The salicylic acid soothes your skin, while the zinc gluconate keeps excess sebum in check, making it a great addition to your face routine for oily skin.

Step 5: Moisturize

Oily skin needs moisturizing just as much as dry skin. If you skip this step, your skin will start producing more oil to combat the dryness, which defeats the point of your entire oily skin routine care. So, moisturize. Look for moisturizers that are light, oil-free, and contain ingredients such as niacinamide or hyaluronic acid.

Keep your skin moisturized throughout the day with the Hydra Essentiel Mattifying Gel Moisturizer. The intensely hydrating face gel contains hyaluronic acid while its gel texture has a mattifying effect better suited to more oily skin. Bonus? Moisturizing your skin can help fight signs of aging and rejuvenate your skin.

Expert tip: When choosing the right moisturizer for you, keep in mind that leading scientific experts recommend using gel-based moisturizers for oily skin

Step 6: Apply sunscreen

An often forgotten step when it comes to skincare for oily skin is applying sunscreen. Exposure to sun causes your skin to dry out, which increases sebum production. So, no matter the weather, use sunscreen with broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher. And yes, you need sunscreen even during winter because the sun’s UV rays are still present and working against your skin.

Some moisturizers contain skin protection, so you can skip this step if you’re using one of those. If not, add the SPF 50 Anti-Pollution Sunscreen to your cart. It’s oil-free, making it perfect for your oily skincare routine.

Learn more about proper care for your skin in the sun from the Clarins Sun Care Blog.

Should oily skincare routines be performed in the a.m. and p.m.?

Yes, it’s important to follow a dermatologist-recommended skincare routine for oily skin both in the morning and at night before you go to sleep. While a morning routine helps you get rid of the oil and dirt build-up that happens overnight, a night-time oily skin routine cleanses your face from all the grime build-up from the day.

What are the best skincare products and ingredients for oily skin?

Irrespective of your age, choose the right oily skin products that can help to balance your skin’s moisture levels while giving it all the nourishment it needs. The difference between clogged and blemished skin, and a clear, healthy-looking complexion, is skin care for oily skin that really works.

It shouldn't be about how to get rid of oily skin but rather how to take care of it and how to address its unique challenges. Explore all of the Clarins oily skincare products by product type below.

Oily skincare products by product-type

Perfect your daily skincare routine for oily skin by incorporating these:

Combination skincare products by product-type

If certain areas like your T-zone are oily but other parts are dry/dehydrated, you need combination skincare products.

You can access products for this skin-type by skincare category here:

Best skincare ingredients for oily skin

The best skincare products are made with plant-based ingredients. Commonly used ingredients in oily skin products from Clarins include alpine willowherb, meadowsweet, bamboo powder, rice powder, manioc powder, orthosiphon, vine flowers, and strawberry tree fruit.

Oily skincare routine: dos and don’ts

To get the best out of your skincare regimen for oily skin, keep these s in mind.

Don’t overwash your face as it can strip your skin of essential oils, leading to a sebum build-up as compensation.
Do wash your pillowcase regularly to remove all the sweat and oil accumulated on it.
Don’t forget to cleanse your face after a workout to wash away all the oil, sweat, and dirt from exercising.
Do use an oil-free makeup remover before you start your oily skincare routine
Don’t use harsh scrubs and exfoliators as they can irritate your skin and stimulate more sebum production.
Do use a clean towel during your oily skin face care every time.
Don’t keep touching your face unnecessarily.
Do use blotting papers to absorb the oil from your skin. But don’t rub it over your face. Instead, just press it gently against your face for a few seconds.

Take charge of your oily skin with Clarins

The best solution to oily skin is a dedicated skincare routine. The better solution is using oil-free plant-based products created specifically with oily skin in mind. Clarins has a wide range of skincare products for oily skin, made with skin-friendly ingredients.

Choose the best for your oily skin. Choose Clarins.