Skincare Routine for Oily Skin: Improve Skin Health

Whether it's a greasy T-zone, a shiny forehead, enlarged pores, or excess oil that seems to arise monthly with changes in your menstrual cycle, oily skin can be frustrating to deal with. But an oily complexion is a common skin type, and with the right routine, it's totally manageable.

Consider this your guide to creating a personalized skincare routine for oily skin. We'll go over specific steps to follow every morning and night, tips for incorporating different blemished skin products (including must-haves and those you can skip or use just a couple of times a week). For instance, Rael's Miracle Clear Microcrystal PM serums can help balance your complexion and control excess oil, and you don't have to use them every day.

What Is the Best Morning Routine for Oily Skin?   

In the morning, the best face routine for oily skin will include a face cleanser, toner, moisturizer, and sunscreen.

• Cleanser: First, wash your face with a gentle water-based cleanser, like a gel or foaming formula, to remove excess oil, dirt, and any nighttime skincare products that haven't fully absorbed.
• Toner: Next, use a toner to remove any remaining residues. Depending on the formula, a toner can help balance oil production and refine the appearance of pores. For this step, you can also use gentle exfoliating pads, a facial mist, essence, serum, or another lightweight hydrating product.
• Moisturizer: Then apply a lightweight moisturizer, such as a non-comedogenic cream or a gel formula.
• Sunscreen: Always finish your morning skincare routine with a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30—even better if it's SPF 50 or higher.¹

What Is the Best Nighttime Routine for Oily Skin?

In the evening, your skincare routine should include a cleansing balm, a water-based cleanser, serum or a targeted treatment, and a moisturizer.

• Cleansing balm: Start with a cleansing balm to melt off any makeup, sunscreen, dirt, and pollutants. It might seem counterintuitive, but oil-based cleansers help remove oil-based products and excess oil on the skin.² This is because of the "like attracts like" chemistry principle.³
• Water-based cleanser: As the second part of your double-cleanse, use a water-based cleanser, like a foam or gel. Again, on account of the "like attracts like" rule, this will remove water-based products and any remaining impurities left on your skin.⁴
• Serum or targeted treatment: After cleansing, use a serum or targeted treatment that helps balance oily skin or improve the appearance of pores. This could be a salicylic acid serum, a clarifying toner, a skin-balancing essence, or a liquid microneedling serum (which you should only use up to three times a week).
• Moisturizer: Lock everything in with a lightweight moisturizer, like a gel or barrier cream. You can use the same one you use for your morning routine or a night cream to complete your oily skin routine.⁵

Night Serum Callout: Rael Miracle Clear Microcrystal PM Serum

Rael's Miracle Clear Microcrystal PM spicules serums are among the best targeted treatments for oily and blemish-prone skin. This includes the beginner-friendly 2000 formula and the more intensive 5000 serum.

These night serums contain spicules derived from sea sponges to help other products absorb into the skin while helping improve skin clarity, balancing oil production, refining the look of pores, and visibly minimizing the appearance of blemishes.^6,7 If you’ve ever wondered how to get rid of blemishes, this step can support that process naturally as part of your nighttime routine.

The formulas contain other ingredients that play well with oily skin, including azelaic acid, ectoin, allantoin, and copper peptides.

How Often Should I Exfoliate and Mask With Oily Skin?

You don't need to exfoliate your skin or use a mask every day, whether you have an oily complexion or another skin type.

If you're new to exfoliating, start with just once or twice a week using an exfoliating cleanser, serum treatment, or pre-soaked pads. Then you can bump it up to three or four times a week if your skin responds well. Chemical exfoliants are ideal for balancing oily skin, such as AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acids) like glycolic acid, BHAs (beta-hydroxy acids)—the most common being salicylic acid—or fruit enzymes.⁸

A clay mask can be used once a week to manage visible shine and minimize the look of pores without leaving skin feeling overly dry. Consider a formula with oil-absorbing ingredients, like kaolin clay or charcoal, to complement your overall skincare routine.⁹

Do I Still Need Moisturizer With Oily Skin?

Yes, you still need moisturizer with oily skin. Hydration is vital for all skin types, as it supports a healthy skin barrier and helps balance oil production.¹⁰ There's a theory that oily skin over-produces oil to make up for a lack of topical moisture. So, moisturizer can help solve the issue.¹¹

How to Layer Skincare Products Effectively

Knowing how to layer skincare products properly is important for helping everything absorb and allowing you to get the most benefit from each formula. Generally, you'll want to apply your products from the thinnest consistency to the thickest. For example, this could mean starting with a toner or facial mist and finishing with moisturizer or night cream.

Check out this chart to see how to layer your a.m. and p.m. skincare products after cleansing.

Ingredients and Formulations Oily Skin Prefers

Lightweight, non-comedogenic formulations are best for oily skin.¹⁰ Knowing which ingredients to look for can also be helpful. Here are several that can benefit this skin type:

• Niacinamide: Niacinamide and other antioxidants are good for improving skin texture, tone, and clarity, especially for oily complexions.¹²
• Hyaluronic acid: Hyaluronic acid and other humectants (ingredients that draw moisture into the skin) like aloe vera or glycerin can offer lightweight hydration so skin looks smoother and healthier.¹³
• Salicylic acid: Salicylic acid works as a gentle exfoliant to help encourage skin-cell turnover, balance oil production, refine the appearance of pores, and manage blemishes.¹⁴
• Azelaic acid: This ingredient helps soothe redness, control excess oil production, and support a more even-toned complexion.¹⁵
• Tea tree oil: Tea tree is great for soothing active blemishes, improving the look of pores, and promoting all-around clear skin.¹⁶
• Witch hazel: Witch hazel can help improve how pores look, balance oil production, and clean the skin while encouraging a clear, calm complexion.¹⁷
• Kaolin clay: Kaolin clay is absorbent, helping soak up excess oil and reducing shininess.⁹
• Non-comedogenic oils: Certain plant-derived oils deliver moisture to the skin without clogging pores. This includes jojoba, argan, grapeseed, tamanu, borage, black currant, and walnut oil.¹⁸

Routine-Friendly Lifestyle Tips for Oily Skin

Besides building a skincare routine that works for your skin type, a few lifestyle adjustments and daily habits can be helpful.

For instance, you can change your pillowcase more often (some people swap theirs out for a clean one multiple times a week) or use a clean washcloth every day to dry your face after cleansing. You can also be diligent about washing your makeup brushes and disinfecting your phone.

Staying hydrated and eating a balanced diet full of whole foods is a wise choice too. For some people, limiting dairy and sugary foods can support clearer skin.¹⁹ Blotting papers or pressed powder can also help control shiny-looking skin throughout the day.²⁰

Keep Shine in Check

A good skincare routine and daily habits can help you keep shine in check while giving your oily skin what it needs. Offering porefection at your fingertips, Rael's line of skincare products includes cleansers, serums, toners, and targeted treatments that can support a more balanced complexion and clear, healthy, happy-looking skin.

 

Sources:

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