If you have oily skin, you've probably tried fighting it a bunch of different ways. Washing your face every chance you get? Skipping moisturizer to avoid adding more oil? Constantly using blotting papers (so much so that they’ve overtaken your bag, your desk, and your car)?

It’s time to call a truce.

Fighting your oily skin won’t help it go away. The real solution is working with your skin.

So, throw out the harsh cleansers and kiss those blotting papers goodbye! We’re here with a skincare routine for oily skin that actually works.

How to Get Oily Skin Under Control

Before you even start your oily skin routine, know this: Your oil is there for a reason.

Your skin produces oil to protect itself. When you strip everything away with harsh products, your glands panic and produce even more oil to make up for it. This is how over-cleansing actually makes your skin oilier.

So, how do you get your oily skin under control without stripping away the oil it needs?

Finding balance is the answer.

Stop Over-Cleansing (Seriously, Stop)

The biggest mistake you can make with oily skin is overcleansing.

Washing your face three, four, or even five times a day won’t make the oil disappear. In fact, it’ll probably make it worse.

When you strip your skin repeatedly, your sebaceous glands (a.k.a., the glands that produce oil) panic and produce even more oil.

Our expert recommendation? Stick to cleansing twice a day—once in the morning and once in the evening.

Your AM Routine for Oily Skin

Mornings are all about giving yourself a fresh start. Here’s how to tackle overnight oil while protecting your skin and setting yourself up for shine-free success.

Start With a Gentle Foaming Cleanser

Foaming cleansers cut through oil without leaving your face feeling tight.

Try a gentle cleanser like The POREfessional Good Cleanup pore-purifying foaming cleanser. The so satisfyingly and gently cleanses away excess oil, dirt, and makeup to purify your pores without completely stripping the oils away.

Hydrate

It’s easy to assume that adding a moisturizer to oily skin would make the oiliness worse. But that’s actually not the case.

Similar to stripping natural oils with overcleansing, skipping moisturizer dehydrates your skin. To compensate, the skin produces its own hydration in the form of (you guessed it) oil.

Luckily, you can solve this problem by never giving your skin the chance to feel parched.

The POREfessional Smooth Sip lightweight smoothing moisturizer gives you 12-hour* hydration & skin balancing to help improve skin texture. It’s also gentle enough for all skin types (including oily skin).

For the most efficient absorption, apply to damp skin right after cleansing.

*instrumental test on 30 participants

Prime and Protect

If you’re wearing makeup, add a mattifying primer to your routine to control shine throughout the day. The POREfessional Matte Primer delivers an 8-hour** mattifying effect on top of 12-hour pore refining* so you can look as fresh as you feel.

*instrumental test on 25 participants

And for the cherry on top? SPF is a non-negotiable, as prolonged exposure to the sun can increase oil production. Just make sure to choose an oil-free, non-comedogenic formula for the best results.

Your PM Routine for Oily Skin

Nighttime = repair mode. Take a moment every evening to deep cleanse, treat specific concerns, and give your skin everything it needs to recover.

Double Cleanse at Night

Start with an oil cleanser.

Yes, you read that right. Oil cleanses oil, which might sound backwards, but it’s true.

This is because oil-based cleansers bond to oil, dirt, and makeup, lifting everything away without stripping your natural barrier.

The POREfessional Get Unblocked pore-clearing makeup-removing cleansing oil melts away makeup, SPF, and oil to leave you with healthier, less congested skin.

Massage this oil cleanser onto dry skin, add water to emulsify it, then rinse. Follow it up with a foaming cleanser to wash away any remaining residue.

Weekly Clay Mask Treatment

Once or twice a week, add a clay mask treatment to your routine.

Clay masks absorb excess oil and draw out impurities from deep in your pores. That being said, not all clay masks are created equal, and you don’t want anything that’s too harsh on your skin.

The POREfessional Deep Retreat pore-clearing clay mask contains kaolin clay that instantly reduces surface skin oil by 96%* and smooths skin over time.** Use it for 30 minutes and watch as magic happens right before your very eyes—teeny-tiny dots will appear as it draws the oil out!

Afterward, rinse your face, and pat dry with a clean cloth.

*Instrumental test on 32 participants

**self-evaluation by 112 participants after 1 month

Don’t Skip Moisturizer

Think you’re off the hook just because you moisturized in the morning? Think again. Your skin loses water while you sleep, so if you skip your nighttime moisturizer, you’ll wake up with dehydrated skin.

Moisturize right after you double cleanse or after you wash off your clay mask, and wake up with skin that’s balanced and fresh.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Now that we’ve covered what you should do to reduce oiliness and promote a healthy glow, let’s talk about what not to do.

• Using harsh, alcohol-based toners – These toners can dry out your skin and make your oil glands go into overdrive.
• Skipping steps – Never skip the moisturizer or the SPF because “your skin is too oily.” Addressing oily skin is a balancing act that isn’t so much about taking steps away from your routine as it is about putting the right products on your face.
• Not giving products time – New products or changes to your skincare routine can take a few weeks to produce results. Don’t throw in the towel after just a few days!
• Switching products too often – When you don’t see instant results, avoid the temptation to switch products. Give your new products time to work their magic.

Ready to Shine (On Your Own Terms?)

It’s time to put an end to the fighting. Your oil glands aren’t going anywhere, and they’re actually working hard to protect your skin!

When you learn to work with them with a skincare routine for oily skin—one that cleanses without stripping and hydrates without heaviness—you can keep oil under control and unlock healthy, more balanced skin.

Sources:

Krietsch, B. (2023, February 28). Does Oily Skin Actually Age Better? We Investigate. Byrdie. https://www.byrdie.com/does-oily-skin-age-better-7112918.

N. A. (2023, July 10). Summer Acne Breakouts: Understanding and Combatting. Stormont Vail Health. https://www.stormontvail.org/summer-acne-breakouts-understanding-and-combatting/.